and legitimate one; especially when combined with brevity
and "pith." As a case in point, our friend Ludlum will serve our purpose
for comparison. Who does not see at a glance, taking account of the
principles which govern the construction of a proverb, that the
Sheffield version, as I gave it, _must be_ more genuine than Southey's
version, quoted by J. M. B.? Besides this, I may add, that a friend,
whose early days were spent in Sheffield, has told, me (since the Query
was proposed) that he has heard his mother tell some legend of "the fat
Miss Ludlum." After all, therefore, the proverb may be founded on a fat
old maid and her fat poodle. I can hardly, then, deem my inquiry
answered.

J. M. B. quotes two others from the _Doctor_; one for the purpose, as
would appear by his marking the words, to illustrate the alliterative
principle. The following are variations which I have heard:--"As proud
as the cobbler's dog, that took [or _as_ took--the most general
vernacular form, for the sake of euphony] the wall of a dung-cart, and
got crushed for his pains." "As queer as Dick's hatband as went nine
times round and wouldn't tie."

On these I will only remark, that few persons would pronounce dung-cart
as J. M. B. implies, even for alliteration; and, indeed, when so even
marked to the eye, it is not without an effort that we can read
accordingly. As to Dick's hatband, it is expressed in a peculiarly
clumsy and round-about manner by Southey.

One word more. J. M. B. quotes as a _proverb_--one of those without
meaning--"As busy as Batty;" and says, "no one knows who Batty was."
Surely, the inference that Batty was not a real personage in some
distant age--that he was a mere myth--must be a _non sequitur_ from the
premises before us. Perhaps Mr. Batty was a person of notable
industry--perhaps remarkable for always beings in a "fluster"--perhaps
the rural Paul Pry of his day and district. He has left, too, a large
progeny; whether as regards the name alone, or whichever of the
characters he bore.

This jingle upon words partakes largely of the character of the _pun_.
It, however, reminds me of a mode of speech which universally prevailed
in the north of Lincolnshire thirty years ago, and which probably does
so yet. A specimen will explain the whole:--"I'm as throng as throng."
"He looks as black as black." "It's as wet as wet." I have heard this
mode used so as to produce considerable emphasis; and it is more than
possible, th