PA German Dialect

Es Neinuhr Schtick

May 06, 2004

Ihr liewe Leit:

   Ich glaab 's iss nau widder Zeit ass mer en paar Kallems benutze fer ebbes vun unsere Schuylkill Kaundi Pennsylvaanisch Deitsche (PD) Schreiwer zu saage. Awwer desmol fange mer aa middem weschtliche Deel vum Kaundi, datt draus in Renntown un Osmanschteddel.

   Renntown? Ihr liewe PD Leser vun Hegins, ihr misst doch sicher wisse wu Renntown iss - (waar?).

Osmanschteddel? Ihr liewe PD Leser vun Valley View, ihr misst doch sicher wisse wu Osmanschteddel iss - (waar?).

   Kennt ihr Leit datt draus noch der Naame John George Renn? Er hot mol en Wattshouse ge-eegent. Un kennt ihr noch der naame Joseph Osman? Er hot mol aa en wattshouse beseesse. Awwer, ihr liewe Leit, sell waar nau en arrig langi Zeit zerrick!

   Ya, die Zeit vergeht un mer vergesst. Gott sei dank, awwer, ass mer Bicher hen! Mer kann die gans Welt in denne Bicher finne, sogar Hegins:

O Hegins, mei Heemet,
   Schee Schtettche im Land,
In meh ass eem Kaundi
   Iss dei Lob bekannt.

   Nau saag, wer vun eich datt draus in Hegins un Valley View meindt noch die Linye?
Der Dichder wu die Linye gschriwwe hot, hot aa es Gedicht ass follight gschriwwe.

Mei Heemet iss im Land wu ich
Am liebschde immer bin.
Wu Ieme siesser Hunnich suche
In de Blumme drin.
Wu's Welschkann waxt, gans golde gehl
Un deel so rot ass Blut,
Un Kieh, die kumme heem mit Millich
   Weiss ass Schnee un gut.

Elf Acker Land in Schuylkill Kaundi
   Un en Holschtee Kuh,
Noh noch en guder Gaul, un des
   Soll mich un's Weiwel duh!

Die Veggel fliege aus de weide Barrige,
   Hoch un bloh,
Un peife in der ruhiche Luft
   Die Musik schee un froh.
Un wann die Lichder gehne Schteege nuff
   In Summerzeit,
Dann singe griene Laabfresch
Ihre Schloofschtick fer die Leit.

Elf Acker Land in Schuylkill Kaundi
Un en Holschtee Kuh,
Noh noch en guder Gaul, un des
   Soll der Familye duh!

   Un der Dichder? Villeicht finne mer neegscht Woch aus.

Macht's gut,
Der Alt Professer

Dear people:

   I believe that it is again time that we use a few columns to day something about our Schuykill County Pennsylvania German (PG) writers. But this time we will begin with the western part of the county, out there in Renntown and Osmanschteddel (town).

Renntown? You dear PG readers of Hegins, you must certainly know where Renntown is -(was)?

   Osmanschteddel (town)? You dear PG readers from Valley View would certainly know where Osmanschteddel is - (was)?

   Do you people out there stillknow the name John George Renn? He once owned a tavern. And do you still know the name Joseph Osman? He also once owned a tavern/hotel. But, heavens to Betsy, that was now a long time ago!

   Yes, time passes and we forget. Thank God, however, that we have books! We can find the whole world in those books, even Hegins:

Oh Hegins, my home,
   Beautiful village in the country,
In more than one counry
   Your praise is known.

   Now, tell me, who of you out there in Hegins and Valley View remember still those lines?
The poet who wrote those lines also wrote the poem that follows:

My home is in the country where I
Like to be the best.
Where bees seek sweet honey
   In the flowers.
Where corn grows, very golden yellow
And some as red as blood,
And cows, they come home with milk
White as snow and good.

Eleven acres of land in Schuylkill County
And a Holstein cow,
And also a good horse, and that
   Should do for me and my little wife!

The birds fly from the wide mountains,
High and blue,
And whistle in the quiet air
   Music beautiful and happy.
And when the lights go up the stairs
   In the summertime,
Then sing green treefrogs
   Their sleep-piece for the people.

Eleven acres of land in Schuylkill County
   And a Holstein cow,
And also a good horse, and that
   Should do for the family!

   And the poet? Maybe we'll find out next week.

Take care,
The Old Professor

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The Pennsylvania German Society
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at the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center

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Ephrata, PA 19522

Our mailing address is:

The Pennsylvania German Society

P.O. Box 118
Ephrata, PA 19522
(484) 646-4227
Fax: (484) 646-4228
E-mail: pgs@kutztown.edu

updated 3-15-2007 paf