Hector was a pup (1906)

[Fred Shapiro]

On Wed, 10 Mar 2004, Lesa Dill wrote:

> It relates to the Fenimore Cooper Leatherstocking Series.  As Natty
> Bumpo grows old and wanders around  the prairie, so does his dog
> Hector, whom I always thought ended up as toothless as his master.  I
> don't remember if the phrase actually appears in any of the novels.

Here's an earlier example:

1896 _Wash. Post_ 6 Feb. 6 (ProQuest)  Charley Holcomb and "Monk" Robinson
... have been scrapping with each other in this neighborhood "since long
before Hector was a pup."

Fred Shapiro


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