PA German Dialect

Es Neinuhr Schtick

11-13-03

Ihr liewe Leit:

   In seim lang Gedicht "Die Alde Zeide" frogt der Henry Lee Fisher (1822-1909) set Leser

Weescht du noch
Wie's waar am Ebbelscheele
Un Welschkannbaschde mit de Meed?

   'S aerscht andwadde mer's zwett Deel, un zwaar middem Ezra Grumbine (1845-1923) seim Gedicht "Der Rot Welschkannkolwe":

Die Sunn geht unner
Am Busch datt drunne,
Die Nacht kummt bei, 's watt schpot:
Bin verlosse un alt,Doch finn ich alsbald
En Kolwe glensend rot

Un ich meen ich seh
Yetz vor mir schteh
'S yung Volk vun alde Zeide;
Un frieh odder schpot,
En Kolwe rot
Bringt widder Yugendfreide!

In selle Daage,
Des muss ich saage,
Waar alles froh un frei;
En halwi Nacht
Watt's freehlich gelacht,
Un Welschkann gschtrippt debei!

Sell waar en Zeit
Fer yunge Leit,
Datt kannscht dich druff verlosse;
Waer en roder finnt,
Daer watt dann gschwinnt
Sei liebschtes Meedel bosse!

   Un der Fisher gebt uns sei eegni Andwatt:

Am Welschkannbaschde waar's die Ruul
So bei de yunge Leit-
Hot een en roder Kolwe gfunne,
Dann hot er aa an Schmutzer gwunne
Vum Meedel bei der Seit;
Die rode Kolwe hen mer gschpaart
Fer Soome-'s waar so en gudi Aart.

Was rode Kolwe, rode Backe!
Ich meen ich sehn die noch;
En roder Kolwe waar eem lieb.
Un O! was schlaue, yunge Dieb,
Un glicklich waar mer doch
Wie mir noch hen so schmutze daerfe,
Un waer deeet nau so'n Ruul verwaerfe?

   Mer misse neegscht Woch mit dem do Gedanke weidermache.

Macht's gut,
Der Alt Professer

Dear people:

   In his long poem "The Olden Times" Henry Lee Fisher (1822-1909) asks his readers

Do you still know
How things were while peeling apples
And husking corn with the girls?

   First of all we will answer the second part, and to be sure with Ezra Grumbine's (1845-1923) poem "The Red Ear of Corn":

The sun is going under/setting
In the woods down there,
The night approaches, it's getting late;
I'm abandoned and old,
Nevertheless I immediately find
An ear, gleaming red.

And I think I see
Now standing before me
Young folks from olden times;
And early or late,
A red ear
Again brings the joys of youth!

In those days,
This I have to say,
Everyone was happy and free;
For a half night
We laughed joyously,
Meanwhile husking corn!

That was a time
For young people,
You can depend on that;
Whoever finds a red one
He will then quickly
Kiss his dearest girl!

   And Fisher gives us his own answer:

While husking corn there was the rule
So with the young people-
If you found a red ear,
Then you won a kiss
From the girl at your side;
The red ears we saved
For seed-it was a good fashion/custom.

What red ears, red cheeks!
I think I still see them;
A red ear was dear to you
And oh! what sly, young thieves,
And we were nevertheless happy
When we could kiss that way,
And who would now reject/spurn such a rule?

   We will have to continue next week with this thought.

Take care,
The Old Professor

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updated 3-15-2007 paf