PA German Dialect

Es Neinuhr Schtick

3-02-00

Ihr liewe Leit:
   Der Salli Holsbock (Harvey Miller, 1871-1939) hot mol in seim Gedicht "Mer Kenne All Lache" gschriwwe:

Mer kenne all lache
   Wann alles gut geht.
Awwers Gschpass driwwer mache
   Wann's siwwe Daag schneet-
Mit nein unner Zero
   Un Kohle so raar (Hitzeel so deier??)
Ass die Hesse verfriere
   Im Bett, wie des Yaahr-
Sell's en gans annri Sach,
   Un nix ass en Hero
Kummt rum mit me Lach
   Mit em Wedder an Zero!

   Ya, 's iss waahr; mer hen en zimmlich langi Zeit zimmlich kalt Wedder ghatt, awwer ihr watt sehne - bis Yuli iss der Schnee widder weck un es watt widder schee waarrem! Dann kenne mer all widder lache.

   Odder mer kenne en paar Parreschtoris lese. Es kennt sei ass die PD hunnerde odder villeicht aa dausende vun Parreschtoris allee do in Pennsylveeni hen, un weil sie PD sin, sin sie net all die rechte fer en Familyezeiding. Awwer nadierlich sin viel sogaar allrecht fer Kinner.

   Ich weess net eb's do in Schuylkill Kaundi waar odder net, awwer do waar mol en Karrich wu die Leit vun der Gemee gedenkt hen ass sie die beschde Leit in der beschde Gemee in der beschde Karrich im Kaundi warre. "S iss net zu verlegele: sie warre enwennich hochmiedich, sell iss fer schur.

   Noh ee Daag kummt en Bauer un zieht mit sei Fraa un Kinner in en aldi Bauerei gans neegscht der Karrich. Nadierlich hot er gedenkt er deet die Gemee vun daere Karrich aanemme un hot dewege middem Parre gschwetzt.
   "Well," Saagt der Parre, "des muss ich awwer mit de Vorschteher uffnemme. Dann loss ich dich wisse was sie devun denke."
   Nau ihr kennt eich denke was die Vorschteher gsaat hen - der Bauer un sei Familye waare ne gewiss net hochmiedich genunk.
   Wie der Parre widder der Bauer aagedroffe hot, hot er ihm gsaat was die Vorschteher vun der Sach gsaat hedde. "Was dun au duh musscht iss Gott fer Rot frooge. Mol sehne was Er saagt."
   Zwee odder drei Daag schpeeder drefft der Parre der Bauer uff der Schtrooss aa un froogt en eb er Gott fer Rot gfroogt hett.
   "Nadierlich," antwatt der Bauer. "un des iss was Er mir gsaat hot: 'Fiehl gaar net schlecht, awwer sei froh driwwer. Ich hab selwer fer etliche Yaahr browiert in daere Karrich kumme, un bin heit noch net drin!'"

Macht's gut,
Der Alt Professer

Dear people:
   Solly Hulsbuck (actually Harvey Miller 1871-1939) one wrote in his poem "We Can All Laugh":

We can all laugh
   When everything goes well.
But to make fun of
   Seven days of snow-
With nine below zero
   And coal so rare (heating oil so expensive??)
That our heels freeze
   In bed, as they did this year-
That's an entirely different matter,
   And nothing but a hero
Comes around with a laugh
   With the weather at zero!

   Yes, it is true: We had cold weather for a rather long time, but you will see - by July the now will be gone again and it'll get nice and warm! Then we can all laugh again.

   Or we can read a few Pastor Stories. It could be that PGs have hundreds or perhaps thousands of Pastor Stories just alone here in Pennsylvania, and because they are PG, they are not all the right ones for a family newspaper. But of course, many are all right even for children.

   I don't know if it was here in Schuylkill County or not, but there was once a church where the people of the congregation thought that they were the best people in the best congregation in the best church in the county. It cannot be denied: they were a little haughty or stuck up, that's for sure.
   Well, one day a farmer comes and moves with his wife and children into an old farm very close to the church. Naturally he thought that he would join the congregation of that church and talked to the pastor about it.
   "Well," says the pastor, I'll have to take that up with the deacons. Then I'll let you know what they think about it."

   Now, you can imagine what the deacons said-the farmer and his family were certainly not haughty enough for them.
   When the pastor again met the farmer, he told him what the deacons thought about the matter. "What you now have to do is ask God for advice. Let's see what He has to say."
   Two or three days later the pastor meets the farmer on the street and asks him if he had asked God for advice.

   "Of course," answers the farmer, "and this is what He told me: 'Don't feel bad, but be happy about it. I, myself, have tried for many years to get into that church, and I am still not in today!"

Take care,
The Old Professer

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updated 3-15-2007 paf