Der Russel un die Florence Baver
(My first article, March 17, 2011)
Wie viel Leit henn der Russel un die Florence Baver gekennt? Der Russel iss gebore im Yaahr 1908 un iss gschtarewe im Yaahr 1977. Sei Fraa Florence iss gebore im Yaahr 1911 un iss gschtarewe im Yaahr 1999. Viele Leit henn sie gekennt as Schulmeestere awwer Mehner fer was sie geduh henn fer unser deitschi Kultur un Schprooch aazuhalde. …
How many people knew Russel and Florence Baver? Russel was born in 1908 and died 1977. His wife, Florence, was born in 1911 and died in 1999. Many people knew them as school teachers, but more knew them because of their work to continue the Pennsylvania Dutch culture and dialect. …
Die Alt Kedde-Brick
(Created March 20, 2016)
Datt in der Lechaa Wasser Kaft, do schpannt en alde Brick
Den scheene Lechaa Rewwer gebaut viel Yaahr zerick.
In der ganz United States, du maagscht suche, wu du witt
Do finnscht du gaar ken Gleichniss zu der alt Kedde-Brick. …
The Old Chain Bridge
There in the Lehigh Water Gap an old bridge spans
The beautiful Lehigh River, built many years ago.
Throughout the whole United States you may search where you will,
You will find no likeness to the old chain bridge here. …
Die Grundsau (Created January 23, 2017)
Ich bin schunn mannichmol im Busch
Un Felder rumgeloffe,
Un hab all die gleene Diere
Im Laafe aagedroffe. …
The Groundhog
I have already many times been out in the
County and walked around the fields,
And have come upon all the small wildlife
When walking. …
En Brief vun Daheem
(Created February 24, 2020)
Mir lewe nimmi wo mir gelebt henn, wann du uns verlose hoscht. Dei Daadi hot gelese in der Zeiting, dass die menschde Accidents gschehne deede mitin zwansich Meil vun daheem, so sin mir gezoge. Nau, ich kann dir die nei Address noch net schicke. Die Leit was devor do gewuhnt henn, henn die Hausnummere mitgenumme, so dass sie net ihre Address annere breiche. …
A Letter from Home
We no longer live where we lived when you left. Your dad read in the newspaper that most accidents happen within 20 miles of home. So we moved. I can’t give you our new address because the people that lived here before we moved in took the house numbers with them so that they would not have to change their address. …
Es Gleichnis vum barmhatziche Samaridder (Created April 20, 2024)
Der Yesus hot oftmols de Leit morallische Grundsatze darrich die Gleichnis gelehrt. Un eens, as er aagewennt hot, waar „Es Gleichnis vum barmhatziche Samaridder“. Mir kenne’s im Evvangelium Heilicher Lukas nooch finne im 10. Kabiddel, in dem 25. Varscht bis am 37. Varscht.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Jesus often taught the people moral principles through parables. And one that he used was “The parable of the good Samaritan.” We can find that in the Gospel of St. Luke, the 10th chapter, verses 25 through 37. …
Der Ehrlich Schmidt
(Created May 22, 2016)
Dart unner‘m Keschdebaam, dart waar der alt Schmidt-schapp;
Der Schmidt, der, waar’n schtaricker Mann,
Mit dicke Aarem un rauhe Hand, un doch ’n klucher Kopp;
Sei Hatz waar waarm un’s Eise hees, sei Schtann waar nass mit ehrlich Schwees –
Kling klang, kling klang, Hammer, Schleggel, buff!
Kling klang, kling klang, wann’s hees iss, schlaggt mer druff. …
The Honest Blacksmith
There under the chestnut tree, there was the old blacksmith shop;
The smith, he, was a strong man,
With thick arm and rough hand, and yet a clever mind;
His heart was warm and the iron hot, his forehead was wet with honest sweat [from working]
Cling clang, cling clang, hammer, sledge, bang!
Cling clang, cling clang, when it’s hot, one strikes on it. …
Der Haas un der Ige
(Created September 8, 2023)
‘S waar an en schee Sunndaag-mariye im Harebscht. Die Sunn hot gscheint, un die erschde Blaedder sin vun de Baem gfalle. Do hot der Igel vor seim Haus gschtanne, hot die Aerem iwwerenanner gschlage un hot in die Sunn geblinzelt. Do debei hot er en Liedche gsunge, so schee, wie halt en Igel singe kann. …
The Hare and the Hedgehog
It was a beautiful Sunday morning in Fall. The sun shined and the first leaves fell from, the trees. The hedgehog stood there in front of his house. Crossed his arms over each other and blinked his eyes while looking at the sun. There also he sang a little tune, so nicely as a hedgehog can sing.
Florence Baver 17. Moi 1956 (Created April 24, 2025)
Eens vun der aerschde griene Sache as mer sehne kann in der Felder Frieyaahrs iss der Bittreselaat, adder deel Leit heese’s Pissebett. Wann’s so warme sunniche Daage gebt, macht’s em hungerich un eiferich fer en Karreb un Messer nemme un nunner an der Summer Hiwwel geh un Zelaat suche geh. Uff der Griedunnerschdaag muss mer schur en gutter Iems Zelaat mache mit Schpeck un Brie.
May 17, 1956
One of the first green plants that we can see in the fields in spring is the dandelion, which some ‘Dutch’ people call ‘Pissebett’ (from Fr: pissenlit). When you have warm, sunny days, you become hungry and eager to get a basket and knife and go down to the ‘Summer Hill’ to find some dandelion. On Holy Thursday we certainly must have a good meal with (dandelion) salad and hot bacon dressing.
I started with Florence Baver’s Dutch and I ended with it; reminded me so much of my parent’s Dutch!
