Ferwas so englisch? / Why so English?
This humorous story, according to which God must have spoken German, is a version of one that is widely familiar among the Pennsylvania Dutch and other North Americans of German background. It was told by Ernest G. Gehman (1901–1988), a native Pennsylvania Dutch–speaking Mennonite who was born and raised in Bally, Berks County, PA, was ordained a Mennonite minister, and taught German from 1924 to 1973 at Eastern Mennonite College (today, Eastern Mennonite University) in Harrisonburg, VA. The scriptural reference is to Genesis 3:9.
This recording is part of a collection of Gehman materials held by the Sadie Hartzler Libary at EMU. A transcription and translation of Gehman’s story prepared by K. Varden Leasa appeared in Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage, January 2015, p. 33. I included it in my book, on p. 427, note 93. A similar story is told on p. 82.
Des is noch en waahri Gschicht.
Der Schtorkieper Abram Glemmer vun Schteddel Line Lexington, net weit vun der Schtadt Lansdale in Oscht-Pennsylvanien, hot mir die Gschicht verzaehlt wie ich en yunger Mann waar. Er hot gsaat as en aldi Gremmemm vun der menni-schde Gmee datt im Schteddel mol bei ihm im Schtor waar und gsaat hot, “Ich kann gaar net verschteh ferwas so viel vun unsre Gmeesglieder so englisch warre wolle heidesdaags, wann doch der liewe Herr Gott deitsch is.”
Der Glemmer hot die Aage uffgerisse, “Wie hoscht du sell aus-gfunne, Schweschder?” Sie hot graad geantwatt, “Ei, er hot doch sellemols im Gaarde gerufe: ‘Aadam, wu bischt du?’”
This is another true story.
The storekeeper Abram Clemmer from the village of Line Lexington, not far from the town of Lansdale in eastern Pennsylvania, told me this story when I was a young man. He said that an old grandmother from the Mennonite congregation there in the village was in his store once and said, “I can’t understand at all why so many of our church members want to become so English nowadays, when, after all, the dear Lord God is German.”
Clemmer opened his eyes wide, “How did you find that out, Sister?” She answered right away, “Yes, after all, he called that time in the garden: ‘Aadam, wu bischt du?’”