I had a lot of fun with that website. Thanks! Annette ----- Original Message ----- From: Karl Roussin To: sug53@earthlink.net ; prussia-roots@rootsweb.com Sent: Friday, June 22, 2007 1:03 PM Subject: Re: [PRUSSIA-ROOTS] song WELL I clicked the " send " button a little too soon Try this ; Here are supposed to be 20,000 German and other countries songs. http://ingeb.org/home.html Karl Roussin ======================================= ----- Original Message ----- From: "Susan Graham" <sug53@earthlink.net> To: <prussia-roots@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, June 22, 2007 12:04 AM Subject: Re: [PRUSSIA-ROOTS] song > Oh - thank you for this post! My dad grew up in Minnesota - grandson of > German settlers who spoke only German in their homes until WWI. My dad > used to sing this song under his breath - I never asked him the name, the > importance, or even to sing it out loud. How I wish I had -- but I > recognize it and now I can buy the sheet music :-) > > Many, many thanks! > > Susan Manz Graham > > > sug53@earthlink.net > > > > > [Original Message] > > From: SV <davesusanv@hotmail.com> > > To: <prussia-roots@rootsweb.com> > > Date: 6/21/2007 3:18:39 PM > > Subject: [PRUSSIA-ROOTS] song > > > > If given a few days I think I can remember the song that had Schizel Bank > in > > it or something similar. It also has kurz und lang in the words. It was a > > song with opposites, like short and long. I don't know, but it might jog > > someone's memory. It was even fairly popular, my best friend knew the > song, > > and she was Irish. > > > > > > > > When I was in Kindergarten, we learned some German songs like Du, Du, Du > > bist in Herzen, Du, Du, Du bist in Sinn. .. > > > > I guess you can tell it was kind of a German area. I think the above means > > you, you , you are in my heart, you, you, you are in my thoughts. > > > > > > > > I tried to carry on the tradition, but the most my kids would learn is the > > first verse of Stille Nacht. > > > > > > > > > > > > Susan > > > > (This is different from the Schnickle Fritz question) > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > PRUSSIA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PRUSSIA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PRUSSIA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.9.4/860 - Release Date: 6/21/2007 5:53 PM

Bob, In Minnesota there is a whole registry of German's in the state during WWI. Supposedly it was compulsory. Actually 3 of my grandparent, great-grandparents who were recent immigrants avoided the registry. It may have been because there husbands were not immigrants themselves and one was Scandinavian. Carol > >

Would the person who sent the words to this song, please send it to me again. I thought I moved it to a folder but deleted it by mistake. I have fond memories of singing this with my GreatUncles. Thank you!

Ann in reference to your ditty, ich bin klein ,the correct three lines are as follows: Ich bin klein Mein Wunsch ist klein Grosspapa soll gluecklich sein. I am small My wish is small Let Grandpaw be Happy! Peter in Lombard ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

Thank you for the good wishes! Ann   -----Original Message----- From: Arden Regnier <birdsanct@optonline.net> To: prussia-roots@rootsweb.com Sent: Fri, 22 Jun 2007 10:46 am Subject: Re: [PRUSSIA-ROOTS] Schnickel Fritz Dear Ann, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU APPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU APPY BIRTHDAY DEAR ANN APPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU I wish I had the words in German for you, but have a wonderful birthday. why o we wait so long to search our ancestors. I am 66 have no one left to ask uestions. How I wish I would have had the foresight to ask when my randparents were still alive. Arden > Today I am 75 and I an thoroughly enjoying the songs, poems, etc. Most I ecall either from my grandparents or from Schuetzen Park where we would go or the Festivals. Maybe someone would remember a song we sang, as children, to my randfather on his birthday. It went something like this (excuse the erman): Ich been klein Mine wunsch is klein Grandpa ist glicht glich stein???? HELP! Ann -----Original Message----- From: DSore10588@aol.com To: prussia-roots@rootsweb.com Sent: Fri, 22 Jun 2007 9:41 am Subject: Re: [PRUSSIA-ROOTS] Schnickel Fritz n a message dated 6/22/2007 7:47:53 A.M. Central Daylight Time, ke32039@yahoo.com writes: Your first message did come across the mailing list. I saw it esterday. h, well then I apologize. I didn't mean to make a pest of myself. I idn't receive a copy of it in my mailbox so I assumed it wasn't sent for ome eason. I did receive a copy of the second one. knew that "Kraut" was a derogatory term for Germans during WWII. My ather always had a smile on his face and I'm pretty sure he just meant I as eing stubborn...like I had just told him no or sassed back or something. hile doing some research I met a cousin who gave me so much information hat has proven to be wonderfully helpful in my research. She recited to e a hildren's poem that she had been taught by our mutual relative. I tried o rite down what I was hearing her say, and I don't speak German or read it r rite it so this isn't going to be any where near what it's supposed to e, ut it went something like this: ch been klein e hertzen rhyme ee mountain woonan nd yazes aline hat's what I heard her say.... :-) e also had a couple of German style food dishes at our home. My mother ould put Polska kielbasa (Polish sausage) in sour kraut with some onions nd rown sugar and let them simmer for an hour or so. Then we'd eat them ith ashed potatoes. Imagine my surprise when, in talking to a woman I met at hurch, we discovered that her mother used to put the POTATOES in the sour raut, ot the sausage! ow I wonder which is the correct way! anet ************************************** See what's free at ttp://www.aol.com. ------------------------------ o unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to RUSSIA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com ith the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body f he message ________________________________________________________________________ AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free rom AOL at AOL.com. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to RUSSIA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the uotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------ o unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PRUSSIA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com ith the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of he message ________________________________________________________________________ AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.

WELL I clicked the " send " button a little too soon Try this ; Here are supposed to be 20,000 German and other countries songs. http://ingeb.org/home.html Karl Roussin ======================================= ----- Original Message ----- From: "Susan Graham" <sug53@earthlink.net> To: <prussia-roots@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, June 22, 2007 12:04 AM Subject: Re: [PRUSSIA-ROOTS] song > Oh - thank you for this post! My dad grew up in Minnesota - grandson of > German settlers who spoke only German in their homes until WWI. My dad > used to sing this song under his breath - I never asked him the name, the > importance, or even to sing it out loud. How I wish I had -- but I > recognize it and now I can buy the sheet music :-) > > Many, many thanks! > > Susan Manz Graham > > > sug53@earthlink.net > > > > > [Original Message] > > From: SV <davesusanv@hotmail.com> > > To: <prussia-roots@rootsweb.com> > > Date: 6/21/2007 3:18:39 PM > > Subject: [PRUSSIA-ROOTS] song > > > > If given a few days I think I can remember the song that had Schizel Bank > in > > it or something similar. It also has kurz und lang in the words. It was a > > song with opposites, like short and long. I don't know, but it might jog > > someone's memory. It was even fairly popular, my best friend knew the > song, > > and she was Irish. > > > > > > > > When I was in Kindergarten, we learned some German songs like Du, Du, Du > > bist in Herzen, Du, Du, Du bist in Sinn. .. > > > > I guess you can tell it was kind of a German area. I think the above means > > you, you , you are in my heart, you, you, you are in my thoughts. > > > > > > > > I tried to carry on the tradition, but the most my kids would learn is the > > first verse of Stille Nacht. > > > > > > > > > > > > Susan > > > > (This is different from the Schnickle Fritz question) > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > PRUSSIA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PRUSSIA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Here are supposed to be 20,000 German and other countries songs , maybe the songs are in this link Karl Roussin ============================= ----- Original Message ----- From: "SV" <davesusanv@hotmail.com> To: <prussia-roots@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 11:06 PM Subject: [PRUSSIA-ROOTS] Hut song (hat) I believe the hat song goes like this: Mein Hut, der hat drei Ecken, Drei Ecken hat mein Hut. Und hätt' er nicht drei Ecken, So wär's auch nicht mein Hut. My hat, it has three corners, Three corners has my hat, And had it not three corners, It would not be my hat. When I was little, my grandma taught me how to read children's beginner reading books in German, in the old style letters. The books were from the early 1900's, I still have a couple. I didn't understand what I was reading, but I could read it out loud correctly and pronounce it correctly. She also rented her upstairs to a single lady from Germany, and I'd hear them both talk, and it really helped overall I think to pick up German fairly well. I took one year in college in about 1975 or so, but I've kept my books and try to refresh my mind occasionally. I have trouble with past tense and genitive case (I wish I were going to..). It's always been a goal to be fluent, but I don't think I'll ever get there, but I enjoy trying to learn it. My grandma was the most important person in my life growing up and I'm very thankful to God for putting her in my life! I love these memories. Thank you :-) susan ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PRUSSIA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

I don't remember exactly how it begins...I'll have to dig out the tape and listen to it again. Janet jon and laura cella <thecellas@earthlink.net> wrote: Was it a finger game poem that begins "Kommt eine Maus, baut ein Haus"? Laura ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PRUSSIA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message --------------------------------- Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's Comedy with an Edge to see what's on, when.

Although I am not related... I do remember an Alder Theatre in Marshfield, Wood County, Wisconsin in the 1950's. Not sure if it still exists or if any Alder's still live in that area. Many migrated from the Chicagoland area Northwards into Wisconsin... possibly a link for you. Regards, Rollo+~~ ================ Subject: Re: [PRUSSIA-ROOTS] ADLER >I have been able to trace my ggrandfather Nicholas Biewer/Beaver back many >generations to Kell am see but I found nothing in his wife Katharina Adler, >born 1836, died 12/15/1908 in Brooklyn, NY. They immigrated about 1871 (I >never found record of that). They had 14 children, John 1859, married & >moved to Illinois), Peter 1862, remained in Brooklyn after the family moved >there, Marie 1866 I have no record of, Mararetha 1864, moved to Ohio, >Nicholas jr. 1870 I never found, then 3 more were born in Honesdale, Penn. >Joseph 1872 lived in Brooklyn, NY, Katharina 1873 whom I never found and >August 1874 (my grandfather) Brooklyn before moving to Long Island. They >were Roman Catholic. > > Katharina probably lived in Kell also. Does anyone have her in their > family line. I would like to find the church where they were married and > possibly get their certificate. > > Thank you > Arden >

I agree,this thread has helped me remember too. My father's family all spoke German. I only remember a few words. I really miss that part of my life. Dad couldn't read or write in German. Thanks for the song. -----Original Message----- >From: SV <davesusanv@hotmail.com> >Sent: Jun 21, 2007 11:06 PM >To: prussia-roots@rootsweb.com >Subject: [PRUSSIA-ROOTS] Hut song (hat) > >I believe the hat song goes like this: > > > >Mein Hut, der hat drei Ecken, >Drei Ecken hat mein Hut. >Und hätt' er nicht drei Ecken, >So wär's auch nicht mein Hut. > > > >My hat, it has three corners, >Three corners has my hat, >And had it not three corners, >It would not be my hat. > > > >When I was little, my grandma taught me how to read children’s beginner >reading books in German, in the old style letters. The books were from the >early 1900’s, I still have a couple. I didn’t understand what I was reading, >but I could read it out loud correctly and pronounce it correctly. She also >rented her upstairs to a single lady from Germany, and I’d hear them both >talk, and it really helped overall I think to pick up German fairly well. I >took one year in college in about 1975 or so, but I’ve kept my books and try >to refresh my mind occasionally. I have trouble with past tense and genitive >case (I wish I were going to….). It’s always been a goal to be fluent, but >I don’t think I’ll ever get there, but I enjoy trying to learn it. My >grandma was the most important person in my life growing up and I’m very >thankful to God for putting her in my life! I love these memories. Thank you >:-) > > > >susan > > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PRUSSIA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Dear Ann, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR ANN HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU I wish I had the words in German for you, but have a wonderful birthday. why do we wait so long to search our ancestors. I am 66 have no one left to ask questions. How I wish I would have had the foresight to ask when my grandparents were still alive. Arden > Today I am 75 and I an thoroughly enjoying the songs, poems, etc. Most I recall either from my grandparents or from Schuetzen Park where we would go for the Festivals. > > > > Maybe someone would remember a song we sang, as children, to my Grandfather on his birthday. It went something like this (excuse the German): > > Ich been klein > Mine wunsch is klein > Grandpa ist glicht glich stein???? > > HELP! > > Ann > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: DSore10588@aol.com > To: prussia-roots@rootsweb.com > Sent: Fri, 22 Jun 2007 9:41 am > Subject: Re: [PRUSSIA-ROOTS] Schnickel Fritz > > > > > n a message dated 6/22/2007 7:47:53 A.M. Central Daylight Time, > ke32039@yahoo.com writes: > Your first message did come across the mailing list. I saw it yesterday. > > h, well then I apologize. I didn't mean to make a pest of myself. I > idn't receive a copy of it in my mailbox so I assumed it wasn't sent for some > eason. I did receive a copy of the second one. > > knew that "Kraut" was a derogatory term for Germans during WWII. My > ather always had a smile on his face and I'm pretty sure he just meant I was > eing stubborn...like I had just told him no or sassed back or something. > > hile doing some research I met a cousin who gave me so much information > hat has proven to be wonderfully helpful in my research. She recited to me a > hildren's poem that she had been taught by our mutual relative. I tried to > rite down what I was hearing her say, and I don't speak German or read it or > rite it so this isn't going to be any where near what it's supposed to be, > ut it went something like this: > > ch been klein > e hertzen rhyme > ee mountain woonan > nd yazes aline > > hat's what I heard her say.... :-) > > e also had a couple of German style food dishes at our home. My mother > ould put Polska kielbasa (Polish sausage) in sour kraut with some onions and > rown sugar and let them simmer for an hour or so. Then we'd eat them with > ashed potatoes. Imagine my surprise when, in talking to a woman I met at > hurch, we discovered that her mother used to put the POTATOES in the sour > raut, > ot the sausage! > > ow I wonder which is the correct way! > > anet > > ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. > > ------------------------------ > o unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PRUSSIA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com > ith the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of > he message > > > ________________________________________________________________________ > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PRUSSIA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

There's a bend on the Rhine river and a high cliff....evidently this was a navigation hazard......when you are on the cruise boats they play "The Lorelei" as they approach this spot......because the customers expect them to. J

I've been loving this thread--and, I guess, finding out that I'm in an older generation than I thought. My great-grandparents came from Germany (he from Prussia, she from Bavaria) and were married in the US (Cincinnati). He always insisted on speaking only German at home, and my mother (who was raised in Nebraska) was afraid of him because she didn't know any German. And, yes, "Kraut" was an ethnic slur applied to Germans and German-Americans, and was in the same category of words as "Kike," "Chink," "Bohunk," "Wop," "Nip," and their ilk. (I hate today's "political correctness," but I'm not sorry to see all these derogatory names gone!) It's no mystery why German-Americans stopped speaking German during the Great War: it was actually illegal in some states, at least--Nebraska, for instance. My mother learned no German at all; her Mother taught me a bunch of it in the 1950s & 60s. During WWI, in the community in Michigan where my Great-grandparents lived, the US Government hired members of the local Norwegian (?) church to spy on the members of the local German church. This created hard feelings in the little town that lasted for several generations. On another note: a bunch of people on this list in the past couple of months have used the term "Suetterlin Schrift" (Sorry; I don't have an umlaut available in this program!) to refer to the old German handwriting. Actually, Suetterlin is a specific font or typeface which is kind of squarish and vertical (like more modern Germans write). The generic term for the old German handwriting is Kurrentschrift. If you look for free fonts on the www, there are a whole bunch of Kurrentschrift faces, most of them far more elegant than Suetterlin. Bob Copeland rmc@geneva.edu >>> "jon and laura cella" <thecellas@earthlink.net> 6/22/2007 9:18:25 AM >>> Kraut just means cabbage. As far as I know, Kraut-head was a derogatory term used by Americans toward Germans during the World Wars. Which events, by the way, were one reason some German-Americans stopped speaking German; they did not want to bring suspicion and insults to their families. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PRUSSIA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

I have been able to trace my ggrandfather Nicholas Biewer/Beaver back many generations to Kell am see but I found nothing in his wife Katharina Adler, born 1836, died 12/15/1908 in Brooklyn, NY. They immigrated about 1871 (I never found record of that). They had 14 children, John 1859, married & moved to Illinois), Peter 1862, remained in Brooklyn after the family moved there, Marie 1866 I have no record of, Mararetha 1864, moved to Ohio, Nicholas jr. 1870 I never found, then 3 more were born in Honesdale, Penn. Joseph 1872 lived in Brooklyn, NY, Katharina 1873 whom I never found and August 1874 (my grandfather) Brooklyn before moving to Long Island. They were Roman Catholic. Katharina probably lived in Kell also. Does anyone have her in their family line. I would like to find the church where they were married and possibly get their certificate. Thank you Arden

Today I am 75 and I an thoroughly enjoying the songs, poems, etc.  Most I  recall either from my grandparents or from Schuetzen Park where we would go for the Festivals. Maybe someone would remember a song we sang, as children, to my Grandfather on his birthday. It went something like this (excuse the German): Ich been klein Mine wunsch is klein Grandpa ist glicht glich stein???? HELP! Ann   -----Original Message----- From: DSore10588@aol.com To: prussia-roots@rootsweb.com Sent: Fri, 22 Jun 2007 9:41 am Subject: Re: [PRUSSIA-ROOTS] Schnickel Fritz n a message dated 6/22/2007 7:47:53 A.M. Central Daylight Time, ke32039@yahoo.com writes: Your first message did come across the mailing list. I saw it yesterday. h, well then I apologize. I didn't mean to make a pest of myself. I idn't receive a copy of it in my mailbox so I assumed it wasn't sent for some eason. I did receive a copy of the second one. knew that "Kraut" was a derogatory term for Germans during WWII. My ather always had a smile on his face and I'm pretty sure he just meant I was eing stubborn...like I had just told him no or sassed back or something. hile doing some research I met a cousin who gave me so much information hat has proven to be wonderfully helpful in my research. She recited to me a hildren's poem that she had been taught by our mutual relative. I tried to rite down what I was hearing her say, and I don't speak German or read it or rite it so this isn't going to be any where near what it's supposed to be, ut it went something like this: ch been klein e hertzen rhyme ee mountain woonan nd yazes aline hat's what I heard her say.... :-) e also had a couple of German style food dishes at our home. My mother ould put Polska kielbasa (Polish sausage) in sour kraut with some onions and rown sugar and let them simmer for an hour or so. Then we'd eat them with ashed potatoes. Imagine my surprise when, in talking to a woman I met at hurch, we discovered that her mother used to put the POTATOES in the sour raut, ot the sausage! ow I wonder which is the correct way! anet ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. ------------------------------ o unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PRUSSIA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com ith the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of he message ________________________________________________________________________ AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.

I looked up the song on the internet and found the words for it. I had some of them wrong. Perhaps many of you will remember it. You can find it here: http://ingeb.org/Lieder/ichweiss.html ----- Original Message ----- From: "peloquin" <floralpx@nc.rr.com> To: <prussia-roots@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, June 22, 2007 7:27 AM Subject: Re: [PRUSSIA-ROOTS] song > The song you are discussing is not "Die Lorelei, " which starts out "Ich > weiss nicht was solles bedeuten, > Wie ich so traurig bin , > Ein Madchen auf al --------------" > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > PRUSSIA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

In a message dated 6/22/2007 7:47:53 A.M. Central Daylight Time, jke32039@yahoo.com writes: Your first message did come across the mailing list. I saw it yesterday. Oh, well then I apologize. I didn't mean to make a pest of myself. I didn't receive a copy of it in my mailbox so I assumed it wasn't sent for some reason. I did receive a copy of the second one. I knew that "Kraut" was a derogatory term for Germans during WWII. My father always had a smile on his face and I'm pretty sure he just meant I was being stubborn...like I had just told him no or sassed back or something. While doing some research I met a cousin who gave me so much information that has proven to be wonderfully helpful in my research. She recited to me a children's poem that she had been taught by our mutual relative. I tried to write down what I was hearing her say, and I don't speak German or read it or write it so this isn't going to be any where near what it's supposed to be, but it went something like this: Ich been klein Ne hertzen rhyme nee mountain woonan und yazes aline That's what I heard her say.... :-) We also had a couple of German style food dishes at our home. My mother would put Polska kielbasa (Polish sausage) in sour kraut with some onions and brown sugar and let them simmer for an hour or so. Then we'd eat them with mashed potatoes. Imagine my surprise when, in talking to a woman I met at church, we discovered that her mother used to put the POTATOES in the sour kraut, not the sausage! Now I wonder which is the correct way! Janet ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

Great story Gene... You are truly blessed to have this connection and memory! Regards, Rollo+~~ ================== Subject: Re: [PRUSSIA-ROOTS] wonderful memories Talking about memories, one of my best memories took place shortly before my maternal grandmother died. She probably could understand English quite well, but she steadfastly refused to speak anything but German. Although I grew up hearing a bit of German regularly, I learned most of mine in school, and later also when I lived in Germany for a short time, (13 months while in the Army.) My parents and I visited my mother's parents, and I, being so proud of the fact that I could speak some German, naturally had to greet my Großmutter in German. She was astounded! Very shortly after she turned the cooking over to the rest of her girls, and took me into the parlor. (No one went in there except when a special visitor -- like Herr Pfarrer -- came to call.) She took down the big family (German) Bible and opened it up to the pages in the middle where she had noted the history of the Berndt family in the old "Sütterlin Schrift", and started to read to me. I started to read with her, and she was further astounded that I could read the old writing. She was so happy that at least one of the grandchildren could handle the German language, and she chatted with me the entire visit, --in German, of course. That was the last time I saw my grandmother alive. I am still glad that my learning German made her so happy. Gene

Talking about memories, one of my best memories took place shortly before my maternal grandmother died. She probably could understand English quite well, but she steadfastly refused to speak anything but German. Although I grew up hearing a bit of German regularly, I learned most of mine in school, and later also when I lived in Germany for a short time, (13 months while in the Army.) My parents and I visited my mother's parents, and I, being so proud of the fact that I could speak some German, naturally had to greet my Großmutter in German. She was astounded! Very shortly after she turned the cooking over to the rest of her girls, and took me into the parlor. (No one went in there except when a special visitor -- like Herr Pfarrer -- came to call.) She took down the big family (German) Bible and opened it up to the pages in the middle where she had noted the history of the Berndt family in the old "Sütterlin Schrift", and started to read to me. I started to read with her, and she was further astounded that I could read the old writing. She was so happy that at least one of the grandchildren could handle the German language, and she chatted with me the entire visit, --in German, of course. That was the last time I saw my grandmother alive. I am still glad that my learning German made her so happy. Gene ----- Original Message ----- From: "J Ebaugh" <jke32039@yahoo.com> To: <PRUSSIA-ROOTS@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, June 22, 2007 7:07 AM Subject: [PRUSSIA-ROOTS] wonderful memories > Thanks so much for all the wonderful memories - songs, nicknames, etc. I > also was called Schnickelfritz, and eine kleine Maedl. My Grandma, born > in Prussia but immigrated when 3 yrs old, used to speak German to me, > although she spoke English as a native would. She also sang some of those > songs. There was a little poem she would say, about a Maus and a Haus, > but I never could get it all straight. On her 93rd birthday in 1977 (her > last), a tape recording was made at her party. She recited that little > poem for me, for the last time. Such a precious memento for me to have! > One of these days I must try to write down the words she spoke, though my > German is minimal. Now if only she had said which town she'd been born > in, I would have been saved years of unsuccessful - so far - searching! > Thanks again, everyone! > Janet > > > --------------------------------- > Be a better Heartthrob. Get better relationship answers from someone who > knows. > Yahoo! Answers - Check it out. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > PRUSSIA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.9.1/857 - Release Date: 6/20/2007 > 2:18 PM > >