Ihr liewe Leit:

   Darrich der Winder 1998-1999 hen sie mehner Schnee draus im Wescht ghatt ass yemols bevor, awwer do im Oscht saage oft Leit ass mer nimmi so viel Schnee griege ass wie Yaahre zerrick.

   Es kennt sei ass des dann un wann bassiert, weil schunn in 1878 hot der H. L. Fisher in seim Buch Die Alde Ziede gschriwwe:

"Harrye! Was waar der Schnee so dief
   In selle alde Zeide.
Wie kummt's dass ken so Schnee mehr gebt
   Wie in de alde Zeide."

(Do will mer yuscht frooge wann "die alde Zeide" waare fer der Fisher!) 

   Awwer mer wisse ass es immerrnoch ab un zu do in Pennsylveeni schneet. Mannichmol wisse mer gaar net ass es schneet bis mer nausgucke odder nausgehne, der Schnee fallt so sanft. Awwer mannichmol brauche mer gaar net nausgucke, der Wind un der Schnee kann mer eenicharriyets im Haus heere.

   Der J. Max Hark (1849-1930) hot mol gschriwwe:

"Was iss doch alles so ruich un schtill!
   Mer Heert ken Laut net im ganse Busch hie,
    Net mol es gebiebs vumme glee Tschickedie, Kee Grapp, un kee Gschwall, Merharricht wie mer        will."
 

"Ken Lifdel riehrt sich; un's gebt eem en Gfiehl
   Ass wann die Welt mit allmechdicher Gewalt
   Uff eemol nau sich der Oochdem haldt.
Noh kummt der Schnee, awwer net imme Gewiehl;
   Die Flocke kumme wie Feddre so leicht,
Un eensel zuaerscht, awwer ball imme Gewewwer
   Ass die Luft demit wimmelt.Datt  drowwe nau schleicht,
En Nachteil darrich die dick Luft, ass eb's waer En Gschpuuk, so weiss un so schtill. Un im Schee Watt alles im Busch wie'n Geischderwelt schee."
 

Awwer der Eli Keller (1825-1919) hot mol gschriwwe:

Wie doch der Schtarrem nau braust
Un feegt un dobt un haust
Darrich Barrig un Daal im ganse Land.
Wie wervelt er der Schnee
Un draagt en in die Heeh
Bis Hinnerfens un Fels un Wand. 
 

Viel Schtroose sin net frei,
 Un's bloosst noch immer nei;
 Do iss---fer die Zeit---nix zu duh!  
 Mer sarrigt mit Drei un Mieh
Fer sich un fer sei Vieh
Un guckt debei---em Wedder zu!

   Awwer besunners im Fischer seinre Zeit hot viel Schnee en hallichi Zeit bedeidt---im Schlidde!

Macht's gut,

Dear people:

   During the winter 1998-1999 they had more snow out in the west than ever before, but here in the east people often say that we don't get as much snow now as we did years ago. 

   It could be that that happens now and then., because already in 1878 H. L. Fisher wrote in his book The Olden Times:

"Good Lord! How deep the snow was
   In those olden times.
How come there is no more such snow
   As in those olden times?" 

(One would lie to ask when "the olden times" were for Fisher!)


   But we know that it still snows here in Pennsylvania now and then. Sometimes we don't evenmknow that it is snowing until we look outside or go outside, because the snow falls so softly. But some- times we don't have to look out. We can hear the wind and the snow anywhere in the house.

   J. Max Hark (1849-1930) once wrote: 

How everything is so quiet and still!
   One hears no sound in the whole woods,
   Not even the peep of a small chickadee,
No crow and no squirrel, listen as one will.
 

No breeze moves; and it gives one a feeling
   As if the world with almighty force
   Suddenly holds its breath.
Then comes the snow, but not in a tumult;
   The flakes come, come like feathers so lightly,
One at a time, at first, but soon bustling
   So that the air swarms with them. Above now creeps
An owl through the heavy air, as if it were
A spook, so white and still. And in the snow everything in the woods becomes a ghostly world."

 

But Eli Keller (1825-1919) once wrote:

How the storm now roars
And sweeps and blusters and rages
Through mountain and valley, in the whole land.
How it swirls the snow
And carries it on high
To back fence, and rocks, and wall.

Many streets are not clear,
And it's still blowing in;
There is---for the time being---nothing to do!
One cares with loyalty and trouble For oneself and for the animals, And looks at---the weather!"

   But particularly in Fisher's time a lot of snow meant a glorious time---in the sleigh!

Take care,

The Old Professor