The mouse

[Janis Vizier Nihart]

I have a website of Cajun  and regional words.  I am trying to sort through some words and expressions that I thought were just used down here, but I would like to hear from others who may be familiar with the expressions and who may know the origin.  Here goes:

The mouse---Although this is no longer used, I was always told that a tooth mouse, not a tooth fairy, took my teeth and left money.

The expression "do you know what i find?"  meaning "do you know what I think "

Go to bed---told to someone when you don't believe what they say.

Pick up the dishes(or whatever)--Pick up meaning to put away

to town---We lived about 2 hours away from New Orleans and it was the closest city.  If we went shopping there,we never used the name New Orleans .  We always said We were going to town.  We never used the expression for any other place we went shopping. " I'm going to town" meant I'm going to New Orleans.

Also we had a custom that was similar to Halloween except it was on New Years Day.  We went around the neighborhood collecting mostly sugar popcorn and fruits in brown paper bags.  Anyone remember doing the same thing on new Years Day in other parts of the country.?

Thanks
Janis Nihart