Autograph Books

Numberplease squeezed along the bottom of my autograph book under "by hook or by crook" is written by eggs and by bacon I think you`re mistaken. I treasure mine all those school friends and a large collection of famous autographs eg Arthur Askey, Peter Brough and Archie Andrews to name but two.

Sparkygran, I knew I`d forgotten something!! That was in my book too, I just couldn`t remember how it went!

In mine, after By hook or by crook... Some has squeezed in,
"By pen or by quill, I'll be d******d if you will!"

Maggie for now, Maggie for ever,
Young for now, but not for ever

featured a lot in my autograph book, because Young was my maiden name.

Every Sunday wet or fine
My Church I always visit
So that when at last I'm carried in
The Lord won't say "who is it?"

On my last page after 'By hook or by crook', my mum wrote "Don't be too sure, there's room for one more!"

I have just found the autograph books which belonged to my mother and her mother (my Nana).
Nana's book dates from 1912 just after she was married. Most of the entries are about giving advice or rememberance ...........

Look always on the sunny side
'Twill make us happier far;
Why should we try to find the cloud
When brightly shines the star?
Some people only see the world
As through a smokey glass;
They go halfway to meet the woe
And let the sunshine pass.

The only entry which is a little bit risque is ..........

Good girls love their brothers
But I so good have grown
That I love others brothers
Far better than my own.

There are also lots of little drawings especially of flowers.

My mother's book was started when she was about 15 and continued while she did her nursing. There are similar ones giving advice but humour is creeping in .................

Moses was a very good man
Children he had seven
Thought he'd hire a donkey cart and
Take them all to heaven.
Strange to say he lost his way
Though he knew it well
Overturned the donkey cart and
Sent them all to H..........

They are something I must have brought when we cleared my mum's flat before she moved to the care home but had forgotten about. I am amazed that I recognise some names in both books.

Someone wrote in mine:-

"Two in a hammock attempted to kiss
When all of a sudden they landed like this"

[with "this" written upside down]