PA German Dialect

Es Neinuhr Schtick
 

5-08-03

Ihr liewe Leit:

   Am elfde feiere mer der Mudders Daag. (Kenn't warricklich sei ass mer unsere Midder yuscht ee Mol im Yaahr aehre?)

   Do sim zwee Vaerscht aussem Frank H. Oberholtzer seim Gedicht "Mudders Daag":

   Sie dutt yo so wennich frooge
   Un hot uns all so lieb.
   Ferwas duhn mir sie so bloge?
   Sell macht ihre Lewe drieb.

   Sie hot uns so freilich gewwe.
   Ach! Do waar ken Mieh zu viel.
  Dass mir hedde's Bescht im Lewe,
   Des waar ihre heechschtes Ziel.

 

   Ya, unser Mammi hot yuscht's Beschde fer uns hawwe welle, un deswege waar ken Mieh zu viel fer sie. Kenne mer ihr dann en gleeni Freeht versaage? Zum Beischpiel, en Schissel un en Schpell?

   Der William H. Erb ("Der Gus" 1870-1940) hot mol gschriwwe:

Die Mudder hot Paar Schuh gebreicht,
Un aa en Kaffikann.
Sie brauch en Hut, en neier Frack,
Sie brauch en nei-i Pann.
   Sie macht sich reddi, geht ins Town
   Mit blendi Geld im Sack.
   Sie zeehlt zu kaafe was sie brauch,
   Abbaddich seller Frack.
Die Schtore waare voll mit Dings,
All wunnerbaarlich schee;
En blohi Schissel mit Gold getrimmt
Sich (sehnt) sie datt vor sich schteh.
   Noh sicht sie aa en goldni Schpell,
   Die schennscht in daere Welt.
   Sie zwitschert, glennst un lacht sie aa-
   Sie hot noch wennich Geld.
Sie kummt net weider in dem Schtor,
Net wu die Panne sin.
Beguckt die Schisssel, hebt sie uff,
Beguckt die goldne Pinn.
   Sie kaaft die Schissel un die Schpell,
   Es nemmt ihr letschder Zent.
   Noh geht sie heem un waar so froh,
   Un all des Geld verschpendt.
Die Mudder braucht en Kaffikann,
En Frack un Schuh un sell;
Sie hot was ihre Hatz verlangt-
En Schissel un en Schpell.

    Ya, ich glaab die Elfrieda G. Weaver hot sich es recht ausgedenkt ("Mudderdaag"):

Mer sette net vergesse
Deweil die Memm sich bloogt,
Net yuscht ee Daag im Yaahr-
Alle Daag iss Mudderdaag!

Macht's gut,
Der Alt Professer
 

Dear people:

   On the 11th we will be celebrating Mother's Day. (Could it really be that we honor our mothers just once during the year?)

   Here are two stanzas out of Frank H. Oberholtzer's poem "Mother's Day":

   She asks for so little
   And loves us all so much.
   Why do we pester her so?
   That makes her life dreary.

   She gave to us so freely.
   Oh, no pains/troubles were too much for her.
   That we would have the best in our lives,
   That was her highest goal.

   Yes, our Mommy just wanted us to have the best, and that's why no pain or trouble was too much for her. So can we then deny her a little joy? For example, a bowl and a pin?

   William H. Erb (pen name "Gus", 1870-1940) once wrote:

Mother needed a pair of shoes,
And also a coffee pot.
She needs a hat, a new dress,
She needs a new pan.
   She readies herself, goes into town
   With plenty of money in her pocket.
   She's counting on buying what she needs,
   Especially that dress.
The stores were full of things,
All wonderfully nice;
A blue bowl trimmed with gold
She sees standing there before her.
   Then she also sees a golden pin,
   The nicest one in this world.
   It twitters, looks at her and laughs-
   She still has a little money.
She gets no farther in that store,
Not where the pans are.
Looks at the bowl, lifts it up,
Looks at the golden pin.
   She buys the bowl and the pin,
   It takes her last cent.
   Then she goes home and is so happy,
   And has spend all that money.
Mother needs a coffee pot,
A dress and shoes and stuff;
She has what her heart requires-
A bowl and a pin.

 


  Yes, I believe Elfrieda G. Weaver thought things out correctly ("Mother's Day"):

We should not forget
While Mom is worrying herself,
Not just one day in the year-
Every day is Mother's Day!

Take Care,
The Old Professor

 


 

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