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.