Den de segredary answered, "All dis is fery drue,Boot you know ve have de option to pild your house anew;Dere ist a lot of beoples vot burns deir hauser doun,Den coom to kit de money pack all over in de toun."
I look indo de bapers und I find it ash he say,Das Lebensfeuerversicherunggesellschaft need not bay;So I dells em all to go ahet und pild anoder shdore,Und dey make me von in Yankee shdyle more petter ash pefore.
Den I met der segredary dereafter on a day,Of Das Lebensfeuerversicherunggesellschaft, und he say,"You've found oos vellers honoraple und honest in our line,Vy tont you go insure de life of Madame Hagelstein?"
I poots mine dum oopon mine nose, and vinks him mit mine eye,Und says I cooms to do it ven de ocean runs dry,Ven gooses turn to ganders, und de bigs kits shanged to shvine;Oh, den I makes insure de life of Madame Hagelstein.
"I haf dried you on insurance, ash you know, yust vonce pefore,Und ven mein haus vas abgebrannt you pild anoder shdore;Id's drue you pild it goot enough, boot I dell you allaweil,I vas liket id moosh petter if it vas in Sharman shdyle.
"Now, if I goes insure my wife anoder dime mit youDas Lebensfeuerversicherunggesellschaft, I knows vot it would do,-If from dis vorldt Frau Hagelstein should rise to Himmel life,Inshtead of paying gelt you'd kit for me a Yankee vife!"
I poots mine dum pelow mine eye, und vinks him merrily,Und say, "Go find soom Deutscherman dot is more creen ash me.Dere's blendy of dem creen enough, I know, peyond der Rhein,But none among dem wears de name of Cobus Hagelstein."
ASH on de Alapama biz,Deep sinnin long I sat,I dinks von ding for dinkinPy afery Diplomat;Und dat ist: dat voll many a dingVot ist de facto done,May pe de jure unbossible,Und officiel unknown,
Von dimes in San Franciscus,Im Californian land,Among de CalifornamentsDere woned a Deutscher band;Und shief among dese heroesDere shone Herr Fritzerl Schnall,Who nefer vouldt pelief in nichtsDat vas not logical.
Vell den: von tay as FritzerlVas valk Dolores Shtreet,Mein Gott! how he vas over-rushEin gut oldt friendt to meet;Hans Liederschnitz aus Augsburg,Vot professed in Bayrisch bier-"Gottskreuz! du alter Schlingel!"Cried Fritz: "Was mochst du hier?"
Now in des dimes I scribe of,Dree ways der vere bakannt,Und only dree, to get toDas Californigen Landt.De virst de Plains coom ofer;De next, de Istmoos troo;De dird aroundt Cape Horne,All ofer de ocean plue.
But de first lot of surveyorsFor de railroad overland,Vas seek a new vay northwarts,All for de Eisenbahn,Und mit dem, der professorOf Lager vent along;So he kommed to San Franciscus,Und den into dis song.
But ash unto Herr FritzerlDis news vas unerheard,He couldt not know de tidingsWherevon he had no vord;Und derefore dis here quesdionHe makes to Hans: "Old hoss,I kess de vay you kit hier,You kommed de Blains agross?"
"Nein, nein," sayt Liederschnitzerl;"I komm not ash you say.""Vell, den," antworded Fritzerl,"It pe's anoder vay.If you komm de Blains not uber,I see vot you hafe do:You make an longer um-wayUnd gross de Istmoos troo."
"Nein, nein," acain saidt Schnitzerl,"Dat road I nefer know,Und vas not ride de Istmoose!"Cried Fritz, erstaunisched, "SOYou komm de Blains not uber,Nor gross de Istmoose troo?Vell, den - to make de Horn aroundtVas all dat you could do!"
"I shvears py Gott!" says Schnitzerl,"So sure as you vas porn,Exshept oopon some ochsenI nefer saw a horn.Dat ish - mitwiles, too - while-en—I hafe von in mine hand,Und trink to dy Gesundheit,Im lieben Vaterland."
Erstaunished stoot der Fritzerl:No wort herout brought he:Und sinned, und sinned - den sighftserd."Potz blitz! how vash dis pe?"Ontill a light from HimmelVlash down into him shtraight,Ash Heafen in Yacob BohmeVlash from a bewter blate.
Den laut he cry, eye-shbarklin,Ash droonk mit Truth tifine,Like der Wahrheitseher Novalis:"Herr Gott! es leuch't mir ein!If you komm de Blains not over,Nor py Horn, nor py canal,Den I shwears you dis, Hans Schnitzerl,Du bist not here at all!"
Go in for Wahrheit,Und for Pure Reason seek;If it land you in a pog-hole,Den die dere - like a brick!Gott brosber all logikers,Und pless deir nople breed;Und so ist komm zu endeDis Breitmanns letzte Lied.
DOT vos a schwartz Zigeuner[84]Dot on a viddle played,Und oonderneat' a fensterHe mak't a serenade.
Dot vos a lofely gountessWho heardt de gypsy blay'n.Said she, "Who make dot musikVot sound so wunderscheen?"
Dot vos de schwartz ZigainerWho vos fery quick to twig;Und he song a mournvoll palladHow his hearts vos proken - big!
Dot vos de lofely gountessSaid, "Dell me who you are?"He saidt, "Mein name is Janosch,De Lord of Temesvar."
Dot vos de lofely gountessSaid, "Come more near to me,I vants to dalk on piz'ness:I'll trow you down de key."
Dot vos de moon kept lightin'De gountess in her room,Boot somedings moost have vrightenDe minstrel tid not coom.
Dot vos a treadfool oudgryVen early in de mornDey foundt de hens vos missin,Und all de wash vos gone!
Dot vos a schwartz ZigeunerVot sot oopon de dirtA-eatin roasted schickensAll in a new glean shirt.
FOR efery Rose dot ploome in spring,Dey say an maid is porn;For efery pain dot Rose vill makeDey say dere comes a dorn.Boot let dem say yoost vot dey will,Dis ding I will soopose,I'll immer prick mein finger still,If I may pfluck die Ros'.Ach, Rosalein, du schone mein,[85]Dot man vas nefer bornVot did deserfe to win de Rose,Vot couldt not stand de Dorn.
Blutfarbig ist die schone Ros',[86]Und dot ist yoost a signDot I moost lose a liddle BlutTo make de Rose mein.Wer Rosen bricht die Finger sticht;Das ist mir ganz egal,Der bricht sie auch in Winter nicht,Und kits no Rose at all.Was wir hier treiben und kosen, love,De joy or misery,Soll bleiben unter der Rosen, love!Und our own secret pe![87]
Von Dorn ride out in hoonting gear,Mit his horse und his Hunde too,Und his mutter she say,"Bring home a deer,Mein Sohn, votefer you do!""You know, gewiss, dot I nefer miss,Und ven you hear mine horn,Pe sure dot a deer is comin' here,"Said der Ritter Veit von Dorn,Mit his deer so fein, tra la la la!Mit his deer so fine, tra le!Tra la la - tra la la la!Tra la la - la la le!
Von Dorn he ridet im greenen woodTill dere, peneat a dree,He sah a maid wie Milch und Blut.As fair ash a maid could pe.Und der Ritter he spies her great plack eyes,"Id's petter, I'll pe shwore,To hafe a dear oopon two feetDan von dot roons on four.Mit a deer so fein, tra la la la!Mit a deer so fine, tra le!Tra la la - tra la la la!Tra la la - la de le!
Der Ritter ridet pack to home:"Ach, mutter - all ist goot;I prings you here de finest dearIn all de greene woot."De mutter she looks, mit joy surprise,"Hast Recht, mein lieber Sohn;[88]Dere vas nefer a deer vot hafe soosh eyesAsh de dear vot you hafe won!"Mit her eyes so plack, tra la, la la!Mit her eyes so plack, tra le!Tra, la, la - tra la, la, la!Tra la la - la de le!
Nota bene. - Dis song moost pe sung mit exbression.- FRITZ SCHWACKENHAMMER[Redaktor].
VEN de winter make oos shiferUnd de bonds is froze mit ice,To shlide und shkate on de rifer,Mit de poys und gals is nice.Ven de horses hafe deir bits on,Und de roats pe vite mit shnow,To vly in a sleigh like blitzenIs de yolliest dings I know.
"Und its high, hooray!" saidt Breitmann"For de gals on de Dutchtown-side;Und it's lebe hoch! for de yunglins,Vot'll go mit de gals to ride;Und it's hip, herje! for de drifersVot nefer dake no odds!Und it's vivat! for de vellers,Vot'll shtand de apple-tods!"
Der Breitmann pooled his mits on,Der Breitmann crocked his vip,"Now its fly like dunner blitzen,Mein shildren, let 'er rip!Like de eagles on de shtorm-cloudtA-vlyin' to deir nest;Dere is opple-yack a-vaitinFor de von dot times de rest.
"Oh mein Rapp, du bist de pestestOf horses in de land!Dou canst trafel on de grafel,Und canst shell it on de sand!Oh Rapp! - dere's money on id,Ton't let de Gelt go blue!I vants you show de beoplesDis tay vot you can do!"
Der Breitman mit his madchenVas in a shblentit shleigh,Fritz Laufer mit his Mina,Vas yoosht agross de vay;Mit pop-slets und mit yoompers,Mit horses and mit mules,Dere vas more ash vifty fellersCome mit deir ve-hi-cules.
Id's "Ein-Zwei-Drei!" togedderDey hollered klein und gross,Like de wind in shtormy wetter,Stracks vent de Deutschers los!Dey crock de vips like mooskets,Dey ring from berg to berg,"Hooray!" exsglaim Hans Breitmann:"Dot sounds like Gettysburg!"
Der Breitmann und der LauferVere half a mile ahet,For ven id coom to driven,De oder Dootch vere deadt.Dey vly like teufel's arrows,Mit imps oopon em gay,Dey killt five hoondred shbarrowsVot kit indo de vay.
Dey vly like rats und blitzen,De fery gals vos doomb,Und Breitmann kept his wits on,To see vot shanse vouldt coom;He know'd de pace dey clipped itMoost enden in a shquallBy de vay der Laufer ripped it,Und de shteeds vere ganz egal.
Der Laufer he vos leadin'Hans Breitmann ash he goed,Boot he tidn't see a soplin'Dot vos lyin' in de road.Id yank dem out like marples,Mitout a will or shall;Hets downvarts in a shnow-pank,Vent Laufer mit his gal.
Und ash Breitmann comed oonto itId kit indo his vay,Und tossed him mit his madchenRight indo Laufer's shleigh;Hans crab de reins like blitze',Und go ahet like sin:"Adje, mein lieber Fritze![89]Dis dimes I scoop you in!"
He vly avay like shvallowsTo vhere a davern lay,Vhere de opple-tod vos ploomin'Among de Deutschers gay.Der Breitmann as he vonishtYoost cast von look pehind,At de lecks of Fritz - und Mina-A-vafin in de wind.
Homburg vor der Hohe, Hesse-Nassau,September 1, 1888.
IT was stiller, dimmer twilight - amber toornin' into gold,Like young maidens' hairs get yellow und more dark as dey crow old;Und dere shtood a high ruine vhere de Donau rooshed along,All lofely, yet neclected - like an oldt und silent song.
Out shpoke der Ritter Breitmann, "Ven I hafe not forgot,Ich kenn an anciendt shtory of dis inderesdin shpot,Of the Deutscher Middleolter vot de Minnesingers sung,Ven dot olt ruine oben vas a-bloomin, fair, und yung.
"Vonce dere lifed a noble fraulein - fery peautiful vas she,More ash twendy dimes goot lookin - it is in de historie;Und mit more ash forty quarters on her woppenshield,[90] dot menMight beholdt mitout a discount she vas of de upper ten.
"But dough lofely as an angel, mit eyes of turkos plue,She vas cruel ash a teufel, und de vorst man efer knew.Vonce ven a nople young one kneeled down to her mit lofe,She kicket him mit her slipper und oopset him on de shtove.
"Und said, 'I do refuse you, as you may plainly see;Und from dis day henseforvart mine refuse you shall pe,Und when I do run afder you like dogs run afder men,Den I vill pe your vife, yung man - boot keep avay dill denn!'
"He lishten to her crimly, and no single vort he said,Boot de bitter dings she spoken poot der teufel in his head;For she hafe not learned de visdom, vich is alvays safe and sound,'Don't go to pourin' water on a mouse ven id ist trowned.'
"Vonce, at de end of autoom, ven de vind vos bitter cold,Dis maiden out a-ridin' met a voman poor and old;Her feets vere bare and pleedin', and she said, 'Ah! ton't refuseTo gife me, nople lady, yoosht de vorst of your oldt shoes!'
"De lady boorst out laughin', 'Fool here, or fool me dere,You give to me a couple, I gives to you a pair.'Denn she rode avay a-laughin'; de old voman says 'I wete,I'll give you shoes, my lady, dot vill fit your soul and feet!'
"Dis voman vas a vitche, an bitter one dere to,All dot vot she had shpoken she light enough could do;De Ritter did not know it, but he told her of his love,And how dot shkornful lady hat oopset him mit de shtove.
"Out spoke de grimme witche, 'She shall pay dee well to boot,If yo pring to me de measure of dat lady's liddle foot.'He got it from her shoemaker, and gafe id to de vitch,Denn she gafe it to de damsel pooty soon as hot as pitch.
"Von morn de lofely lady, on openin' her toor,Found de nicest pair of gaiter boots she efer saw pefore;Dey vitted her exoctly - mitouten any doubt-Boot, mein Gott! how she vas shrocken ven dey 'gun to valk apout!
"Und ash de poots go valkin', like de buds go mit de stem,It vollowed dot de lady had to valk apout in dem.Dey took her out into de street - dey run her on de road,Bym-by she saw a man ahead vot led her vhere she goed.
"Vhen he vent valkin' longsome denn longsome vas her pace,Vhen he roon like a greyhound she skompered in a race;He led her o'er de moundains und cross de lonely plain,Until de evenin' shadows, ven he took her home again.
"Denn she dink mit hate and fury of dis man she used to skoff,Und den go at de gaiters - boot she couldn't pull dem off,She vork mit all de servants, boot 'tvasent any use,Und so she hafe to go to bett - a-shleepin' in her shoes.
"Next mornin' off dey shtarted, apout de broke of day,Den he led her to a castle in de woods and far away,And shpeak to her, 'My lady - I dink at last you seeDat de dime has come in earnesdt vhen you've cot to vollow me!'
"Oh vat ish female nature? Oh vat ish mortal pride?How all dot shtands de firmest most quickly shlips asideDe cloudts dot o'er de moundains look shkornful at de plain,Ere long mit shtormy wetter come toomble down in rain.
"So de storm-cloud of Superbia vhich shweep her soul above,Vas meltet mit his shternness and be-turned into love,As his words like donner wetter croshed ven de lightnin' flies,So downward coom de torrents of dear trops from her eyes.
"Und she gry, 'Mit shame I own it, to say de fery least,I gonfess dat in dis matter I hafe acted like a peast;Ven I made of you my refuse, I dinked it no account,But now de pack is on my back it seems a big amount.
"'But if you vish to ved me, I vill do vat you require.He answered, 'Now you're talkin' - dot is yoost vot I tesire,For I am very willin', and you do not refuse,Boot remember vot you bromised - send de vitch a pair of shoes!'
"She answered, 'I vill follow verever you may go,All ofer hills and falleys, in sunshine, rain, or schnow,All over in der Welt, dear, I'll vander on vith thee,I do not care how rough de road or dark de path may be!
"'Or in de bloomin' meadows, vhere de grass is soft and sweet,Or in de rocky passes, vhere de stones are under veet,Or if I vear de shoes, love, vitch you hafe given me,Or if I moost go barefoot, is all de same to me.'
"He drew away de gaiters. She said, 'As I'm richI vill fill dem both mit money, and take dem to de vitch.'Ja wohl, she saw die Hexe, and takin' her aside,She danked her for de lesson vot hat dook avay her pride.
"On de vay vhen dey vere married, how vere dey all erstaunTo see a lofely lady come in mit golden crown,All in a rosy-silken dress vot shined as pright as glass,Said, 'My dears, I am de vitch dot fetch dis ding to pass.
"'You know I look so ogly vonce, und now am peautiful,Dot ist de vay dot all dings vork ven folks pe dutiful.Ash de lily toorns to vhitey vot once vas dirty green,So all ist fair ven virdue ist runnin' de machine.'"
Dis is de vondrous shtory vot de Ritter Breitmann toldBesides the rooshin' Danube of de schloss so grey und old,Vhile a shmokin' of his meerschaum; und till all time pe goneThe rustlin' of de vasser tells de tale for ever on.
Dat is an alt legende, und yet 'tis efer new,Und to efery von dot hears it it fits yoost like a shoe.Und dis de shinin' moral dot in de oyster lies-Some day you may roon after de dings you vonce despise!
Vienna, 1888.
Glossary
THIS Glossary was prepared entirely by Mr. NICHOLAS TRUBNER. I am not aware that he had any assistance in writing it. I mention this because I have never met with any person who was so equally familiar with obscure and obsolete old German facetious literature (as the text indicates), and at the same time with Americanisms. I should say that in all of the later ballads, or at least in fully one half of all in the book, the author was indebted to him for ideas, suggestions, and emendations, and that the work would never have been what it is - sit verbo venia - but for him. Mr. Trubner was a poet, even in English, as his translation from Scheffel's poems indicates. A very few words have been added to explain the poems in the ballads which appear for the first time in this edition.
CHARLES G. LELAND. GLOSSARY ———————
Abenddammerung,(Ger.) - Evening dim light; twilight.Abendgold,(Ger.) - Evening gold.Abendroth,(Ger.) - Evening red.Abendsonnenschein,(Ger.) - Evening sunshine.Abbordez-moi vodre mere,(German-French) - Bring me your mayor.Ach weh,(Ger.) - Oh, woe.Allatag,(Ger. dial.) - Every day.Alla weil - All the while; always.Allegader - All together.Alles wird ewig zu eins,(Ger.) - And all for ever becomes one.Alter Schwed',(old Swede) - A familiar phrase like "old fellow."Anamile,(Amer.) - Animal.Annerthalb Yar, Anderthalb Jahr,(Ger.) - Year and a half.Anti Word: Antwort - Answer.Antworded,(Ger.) - Answered.Apple-tod,(Amer.) - Apple toddy. Spirit distilled from cider.Arbeiterhalle - Working-man's hall.Arminius,(Herman.) - The Duke of the Cheruskans, and destroyer ofthe Roman legions under Varus, in the Teutoburg Forest.Armlos - Unarmed.Aroom, Herum - Around.Arriere pensee,(Fr.) - A reserved thought or intention.Aufgespannt,(Ger.) - Stretched, bent.Augen,(Ger.) - Eyes.Augenblick,(Ger.) - Twinkling of an eye.Aus,(Ger.) - Out.
Bach,(Ger.) - Book.Baender-box - Band-box.Baldface corn,(Amer.) - Plain maize whisky.Barell-hell pars - Parallel-bars; a part of the gymnasticapparatus.Barrick,(Pennsylvania Ger. for Berg) - Mountain.Bauern,(Ger.) - Peasants.Be-ghostet,(Ger. Begeistert) - Inspired.Begifted, - Beschenkt - Gifted.Begreifen,(Ger.) - Understand.Beheaded, Behauptet,(Ger.) - Asserted.Bei Leib und Leben,(Ger.) - By my body and soul.Bekannt, Beknown - Known.Bellin,(Ger. Bellen) - To bark.Bemarket,(Ger.-Eng.) - Remarked.Be-mark,(Ger. Bemarken) - Observe.Bemarks,(Ger. Bemerkungen) - Remarks.Bemerkbar,(Ger.) - Observable. Should be noticed.Bemoost,(Ger.) - Mossgrown, in student's language, ein bemoostesHaupt, an old student.Bender,(Amer.) - A spree; a frolic. To "go on a bender" -to go on a spree.Be-raised - Raised, with the augment, literal for Ger. erhoben.Berauscht,(Ger.) - Intoxicated.Besoffen,(Ger.) - Drunk.Bestimmung des Menschen - Vocation of Man, title of oneof Fichte's works.Betaubend,(Ger.) - Enchanting.Bewises,(Ger. Beweist, from Beweisen) - Proves.Bibliothek - Library.Bienenkorb,(Ger.) - Beehive.Birra gazzosa,(Italian) - Aerated, gaseous beer.Bischof,(Ger.) - Bishop.Bix Buchse,(box) - Rifle. Bess in Brown Bess is the equivalentof the German Buchse, (Brown being merely an alliterativeepithet;) French, buse tube; Flemish, buis. (Stillfound in blunderbuss, arquebuss.) See Blackley's "Word Gossip."Blaetter,(Ger.) - Leaves.Blei - Lead.Blitz,(Ger.) - Lightning.Blitzen,(Ger.) - Lightning.Blokes,(English) - Men.Bock - A strong kind of German beer.Boemisch - Bohemian.Boerenvolk,(Flem.) - Peasants.Bole Jack road - Near Murfreesboro, Tennessee.Bool - Bull.Bornirtheit - Limitedness of capacity.Bouleverse - Boulevard.Bountiee,(Amer.) - Bounty-money paid during the war as a premiumto soldiers. To jump the bounty, was to secure the premium andthen run away."This is the song of Billy Jones,Who jumped the boun-ti-ee."- American Ballad of 1846.Bowery - A street at New York, inhabited principally by Germans.Branntewein,(Ger.) - Spirits.Brandy smash,(Amer.) - A plain half-glass mint julep of onlysugar,ice, spirits, and mint. A regular julep is larger, andcontains more ingredients.Brav,(Ger.) - Good.Breit,(Ger.) - Broad.Bring it down to dots - Reduce it to figures.Brisner - Prisoner.Broosh-pinder - Brushbinder,(Ger. Buerstenbinder.) -Brushmaker. The brushmakers are supposed, probably on accountof their throat-parching business, to be always thirsty.Brummed - growled - (Ger. Brummen).Brucke,(Ger.) - Bridge.Bugs - In America all insects, especially Coleoptera.Bummer,(Amer.) - A fellow haunting low taverns; applied duringthe late civil war in the United States to hangers-on of thearmy. Probably a corruption of the German bummler(loafer).Bumming - From Bummer.Bushwhackers - Guerillas.Bust his shell - Broke his head.Butterbrod,(Ger.) - Buttered bread.By-Nearly; Beinahe - Almost, nearly.
Came - Game. Camine - Chimney-piece. Canyon,(Span. Canon) - A narrow passage between high and precipitous banks, formed by mountains or tablelands, often with a river running beneath. These occur in the great Western prairies, New Mexico, and California. Carmagnole - A wild street dance. Carmosine,(Ger.) - Crimson. French, cramoisoi. Carnadine - Incarnadine. Change their lodge - Shift from one "society" to another. Chroc, Chrocus, Crocus - An Alemannic leader, who overran Gaul, according to Gregory of Tours. Chunk - A short thick piece of wood, or of anything else; a chump. The word is provincial in England, and colloquial in the United States. Cinder - Suende; sin. Clam - The popular name of a bivalvular shell-fish, the Venus. Clavier,(Ger.) - Piano. Colle belle,(Ital.) - With the beauties. Comedy - Committee. Conradin - The last of the imperial house of the Hohenstaufen - beheaded at Naples in 1268. Coot - (To cut) a dash, (to come out a "swell,") to dress extravagantly. Corned,(Amer.) - Made drunk. Coster - The inventor of the art of printing, according to the Dutch. Crate - Great. Crecian pend - When Breitmann says "Dat pend of the bow ish the Crecian pend," it is a rather eqivocal compliment. "Grecian bend" has lately become a common newspaper expression. Smuggling done by women is called a "Case of Grecian bend." The present style of skirt, full at the back, is favourable to it. Crislies - Grisly,(bear.)
Da ist er! Schau! - There he is! look!Damit,(Ger.) - Therewith.Dampfschiff - Steamboat.Deck - A pack of cards, piled one upon another.Demperanceler, Temperenzler - Temperance man.Dessauerinn - A woman from Dessau.Deutschland - Germany.Die Hexe - The witch.Die wile as mohte leben - During all its life.Daz wolde er immer dienenDie wile es mohte leben.- Kutrun. XV. Aventiure, 756th verse.Dink - he, they think; my dinks - my thoughts.Dinked - he, they thought.Dishtriputet - Instead of attributed.Dissembulatin' - Dissembling.Dissolfed - Instead of resolved.D'lusion - Instead of allusion.Donnered,(Ger.) - Thundered.Donnerwetter,(Ger.) - Thunder and lightning.Dooks - Ducks.Doon - Tune.Doonderblix - Thunder and lightning.Dorn - A thorn. Dorn lieder - Thorn-songs.Drawed he in - (literal rendering of the German Zog er ein,)Dreimal,(Ger.) - Three times.Drocks - Drakes, dragons; (Ger. Drachen.)Druckerei - Printing-office.Dummehrlichkeit,(Ger.) - Honest simplicity.Dunkelheit - Darkness.Dursty,(Ger. Durstig) - Thirsty.
Earnsthaft, ernsthaft - Serious.Eber,(Ger.) - Wild boar.Eberschwein,(Ger.) - Wild boar.Eckhartshausen - A German supernaturalist.Eher,(Ger.) - Sooner. In the dialect it has the meaningof "before."Einander to sprechen mit,(Ger.) - To speak together.Eins, zwei, drei - One, two, three.Einsichen, to take up one's abode with.Eldern,(Ger. Eltern) - Parents.Elfenbein,(Ger.) - Ivory.Emerich - King Emerich, hero of a German legend.Emsig Gruebler,(Ger.) - Assiduous inquirer.Engel,(Ger.) - Angel.Englandrinn,(Ger.) - English woman.Entlang,(Ger.) - Along.Erfinder,(Ger.) - Inventor.Erfounden,(Ger. Erfunden) - Invented.Ergeben,(Ger.) - Resigned.Error-dom, Irrthum - Error.Erstaun, Erstaunished, erstaunt - Astonished.Erstarrt,(Ger.) - Aghast.Erwaitin',(Ger. Erwartend) - Awaiting, expecting.Euchre, Eucre - Sort of game played with cards, very much in voguein the West.Euchred - From Euchre, the game of cards.
Fackeltantz,(Ger.) - Torch dance.Fancy craps or crabs - Fast horses.Fanes, Wetterfahnen - Weathercocks.Fass,(Ger.) - Barrel.Fat - Printer's term.Feldwebel,(Ger.) - A sergeant.Feinslieb,(Ger.) - Fair or fine love.Fenster - A window.Fichte - A German philosopher.Finster,(Ger.) - Dark, dismal.Foal - Full.Foll - To fall.Foon - Fun.Foors - First.Fore-by - Literal translation of the German Vorbei.Fore-lying - Literal translation of Vorliegend.Foreschlag,(Ger. Vorschlag) - Proposal.Foresetzen - To set, put (lay) before an audience.Foxen,(Ger. Fuchsen) - Foxes.Frank-tiroir - Franc-tireur.Francois Villon - An old French humorous poet, whom Boileauspeaks of as the first who began to write truly modern French.Frau,(Ger.) - Woman.Freie,(Ger.) - Free.Freischarlinger,(Ger. Freischaerler) - A member of a Free Corps;especially applied to those who belonged to the Free Corpsformed in Southern Germany during the Revolution in 1848.Freischuetz,(Ger.) - Free shot, one who shoots with charmedbullets, the name of Karl Maria Von Weber's celebrated opera.Friederich Rothbart - Frederic Barbarossa, the great Emperor ofGermany and one of the German legendary heroes. He is supposedto sleep in the Kyffhauser in Thuringia, and to awaken one day,when he will bring great glory over Germany.Frolic - Frohlich, merry.Froze to de ready - Held fast to the money.Fullenden - Vollenden - To complete, perfect.Fuss,(Ger.) - Foot.Fust or Faust - The partner of Gutemberg, the inventor of theart of printing.
Gambrinus - A mythical King of Brabant, supposed to have beenthe inventor of beer.Gandertate - Candidate.Ganz,(Ger.) - Ganz.Gans egal - Quite the same.Ganz und gar,(Ger.) - Altogether, all over.Garce,(French) - Wench.Gass und Strass,(Ger.) - Lane and street.Gast,(Ger.) - Guest.Gasbalgs - Bladder of gas.Gauer - Valleys.Gaul darn - G— —-n.Gaul dern - A Yankee oath.Gauner-sprache,(Ger.) - Thieves' language.Ge-bildet - Built, with the German augment.Ge-birt',(Ger. Geburt) - Birth.Geborn - Born, with the augment.Ge-brudert,(formed like ge-schwister,) - Brothers.Geh hin mein Puch,(German of the 16th century).Gehst nit mit rechten Dingen zu - Dost not do it by any naturalmeans; there is witchcraft in it.Gekommene - Arrived(newly arrived).Gekommen so,(Ger.) - Come thus.Ge-kostet - Cost, with the German augment.)Gesangverein,(Ger.) - Singing-society.Ge-screech, Geschrei - Bawling, clamour.Gesembled - Assembled, with the augment of the German preterite.Geshmasht - Smashed, with German augment.Gespickt,(Ger.) - Larded.Gestohlen - Stolen.Gestohlen und bekannt,(Ger.) - Stolen, and known.Gesundheit,(Ger.) - Health.Gewehr,(Ger.) - Musket.Gewiss - Certainly.Gift,(Ger.) - Poison.Gilt - In the ordinary sense, and also in the same verse, "gilt,"implying the meaning of the German verb "gelten," to be worthsomething, and also guilt.Glamour - Ocular deception by magic.Glee-wine, Glueh-wein - Hot-spiced wine.Glucky,(Ger. Gluecklich) - Lucky.Glueck,(Ger.) - Luck.Goblum - For goblin.Gool - Cool.Gottallmachty, (Ger. Gottallmachtig) - God Almighty.Gottashe - Cottage.Gotteshaus,(Ger.) - House of God.Gott-full, gottvoll - Glorious, divine.Gottsdonnerkreuzschockschwerenoth,(Ger.) - Another variety of bigswearing.Gott's-doonder,(Ger. Gott's donner) - God's thunder. See alsoGott's tausend, a thundering sort of oath, but never precededby lightning, for it is only used as a kind of expletive toexpress great surprise, or to give great emphasis to wordswhich, without it, would seem to be capable of none.Gottstausend,(Ger.) - An abbreviation of Gott's tausenddonnerwetter (God's thousand thunders), and therefore thecomparative of Gott's doonder; with most of those who use it ameaningless phrase.Gott weiss,(Ger.) - God knows!Go von - Go one, bet on him.Grillers - Guerillas.Grod, gerad - Straight.Gros,(Ger.) - Great.Guestfriendlich, gastfreundlich - Hospitable.Gummi lasticum - India rubber.Gutemberg - The inventor of the art of printing.Guve - Southern slang for give. Guv, for give, is alsoEnglish slang as well as American.Gyrotwistive - Snaky.
Hab' und Guter,(Ger.) - Property.Hagel! Blitz! Kreuz Sakrament!(Ger.) - Another variety of swearing.Halberthier, for Halberdier - Halberthier means half an animal.Hand-shoe,(Ger. Handschuh) - Glove.Hans Michel - A popular but not complimentary name for Germany.Hans Wurst - Merry Andrew; Zani; Jack Pudding - the latter wordbeing a literal translation of the German Hans Wurst; thepudding in either case referring to the sausages, or thepretended sausage, which the Merry Andrew always appeared tobe swallowing by the yard or fathom. See Blackley's "WordGossip."Harmlos,(Ger.) - Harmless.Haul de pot - Take the stakes.Hause - House.Hegel - Name of the German philosopher.Heine, Heinrich - German poet.Heini von Steier - Heinrich von Ofterdingen.Heldenbuch - Is the title of a collection of epic poems, belongingto the cycle of the German Saga.Heller Glorie schein - Bright gloriole.Hereauf, hierauf - Thereupon.Herout,(Ger. Heraus) - Out.Herr Je,(Ger.) - An abbreviation of Herr Jesus (OLord!); generally only used by those who are fond ofmeaningless exclamations.Her-re-liche, herrliche - Superb, grand, noble.Hertsen - Herzen; hearts.Hertzhog, Herzog,(Ger.) - Duke.Herzlich,(Ger.) - Hearty.Herzbruder,(Ger.) - Heart's brother.Hexerei - Witchery, sorcery.Himmel,(Ger.) - Heaven.Himmels-Potz-Pumpen-Herrgott - A mild sort of a German imprecation,untranslatable.Himmlisch' hoellisch' qual,(Ger.) - Heavenly-hellish pain.Hip Herje! - A common interjection.Hobbiness - Happiness.Hoellisch,(Ger.) - Hellish.Honey fooglin', Honeyfuggle - Is believed to be Englishslang. In America it means blarneying, deceiving.Hoockle perry, persimmoned - "A huckle-berry over mypersimmon." Surpassed, out-done.Hoof-irons,(Huf-eisen in Ger.) - Horse-shoe.Hoofstad,(Flem.) - Capita.Hop-sosa,(Ger.)int. - Hop; heyday!Hunde - Dog.Hundsfott,(Ger. Vulg.) - Mean scoundrel, hound.Hunk,(Amer.) - Stout, solid, profitable. "To be all hunk" means tocome out of a speculation with advantage. To be well off.Hut,(Ger.) - Hat.
I Gili romaneskro - This song is written in the German gipsydialect. Eh! in third line of second verse, is theGerman word ehe, "ere," or before. Kuribente("in war,") is in the Slavonic and gipsy local case,or as Pott calls it (Die Zigeuner in Europa und Asien)the Second Dative.Ik leven,(Flem.) - I live.Il diavolo in carnato,(Ital.) - The devil incarnate or incarnation.Immer - Ever.In geburst - Burst.In Sang und Klang dein Leben lang,(Ger.) - In music and song allthy life long.Ita dixit,(Latin) - So said.
Jeff - A game played by throwing up types, generally for"refreshments."Joss-stick - A name given to small reeds, covered with the dust ofodiferous woods, which the Chinese burn before their idols.Jungfernkranz,(Ger.) - Bridal garland.
Kaiser Karl - Charlemagne.Kalt,(Ger.) - Cold.Kanaster,(Ger.) - Canaster tobacco.Kan ik. Ik kan,(Flem.) - I can.Karfunkelstein,(Ger.) - Carbuncle.Kartoffel,(Ger.) - Potato.Kauder-Waelsch,(Ger.) - Gibberish.Kellner,(Ger.) - Waiter.Kermes - Annual Fair.Kinder,(Ger.) - Children.Kitin, a kitin - Flying or running rapidly.Klein und gross - Small and great.Kloster,(Ger.) - Cloister.Knasterbart,(Ger.) - Literally, tobacco-beard; perhaps denoting agood old fellow, fond of his pipe.Kneiperei,(Ger.) - Revel.Knock dem out de shpots - Knock the spots out of them; astonishthem.Koenig Etzel - King Attila.Komm maidelein! Rothe waengelein,(Ger.) - Come maiden, red cheeks.Kong,(Ger. Konig) - Old Norse for king.Kooken - Cake.Kop,(Ger. Kopf) - Head.Kreutzer - Frederick Creutzer, distinguished professor in theUniversity of Heidelberg, author of a great work on "Symbolik."Krumm,(Ger.) - Crooked.Kummel,(Ger.) - Cumin brandy.Kummel, kimmel,(Ger.) - Schnapps, dram. Hans, in his tipsyenthusiasm, ejaculates, "Oh, mein Gott in Kimmel!" instead of"im Himmel" (heaven), becoming guilty of an unconsciousalliteration, and confessing, according to the proverb invino veritas, where his God really abides; "whose God istheir belly."Kunster,(Ger.) - Sacristan.
Lanze,(Ger.) - Lance.Lager, Lagerbeer, (Ger. Lagerbier, i.e., Stockbeer) - Sometimes inthese poems abbreviated into Lager. A kind of beer introducedinto the American cities by the Germans, and now much in vogueamong all classes.Lager Wirthschaft,(Ger.) - Beerhouse.Laibgartner,(Ger.) - Liebgard; bodyguard. The Swiss in blunderingmakes it "body-gardener."Lam - To drub, beat soundly.Larmen - The French word larmes, tears, made into a German verb.Lateinisch - Latin.Laughen, lachen - Laughing.Lavergne - A place between Nashville and Murfreesboro', in thestate of Tennessee.Lebe hoch! - Hurrah!Leben - Life; living.Lebenlang,(Ger.) - Life-long.Lev'st du nock? - Liv'st thou yet?Libby - The notorious Confederate prison at Richmond, Va.Liddle Pills - Little bills, Legislative enactments.Lieblich,(Ger.) - Charming.Liedeken,(Flem.) - Song.Lieder, Lieds,(Ger.) - Songs.Liederkranz,(Ger.) - Glee-union.Liederlich,(Ger.) - Loose, reckless, dissolute.Lighthood,(Ger. Lichtheit) - Light.Like spiders down their webs - Breitmann's soldiers are supposed tohave been expert turners or gymnasts.)Loafer,(Amer.) - A term which, considered as the Germanpronunciation of lover, is a close translation ofrom, since this latter means both a gipsy and ahusband.Los, los gehen,(Ger.) - To go at a thing, at somebody.Loosty,(Ger. Lustig) - Jolly, merry.Loudet,(Lauten in Ger.) - To make sound.L'Ubbriacone,(Ital.) - Drunkard.Luftballon,(Ger.) - Air-balloon.Lump,(Ger.) - Ragamuffin.Lumpenglocke - An abusive term applied to bells, especially tothose which are rung to give notice that the beer-houses mustclose.
Madel,(Ger.) - Girl.Maedchen,(Ger.) - Girl, maiden.Markgraefler - A pleasant light wine grown in the Grand Duchyof Baden.Marmorbild - Marble statue.Maskenzug,(Ger.) - Procession of masked persons.Massenversammlung,(Ger.) - Mass meeting.Mein Freund - My friend.Mein Sohn - My son.Meine Seel',(Ger.) - By my soul.Meisjes,(Flem.) - Girls.Middleolter(Mittelaelter) - The Middle Ages.Mijn lief gesellen,(Flem.) - My dear comrades.Mineted - Minded.Minnesinger - Poet of love. A name given to German lyric poets,who flourished from the twelfth to the fourteenth centuries.Mist-hauf,(Ger.) - Dung-hill.Mit hoontin knife, &c.:-"With her white hands so lovely,She dug the Count his grave.From her dark eyes sad weeping,The holy water she gave."- Old German Ballad.Mitout - Without.Mitternight, Mitternacht - Midnight.Mitternocht, Mitternacht - Midnight.Mohr, ein schwarzer,(Ger.) - A blackamoor.Moleschott - Author of a celebrated work on physiology.Mondenlight - Moonlight.Mondenschein,(Ger.) - Moonlight.Morgan - John Morgan, a notorious Confederate guerilla during thelate war in America.Morgen-het-ache - Morning headache.Moskopolite,(Amer.) - Cosmopolite. Mossyhead is the German studentphrase for an old student.Mud-sill - The longitudinal timber laid upon the ground to form thefoundation for a railway. Hence figuratively applied by thelabour-despising Southern gentry to the labouring classes asthe substratum of society.Murmulte - Murmured.Mutter,(Ger.) - Mother.
Naturalizationisds - The officers, &c., who give the rights ofnative citizens to foreigners.Nibelungen Lied - The lay of the Nibelungen; the great Germannational epos.Nieuw Jarsie - New Jersey, in America, famous inter alia for itssandy beaches and high surf.Nig - Nigger.Nirwana - The Brahminical absorption into God.Nix,(Ger. Nichts) - Nothing.Nix cum raus - That I had not come out.No sardine - Not a narrow-minded, small-hearted fellow.Norate - To speak in an oration.Noth,(Ger.) - Need, dire extremity. Das war des Breitmann's Noth,-That was Breitmann's sore trial. Imitated from the last lineof the Nibelungen Lied.Nun - Now.Nun endlich,(Ger.) - Now at last.
O'Brady - An Irish giant.Ochsen,(Ger.) - Oxen; stupid fellows. As a verb it also is usedfamiliarly to mean hard study.Odenwald - A thickly-wooded district in South Germany.Oder - Other. See Preface.Oltra tramontane; ultra tramontane - Applied to the non-ItalianCatholic party.On-belongs - Literal translation of Zugehort.On de snap - All at once.On-did to on-do - Literal translation of the Germananthun; to donn, to put on.Onfang,(Ger. Anfang) - Beginning.Oonendly - Unendlich.Oonshpeakbarly,(Ger. unaussprechbarlich) - Inexpressibly.Oop-gecleared,(Ger. Aufgeklaert) - Enlightened.Ooprighty,(Ger. Aufrichtig) - Upright.Oopright-hood,(Ger. Aufrichtigkeit) - Uprightness.Oop-sproong - For aufsprung.Opple-yack - Apple-jack. Spirit distilled from cider.Orgel-ton,(Ger.) - Organ sound.Orkester - Orchestra.Out-ge-poke-te - Out-poked.Out-signed,(Ger. ausgezeichnete) - Distinguished, signal.Out-sprach - Outspoke.Over again - Uebrigen.
Paardeken,(Flemish) - Palfrey. Pabst, Der Pabst lebt, &c. - "The Pope he leads a happy life," &c., beginning of a popular German song. Palact,(Ger. Pallast) - Palace. Peke - Belgian rye whisky. Peeps - People. "Hard on the American peeps" - a phrase for anything exacting or severely pressing. Pelznickel, Nick, Nickel - St. Nicolas, muffled in fur, is one of the few riders in the army of the saints, but, unlike St. George and St. Martin, he oftener rides a donkey than a horse, more especially in that part of the German land which can boast of having given birth to the illustrious Hans. St. Nicolas is supposed, on the night preceding his name-day, the sixth of December, to pass over the house-tops on his long-eared steed, and having baskets suspended on either side filled with sweets and playthings, and to drop down through the chimneys presents for those children who have been good during the year, but birch-rods for those who have been naughty, would not go to bed early, or objected to being washed, &c. In the expectation of his coming, the children put, on the eve of St. Nicolas' day, either a shoe, or a stocking, or a little basket, into the chimney-piece of their parents' bedroom. We may remark, by the way, that St. Nicolas is the Christian successor of the heathen Nikudr, of ancient German mythology. Pesser, besser,(Ger.) - Better. Pestain - Stain, with the augment. Pfaelzer - A man from the Rhenish Palatinate. Pfeil,(Ger.) - Arrow. Philosopede - Velocipede. Pickel-haube,(Ger.) - The spiked helmet worn by Prussian soldiers. Pie the forms - Break and scatter the forms of types - the greatest disaster conceivable to a true typo. Pig-sticker - Bowie-knife. Pile-out,(Amer.) - Hurry out. Pimeby - By and by. "Plain" - Water plain, i.e., unmixed. Plue goats - Blue coats, soldiers. Plug-muss - Fight for a fire-plug. American fireman's language. Pokal, (Poculum) - Goblet. Poker - A favourite game of cards among Western gamblers. Poonkin - Pumpkin. Pop-slets - Bob-sleds. A very rough kind of sledge. Potzblitz,(Ger.) - int., The deuce. Potztausend! Was ist das? - Zounds! What is that? Poulderie - Poultry. Poussiren - To court. Pretzel,(Ger.) - A kind of fancy bread, twist or the like. Prezackly - Pre(cisely), exactly. Protocollirt, protocolliren - To register, record. Pully, i.e., Bully - An Americanism, adjective. Fine, capital. A slang word, used in the same manner as the English used the word crack; as, "a bully horse," "a bully picture." Pumpernickel - A heavy, hard sort of rye-bread, made in Westphalia. Put der Konig troo - To put through, (Amer.), to qualify, to imitate. Pye - To buy.
Rapp(Rappe) - A black horse.Raushlin', rauschend - Rustling.Reb - An abbreviation of rebel.Redakteur - Editor.Red cock - Or make de red cock crow. Einem den rothenHahn aufs Dach setzen. A German proverb signifying to setfire to a house.Rede,(Ger.) - Speech.Red-Waelsch, Roth-Waelsch,(Ger.) - Thieves' language.Reiten gaen,(Flemish) - Go riding.Reiter,(Ger.) - Rider.Reiver - Robber.Reue,(Ger.) - Repentance.Rheingraf,(Ger.) - Count of the Rhine districts.Rheinweinbechers Klang - The Rhine wine goblet's sound.Richter,(Jean Paul Fr.) - A distinguished German author.Ridersmann,(Reitersmann in Ger.) - Rider.Ring - A political clique or cabal.Ringe,(Ger.) - Rings.Ritter,(Ger.) - Knight.Roland - One of the paladins of Charlemagne.Rolette - Roulette.Rollin' locks - Rolling logs, mutually aiding (used only inpolitics.)Rosen,(Ger.) - Roses.Rouse,(Ger. Heraus) - Out; come out.
Sachsen - Saxonia, Saxony.Sacrin - Consecrating.Sagen Cyclus - Cycle of legends.Sass, Sassy, Sassin' - Sauce, saucy, &c.Sauerkraut,(Ger.) - Pickled cabbage.Saw it - Understood it.Scatterin, Scotterin - Scattering.Schatz - Sweetheart.Schauer,(Ger.) - Awe.Schenk aus,(Ger.) - Pour out.Schenket ein,(Ger.) - Pour in (fill the glasses).Schimmel,(Ger.) - Grey horse.Schimpft und flucht gar laesterlich,(Ger.) - Swears and blasphemesabominably.Schinken,(Ger.) - Ham.Schlaeger,(Ger.) - A kind of sword or broadsword; a rapier used bystudents for duelling or fighting matches.Schlesierwein,(Ger.) - Wine grown in Silesia, proverbially sour.Schlimmer,(Ger.) - Worse.Schlog him ober de kop - Knocked him on the head.Schloss,(Ger.) - Castle.Schmutz,(Ger.) - Dirt.Schnapps,(Ger.) - Dram.Schnitz - Pennsylvania German word for cut and dried fruit.Schnitz, schnitzen,(Ger.) - To chop, chip, snip.Schonheitsideal,(Ger.) - The ideal of beauty.Schopenhauer - A celebrated German "philosophical physiologist."Schoppen,(Ger.) - A liquid measure, chopin, pint.Schrocken(Erschrocken) - Frightened.Schwaben - Suabia.Schwan,(Ger.) - Swan.Schweinblatt - (Swine) Dirty paper.Schweitzer kase,(Ger.) - Swiss cheese.Schwer,(Ger.) - Heavy.Schwig, Swig, verb. - To drink by large draughts.Schwigs, Swig, n. - A large draught.Schweinpig,(Ger.) - Swinepig.Scoop - Take in, get.Scorched - Escorted. A negro malapropism.Scrouged,(Amer.) - Pressed, jammed.Seelen-Ideal - Soul's ideal.Sefen-lefen - Seven or eleven(minutes).Seins,(Ger.) - The Being.Selbstanschauungsvermogen,(Ger.) - Capacity for self-inspection.Selfe,(Ger. Selbe) - Same.Serenity - A transparency.Shanty - A board cabin. Slang, for house.Shapel - Chapel is an old word for a printing-office.Sharman, Sherman - German.Shings - Jingo; by jingo.Shpicket - Spigot; a pin or peg to stop a small hole in a cask ofliquor.Shipsy - Gipsy.Shlide - Slide. "Let it slide," vulgar for "let it go."Shlide,(Amer.) - Depart.Shlished, geschlitzt - Slit.Shlop over - Go too far and upset or spill. Applied to men whoventure too far in a success.Shlopped - Slopped.Shmysed,(Ger. Schmissen, from Schmeissen) -Threw him out of doors.Shnow-wice,(Ger. Schnee-weis) - Snow-white.Shoopider - Jupiter.Shooting-stick - A shooting-stick is used for closing up the formof types.Show-spiel, Schauspiel - Play, piece.Shpoons - Spoons, plunder.Shtuhl,(Ger. Stuhl) - Stool, chair.Silbern,(Ger.) - Silver.Sinn,(Ger.) - Meaning.Six mals - Six times.Skeeted - Went fast, skated(?)Skool - Skull.Skyugle,(Amer.) - "Skyugle" is a word which had a short run during1864. It meant many things, but chiefly to disappear or tomake disappear. Thus, a deserter "skyugled," and sometimes he"skyugled" a coat or watch.Slanganderin' - Foolishly slandering.Slasher gaffs - Spurs for cocks, with cutting edges.Slibovitz - A Bohemian schnapps.Slumgoozlin' - Slum or sham guzzling, humbug.Slumgullion - A Mississippi term for a legislator.So mit,(Ger.) - Thus with.Solidaten,(Ger. Soldaten) - Soldiers.Sonntag,(Ger.) - Sunday.Soplin - A sapling, young tree.Sottelet,(Ger. Gesattelt) - Saddled.Sound upon the goose - Bartlett, in his Dictionary ofAmericanisms, states that this phrase originated in theKansas troubles, and signified true to the causeof slavery. But this is erroneous, as the phrasewas common during the native American campaign,and originated at Harrisburg, as described by Mr. Leland.Souse und Brouse,(Ger. Saus und Braus) - Revelry and rioting.Speck,(Ger.) - Bacon.Spiel,(Ger.) - Play.Spielman,(Ger.) - Musician.Splodderin' - Splattering.Spook,(Ger. Spuk) - A ghost.Sporn,(Ger.) - Spur.Sports - Sporting men.Squander,(Amer.) - Wander. Used in this sense in "The Big Bear ofArkansas."Staub,(Ger.) - Dust.Stein,(Ger.) - Stone.Stille,(Ger.) - Stillness.Stim,(Ger. Stimme) - Voice.Stohr - Store.Stone fence,(Amer.) - Rye whisky."I went in and got a hornOf old stone fence."- Jim Crow, 1832.Straaten,(Flem.) - Streets.Stracks - Straight ahead, or onwards.Straight flush - In poker, all the cards of one suit.Strassen,(Ger.) - Streets.Strauss - Name of the celebrated Viennese valse player andcomposer.Strumpf,(Ger.) - Stocking.Stunden,(Ger.) - Leagues. About four and a half English miles.Sturm und Drang,(Ger.) - Literally Storm and Violence. Sturm undDrang periode, signifying a particular period of Germanliterature.Sweynheim and Pannartz - The first printers at Rome.
Takes - Allotments of copy to each printer.Tantz,(Ger.) - Dance.Tantzen,(Ger.) - To dance.Tarnal - Eternal.Taub, Taube,(Ger.) - Dove.Taugenix, Taugenichts - Good-for-nothing fellow.Teufelsjagersmann - Devil's huntsman.Theil,(Ger.) - Part.Thoom - Thumb.Thrip,(Southern Amer.) - Threepence.Thusnelda - The wife of Arminius,(Hermann,) the Duke of theCheruskans and conqueror of Varus.Tie a dog loose. LosbindenTiger - An American term for a gambling table.Tixey - "I wish I was in Dixie." The origin of this songis rather curious. Although now thoroughly adopted as aSouthern song, and "Dixie's Land" understood to mean theSouthern States of America, it was, about a century ago,the estate of one Dixie, on Manhattan Island, who treatedhis slaves well; and it was their lament, on being deportedsouth, that is now known as "I wish I was in Dixie."Todt,(Ger.) - Dead.Todtengrips, Todtengerippe - Skeleton.Tofe - Dove.To House,(Ger. zu Hause) - At home.Tortled - To tortle, to move off. From turtle.Touch the dirt - Touch the road.Treppe - Stairs.Treu,(Ger.) - Faithful, true.Throw him with ecks - Pelt him with eggs.Turchin - Colonel Turchin's men ravaged the town of Huntsville(Ala.) during the civil war.Turkas - Turquoise.Turner,(Ger.) - Gymnast.Turner Verein,(Ger. Turnverein) - Gymnastic Society.Tyfel, Teufel - Devil.Tyfeled, Verteufelt - Devilish.Tyfelfest - From Teufel, here in the sense of "best" or "worst."Tyfel-shnake, Teufelsschnaken - Devilries.Tyfel-strikes, Teufels-streiche - Devil-strokes.Tyfelwards - Devilwards.
Uber Stein and Schwein,(Ger.) - Over stone and swine.Ueberschwengliche,(Ger.) - Transcendental, elevated.Uhr,(Ger.) - Clock, watch, hour, time. Used for "hour" in theballad.Uhu,(Ger.) - Owl.Uliverus - Oliver, another of the twelve Paladins of Charlemagne,who fell at Roncesvalles (a Roland for an Oliver).Und lauter guter Ding,(Ger.) - And of thoroughly good cheer.Un-windoong,(Ger. Entwicklung?) - Unravelling.Unvolkommene technik - Unfinished style or method.Urbummeleid,(Ger. vulg.) - Arch-loafer's song.Urlied,(Ger.) - The song of yore.
Van't klein komt men tot't groote,(Dutch) - Great things have smallbeginnings. (Concordia res parvae crescunt - Legend on theDutch ducats; or "Magna molimur parvi.")Varus - The Roman commander in Germany, conquered by Arminius.Veilchen,(Ger.) - Violets.Vercieren,(Flem.) - Adorn; exalt.Verdammt,(Ger.) - D—-d.Verfluchter,(Ger.) - Accursed.Verloren,(Ger.) - Forlorn.Verstay, Verstehen - Understand.Versteh, Verstehen,(Ger.) - To understand.Vertyfeln, Verteufeln - To botch.Villiam - William Street at New York, inhabited by many Germans.Vivat! - The same as vive! in French. Hurrah!Vlaemsche - Flemish.Von - One. See Preface.Voonderly,(Ger. Wunderlich) - Wondrous, curious.Voruber,(Ger.) - Past.
Wachsen,(Ger.) - Waxen.Wachsen,(Ger.) - To grow."Komm'ich in's galante SachsenWo die schone Maedchen wachsen."- Old German Song.Waechter,(Ger.) - Watchman.Waelder,(Ger.) - Woods.Wahlverwandtschaft,(Ger.) - Elective affinity, sympathy of souls.Wahrsagt,(Ger. Wahrsagen) - To foretell, soothsay.Waidmannsheil,(Ger.) - Huntsman's weal.Wald,(Ger.) - Wood.Wallowin - Walloon.Walschen,(Ger.) - Of the Latin race.Wappenshield(Waffenschild) - Coat of arms.Ward all zu Steine,(Ger.) - Became all stone.Ward zu Wind,(Ger.) - Became a wind.Wechselbalg,(Ger.) - (formerly a popular superstitious belief), achangeling, brat, urchin.Weihnachtsbaum,(Ger.) - Christmas tree.Weihnachtslied,(Ger.) - Christmas song.Weingarts, weingarten,(Ger.) - Vineyards.Weingeist,(Ger.) - Vinous, ardent spirit.Wein-handle,(Ger. Weinhandel or Weinhandlung) -Wine-trade, wine-shop.Weinnachtstraum - Lit. Winenight's dream, for "Weihnacht,"Christmas dream.Wellen und Wogen,(Ger.) - Waves and billows.Welshhen - Turkey hen.Werda?(Ger.) - Who's there?Werden, das Werden - The becoming to be.Wete(Wette) - Bet.We'uns, you'ns - We and you. A common vulgarismthrough the Southern States."'Tis sad that we'uns from you'ns partsWhen you'ns hev stolen we'uns' hearts.Wie gehts,(Ger.) - How goes it? How are you?Wie Milch und Blut - Like milk and blood.Wild und Weh,(Ger.) - Wild and woebegone.Wilde Jagd - Wild hunt.Willkomm,(Ger.) - Welcome.Windsbraut,(Ger. poet) - Storm, hurricane, gust of wind.Wird,(Ger.) - Becomes.Wise-hood,(Ger. Weisheit) - Wisdom.Wised,(Ger. Wusste, from wissen) - Knew.Witz,(Ger.) - A sally.Wo bist du?(Ger.) - Where art?Woe-moody,(Ger. Wehmuthig) - Moanful, doleful.Wohl,(Ger.) - Well!Wohlauf,(Ger.) - Well, come on, cheer up.Wolfsschlucht,(Ger.) - Wolf's glen.Wonnevol,(Ger. Wonnevoll) - Blissful.Woon,(Ger. Wunde) - Wound.Word-blay - Word-play, pun, quibble.Wunderscheen(Wunderschoen) - Very beautiful.Wurst - A German student word for indifference.Wurst,(Ger.) - Sausage.
Yaeger,(Ger.) - Huntsman.Yaegersmann, Jaegersmann - Huntsman.Yager,(Jager, Ger.) - Hunter.Yar,(Ger. Jahr) - Year.Yartausend, Jahrtausend - A thousand years.Yellow pine - Mulatto.Yonge maegden,(Flem.) - Young girls."I lost a maiden in that hour." - Byron.Yoompers - Jumpers. Rude sledges.Yungling, Jungling,(Ger.) - Youth.
Zapfet aus,(Ger.) - Tap the barrel.Zigeuner - Gipsy.Zimmer,(Ger.) - Room.Zukunftig,(Ger.) - In future.
1. Liederchor is the word which serves as a basis for thisdesignation.
2. Studio auf einer Reis',Lebet halt auf auf eig'ner Weis'Hungrig hier und hungrig dort,Ist des Burschens Logungswort.
This, with the other verses, may be found in the German Student's"Commersbucher."
3. Bachtallo dschaven is the prose form. Vide Pott'sZigeuner.
4. Stinging. An amusing instance of "Breitmannism" was shown in the fact that an American German editor, in his ignorance of English, actually believed that the word stinging, as here given, meant stinking, and was accordingly indignant. It is needless to say that no such idea was intended to be conveyed.
5. Then only you will be ready in German.
6. In Music and Song all thy life long.
7. Thy feet are white as chalk, my love,Thy arms are ivory bone,Thy body is all satin soft,Thy breast of marble stone@ @ @ @ @ @Smooth, tender, pure, and fair.—Liederbuch Pauls von der Helst, 1602
8. Slibovitz.
9. The author does not know who wrote the first part of "Die Schone Wittwe." It appeared about 1856, and "went the round of the papers," accumulating as it went several additions or rejoinders, one of which was that by Hans Breitmann.
10. I had not seen for many daysThe handsome widow's face;I saw her last night standingBy her counter, full of grace.With cheeks as pure as milk and blood,With eyes so bright and blue,I kissed her full well six times,Indeed, and that is true.
11. This ballad is a parody of Das Hildebrandslied. ConsultWackernagel's Lesebuch and Das klein Heldenbuch."Ich vill zum Land ausreiten,Sprach sich Maister Hilteprand."
12. The Republicans in America were for a long time ridiculed by theiropponents as if professing to be guided by Moral Ideas, i.e.Emancipation, Progress, Harmony of Interests, &c.
13. Gling, glang, gloria, was a common refrain in the 16thcentury, in German drinking songs. "Gling, glang, glorian, DieSau hat ein Panzer an." - Tractatus de Ebrietate Vitanda.
14. The boot was a favourite drinking cup during the Middle Ages.The writer has seen a boot-shaped mug, bearing the inscription,"Wer . sein . Stiefel . nit . trinken . kan .Der . ist . furwahr . kein . Teutscher . man."
There is an allusion to this boot-cup in Longfellow's "GoldenLegend," where mention is made of a jolly companion
——"who could pullAt once a postilion's jack-boot full,And ask with a laugh, when that was done,If they could not give him the other one."
15. The German equivalent for a native of Little Pedlington. It isa Suabian joke, commemorated in a popular song, to inquire inforeign and remote regions, "Is there any good fellow fromBoblingen here?"
16. "Sonst etwas auf dem Rohr habem" - something else on the pipeor tube - meaning a plan or idea, kept to one's self, is a Germanproverbial expression, which occurs in one of Langbein's humorouslyrics.
17. "Nom de garce," as an anagram of nom de grace, occurs in Rabelais. G
18. An expression only used in reference to seeing again some jolly old friend after long absence - "Uns kommt der alte Schwed."
19. Wurst, literally sausage, is used by German students to signify indiffer ence. When a sausage is on the table, and one is asked with mock courtesy which part he prefers, he naturally replies - "Why, it is all sausage to me." I have heard an elderly man in New England reply to the query whether he would have "black meat or breast" - "Any part, thank'ee - I guess it's all turkey." There are, of course, divers ancient and quaint puns in Pennsylvania, on such a word as wurst. Thus it is said that a northern pedlar, in being served with some sausage of an inferior quality, was asked again if he would have some of the wurst. Not understanding the word, and construing it as a slight, he replied to his hostess - "No, thank you, marm, this is quite bad enough." The literal meaning of this line, which is borrowed from Scheffel's poem of Perkeo, is "indifferent, and equal, to me."
20. It was, I believe, Ragnar Lodbrog who, in his Death Song, spoke, about as intelligently and clearly as Herr Breitmann, of a mass of weapons.
21. Is true art-enjoyment.
22. Where art thou Breitmann? - Believe it.
23. In the green wood.
24. Students in the streets.
25. Oh Fatherland! - how thou art far! Oh Time! - how art thou long!
26. Full details of this excursion were published in a pamphlet, entitled "Three Thousand Miles in a Railroad Car," and also in letters written by Mr. J. G. Hazzard for the New York Tribune.
27. In American-German festivals, cards are sometimes sold by the quantity, which are "good" for refreshments. This is done to avoid trouble in making change.
28. Breitmann and bride-man, breit and krumm (bride and groom), or broad and crooked, &c.
29. This refers to the passage of bills in the Legislature of a state by means of bribery. In Pennsylvania, as in many other states, bills which have "nothing in them" - i.e. no money - are rarely allowed to pass.
30. "Die Welt gleicht einer Bierbouteille."
31. Harrisburg is the capital of the state of Pennsylvania.
32. In a certain edition of the Breitmann Ballads, this phrase is said to have originated in 1845. In 1835, I heard it said that General Jackson in a letter spelt all correct "oll korrekt," and this I believe to be the real origin of the expression. - C.G.L.
33. This incident, and the one narrated in the preceding verse, are literally true.
34. "No more interlect than a half-grown shad," is a phrase which occurs, if the author remembers aright, in the Charcoal Sketches, by J. C. Neal. The Western people have carried this idea a step further, and applied it to sardines, as "small fishes," all of an average size, packed closely together in tin cans and excluded from the light of day. A man who has never travelled, and has during all his life been packed tightly among those who were his equals in ignorance and inexperience, is therefore a "sardine."
35. The incident narrated in this part, is told in Pennsylvania as having occurred to a well-known politician, who bore the sobriquet of "With all due deference," from his habit of beginning all his speeches with these words.
36. "Dese outpressions ish not to pe angeseen py anypodies ash schvearin, boot ash inderesdin Norse or Sherman idioms. Goot many refiewers vot refiewsed to admire soosh derms in de earlier editions ish politelich requestet to braise dem in future nodices from a transcendental philological standpoint." - FRITZ SCHWACKENHAMMER
37. Requisish. An abbreviation of the word requisition, which Breitmann had heard during the War of Emancipation. I once heard this cant term used in a droll manner, about the end of the war, by a little girl, six years old, the daughter of a quarter-master. She had "confiscated," or "foraged," or "skirmished," as it was indifferently called, a toy whip belonging to her little brother of four years, who was clamorously demanding its return. "I cannot let you have the whip," said she gravely, "as I need it for military purposes; but I can give you a requisish for it on my papa, who will give you an order on the United States Government." - C. G. L.
38. Bismarck.
39. Disraeli.
40. Uhu. An owl - the bird of kn-owl-edge.
41. Allons. Uhlan slang for go or went, asin America, they use the Spanish word vamos to expressevery person in every sense of the verb to go. Pronouncedallon'd.
42. "O no, those are no angelsWhich sail so smoothly on,O no - they're cursed Frenchmen,All in an air-balloon."
43. "And when she came adownUnto the earth's firm surface,She was Mrs. Robinson."
44. Those are thrashed Frenchmen.
45. "Der Uhlan was not shenerally wear pickelhaube, but dis tay der Herr Breitmann gehappenet to hafe von on." - FRITZ SCHWACKENHAMMER
46. "And art thou truly living?"
47. "All my property."
48. "O maiden fair in Heaven!"
49. Nancy, the "light of love" of Lorraine. - LondonTimes, Dec. 6, 1870.
50. "I require you to surrender:I have thirty thousand menNot far from here, parbleu!But give me first champagne:I've a wondrous thirst, you know-About a dozen cart-loads;And then I'll let you go."
51. "O Lord, Lord, Lord!We are ruined!"
52. "We will take the ready gelt."
53. "Yes, give a hundred thousand francs'Tis all to me, you know."
54. "Ah, that will make you trouble,Which I would not gladly see;So follow all my counsels,And take advice from me.I have two thousand bottles,The best"-