Introduce Yourself here and say Hi.

[Kate Fremont]

Hello,

Kate, here. I'm a middle-aged woman with teenage children. I stumbled across the Lit Network Forums while looking for info on a new translation of [U]Les Miserable[U]. This looks like a good forum, so I signed up, though I won't have much time to devote for a couple of months.

I love reading; it's the single greatest path for personal growth that I know of. I wish I'd had the opportunity to study literature in college, so I now supplement my reading of literature with web articles -- a do-it-yourself course of study.

I'm delighted to see so many young people on this forum -- the rumors of the death of books are greatly exaggerated!

I'm envious of those with skills in multiple languages. I didn't have the chance to learn a second language while growing up, and though I've spent some time trying to learn a couple of Romance languages, my at-home efforts haven't amounted to much. Sooner or later I run out of the time to keep learning and practicing.

Virgil, good to see you're still part of the community. I read your first posting to this thread and enjoyed it, then looked at the posting date and thought, gee, nobody's posted in years. You see, I'm used to forums that post most recent items first. But I caught on, and skipped over [I]many[I] pages to find the most recent, and as I said, was delighted to find you're still here.

Well, I'll pop in from time to time, and hope to contribute more when my currently hectic life slows down a bit. I'll look forward to having a chance to chat with you all.

[impofidres]

Hello all

I discovered this forum this afternoon while taking a break (aka procastinating) from a paper I should be writing. I'm glad to see that there are actually people out there that enjoy literature as much as I do: I've been getting used to others giving me a pitying look when I tell them I'm studying literature.
Looking forward to getting involved and meeting you!

[skytyler]

well...hi!

[last_saint77]

I am fondly called "The Last saint" yes, the very last of the living saints.I am a prolific individual with dynamic skills in the writing domain.I have a double degree in Geography and Environmental Management and in Management - Marketing.Still single and living in Cameroon.

[AngstyPoet]

Hello...I'm Allison...as my name suggests, I'm a angsty poet! I also like to write fictional stories...I'm currently obsessed with the Twilight series and my favorite writer would have to be Emily Dickinson! She's the reason I stumbled into this place, looking up views on her unique poetry! I'm 17 years old and I am a Junior in High School. Despite my angst, I'm cheerful (for the most part) and enjoy friends! I've probably talked too much (I do that often ._.') so I will just leave it as this!

[Ella_Sabiers]

Hello to you literature fans!
Do I really have to tell you what one of my hobbies is? It's English-speaking literature! As a German, I've always found it amazing and interesting how short and simple you can express matters in English whereas you need long sentences to express the same in German (don't get me wrong, I'm very fond of my mother tongue). Moreover, I simply love the stories I read by Anglo-American writers! To share this love with others, I decided to join this literature discussion forum.
So I'm happy to have found this place!

[muhsin]

Welcome everyone!

[MattG]

Hello!

I'm not new, really. I lurk for the most part. I haven't been here in a while though so I thought I'd say 'hello'.

Having accomplished what I set out to do in saying hello, I'd also like to say that I'm quite proud of myself for making it ALL the way through "Fun with Dick and Jane". That one was a literary labrynth of complicated thought and dark corners, but yes, I persevered over the course of several years and have finally made it through.

[windowfriend]

Hello to all you bibliophiles!

I'm a normal-kinda person--sorry, no fascinating life stories here! College student, books-and-music lover, future librarians of America member...
I started reading when I was three and never looked back!

For the most part, I am addicted to Chesterton, Lewis, Sayers, Tolkien, and British authors in general. I love poetry as well. There's no way I could name all my favorites, but the ones that come to mind are Eliot, Dickinson, and Edward Taylor.

I'm looking forward to meeting you all! Come by sometime--I'd love to talk!

[Skinny Map]

Hey, my name is Margot, A.K.A : M.A.P (Map), I'm half Chinese and Italian and I enjoy reading novels, also I have recently acquainted myself with more classic books such as 'The Great Gatsby' and 'The Castle'.

[webmagnate]

Hi everyone. As of the moment, I'm the newest member in this community.

I'm an English teacher and have traveled almost all of Asia teaching English. I love what I'm doing for it makes me happy and I have the opportunity to experience other culture as well.

[Christine1152]

Hello!

And Hi Kate - I'm also a middle aged woman who has discovered literature. I like the look, the feel, and the smell of books, and I am mesmerized by the beauty of the language of the classics.

I am working my way through Alexandre Dumas' work at the moment.

But one thing aside - I am researching (for a surprise Christmas gift) the rest of an old English children's nursery rhyme/game that starts something like this:

Here come I, stiff as a stump,
Selling my blacking for a penny a lump.

It goes on to hush the children, and warn them to behave, or do as their told.

Anyone know this?

Thanks for being available everybody - this is a wonderfule site.

Christine

[CataclySm1c]

Hello everyone. Glad that I actually found a site like this. I am keen in literature, which is apparently quite detested in my area, Singapore. I have read 1984 by Orwell, Simulacra And Simulation by Baudrillard, Brave New World by Huxley, and currently reading The Brothers Karamazov by Doetoevsky. Took me half a month plus to reach the 300 page milestone. Man my concentration span is really short. Many of my friends do not read books like this, stuck with their game books and normal novels, which I quote Orwell "prolefeed" hehe. Oh yeah, and I'm 14 this year. Its hard to find peers that are close to me to talk about literature you know. Anyways, I am really glad and excited that I've found such an online community which will benefit my knowledge for years to come O_O (again, I shall state, I AM 14, nothing to brag though, just feel that I'm a little young hehehehe)

[MattG]

But one thing aside - I am researching (for a surprise Christmas gift) the rest of an old English children's nursery rhyme/game that starts something like this:

Here come I, stiff as a stump,
Selling my blacking for a penny a lump.

It goes on to hush the children, and warn them to behave, or do as their told.

Anyone know this?

Thanks for being available everybody - this is a wonderfule site.

Christine

I googled 'til my fingers bled and only found the three lines you refer to.

I wonder how you came across it in the first place, and what the signifigance is, but that would be the part of the conversation where my wife would kick me under the table (which I know is a sign to shut up though I'm often unclear as to why) and later tell me to mind my own business.

[lrtress]

Hi, I am thrilled to have just found this site and registered on it!

Christine,

Here come I, stiff as a stump, selling my blacking a penny a lump.
I don't know this rhyme, but I can reference its meaning for you.

There's piece called 'Humorous Fancy' by Deering or Dering from 1610, which is made up of the street cries of those hawking their goods and trades. I have a collection of some songs from Shakespeare's plays and from him his time. 'Cryes of London' is a song a I know that derives from the text above.

'Buy any black, buy any black...will you buy any blacking, maids?'

Blacking was a substance used like shoe polish, for boots to keep them black.

I don't know the exact source of your poem, but at least I could shed some light on its meaning. Hope it helps. Really interesting.

lrtress