* I’m still in the process of formatting the Deitsch version. Scroll down for English version.
Die Nacht for de Chrischdaag
‘S waar die Nacht for de Chrischdaag
und dorch es gans Haus [Maus ;
Verreegt sich ke’ Thierli, net emol en
Die Schtriimp waare schnock im Schorn-
schte gehunke,
In der Hoffning der “Nick” dheet “graad
runner dschumpe ; [Bett,
Die Kinner so schnock waare all scho im
Von Zuckerschleck draame un was mer,
doch, wott ; [der Kapp,
Die Mamme im Schnupduch un ich in
Hen uns juscht hi geleegt for’n lang Win-
ter’s Nap [nerse Jacht,
Dan draus in ‘m Hoof waar so ‘n dun-
Dass ich ufg’schprunge bin zu sehne
war’s macht.
An’s Fenschter graad schpring ich so
schnell wie’n Flasch, [Sasch !
Die Lade ufg’risse, ufg’schmisse die
Der Moond uf der Bruscht dem neu-
g’fallne Schnee
Macht elling wie Mitdaag, iiwwer alles,
so scho.
Im e’ Aageblick kummt, jetz, un rund
wie e’ Kersch [Hersch
E’ Fuhrmann im Schlidde un acht kleene
E’ Mannli in Pelze, sofreundlich un frei
‘Hab graadeweck g’wiisst’s muss der
Pelznickel sei ! [zusamme,
Wie Aadler, so schnell, sin die Herschlin
Un er peift un’r ruuft, un’r nennt sie mit
Naame : Jjetz Vixen !
“Jetz Dascher ! jetz Danzer ! jetz Pranzer !
Un Komet ! un Kupid ! un Dunder ! un
Blitzen !’ [gefalle
An der Porch isch er nuff, um die Mauer
“Jetz schpringt eweck ! schpringtaweck!
schpringt aweck alle !”
Wie laab for’m e Windschtorm der
wildscht das mer seht, [werts geht,
Wann ebbes im Weeg isch un’s himmel-
Zum Hausgiwwel nuf sin die Herschlin
wie g floge,
Mit ? m Schlidli foil Sach un der “Nick”
mit gezoge ; [owwedrowe
Im e’ Aageblick’ horscht uf’m Dach
En Gescheer un Gedanz wie mit hol’zene
Glowwe. [Haus
Mei Kop zieg ich nei, guk um mich im
Un im Schornschte. do kummt’r wahr-
haftig schun raus ! [Fuus,
Mit Peltze ferwickelt fon Kop biz zum
Un alles ferschnuttelt mit Aesche un
Ruus ! [G-‘schpiel
Uf’m Buckel en Bundel foil allerhand
‘S hat geguckt wie ‘m Kremer sei
Kramm artlig fiel. [die lache
Sei Maul, wie ‘n Kersch, un sei Dimple
Sei Aage, die blinzle, und wie Rosa sei
Backe. [Klee,
Gans rund war sei Mauli un roth wie der
Un ‘s Schnurbiirdli weiss wie woll, oder
Schnee : [Zeh,
En schtumpiges Peifli, fescht zwische de
Un der schmpok schteigt in Ringlin so
scho in die Hoh. [bissel
Sei G’sichtli so breed, un sei Bauchli e’
Ueverm Lache hot g’shittelt wie Dschelly
in der Schiissel. [Elfge,
So dick un so rund war des luschtige
Muss lache, graad aus un kan’s gaar net
helfe [Niicken
Sei Kopli waar eifrig un schwatzig mit
Sei Aage, gaar freundlich mit Blinzele un
Blicken ; [frolichem Braus,
Die Schtriimp hot ‘r g’fill’t, un mit
Da schpringt inschtandig, den Schorn-
schte hinaus ; [peift en Piftel,
Dann fliege sie fort wie Duun fon der
Dischtel : [hat er g’macht
Doch eb’ er gans fort waar, sei Gruss
“En herrliche Chrischdaag ! un zu alle,
Guut Nacht!”
‘Twas the night before Christmas when
‘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 St. 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 our brains 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 lustre of midday to objects below,
When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,
With a little old driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment he 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 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 the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too—
And then, in a twinkling, 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 pedler 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 of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
