If “the Creek Rise” You Won’t Get Wet

Here’s one for my readers who like the history and original meaning of old phrases.  “God willing and the Creek don’t rise” has nothing to do with flooding.  Benjamin Hawkins, who  wrote these words in the late 1800s, was a diplomat dealing with native Americans.  The President of the United States asked him to return to Washington, DC, on some political matter.  His response was that he would do so, “God willing and the Creek don’t rise.”  Because he capitalized the first letter of “Creek,” it’s obvious that he was talking about the Creek tribe, not a waterway.

A bit of Americana historical trivia….

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