Rhymes
From a book by Marie Krieger and Joanne Krieger titled, "Proverbs Prayers Poems."
Tros, Tros, Trelya
Tros, tros, trelya
Der Bauer hat ein Felya
S'Felya konnt nicht laufen
Der Bauer muszt's verkaufen
Es hupft uber den Graben weg
Hat der Bauer dreck.
Tros, tros, trelya
Der Bauer hat ein Felya
Der Bauer hat eine scheckiche Kuh
Lauft noch der Muhl zu.
English Translation:
Rock, Rock a bye, little one
The farmer had a little mare
The little mare couldn't walk
The farmer had to sell it
It leaped across the ditch
Then the farmer had nothing.
Rock, Rock a bye, little one
The farmer had a little mare
The farmer had a spotted cow
Who took a walk to the mill.
Click this link to hear a 1978 recording of Johann Heinrich Schmunk reciting this rhyme in the Volga German dialect. Mr. Schmunk was born in Schwab, Saratov Province, Russia and immigrated to the United States in 1907. He briefly lived in Portland before moving to Irrigon, Oregon to farm melons. Mr. Schmunk was in his 80's when this rhyme was recorded. After his death in 1978, Mr. Schmunk was buried in Portland. This recording was contributed by David Schmunk, grandson of Johann Heinrich Schmunk.
Hoppe, hoppe, Reiter (Hop, hop, Rider)
This was a game that was played by adults with a young child. The child would sit on the adults knee (simulating a horse) and the adult would say the following rhyme:
Hoppe, hoppe, Reiter,
wenn er faellt, dann schreit er!
Faellt er in den Teich,
Find´t ihn keiner gleich. (Findet)
Faellt er in die Hecken,
fressen ihn die Schnecken,
fressen ihn die Muellermuecken,
die ihn vorn und hinten zwicken.
Faellt er in den tiefen Schnee,
dann gefaellt´s ihm nimmermehr, (gefaellt es)
faellt er in den Graben,
fressen ihn die Raben.
Faellt er in den Sumpf,
macht der Reiter plumps!
English Translation:
Hop, hop, horsemen,
when he falls, then screams he!
If he falls he in the pond,
Finds him none immediately.
If he falls in the hedges,
devour him the snails,
devour him the millers-mosquitoes,
them him in front and behind pinch.
If he falls in the deep snow,
then it pleases him never again,
If he falls in the ditch,
devour him the ravens.
If he falls in the swamp,
the horseman make splash!
At this point you let the child with his face to you - sitting on your knee nearly fall down while holding him by both of his arms and catch him at the last point before he reaches the ground still sitting on your knees.