Ihr liewe Leit:
Viel Leit kaafe en Welschhaahne fer der Dank-
daag, awwer ich glaab em John Birmelin sei Fami-
lye hot als en Welschhaahne uffgezoge. In seim
Gedicht "Im November" hot der Birmelin
(1873-1950) mol gschriwwe:
"Gulle, gulle! --- Des dutt mich gemaahne!
Gulle, gulle! --- Mer hen en Welschhaahne,
So dick un so rund,
So hatzhafdich, gsund;
Ich glaab er wiegt schier zwanisch Pund.
Ich will aa vergesse
Wie viel ass er gfresse,
Un wann ich en mol am Schenkel verwisch,
Dann is er schunn Marriye bei uns uffem Disch."
Un was finne die Pennsylvaanisch Deitsche
Familye aa uffem Disch? Der Joseph Peter Deibert
kann uns en Ahning gewwe wann mer em paar
Linye aus seim Gedicht "Der Mudder Ihre Disch"
lese:
"Immer waar der Disch bedeckt
Mit scheene, gude Sache.
'S fehlt yo net an Abbeditt,
Des macht der Maage lache.
Gudi Koscht un gsundi Koscht
Watt mer aa net leedich;
Tonics, Pille un Goldendur
Waare gaar net needich.
"All die scheene, gude Sache
Kosche net viel Geld,
Alles watt gereest deheem,
In Gaarde un im Feld.
So viel gude Sache sin's,
Mer kann sie schier net zeehle,
Wann du saagscht en dausent Schtick,
Duscht's net weit verfehle.
"Geelriewe, Schnitz un Gnepp,
Allerhand Gemies,
Weissgraut un Sauergraut,
Riewe gut un siess.
Baschtnaade, Botboi,
Nudelsupp un Brei,
Ebbeldumplings, Meerreddich,
Zwiwwle noch debei.
"Brotwascht un Lewwerwascht,
Fleeschboi frisch un feicht,
Kuddelfleck un Gallerei,
Seifiess, wer sie gleicht.
Schunkelfleesch un Tenderloin,
Kannscht nix bessers finne;
Seideschpeck un Rickmeesel
Dutt der Schaffmann g'winne."
Hoffentlich hen all ihr gude Leser en guder
Abbeditt marriye. Wann ihr Pennsylvaanisch
Deitsch sin, watt ihr en brauche.
Macht's gut,
Der Alt Professer
|
Dear people:
Many people buy a turkey for Thanksgiving,
but John Birmelin's family used to raise its own
turkey, I believe. In his poem "In November"
Birmelin (1873-1950) once wrote:
"Gobble, gobble! --- That reminds me!
Gobble, gobble --- We have a turkey,
So fat and so round,
So hearty, healthy;
I believe it weighs almost 20 pounds.
I want to forget
How much he ate,
And if I once catch him by the leg,
Then he'll already be on our table tomorrow."
And what do the Pennsylvania German families
also find on their tables? Joseph Peter Deibert can
give us an idea (inkling) if we read a few lines from
his poem "Mother's Table":
"Always was the table covered
With nice, good things.
It fails not on appetite,
That makes the stomach laugh.
Good food and healthy food
One never gets tired of;
Tonics, pills and golden tincture
Were not necessary at all.
"All the nice, good things
Don't cost much money;
Everything is raised at home,
In the garden and in the field.
There are so many good things,
One can hardly count them,
If you say a thousand things,
You won’t miss by much.
"Carrots, dried apples and dumplings,
All sorts of vegetables,
Boiled cabbage and sourkraut,
Turnips, good and sweet.
Parsnips, pot pie,
Noodle soup and oatmeal
Apple dumplings, horseradish,
Along with onions.
"Sausage and liverwurst,
Meat pie fresh and moist,
Tripe and souse,
Pig's feet, whoever likes them.
Ham and tenderloins,
Can't find anything better;
Bacon and pork chops
Is (are) won by the working man."
I hope that all of you good readers have a good
appetite tomorrow. If you are Pennsylvania Dutch
(German), then you'll need it!
Take care,
The Old Professor |
