Affenschmidt

I only tried because "Luckett" and "Frederick Town" rang bells. Also, in my second post: *Chillicothe

None of the sources I've found in thirty seconds of research details the insult Chapman received (or believed himself to have received) from Luckett.

Frederick Town was also the original name of Winchester, VA, just across the Blue Ridge from Leesburg, but it was already Winchester by 1803 and so not a candidate for Chapman's home town. Luckett later moved to Chillichothe, OH, where he died in 1854.

There is an unincorporated village called Lucketts a bit north of Leesburg, VA. A quick search turns up Otho Holland William Luckett, born in 1782. William Chapman presumably lived in Frederick, MD, where Luckett's mother lived (his father died in 1786), but it's a pretty common name.

"You'll know what dinner is when I put it on the table. Now go pick up your socks."

A group of my friends and acquaintances who organize an annual Burns Supper call themselves the Serious Burns Unit.

...what's nasty about beetles? Sure, a junebug splattered on your windshield is unattractive at best, but they're tidy shiny li'l critters.

What sort of stone is it? It doesn't appear to be a gemstone. If it's a random stone lying in a field, I have to wonder at the writer's perspective. If, however, it's a kidney stone, "enormous" is indeed an appropriate descriptor.

And we are the better for having seen it.

I'm reminded of a picture I saw in the 1969 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records showing Robert Wadlow, aged 19 or so and over eight and a half feet tall (he was 8'11" when he died at 22) with his normal-sized younger brothers. "Robert," said the caption, "is the one in glasses."

It's been around longer than that--clearly this is a new edition (possibly a new publisher?)

We got it from the library (via Kindle) and read it to my son (9 at the time); he liked it so much that when we got him his own Kindle a year later, that was one of the books we bought for it and T Kingfisher/Ursula Vernon remains a household favorite.

RIFE-ling and pre-REK-wi-zit. US, grew up in Virginia in a transplanted New England family, have lived in Massachusetts for 20 years or so. I believe most of my schoolmates in VA would have said (and presumably still would say) RYE-full-ing and pre-REH-kwi-zit.

I am reminded of this: though I don't think any of them was set in Japan, the Hardy Boys books have several scenes of Frank or Joe somewhere overseas trying and failing to make himself understood in his "stilted high school [insert language here]."

I'm getting a very strong "Are you seriously asking me to grant you a third extension on your paper?" vibe.

I think that's the cat's tail coming up from her right hand.

Any of untold numbers of pirate/seafaring pictures set in the 18th century: [shows someone playing a concertina]

Me: The concertina was invented in 1827 and wasn't widely available for decades after that! (grumble grumble)

I was going to say "I think you should know I'm feeling very depressed" but there's always the danger that someone will take me seriously no matter how much context surrounds me.

Whereon he once explained why he just happened to have a silent E in his pocket: "In case I'm feeling hungry and I find a bunch of graps." Absolutely deadpan. I was cracking up over that for days.

Yes, exactly. Perfect. 😁

NITPICK ALERT That's "champing at the bit." Similar, but not identical, in both spelling and action. Will be neither surprised nor offended if your reaction to this is "Whatever, close enough." END NITPICK ALERT

"I lost my hand! I lost my bride! Fetch me the big crysknife!" (scene condensed)

I have only just found this conversation. If I'd found it earlier, I'd have baled by now.

You mean the packing material in your new sewing supplies box?

Similar but not the same, from the late, great Tom Lehrer:

At your command
Before you here I stand
My heart is in my hand (Ecch!)
It's here that I must be...

Lots of people of all ages love liver, which is fine. They can have mine.

It hatched before it fossilized, which puts a limit on how many consequences there can be to unearthing it...oh well.

Superman for me. I'll take it.

Also, it was originally (and in some versions of the song still is) just one hall, as in the great hall of a castle or a manor house.

...but it's one of Katchoo's favorites?