Yawcob Strauss and Other Poems/Hans and Fritz




 * Hans and Fritz were two Deutschers who lived side by side,
 * Remote from the world, its deceit and its pride:
 * With their pretzels and beer the spare moments were spent,
 * And the fruits of their labor were peace and content.


 * Hans purchased a horse of a neighbor one day,
 * And, lacking a part of the Geld, — as they say, —
 * Made a call upon Fritz to solicit a loan
 * To help him to pay for his beautiful roan.


 * Fritz kindly consented the money to lend,
 * And gave the required amount to his friend;
 * Remarking,—his own simple language to quote,—
 * "Berhaps it vas bedder ve make us a note."


 * The note was drawn up in their primitive way, —
 * "I, Hans, gets from Fritz feefty tollars to-day;"
 * When the question arose, the note being made,
 * "Vich von holds dot baper until it vas baid?"


 * "You geeps dot," says Fritz, "und den you vill know
 * You owes me dot money." Says Hans, "Dot ish so:
 * Dot makes me remempers I haf dot to bay,
 * Und I prings you der note und der money some day."


 * A month had expired, when Hans, as agreed,
 * Paid back the amount, and from debt he was freed.
 * Says Fritz, " Now dot settles us." Hans replies,
 * "Yaw: Now who dakes dot baper accordings by law ?"


 * "I geeps dot now, aind't it?" says Fritz ; " den, you see,
 * I alvays remempers you baid dot to me."
 * Says Hans, "Dot ish so: it vas now shust so blain,
 * Dot I knows vot to do ven I porrows again."