Ihr liewe Leit:
Do sin noch en paar Vaerscht vun Hark seinre Gedicht “An der Fair”:
Bei daer Zeit nau muss es ball Middaag sei;
So gehne sie in en Schtaend nei
Wu mer’n Oischder Schtu grickt, mit Graeckers un Graut,
Fer’n Vaddel – un’s schumackt beede yuscht ebaut!
Neegschtbei vor me Zeit tschumpt en Hanswascht rum,
Un’s schpielt en yung Weibsmensch die Drumm. Sie
hen groosse Bilder uff’s Zeltduch gepaing Vun wilde Gredure, un was mer drie (drin)
sehnt.
‘S waar indressant aa die Races zu seh;
was kenne die Drodder net geh?
Ebwoll ass der Jake meent es waer viel im Draeck,
Un aa net ewennich im Driver sei Naeck.
Sie schtehne so lang datt am Racegrund draus,
Es watt ne zu schpot fer ins Haus
Neizugeh wu die Schtorsache sin, uns Geneh,
Un Gebeck, un die Tschelli, un allerhand meh,
Ass der Jake secht am beschde waer’s doch net so gut –
‘S hett ennihau ihm net so gsuut –
Ass es Brod un der Budder ass die Kate selwer macht,
Un vun wellem er gschpeckt noch zu esse nor Nacht!
“Awwer’s Gschpeckde iss net immer’s Hawwe!” secht sie.
Un er meent ass er hett sie noch nie
So gegliche wie nau, wie sie’n aageguckt hot
Ass deet sie en frooge eb er sie hawwe watt!
Es macht ihn zu dummle fer zu schtaerde fer Heem,
So’s er gschwinnt vun der Graud eweck keem.
Es nemmt aa net lang sin sie’m Weggelche drie,
Un safe uff em Weg noch der Buschkill hie.
Uff ee Mol hot er sie gebosst ass es gracht,
Un gsaat – un hot laut dezu gelacht –
“Es Hawwe kummt oft ohne’s Gschpeckde fer Meed!”
“Des hawwich schun lang awwer gschpeckt,” secht die Kate!
Fer en lang Schtori katz zu mache: vor der neegscht Fair
Waar die Katey die Mrs. Jake Lehr!
Un der Jake neckst sie oft, un secht’s dutt em leed.
Ass er net an die Fair meh kann geh mity de Meed!
Macht’s gut,
Der Alt Professer
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Dear people:
Here are a few more stanzas from Hark’s poem “At the Fair”:
By that time now it must almost be midday;
So they go into a stand
Where one gets oyster stew, with crackers and kraut,
For a quarter – and it takes good to them both!
Nearby in front of a tent a clown jump around,
And a young woman plays the drum.
They have painted big pictures on the tent canvass of wild creatures, and
what one sees inside.
It was also interesting to see the races;
How those trotters can go!
Although Jake thinks much has to do with the track,
And also not just a little with the driver’s knack.
They stand so long out at the raceway,
It get too late for them to go into the house
Where the store things are, and the sewing,
And the baking, and the jelly, and much more.
So that Jake says at best it wouldn’t be so good –
It wouldn’t have suited him anyhow –
As the bread and the butter that Kate herself makes,
And of which he expected yet to eat before night!
“But expecting is not always having!” she says.
And he thinks that he has never liked her
As much as now, as she looked at him
As if she were asking him if he wanted her!
It makes him hurry to start in for home,
So that he gets away from the crowd quickly.
It doesn’t take long they are in the wagon,
And safely on their way toward the Bushkill.
Suddenly he kisses her so hard it cracked,
And said – and laughed loudly at it –
“Having often comes without expecting for girls!”
“But I have expected that for a long time,” says Kate
To make a long story short: before the next fair
Katey was Mrs. Jake Lehr!
And Jake often ribs her, and says that he is sorry
That he can no longer go to the fair with the girls!
Take care,
The Old Professor
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