PA German Dialect

"Neiyaahrs Schitz in Alde Zeide"/
"New Year Shooters in Olden Days"

1-02-03

Ihr liewe Leit:

Habt ihr gude Leser ebbes gheert so rum Middernacht Dinnschdaag Nacht (odder waar es dann schunn Mittwoch)? Ich bin zu der Dier gange, hab sie uffgemacht - un hab nix gheert. Kee Schiesse, kee Feierkraeckers, knee nix, saag ich eich.
Awwere wie waar's wie der Thomas J.B. Rhoads (1837-1919) sei Schtick "Neiyaahrs Schitz in Alde Zeide" gschriwwe hot?

Am letschde Daag im alde Yaahr
Sin die Bauere in der Schtor
Mit Oier un mit Federvieh
Un lege sie uffem Kaunder hie.

Der Schtormann fillt ihr Pulwerhann
Voll Schiesspulwer, mit gleene Kann,
Um recht des Neiyaahr aazuschiesse
Un debei ihr Nochbere zu griesse.

Sie hen die alde Muschkeede gelaade,
Un sin darrich gniediefer Schnee gebaade,
Schtill un ruhich wie en Maus
Noch dem neegschde Bauerehaus.

Datt hen sie gschtanne im diefe Schnee,
Mit kalde Fiess un schteife Bee;
En mancher hot sei bloosse Ohre
Un noch debei sei Fiess verfrore.

Der Kaepten hot en scheener Schpruch
Abgelese ohne Buch;
Die Kugelbixe hen gegnallt
Ass iwwer Barrig un Daal geschallt.

Dann heert mer glei der Schlissel drehe
In der Dier, un dutt aa sehe
Der Mann vum Haus mit Licht in Hand
Die Dier uffmache wu er schtannd.

Er laad sie alle freindlich ei
Un nemmt sie in ser Zimmer nei-
Sie waare froh fer neizugeh,
Mit kalde Fiess un schteife Bee.

Do waar Ebbeltschaeck un Seider
Un guder Wisski mit Gegreider;
En Nieyaahrschtick, un guder Wei
Un siesser Kuche aa debei,

Dann hot mer's Neiyaahrschtick gegesse-
Der Wei waar mit Glaas gemesse-
Dann sin sie zu der Dier hinaus
Un elite nooch em neegschte Haus.

Macht's gut,
Der Alt Professer

Dear people:

Did you good readers hear something so around midnight Tuesday night (or was it then already Wednesday)? I went to the door, opened it - and heard nothing. No shooting, no firecrackers, no nothing I tell you.
But how was it when Thomas J. B. Rhoads (1837-1919) wrote his piece "New Year Shooters in Olden Days"?

On the last day of the old year
The farmers went to the store
With eggs and with fowl
And put them down on the counter.

The storekeeper filled their powder horns
With gun powder, with small kernels,
To shoot in the New Year correctly
And thereby greet their neighbors.

They loaded the old muskets,
And waded through knee-deep snow,
Still and quiet as a mouse
To the nearest farmhouse.

They they stood in the deep snow,
With cold feet and stiff legs;
Some of them froze their bare ears
Along with their feet.

The captain read a nice saying (wish)
Without having to use a book;
The rifles banged
So that it resounded over mountain and valley.

Then they immediately heard the key turn
In the door, and also see
The man of the house with a light in his hand
Opening the door where he stood.

He invites them all in a friendly way
And takes them into his room-
They were happy to go in,
What with cold feet and stiff legs.

There was applejack and cider
And good whiskey with herbs;
A New Year's meal, and good wine
And also sweet cake.

Then they ate the New Year's meal -
The wine was measured by the glass -
Then they went out the door
And hurried to the next house.

Take care,
The Old Professor

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updated 3-15-2007 paf