cons> I have never heard this phrase before in my life... [waiting...]

connie, if you're waiting for affirmation, you have it from me!

92 ghits, almost all stemming directly from Avonlea; interestingly, long-come-short gets 79 ghits mostly from Joel Chandler Harris's Uncle Remus.

"'Heyo, Brer Tarrypin, whar you bin dis long-come-short?' sez Brer Fox, sezee.

"'Lounjun 'roun', Brer Fox, lounjun 'roun',' sez Brer Tarrypin.

"'You don't look sprucy like you did, Brer Tarrypin,' sez Brer Fox, sezee.

"'Lounjun 'roun' en suffer'n', sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee.