History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended, Part 53

Author: Gibson, John, Editor
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended > Part 53

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In the Pfälzer it is, however, that a Penn- sylvania German finds himself most at home. This dialect is used within certain parts of the Palatinate, thus described by Nadler: On the South, a line drawn from the opening out of the Aunweiler Thal into the lowlands of the Rhine; thence along its right bank through Germersheim and Philippsburg to- ward Wiesloch. On the North, a line drawn from near Grunstadt, and passing thence through Worms, toward Heppenheim at the Bergstrasse. On the East a curved line from thence through the front, or southwestern part of the Odenwald to the vicinity of Wimpfen; and from thence westwardly through Sinsheim toward Wiesloch. Within these limits are jovial Pfälzer Bauern, whose motto, or shibboleth is, "Frölich Palz, Gott Erhalt's." To show more plainly the close re- semblance between the Pfälzer and the Penu- sylvania German, some specimen stanzas from Nadler's humorous poems are here given:

" Es war emol en alder Bauer Der hodd en Acker ghatt mit Kraut, So schö, er selwer hott ken schöners Sein Lebbdag noch im Feld gebaut."

(P. G.)

Es war emol en alter Bauer Der hot en Acker g'hat mit Kraut, So schö, er selwer hot ken schöners Sei Lebdaag noch im Feld gebaut.

Wer ausem Dorf Vorbei is gange Is schtehn gebliwwe un hot gsacht

" Des Kraut, des dorf sich sehe losse!" Dem Bauer hot des Fröd gemacht.

(P. G.)

Weer aus der Schtadt forbey isch gange Isch schteh gebliwwe un hot g'saat;

" Des Kraut, des dörf sich sehne losse! " Dem Bauer hot des Frod gemacht.

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THE PENNSYLVANIA GERMANS.

Doch, "licht der Wein noch nit im Keller," Sacht's Schprichwort, "is er noch nit mein!" So geht's aa do; e Schloszewedder

Fällt scharf in die Gemarkung nein.

(P. G.)

Doch, "ligt der Wein noch net im Keller," Sägt's Schprichwort, "isch er noch net mei!" So geht's a'h do; eu Schloosewedder Fällt ung'fähr uf den Acker nei.

Der Bauer hätt verzweifle möge, Laaft in seim Schtüwwel hin un her Un dobt: "wie werd mein Kraut aussehne! Wann ich nor uf meim Acker wär!"

(P. G.)

Der Bauer hät ferzweifle möge; Laaft in seim Schtüwli hi 'un heer

Un doobt: "wie wert mei Kraut aussehn! Wan ich juscht in meim Krautschtick wär!"

Er geht an's Fenschder, guck't an Himmel, Geht widder wech, guckt widder naus;

Ja, liewer Gott, 's is nix zu mache,

Dann 's regent noch erbärmlich draus.

(P. G.)

Er geht an's Fenschter, gukt an Himmel, Geht widder weck, gukt widder naus; Ja, liewer Gott's isch nix zu mache,

Es reegert noch erbärmlich draus.

Kaum war der ärgschde Guss vorüwwer, Do langt er g'schwind sein Wammes her Un laaft so nüwwer uf sein Acker,-

Vun Kraut war do keen Schtumbe mehr! (P. G.)

So g'schwindt as seller Schuck forbei war Do langt er 'mol sei Wammes heer

Un laaft 'mol in sei Krautschtick nüwwer- Fun Kraut waar do ke' Schtumpe mehr!

"O Je! mein Kraut! Verfluchte Schlosze! Mein Kraut is hin, die Aerwet aach!"

Wie er so Klagt, thut s' aus de Wolke En Blitzer unen laude Schlag.

(P. G.)

O Je! mei Kraut! ferfluchte Schloose! Mei Kraut isch hi' die Aerwet ah!"

Dann kummt emol aus d' schwarze Wolke En Blitz un a'h en laud'r Schlaag.

O! Seid nor ruhig, ihr, do drowwe, Was haww ich dann jetz Weiders g'sacht? Mar dorf doch um sein Kraut noch redde,

Wo so viel Müh eem hot gemacht!"

(P. G.)

O! seid juscht ruhig, ihr, do howwe- Was hawwich aus'm Weeg gesaagt?

Mer dorf doch, denk e' Weenig fluche- Des Kraut hot mir fiel Druwwel g'macht!"

The similarity, approximating identity, will be readily seen from these examples. The use of o instead of a; e. g., in emol for ein- mal; in hodd or hot, for hat, hatte; of w and ww for b and bb; e. g. in Selwer for Selbst; gebliwwe for geblieben; nüwwer for 'nüber, hinüber, Schtüwwel for Stübchen; sch in- stead of s, as in Fenschder for Fenster, etc., etc.

That the Pennsylvania German, though a mere dialect of the south German, like the Pfälzer and others, is capable of being made the vehicle of intelligent and intelligible thought and ideas, and even of poetic humor, feeling and sentiment, is beyond successful dispute or denial. A few stanzas from Har- baugh's Harfe will suffice to show this:

Wie heemelt mich do alles a'! Ich schteh, un denk un guck; Un was ich schier fergesse hab, Kummt widder z'rück wie ans'm Grab, Un schteht do wie en Schpuck!

Ich schteh wie Ossian in seim Dhal Un seh in's Wolkeschpiel, Beweegt mit Freed un Trauer-ach! Die Dhrene Kumme wan ich lach- Kauscht denke wie ich fiehl.

Do bin ich gange in die Schul, Wo ich noch war gans klee; Dort war der Meeschter in seim Schtuhl, Dort war sei Wip un dort sei Rubl,- Ich kan's noch alles seh'.

(Alt Schulhaus an der Krick.)

Als Pilger geh ich widder hin In's Haus wo ich gebore bin- Do tret mer awer leis!

Mei Herz tregt, wie'n heilig Ding, Die G'fiehle, die ich mit mer bring, Heem fun der lange Reis!

Bal bin ich froh, bal dhut's mer leed, So halb in Forcht, so halb in Freed, Geh ich die Treppe nuf! Die Dheer grad owe an der Schteeg- Mit Seifze ich die Schlenk a'reg, Mit Dhreene mach ich uf!

Du Alte Schtub! wie manche Nacht Hab ich im Schlof do zugebracht, Wo ich noch war en Kind! In sellem Eck, dort war mei Bett; Wann ich's ferigesse kennt-wär's net 'N arge Schand un Sind!

(Alt Schlofschtub.)

In these and other poems, the author car- ries us back to our childhood's days; to the old schoolhouse near the sparkling rivulet that issued from the western base of the South Mountain, and wended its way past the old schoolhouse, down through his father's farm in the Cumberland Valley; and also to the old bed-chamber where he slept and dreamed the bright dreams of youth, when the storms howled without and the raindrops pattered on the roof. Thither he made his annual pil- grimage from an undying love for his old home, and a deep and holy reverence for the memory of his ancestors. All honor to the man and to his memory, whose harp, though it has long hung on the willows, still awakens soft, sweet echoes in the hearts of the people.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

Some excellent translations from English authors have recently been made and pub- lished by T. C. Zimmerman, Esq., of the Reading Times, into Pennsylvania German. Following is a specimen:

DIE NACHT FOR' CHRISCHDAAG.

'S waar die Nacht for 'de Chrischdaag un dorch es gans Haus Verreegt sich ke' Thierli, net emol en Maus

Die Schtrump waare schnock im Schornschte gehanke, In der Hoffning der "Nick " dheet graad runner dchumpe, Die Kinner so schnock waare all schö im Bett, Fon Zuckerschleck draame un was mer, doch, wött ; Die Mamme im 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 Jacht, Das ich ufg'schprunge hin, zu schue wär's macht. An's Fenschter graad schpring ich so schnell wie'n Flasch- Die Läde ufg'risse, ufg'schmisse die Sasch ! Der Moond uf der Bruecht dem neug' fallne Schnee Macht Helling wie Mitdaag, iwwer alles, so schü. Im e' Aageblick Kummt, jetz, un rund wie e' Kersch E' Fuhrmann im Schlidde un acht kleene Hersch- E' Männli in Pelze, so freundlich un frey-

'Hab graadeweck g'wüsst 's muss der Pelznickel sei ! Wie Aadler, so schnell, sin die Herschlin zusamme, Un er peift un'r ruuft, un'r nennt sie mit Naame: " Jetz Dascher, jetz Danzer! jetz Pranzer: jetz Vixen : Uu Komet ! un Kupid ! un Dunder ! un Blitzen !" An der Porch isch er nuff' un die Mauer ge falle-

"Jetz schpringt eweck! schpringt eweck! schpringt eweck alle !""

Wie laab for'm e Windschtorm-der wildscht das mer scht, Wann ebbes im Weeg isch un's Himmelwerts geht. Zum Hausgiwwel nuf sin die Herschlin wie g'flooge, Mit'm Schlidli foll Sach un der "Nick " mit gezoge ; Im e' Aageblick hörscht uf'm Dach-ow wedrowe- En Gescherr un Gedanz wie mit lfülzene Glowwe. Mei Kop ziegich nei, guk um mich im Haus- Un im Schornschte, do kunimt'r warhaftig schun raus! Mit Peltze ferwickelt fon Kop his zum Funsz, Un alles ferschnuttelt mit Aesche un Ruusz ! Uf 'm Buckel en Bundel foll allerhand G'schpiel- 'S hot geguckt wie 'm Kremer sei Kramm-artlig fiel. Sei Maul, wie 'n Kersch, un sei Dimple die lache- Sei Aage die, blinzle, un wie Rosa, sei Backe. Gans rund war sei Mauli un roth wie der Klee, Un 's Schnurblirdli weisz wie woll, oder Schnee: En schtumpiges Peifli, fescht zwische de Zeh. Un der Schmook schteigt in Ringlin so schi in die Hüh. Sei G'sichtli so breed un sei Bäuchli e' bissel, Uewerm Lache hot g' shittelt wie Dschelly in der Schüssel. So dick un so rund war des luschtige Elfge, Muss lache, graad ans un kan's gaar net helfa. Sei Köpli waar eifrig un schwätzig mit Nücken- Sei Aage, gaar freundlich mit Blinzele un Blicken : Die Schtrump hot 'r g'fullet, un mit frülichem Braus. Da schpringt inschtandig, den Schornschte hinaus; Er schpringt uf sei Schlidde, zu der Fuhr peift en Piffel, Dann fliege sie fort wie Duun fon der Dischtel : Doch eh' er gans fort waar, sei (+rusz hott'r g' macht- "En herrliche Chrischdaag! un zu alle, Guut Nacht!

As has been shown, considerable diversity of opinion exists among the writers of our dialect, as to the proper manner of spelling it, and hence the unfortunate lack of uni- formity in that respect, noticeable in their productions. To establish and maintain uniformity of orthography, the true rule, undoubtedly is, to adopt the Pfälzer as a gen- eral standard, and use the Latin characters as far as possible so as to give each its proper German sound. In order to do this it fre- quently becomes necessary to double certain vowels: as (aa) in Aag (Auge), aarm (arm, poor). Aarm (Arm, an arm), aartlich (artig), waarm (warm). Exceptions to aa occur in such words as Schprooch (Sprache), nooch (nach) Schloof, (Schlaf), in which the idiom of the dialect requires the use of o, or 00, instead of a. But such words as Schlaag

(Schlag), maag (mag') are not within the ex- ception so as to justify the substitution of o for a, aa, thus: Sclog, mog, sog, etc.

The following are instances of the doub- ling of e: Eech (Eich, oak), Eernt (Ernte; harvest), beete (beten, to pray), Gebeet (Ge- bet, prayer), breet (breit, broad), Bee (Bein, leg), Beese (Besen, broom).

The following are examples of the use of oo instead of o in the German: hooch (hoch, high), Kroon (Krone, crown), loos (los, loose), Gottloos (Gottlos, godless), groos (grosz, great), Amboos (Ambosz, anvil), Loob (Lob, praise).

The following are examples of the doubling or u: Schuul (Schule, school), Bluut (Blut, blood), Huut (Hut, hat).

The substitution of w, and ww for b is very common, as in drüwwer (darüber and über, over), Grawe (Kraben dig, ditch), hawwe (haben, to have), drowwe (daroben, above), Druwwel (Trubel,"trouble). Double i, (ii) is almost, if not entirely unknown in the Ger- man, but occasionally occurs in some of the dialects, as in the Vienna, in Miir (Meer), Miirfad'l, Miirschaam, Miirwunder.

Moreover the use of the umlauts is essen- tial in such words as Bär (a bear), bös (an- gry), Büchs (a gun), druwwer (üwwer, over), Bäm (trees), grü (green), Schö (pret- ty, etc. ), Höh (height), Frühjo (spring·time), hör (hear, etc.). The substitution of ee or ae for a, or for o, or ui or ee for u, is erronous, and leads to many a ridiculous and absurd pronunciation, destructive of the true sense of the text. Should this view be objected to as too high German, let the answer be in the words of Fritz Reuter: "Es schadet das vor- läufig nicht, ich weisz ich bin auf gutem Wege, denn ich liebe meine Sprache mehr, als meinen Dialekt."

As the following verses by the writer of this chapter, suggested during a trip through Kreuz-Krik Valley and up to Chimney Rocks, in the autumn of 1881, are not entirely foreign to the subject-matter of this history, their insertion here, merely as a further illus- tration of his view of the proper manner of spelling the dialect, may, it is hoped, be par- doned by the indulgent reader.

KREUZKRIK WELLI UN SCHORNSCHTE FELSE: IM ALTE WEIWER-SUMMER.

Ach! geh mit mir dorch Kreuzkrik-Dhaal- Ich weis der was isch schö;

Die Winter-daage kumme bald, Dann könne mir net geh. .

Ich schpann der Schimmel in die Kutch- Do hucke mir uns nei;

Er schpitzt die Ohre wie en Hutch- Guckt flink un froh un schprey.

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THE PENNSYLVANIA GERMANS.

Mer fahre dorch die Wälli naus, Wn's Kreuzkrik Bruinli quellt; Die Kreuzkrik Wälli isch, dorchaus, Die schönscht in dere Welt.

Die Pennsylfaanisch Deutsche, die, Sin a'h net juscht so dumm; Es Recht un's Ehrlich liewe sie, Un hasse's Schlecht un's Krumm.

Do leewe sie so mascht as wie "Die reiche Herr im Deich;" 'S sin kenne so guntab wie die Im Fritz seim König-reich.

Es isch ke' besser Kalkschtee-land Das ich der weise kann; Un juscht so ehrlich wie ihr Band, Die Banre, Zume' Mann.

Die Pennsylfaanisch-Deutsche Bauer, Die wohne do daheem; So schtandhaft wie die Kalkschtee-Mauer, Un wie die alte Bam.

Ja. wie die Bam, so dick un rund Am Bach, so frisch un grii; Mit Wurzle dief im maschte Grund, Un Kopp hooch in der Höh.

* *

Mer fahre do, dorch's Schnitz-Deich nuf, An Kreuzkrik-kerch forbey; Un do schteht's Dhoor am Kerch-Hoof uf, Un des söt net so sey.

Des isch, jo, Gottes-acker, un Do gebt 's mol groosse Ernt; (Der schö Ferglicli, den hawich fun De Kerch-Hoof-Dichter g'lernt.)

Do schloofe manche alte Freund, Unner de alte Bäm; 'S isch alleens ob mer for sie weint- Sie sin jo all daheem.

Doch, mir sin alsnoch uf der Reiss- Jetz, Schimmel, jetz, bassuf! Leeg dich in 's Kummet, un, mit Fleiss, Zieg uns die Berge nuf.

Die Berge nuf, des, müsse mir, Un do maag's geh wie's will; Mer fahre Hent juscht for Plesier, Un neme unser Füll.

* * *

Do drehe mir erscht links nort rechts- Mer neme 's uf G'rothwohl: 'S maag krumm geh odder üwerecks, Doch finne mer's e'mol.

Am Schornschte-Felse sin mer, nau- Do, uf'm höcbschte Berg; O, was'n G'heimnissfoller Ban- En wonderbaares Werk!

Es G'maant em fiel an Zion's Berg, An jenem schöne Ort, Un an die Triumphirte Kerch Uf selle Hügel, dort.

Wie schö, die Werke Gottes Hand! Wie wunderbaar un fiel! En Felse im a drock'ne Land- Sei Schatte, ach, wie kühl!

Warum schteht, dann, der Felse do, Allee, im schtille Wald! Bedeckt mit Lichen, rauh uu groh, Un Gott wees schun wie alt!

Warum schteht der do in d'r Höh !- Geheimnissfoller Gschtallt! Warum schteht der do all allee, Un in der Mit ferschpalt?

Er hot en Felsig Fundament- Der Felse, der, do schteht, Un bleibt, a'lı, bis am groosse End- Wan Himmel un Erd fergeht,

Do waar er schun-wie lang, wees Gott- Schun seit der alt Sind-Fluth; Do waar er eh' das Chrischtus hot Am Kreuz for uns geblunt.

Do schtehn die Lohrbeer, um 'n rumm- Die Keschte un die Schpanne; Do schtehn die Eeche, alt un krumm, Die Fichte un die Tanne.

Die Lohrbeer, blühe friih un schö Un wachse nf de Felse; Die Kornelkersch-Blum, weiss wie Schnee, Die, do im Frühjohr schmelze.

Die Haase un die Füchs, die, sin Wie Nochbare, do, daheem; Un so, schun, dausedjöhrig, sin Die Fögel un die Bäm.

Ach! alter Felse, saag mer, doch, Was isch dann dei Geschicht? Ach! saag 's, un dann ferzeich ich 's noch Un schreib's in mei Gedicht.

Ach! wunterbaarer Felse, kumm, Weescht du net was ich will? Du alter Felse, ach! warnm Bischt du so schtumm un schtill?

Die Bäm, die, kleede sich mit Laab, Die Fögel singe schö; Doch dn, wie 'n Denkmal-schtee am Kraab, Schteescht schtimmloos in der Höh.

Un doch hoscht du en schöne Lehr, Im schriftliche Ferglich; Der uralt Felse, hör! O, hör! Geschpalte waar for mich!

Mer schteige uf die Felse nuf, Un schaue gans dort anne, Bis wn die Schtrable glänze uf Der schö alt Susquehanna.

Mer schteige alsnoch höcher uuf, Un schaue, breet un weit, Als dorch des Kreuzkrik-dhaal hinuf- Foll aller Herrlichkeit.

Mer schaue uf den schöne Wald- Fiel-farhich,-geel nn roth; Bald isch der Winter do, un bald Sin Laab un Blume doot.

Der schö alt Weiwer-summer, seenscht, Wie die Auszebring, ferbt Er alles was 'r a'reegt 's schönscht, Im Schpootjohr, wan 's bal' schterbt.

Doch schaue mir als widder uf Des herrlich Kreuzkrik-Dhaal- Dorch schöne, helle, Luft un Duft Un goldne Sonneschtrahl.

Die Sun, die, geht schun unnerschig- Bal'isch sie hinner 'm Berg; Zum End geht alle weltlich G'schicht. Un unser Lewes-werk.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

Die Fuchs, die, hen ihr Löcher hier- Der Fogel hot sei Nescht, Un ich haab mei Zuflucht in Dir- Mei Felse un mei Fescht!

Jetz fahre mir, dann, wieder z'rück, Dorch 's Dhaal, so a' geneem; Dann, zur fergnügenheit un Glück- Ke' Blatz, ke' Blatz wie Heem!

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS, ETC.

The distinguishing characteristics of the Pennsylvania Germans (as a rule), are indus- try, economy, honesty and morality. Their industry manifests itself chiefly in the pros- ecution of some sort of manual labor-agri- cultural or mechanical-and in the rural districts, mostly in the former. Time was, when farming was the employment, almost exclusively, of old and young, rich and poor. In those days, however, none were rich in the present sense of that term; but by contrast with the ordinary mechanic or day-laborer, a man who owned a well-stocked farm of a hundred to two hundred acres, and was out of debt, was, in rural parlance, called rich-en reicher Mann, en reicher Bauer. As the chil- dren grew up, the sons were anxious and accustomed to do as their fathers before them -each in his turn, to become the owner of a farm, though of moderate size, and the hus- band of a handsome and, above all, a virtuous country girl-en schö, braaf Mädel; so wie die Mamme waar; and every daughter equally so to become the wife of a well-to-do, nice and respectable young farmer-en neiser, fleisiger, schtandhafter junger Bauere-kerl, so wie der Fater waar. Mere personal beauty was not, nor is even now, so much regarded as sound health and unblemished character.

Although it was formerly the practice of a majority of farmers' sons to incline to and choose the vocation of their fathers, yet almost as a rule, in families where the num- ber of sons was disproportionate to the father's means, one or more, but seldom the older ones, went to learn trades, that is, became apprenticed to some mechanical business; mostly either the "art trade and mystery " (as the indentures had it,) of wagon-making, blacksmithing, milling, stone-masoning, house or rough carpentering; or if, perchance not deemed sufficiently robust for either of these (" delicate " or sickly ones were almost unknown then) he was apprenticed to a tailor, a weaver, or a shoemaker. Nor were the tastes and inclinations of the young folk much, if at all, consulted as to these matters in the olden times, the choice of a trade, as well as of a wife or a husband, being often largely made by the parents themselves. It was but seldom indeed that a farmer's son

chose or indeed, was allowed to choose a profession. One reason, of course, being the lack, real or imaginary, of the necessary pe- cuniary means. Another was, at least so far as concerned law and medicine, the great and dangerous temptations to which a rustic would be exposed while pursuing his studies away from home and in a town or city. An- other was the natural diffidence and lack of confidence on the part of the youth himself, to go from the plain and simple haunts of a rural life and its society, or, perhaps more properly, associations, and mingle with the learned and the fashionable,-die schtolze un die hoochgelernte; where he would be almost certain to become incurably homesick unless allowed to return, and, in that case, subjected to the taunts and ridicule of his former com- panions. Besides, there was in those days, especially among our Pennsylvania Germans, more steadiness and singleness of purpose- to be either one thing or the other, farmer or mechanic; and if a farmer's son went to learn a profession, it was considered so much out of the usual order of things as to pro- voke the inquiry "Ei! was isch letz? gleicht er's Baure (odder's Handwerk) net ?- Why! what is wrong? don't he like farming or a trade? And still another reason was the pious prejudice and conscientious scruples (as already intimated) against the lawyer, and the aversion to the fearful responsibili- ties and the painful duties of the physician and the surgeon. As for teaching an old- time country school, that was a business rather beneath the dignity of the average Pennsylvania "Dutchman," and considered fit only for a moderately refined Irishman, whose " delightful (winter's) task " it was

"To rear each tender thought

And teach the young idea how to shoot,"

rather by raising welts on the pupil's back with a "hickory," splitting wooden "rulers" on his hands, and other barbarous tortures too numerous and too disgusting to name, than by any attempts at moral suasion or appeals to reason. A sense of this disgust, as well as a want of space (but no painful recollections of personal experience) forbids enlargement on this subject and these truths, which have ever been a reproach to our old system of common school education: and it shall be dismissed with the somewhat mortifying admission, that the disposition of our Penn- sylvania German ancestors themselves, to in- sist upon strict filial respect and obedience, enforced by a rigid, though much milder dis- cipline, and their almost religious aversion to encouragement of insubordination in any

THE PENNSYLVANIA GERMANS.

267

form, often carried them to the opposite ex- treme-a sorely mistaken and unfortunate in- difference to the cruel and inhuman punish- ments inflicted by some of the old Irish school "masters" (not teachers), upon their children at school. And the poor, outraged children, conscious of this, seldom com- plained, and so parents and guardians often remained in equally blissful ignorance of crimes against their children and their wards, as well as society at large, which should have been followed by prompt and severe punishment in the courts of law. But then, such a proceeding was almost unheard of, for the reasons just stated, and such a proceed- ing is seldom or never heard of now, because

of the unchristian beast, the inquiry might have become pertinent, whether they had reference to the Bucks or "Chester County breed." Nevertheless, and irrespective of that question, William Penn and his com- patriots thought "these people" good col- onists nearly two centuries ago; but what fools they were in comparison with these more modern savants of Bucks and Chester and the itinerant prophet of the Buffalo Courier who seems to have received his in- spiration "while passing a country school- house only a few days ago."

In speaking thus of the old Irish school- masters, it is not meant that there were no exceptions, but they were rare. And it is

TO CHURCH ON HORSEBACK.

German civilization "Pennsylvania Dutch ignorance and barbarism," have driven Irish cruelty, "intelligence and refinement," out of the schools. What wonder if children, the dull little Pennsylvania German disciples of such enlightened and refined Irish "masters," had grown up, ignorant and un- couth boors? And, considering the natural and inevitable influence of such training and association, it must be further conceded that the highly respectable, polite and intelligent journalists referred to in the quotations below, put it quite mildly when they say these people "live like pigs more than like human beings." Had they used the, stronger term descriptive

hardly necessary to add that, by nothing con- tained in this chapter is any, the slightest, reflection intended upon the people of other nationalties; all that is intended is to state such facts, with brief incidental comments, as are apparently called for to set our Penn- sylvania German people, as a people, in their true light in this history, and at least in some sort defend them against the false aspirations of ignorance and prejudice from whatever source.

Whatever else may be said of the German school teachers of former times, their mode of teaching (whether English or German, - and both were frequently taught by the same

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

teacher in the same school), their manners toward and treatment of their pupils was entirely different. While intoxication, pro- fanity and undue severity were not uncom- mon among the Irish, the teachers of German descent were, almost without exception, sober, temperate, moral and even religious; for not unfrequently, as was the custom in the Vaterlaud, the schoolhouse was virtually a part, and a most important part, of the church (a sort of "annex "), and the offices of Prediger and Schul-lehrer (pastor and teacher) were united in the same man. Then it was when the old-time school was the nursery of the church-practically an every- day Sunday-school, at least during the three winter months. Then it was, when the school was opened with singing and prayer, and the rustic schoolhouse of logs and chinks and daubs of mortar, and the adjacent woods, resounded with the simple and almost unlet- tered voices of the rustics, with prayer and praise, and when and where were formed and matured some of the most genuine Christian characters that have ever gone to enjoy the rewards of the just around the Throne of God. Then it was that der Schul-lehrer, if without a home and family, like the tailor and the shoe-maker "whipped the cat," board- ing and lodging from house to house among his patrons, was the ever-welcome guest. And whether of the better class of Irishmen or a Pennsylvania German,

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History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended, Part 53

Author: Gibson, John, Editor Publication date: 1886 Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Gibson, John, Editor
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago
Number of Pages: 1104