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Stories and ballads for young folks cover

Stories and ballads for young folks

Chapter 40: SIGS VEEGS OFER.
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About This Book

A mixed collection of short narratives and lyrical pieces aimed at young readers, blending domestic vignettes, playful adventures, and brief moral sketches. Many items focus on childhood scenes—games, family interactions, small acts of kindness and perseverance—while others drift into fairy-tale or fanciful territory with giants, princesses, and imaginative escapades. Interspersed ballads and poems celebrate nature, simple joys, and consolation, shifting tone between humor, tenderness, and gentle instruction. The pieces are concise and varied, alternating story and verse to amuse, soothe, and offer mild ethical reflections appropriate for a youthful audience.

SIGS VEEGS OFER.

Von’d you puy somedings, laty?
I haf not solt dis tay
Von shillin’s wort’. I kess maype
De folks dey no forshteh.
I haf peen sigs veegs ofer,
I comes vrom Cherman land,
De lankuache of dis konetree
I no yed ondherstand.
“Pints, neetles, rippones, laces,”
All de tings vod I sells,
“Pock’t-hankchies, neckdies, shpenders,”
I fer mooch careful dells.
“Vod prize?” So den I dells dem.
Dey shmiles. Dey no forshteh.
Dis lankuache ish der drooples;—
I haf do durn avay.
So habbens I sells noding;
De dime koes py und py;
Und oop und town I trafels—
Of hunker I shall tie.
Von’d you puy somedings, laty?
Oh, tanks! Der subber? Goot!
It ish not since last efening
I haf some leetle foot.
I bays you noding for it?
Vell den, I sells you—cheap?
No? Vell, I fer mooch tank you.
Goot day. Got sent you sheep![8]

[8] God send you a ship; i. e., May you prosper.