1. P. M. Zall writes in "The Gothic Voice of Father Bear" (1974) that "it was no trick for Southey, a consummate technician, to recreate the improvisational tone of an Uncle William through rhythmical reiteration, artful alliteration ('they walked into the woods, while'), even bardic interpolation ('She could not have been a good, honest Old Woman')".

P. M. Zell schreibt in The Gothic Voice of Father Bear (1974) “It was no trick for Southey, a consummate technician, to recreate the improvisational tone of an Uncle William through rhythmical reiteration, artful alliteration ('they walked into the woods, while'), even bardic interpolation ('She could not have been a good, honest Old Woman')” „Für Southey, einen vollendeten Techniker, war es kein Kunststück, den improvisatorischen Ton eines Onkel William mittels rhythmischer Wiederholung, kunstvoller Alliteration , sogar bardischer Interpolation nachzuempfinden“ – P. M. Zell: The Gothic Voice of Father Bear (1974) Letztlich ist jedoch nicht sicher, woher Southey oder sein Onkel die Erzählung kannten.