Es Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch Eck

By: e Late C. Richard

Mir hen aa paar weiss Pasching­Beem ghat: Sie waare so siess, mer grickt net satt. Vunne hot die Memm Pei un Koschdarts gebacke; Heit muss ich kaafe all die gude Sache.

Bei die Grick unnich en Meebel-Baam hen mir gfischt: Es Holz vun dem Baam macht en scheeni Kischt. Mir hen aa gegraddelt uff Kaschebeem, Siess un sauere gerobbt, schpaeder gschteent.

Eemol hen mir en griener Baam heem gschleeft: Mei Bruder hot ihn leenich abgsaegt. Ya, es waar unser aegner Grischtdaag­Baam, Frisch vun die Wald; er waar wild, net zaahm.

Beem

By Anna F. Faust

Wie so oft, geh ich zerick in Zeit: Verbei die alt Bauerei, nemm ich en Reid. In mei Yuchend waar ich datt daheem, Awwer ebbes fehlt ­ mei scheene Beem!

Im Hof waar en gross Katalbe-Baam: Ich sehn noch die holzne Gaunsch im Draam. Hinnerschich un varschich sin mer gfloge; Fer sie schiewe dutt mei Schweschder mich bloge.

En Meebel­Baam war im Eck vum Hof: Er halt en Hammack fer im Schadde en Schlof.

Im Friehyaahr hen mir en Loch neigebohrt Fer die Saft raus droppse, geduldich gewaart.

Paar Ebbel­Baam hen gschtanne hinne am Haus: Vum Gnarreloch fliegt en Blohvoggel raus.

Friehyaahr schneit der Pap raus doode Nescht; Schpaeder mit Ebbelboi hen mir en Fescht.

Bier un Blaume­Beem sin aa im Baamgaarde: Ihr Obscht waar gerobbt fer die Memm eimache.

En Gwidde­Baam hot gschtanne im Eck vum Gaarde; Fer sei gut Hunnich esse kann ich net waarde.

Wunnerbaar grosse Beem waare die Walniss: Ee Nacht hot en Schtarm zwee iwwer gschmisse. Seid dir mit Walniss-Koschdarts bekannt?

Sie aus Schaal schaffe, gebt en schwatzi Hand.

Die Hickerniss hot die Memm gyuust in Kuche: Mer darf sich net verseime fer sie suche.

Schun griege die Eechhaase die menschde; Sie nemme die greeschde un losse die glenschde.

Keschde Beem hab ich gsehne yuscht dann un wann: Die menschde hen geguckt wie en Gnochemann. Viel vunne sin doodgange darich die Pescht; Nau uff ne baue die Ludergrabbe ihr Nescht. Zwische Nochber ihr Land schtehe mechdiche Eeche: Abbaddich geblanzt fer die Lein abzaehle. Die Eechle hen die Eechhaase verschteckelt; So weit vum Baam, sie kumme uff im Feld.

Was is schenner as Obscht-Beem as bliehe?

Vun die Blumme duhn die Ieme ihr Hunnich griege. Sie rieche so gut un so siess wie Zucker; Ken Wadde sin auslehe, kumme vum Drucker.

Gott hot nix schenner gemacht as en Baam: Es macht nix aus, is er wild adder zaahm.

Uff sei Nescht is en Voggel un Gedier daheem, Wie bloos waert die Welt unni ihr Beem!

***

Trees

March 1986

As often I go back in time: past the old farm I take a ride. There I lived in my youth. But something is missing: my beautiful trees. - A big katalba tree stood in the yard: I can still see the swing with wooden seat. Backwards and forwards we flew: to push her my sister pestered me. - In a corner of the yard was a maple tree; It held a hammock for a nap in the shade. In spring a hole was bored into it: for sap to drain we patiently waited. ­ Some apple trees stood behind the house: from a knothole a bluebird flew out. In spring Pop pruned the dead limbs; later apple pie gave us a feast. ­ There were also pear and plum trees in the garden: their fruit was picked for Mom to preserve; a quince tree stood in a garden corner: to eat its good jam, I can hardly wait. - We also had some white peach trees: they were so sweet, we couldn’t get enough. From some Mom baked pies and custards; today we must buy all these good foods. - We fished by the creek under a maple tree: the wood from this tree makes beautiful chests. We also climbed the cherry trees, picked sweet and sour, later stoned them. ­ Once we dragged home a green tree: my brother sawed it off by himself. Yes, it was our own Christmas tree, fresh from the forest, wild, not tame. ­ The walnut trees were huge: one night a storm blew over two. Are you familiar with walnut custards? To remove the outside cover gave me a black hand. ­ Mom used hickory nuts in cakes: we dared not delay gathering them or squirrels will get most of them. They take the biggest and leave the smallest. - I saw chestnut trees only now and then: most of them resembled a skeleton. Many died from the blight. Now vultures nest on their limbs. ­ Between neighbors’ land stood the mighty oak: planted intentionally as boundary lines. The squirrel hid the acorns so far from the tree, they sprouted in the field. - What is more beautiful than fruit in bloom? From the blossoms the bees gather honey. They smell so good, as sweet as sugar. No words from the printer can describe them. ­ God made nothing lovelier than a tree: no matter whether wild or tame. To bird and small animal the limb is their home. How bare our world would be without her trees! ***

BEEM came to us this past March as spring was arriving. The envelope which Anna Faust mailed to us from Bernville in Berks County on March 21 contained another poem, DIE GREEMER, and a short letter. Anna wrote that her Hausbutzgichdere and her Schreibgichdere have a way of colliding with each other. Don’t tell anyone, but we hope that the “Schreibgichdere” win out! We doubt very much that any poet writing in der Mudderschprooch these days is more productive than Anna vun Bannville. The poems of Anna Faust give us a delightful picture of life in the Dutch country earlier in this century.

Another salute with our deitscher Schtrohhut for Anna vun Bannwill!

June 4, 1986

En Bischli-Gnippli as nie net die Hausbutzgichdere grickt!

(Continued From Page 3A)

Kauffman, Maryland; two grandchildren; several stepgrand and step­great­grandchildren; and a sister, Doris Cozzie, Lancaster.

F. Richard Endres, 83, husband of Barbara (Smerke) Endres, New Holland, passed away on Thursday, July 13.

Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons: Andrew Endres, husband of Julie, and Eric Endres, husband of Ann; two daughters: Christina “Chrissie” Candler, wife of Bob, and Dawn Nelson; and seven grandchildren.

Donna M. (Weidman) Myers, 81, Denver, passed away on Thursday, July 13.

She is survived by two sons: W. Troy Kilhefner, husband of James Radcliffe, and John W. Myers; three daughters: Bridget E. (Kilhefner) Schannauer, wife of Jeff L. Schannauer; Debra L. (Kilhefner) Ruth, wife of Neil A. Ruth; and Donna M. Kilhefner; six grandchildren; eight great­grandchildren; and a sister, Judith E. (Weidman) Burkholder.

She was preceded in death by two grandchildren.

A. Lois Auker, 86, New Holland, passed away on Friday, July 14.

She was the wife of the late Daniel W. Auker.

She is survived by two sons: Brian, husband of Kim Auker, Ephrata, and Scott, husband of Christine Auker, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; a daughter, Brenda, wife of Glenn Sauder, New Holland; seven grandchildren; 14 great­grandchildren; two brothers: Glen Spangler, and Willis Jr., husband of Sue Spangler; and a sister, Nancy Pickel.

Frances E. Sweigart, 94, New Holland, passed away on Friday, July 14.

She was the wife of the late Richard L. Sweigart.

She is survived by a son, Terry L., husband of Jo Ann Bowen Sweigart, Strasburg; a daughter, Vicki, wife of Michael Mundy, Coatesville; four grandchildren; two step­grandchildren; three great­grandchildren; four step ­ great ­ grandchildren; and one great­great­grandchild.

Norman M. Givler Jr., 79, husband of Helen M. Nissley Givler, Ephrata, passed away on Saturday, July 15.

Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons: Kenneth Givler, and Brian, husband of Denise Givler; and three grandchildren.

Alvin M. Hoover, 12­dayold son of John H. and Susie H. (Martin) Hoover, Denver, passed away on Saturday, July 15.

Besides his parents, he is survived by three brothers: Timothy, Mervin and Andrew, all at home; three sisters: Judith, Loretta and Elva, all at home; grandparents: Eva Z. Martin, Ephrata, and Phares and Florence Hoover, Denver; and step­great­grandmother, Alma Hoover, Kentucky.

Elizabeth M. “Betty” (Brubaker) Zook, 94, Lititz, passed away on Saturday, July 15.

She was the wife of the late Floyd I. Zook.

She is survived by four sons: Duane E., husband of Genie (Wills) Zook, McKinney, Texas; Ronald E., husband of Judy (Garber) Zook, Lancaster; Larry J., husband of Dawn (Root) Zook, Manheim; and Robert G., husband of Ethel (Yoder) Zook, Allensville; a daughter, Lois Ann, wife of J. Lemar Mast, Morgantown; 11 grandchildren; and 24 great­grandchildren.

Lavina S. Zook, 81, New Holland, passed away on Monday, July 17.

She is survived by six brothers: Amos, husband of Annie (Zook) Zook, Ephrata; Benuel, husband of Sarah (Beiler) Zook, Ephrata; David, husband of Linda (Zook) Zook, Ephrata; Stevie, husband of Naomi (Zook) Zook, Ephrata; Paul, husband of Katie (Fisher) Zook, New Holland; and Samuel, husband of Sarah (Zook) Zook, New Holland; and four sisters: Lydia Glick, New Holland; Rebecca, wife of Amos Beiler, Paradise; Sadie Stoltzfus, Morgantown; and Rachel, wife of Paul Fisher, New Holland.