At-Hame, In-My-Ain Countrie Revisited

[Lorcan]

This is speculation based the last couple of minutes of a black and white documentary about the Borden case where the host read out these 4 verses, explored below. The overall theory is that At-Hame, In-My-Ain Countrie carved into Lizbeth's Library mantlepiece has a double meaning. The surface reference is to Mary Lee Demarest's song/poem.

However, there is an earlier use of those words in an older Scottish poem, "Hame, Hame, Hame," by Allan Cunningham. The idea is Lizzie ran across those familiar words while reading Scottish poetry and the four lines explored below hit so close to home, that the double meaning was too compelling to ignore. Lizzie might have left a carved confession and justification at Maplecroft.

The green leaf of loyalty is beginning to fall.
The bonnie White Rose it is withering and all.
But I'll water it with the blood of usurping tyranny,
And green it will grow in my own country.

"The green leaf of loyalty is beginning to fall."
I thought my father would always put me first, but my stepmother has proven that is no longer the case. If this continues, or worse, if he dies before her, she will have complete control of my future. This cannot continue.

"The bonnie White Rose it is withering and all."
My hope for a better life, my inheritance, my freedom from their control, my youth is withering away under their oppressive rule.

"But I'll water it with the blood of usurping tyranny"
I will revive my life, my freedom, and secure my future by eliminating those who plot against my future behind my back and betray our sacred bond, the deceitful, usurping stepmother and my own father who again hid his plans to give my inheritance to another.

"And green it will grow in my own country."
Through their deaths, my life, my "country" (my home, my future, my independence, Maplecroft, the theatre, my animal protection), will flourish and thrive.

I know this is viewed through a modern lens and I may be way off on this, but perhaps someone will come up with a better theory or have a better read on what Lizzie was really feeling.

[Lorcan]

This is another item that jumps out as possibly being the same type of double meaning or just a coincidence. Sunbonnet babies, a woman in a red dress, an apron, with her hair covered, then the bucket that has cloth and who knows what else, since it was never searched. The plate was given to Olga Thelen in 1912 for her birthday from Lizzie Borden.

It could be a reference to: I covered my hair, that extra apron covered the blue bedford cord I burned, that bucket had more than bloody water and innocent rags for a time. Or it could be just all a coincidence, or a bit of dark humor.

Sunbonnet Babies 01.jpg

[camgarsky4]

Ha! Now that is a new one. I've never seen that design before.

If this was intended as a double meaning, sent to someone who wouldn't have a clue, what does that tell us about her psychological profile?
Pretty creepy and scary.