The mouse

[Wilson Gray]

On Jul 23, 2004, at 11:28 PM, Janis Vizier Nihart wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Janis Vizier Nihart <tarheel at MOBILETEL.COM>
> Subject:      The mouse
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> --------
>
> 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

My grandmother and my mother, both originally from Longview, TX, used
"pick up" with this meaning.

-Wilson Gray

>
> 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
>