ASSEVERATION

Entries

• #60

  A child to whom is told any story which he considers remarkable will usually reply by an expression of skepticism, such as: “Really and truly?” “Honestly?” “Earnest, now?” or, “You are fooling.” The first speaker answers by some formula or asseveration, as, “Honor bright” (New England); “Deed, deed, and double deed” (Pennsylvania); “True as I live,” or, “Hope I’ll die if it isn’t so,” or simply, “Hope I’ll die.”

  General in the United States.
• #61

  A formula of asseveration in Maryland and Pennsylvania is, “I cross my heart,” accompanied by the sign of the cross.

• #62

  A sign resembling that of the cross is made on the chin or throat. “You won’t tell?” “No.” “Well, cross your throat.”

  Cambridge, Mass.
• #63

  When a child wishes to make an asseveration, he wets his finger on his mouth and signs a cross on his throat.

  Salem, Mass.
• #64

  In asseveration, the proper method is to use the words, “Hope to die if I don’t,” the speaker drawing the forefinger across the throat from ear to ear.

  Biddeford, Me.
• #65

  Asseveration in Maine and Massachusetts is often made by the following formula. First boy: “Honor bright?” Second boy: “Hope to die.” First boy: “Cut your throat?” Second boy draws finger across throat. This is the strongest possible form of oath that can be taken by a boy.

• #66

  Little girls, without any idea of the meaning, employ the following formula of asseveration:—

  Certain, true,
  Black and blue.

  A variant of the first line: “Certain and true.”

  Massachusetts.
• #67

  A form fuller than the preceding:—

  Certain, true,
  Black and blue,
  Lay me down and cut me in two.

• #68

  A boy who desires to tell an extravagant story without being guilty of a lie would point with his thumb over his left shoulder. If he should succeed in accomplishing this without the observation of the boy to whom he is talking, so much the better.

  Biddeford, Me.
• #69

  “In my school-days, if a boy crossed his fingers, elbows, and legs, though the act might not be noticed by the companion accosted, no blame was attached to the falsehood.”

  New York city.
• #70

  The addition of the words “in a horn” justify a falsehood. In the childhood of the informant, it was not considered honorable to express the words in such manner that they could not be heard by the child with whom conversation was carried on.

  Cambridge, Mass.
• #71

  In making a false statement, it was proper to say “over the left.” This was often uttered in such manner that the person addressed should not perceive the qualification. Or, the statement would be made, and after it had been taken in and believed, the words “over the left” would be added.

  Ohio and Cambridge, Mass.
• #72

  A formula for making a false statement: “As true as I lie here,” said, as one fools, gives free scope to white lies.

  Roxbury, Mass.
• #73

  An imprecation of children against disloyalty:—

  Tell tale tit,
  Your tongue shall be slit,
  And every dog in our town
  It shall have a bit.

  Ohio.