<<cut finger, misspellings, aso>>

Sorry to hear about your finger, bob, wondered what had become you.

For what it's worth, a friend who doubles as an American history maven says has told me a couple of times that the non-standard spellings of those times are a linguist's treasure trove. From them, according to him, it is possible to reconstruct the sound of English during that period. I have my doubts, especially the vowel sounds may have drifted. As must I. I wanted to get that out, but I haven't slept in days and I need to hi ho off to the pallett. A blessed respite from inselpeter--for you all, if not for me. 'Til next year. IP