PA German Dialect

Die Bauere Duhne Welschkann Baschde / 
The Farmers Husk Corn

October 21, 1999

Ihr liewe Leit:
Fer der Oktower 1905 hot her Kallennermann
(Henry A. Schuler, 1850-1908) gschriwwe:

"Die Bauere duhne als Welschkann baschde um
die Zeit. All die yunge Leit in der Nochberschaft sin
eigelaade warre dezu un hen als halliche zeide
ghatt. Die Buwe un Meed hen paarweis gebascht un
wann als eens en roder Kolwe gfunne hot, noh hot’s
seim Paertner en Boss gewwe darrefe." 

Der Henry Lee Fisher hot aa mol dodevun
gschriwwe:

"Am Welschkannbaschde waar’s die Ruul
So bei de yunge Leit---
Hot eens en roder Kolwe gfunne,
Dann hot er aa en Schmutzer gwunne
Vum Meedel bei der Seit;
Die roder Kolwe hen mer gschpaart
Fer Suume---‘s waar so’n gudi Aart. 

Was roder Kolwe! Rode Kolwe!
Ich meen ich sehn sie noch;
En roder Kolwe waar em lieb,
Un O’ was schlaue yunge Dieb,
Un glicklich waar mer doch.
Wie mir noch hen so schmutze daerfe,
Un waer deet nau so’n Ruul verwaerfe?" 

Der Ezra Grumbine (1845-1923) hot sich aa
aerrinere kenne was bassiert iss, wann en Baschder
en roder Kolwe gfunne hot: 

"In selle Daage,
Des muss ich saage,
Waar alles froh un frei;
En halwi Nacht
Watt’s freelich glacht,
Un Welschkann gschtrippt debei!

Un ich meen ich seh
Yetz vor mich schteh
‘S young Volk vun alde Zeide
Un frieh odder schpoot,
En Kolwe rot
Bringt widder yugend Freide!

Sell waar en Zeit
Fer yunge Leit,
Datt kannscht dich druff verlosse;
Wer’n Roder finnt
Der watt dann gschwinnd
Sei liebschdes Meedel bosse!" 

Macht's gut, 

Der Alt Professer
Dear people:
For October 1905 the Calendar Man (Henry A.
Schuler, 1850-1908) wrote:

"The farmers husk corn around this time. All
the young folk in the neighborhood were invited to
it and used to have glorious times. The boys and
girls paired off to husk, and when one of them found
a red ear, then he was able to give his partner a
kiss."

Henry Lee Fisher also once wrote about that:


"During corn husking it was the rule
With the young people---
If one of them found a red ear,
Then he also won a kiss
From the girl at his side;
We saved the red ears
For seed --- it was a good thing to do.

What red ear! red ears!
I believe I see them yet;
A red ear was dear to you,
And oh! What sly young thieves,
And we were so happy
When we were still allowed to kiss,
And who would reject such a rule?"

Ezra Grumbine (1845-1923) could also remem-
ber what happened when a husker found a red ear:

"In those days,
I have to say,
Everything was happy and free;
For a half night
We happily laughed,
And husked corn!

I think I see
Now standing before me
The young people of olden times;
And early or late,
A red ear
Again brings youthful joy!

That was a time
For young people,
You can depend on that;
Whoever finds a red ear
He will then quickly
Kiss his dearest girl!"

Take care,

The Old Professor

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