En Glee Bissell des un Sell
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.