Not at Home to Callers 1
Says the Naked Tree－
Bonnet due in April－
Wishing you Good Day－
Says the Naked Tree－
Bonnet due in April－
Wishing you Good Day－
(F.1604/J.1590)
[1] Not at Home:: no reception. Callers:: visitors, to buy trees.
[2] Naked:: unready, nothing to sell. Tree:: tree-man, one who sells trees.
[3] Bonnet:: cover, leaves of a tree.
Said our friend to the "tree man," "how many years have you been in the business, you know so many names of trees?" ─ The Horticulturist (1861)
There was a man up the tree, and Lord Edward was doing his best to get at him, springing wildly at the tree and fairly shaking with rage. . . . "This one," said the latter, "is a tree-man" ─ Rudder Grange (1879)