I've hearn some folks pretend that it comes from the bowels of the airth, but it don't; its a thing of the air, and I've a notion it travels a mighty long way from its startin' place afore it reaches us. "
1889,Annie Trumbull Slosson,Fishin' Jimmy:
"As I was tellin' ye," he said, "I allers loved fishin' an' knowed 't was the best thing in the hull airth.
1901,Henry van Dyke,The Ruling Passion:
I guess there ain't nothin' on airth he loves better 'n that holler piece o' wood, and the toons that's inside o' it.