The Proken-Hearted Dutchman

These are my grandparents, Hazel and Isaiah Butcher.

I don't KNOW why they aren't smiling - - - because they smiled a lot. In fact, I can't really "see" them in this picture because MY grandparents were the sweetest, kindest, gentlest people on the planet.

I LOVED staying with them. I loved the milk-coffee Grandma gave us. I loved the twinkle in grandpa's eye. I loved "fixing" grandma's hair. But perhaps most of all, I loved Grandpa's stories.

After thinking about his ballad poems, I googled "Hans and Jacob" and FOUND it. I only wish I could post a recording of grandpa SAYING it, but since we never made that recording I will never be able to post it.

Just let your mind say these words in a heavy German accent. They are printed phonetically to "help" you out.

Enjoy!

The Proken-Hearted Dutchman

by: Charles Follen Adams
(Public Domain)

I'm a proken-hearted Dutchman,

Vot's villed mit crief und shame.

I dells you vot der drouple ish:

I doosn't know my name.

You dinks dis fery vunny, eh ?

Ven you der schtory hear,

You vill not vender den so mooch,

It vas so schtrange und queer.

Mine moder had dwo leedle twins;

Dey vas me und mine broder:

Ve lookt so fery mooch alike,

No von knew vich vrom toder.

Von off der poys vas "Yawcob,"

Und "Hans" der Oder's name:

But den it made no tifferent;

Ve both got called der same.

Vell! von off us got tead, —

Yaw, Mynheer, dot ish so!

But vedder Hans or Yawcob,

Mine moder she don't know.

Und so I am in drouples:

I gan't kit droo mine hed

''Vedder I'm Hans vot's lifing,

Or Yawcob vot is tead!

(Found at wikisource.org - Phonetics and all)

.