- - - he once more changed the subject of Maude's looks to her name, which he heard was really Matilda. She had been called Maude, Matty said, after one who was once a very dear friend both of herself and her husband."Then we will call her Matilda," said he, "as it is a maxim of mine never to spoil children by giving them pet names."
1860, Mary Jane Holmes, Cousin Maude, BiblioBazaar,LLC, published 2007, page 14