En Glee Bissell des un Sell

Nacht for

de Chrischdaag

’S waar die Nacht for de Chrischdaag

und dorch es gans Haus

Verreegt sich ke’ Thierli,

net emal en Maus;

Die Schtrump waar schnock im

Schornschte gehanke,

In der Hoffning der “Nick” dheet

graad runner dschumpe;

Die Kinner so schmock

waare all scho im Bett,

Von Zuckerschleck draame

un was mer, doch, wott;

Die Mamme in Schnupduch

un ich in der Kapp,

Hen uns juscht hi geleegt

for ’n lang Winter’s Nap.

Dan draus, in ’m Hoof

waar so n’ dunnerse Yacht,

Das ich ufg’schprunge

bin zu sehne war’s macht.

An’s Fenschter graad schpring

ich so schnell wie’n Flasch.

Die Lade ufg’risse,

ufg’schmisse die Sasch!

Der Moond uf der Bruscht

dem neug’fallne Schnee

Macht Helling wie Mittag

uwwer alles, so scho,

Im e’Aaageblick kummt, yetz,

un rund wie e’Kersch

E’Fuhrmann im Schlidde

un acht kleene Hersch.

E’Mannli in Pelze,

so freundlich un frei

‘Hab graadeweck g’wusst’s

muss der Pelznickel sei!

Wie Aadler, so schnell,

sin die Herschlin zusamme,

Un er peift un’r ruuft,

un’r nennt sie mit Namme:

Yetz Dascher! Yetz Danzer!

Yetz Pranzer! Yetz Vixen!

Un Komet! Un Kupid!

Un Dunder! Un Blitzen!”

An der Porch isch er nuff,

um die Mauer gefalle

Yetz schpringt e’weck! Schpringt

e’weck! Schpringt e’weck alle!”

Wie laab for’m e Windschtorm

der wildscht das mir seht,

Wann ebbes im Weeg isch

uns himmelwerts geht,

Zum Hausgiwwel nuf sin

die Herschlin wie g’floge,

Mit in Schlidli foll Schun,

der “Nick” mit gezoge;

Im e’Aageblick horscht uf’m

Dach owwedrowe

En Gescheer un Gedanz

wie mit hol’zene Glowwe.

Mei Kop zieg ich nei,

guk um mich im Haus

Un im Schornschte, do kummt’r

wahrhafting schun raus!

Mit Peltze ferwickelt fon

Kop biz zum Fuus,

Un alles ferschnuttelt

mit Aesche un Ruus!

Uf’m Buckel en Bundel

foll allerhand G’chpeil

’S hat geguckt wie’m Kremer

sei Kramm-artlig fiel.

Sei Maul, wie’n Kersch,

un sei Dimple die lache

Sei Aage, die blinzle,

und wie Rosa sei Backe.

Gans rund war sei Mauli

un roth wie der Klee.

Un’s Schnurbardli weiss wie woll,

oder Schnee.

En schtumpiges Peifli,

fescht zwische de Zeh.

Un der schmook schteigt in Ringlin

so scho in die Hoh.

Sei G’sichth so breed,

un sei Bauchli e’bissel

Uverm Lache hot g’shittelt

wie Dschelly in der Schissel.

So dick un so rund war

des lushtige Elfge,

Muss lache, graad aus kan’s

gaar net helfe

Sei Kopli waar eifrig

un schwatzig mit Nucken

Sei Aage, gaar freundlich

mit Blinzele un Blicken;

Die Schtrump hot’r g’fill’t,

un mit frolichem Braus,

Da schpringt inschtandig,

den Schornschte hinaus;

Er schpringt uf sei Schlidde,

zu der Fuhr peift en Piffel,

Dann fliege sie fort wie

Dunn fon der Dischtel:

Doch eb’er gans fort waar,

sei Gruss hat er g’macht

“En herrliche Chrischdaag!

Un zu alle, Guut Nacht!”

A little bit of this and that

“The Night

Before Christmas”

’Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring,

not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung

by the chimney with care,

In hopes that Saint Nicholas

soon would be there.

The children were nestled

all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums

danced in their heads;

And mamma in her kerchief

and I in my cap,

Had just settled down

for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn

there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my bed

to see what was the matter.

Away to the window

I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters

and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast

of the new fallen snow

Gave a luster of midday

to objects below,

When, what to my wondering

eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh,

and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver,

so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment

it must be St. Nick!

More rapid than eagles

his coursers they came.

And he whistled, and shouted,

and called them by name:

“Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer!

Now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On, Cupid!

On, Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch,

to the top of the wall!

Now, dash away, dash away,

dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle,

mount to the sky,

So up to the housetop

the coursers they flew,

With a sleigh full of toys,

and St. Nicholas, too.

And then in a twinkle,

I heard on the roof

The prancing and

pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head,

and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas

came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur,

from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished

with ashes and soot!

A bundle of toys

he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler

just opening his pack.

His eyes how they twinkled!

His dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses,

his nose like a cherry

His droll little mouth

was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard on his chin

was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe

he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke, it encircled

his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face

and a little round belly

That shook, when he laughed,

like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump,

a right jolly old elf.

And I laughed when I saw him,

in spite of myself.

A wink of his eye,

and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know

I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word,

but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings,

then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger

aside of his nose,

And giving a nod,

up the chimney he rose.

He sprang to his sleigh,

to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew

like the down on a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim

as he drove out of sight,

“Happy Christmas to all

and to all a good night.”

Samuel Clement Moore

***

“The Night before Christmas” was translated into the Pennsylvania German dialect by Thomas C. Zimmerman, editor of The Reading Times newspaper, and published on Dec. 22, 1880.