PA German Dialect

Es Neinuhr Schtick

August, 24, 2000

Ihr Liewe Leit:

   Letscht Woch hen mer gelese was die Buwe and Hollerhecke gleiche zu esse. Heit mache mer weider.

   Endlich hot der alt Sammy Sendepetzer gsaat ass en gudi Rieb deet ihm ebaut so gut schmacke ass ebbes. Der Billy Bixler hot sei eent Aag zugedrickt noch mir un der Kopp genuckt – so viel ass zu saage ass der reich alt Ketzer lebt uff Riewe weil er plendi hot un kann sie net verkaafe.

   Der Mike Dubriggel hot gsaat Musch un Millich deet sei Abbeditt dreffe,un der Fridder Moyer hot gepickt uff die alt Satt Siessebbel ass als zeidich sin warre noch der Aern un iwwer em Mischt faahre, un so hen sie fatt gedischbediert un ich hab als deweddergekaut.

   Endlich iss es rum zu mir kumme, un der Jack Kunraat hot mich aageguckt un gsaat, “Do hockt der Gottlieb un saagt ken Watt. Was iss dei Pick?”

   “Well, Buwe,” hawwich gsaat, “ich bin net zimberlich awwer fer Daag nei un Daag aus, fer Marriye, Middaag un Owets, geb mir Duwack.”

   “Bully fer er Buhneschtiehl! Du bischt, by gosh, widder recht!” hot der Hollerheck gsaat. “Kummt uff, all hands, un nemmt en jigger aus der schwatze Boddel uff mei Greditt!”

   Mir hen all gedrunke un hen sie schwatz Boddel gschwiept. Der Hollerheck hot in der Keller misse fer meh hole, awwer er hot graad en Kiwwel vol Regewasser un en Pund roder Peffer mit fer se Barl widder ufffille.

   Em Thomas Hess Harter (1854-1933) sei Schtori kann mer in seim Bush Boonastiel (1904) lese. Bis 30 Yaahr schpeeder waar die Gschicht annerscht, wie mer nau in der Louise Weitzel ihrem Gedicht lese:

Es is in fermlich Fiewer,
‘S fresst um sich wie der Gretz,
Di Weibsleit wie die Mannsleit,
Sie schmoke Siggaretts.
   Sie schmoke recht un schmoke links,
   Un schmoke Daag un Nacht,
   Un daer wu ebbes degege saagt,
   Der watt yuscht ausgelacht.
Es iss net gut fer yunge Leit,
Die Alde batt’s aa nix;
Es geht mit Buus un Kaardeschpiel,
Un allerhand so Dricks.
Die Aussichde fer unser Land,
   Es kummt mir vor, sin schlecht;
   ‘S hot niemand kee Reschpeckt fer Laa
   Un annere ihr Recht.

Macht’s gut,
Der Alt Professer

Dear people:

   Last week we were reading what the boys at Hollerheck’s barroom liked to eat. Today we will continue.

   Finally old Sammy Pennypincher said that a good turnip tasted about as good to him as anything. Billy Bixler pressed one eye closed at me and nodded his head – as much as to say that the rich old scoundrel lives off of turnips because he has plenty of them and can’t sell them.

   Mike Dubriggel said that mush and milk would hit his appetite, and Fridder Moyer picked the old sort of sweet apple that used to get ripe after the harvest and during taking the manure out to the fields, and thus they continued to discuss things and I just kept on chewing.

   Finally things got around to me, and Jack Conrad looked at me and said, “Here sits Gottlieb and says not a word. What is your pick?”

   “Well, boys,” I said, “I am not weak or delicate but for a day in and day out, morning, noon, and evenings, give me tobacco.”

   “Bully for Boonastiel! You are, by gosh, right again!” Hollerheck said. “Come up here, all hands, and take a jigger out of the black bottle on my credit!”

   We all drank and swept away the black bottle. Hollerheck had to go into the cellar to get more, but he just took along a pail full of rain water and a pound of red pepper to refill his barrel again.

   Thomas Hess Harter’s (1854-1933) story can be read in his book Boonastiel (1904). By thirty years later the story was different, as we now will read in Louise Weitzel’s (1862-1934) poem:

It is a downright fever,
It eats about itself like the itch,
Women as well as men,
They are smoking cigarettes.
   They smoke right and they smoke left,
   And smoke day and night,
   And whoever says a word against it,
   He is just laughed at.
It isn’t good for young people,
It doesn’t do the old folks any good either;
It goes with boozing and playing cards,
And all such kinds of tricks
   The prospects for our country,
   It seems to me, are bad;
   Nobody has any respect for law
   And other people’s rights.

Take care,
The Old Professor

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updated 3-15-2007 paf