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From: John Blankenbaker <>
Subject: [GERMANNA] (1315)Germanna Colonies, History of
Date: Thu, 06 Dec 2001 05:33:55 -0500


The thirteen hundred and fifteenth note in a series on the Germanna Colonies

It was a comforting thought to have instructions as to what to do when a
problem arose, both in the past and today. In the same vein, proverbs
served a similar purpose. They helped to explain the world around one. Here
are a few Pennsylvania German proverbs in English words:

Every day has its burden.
Tomorrow is a new day.
Days become weeks and months and years.
You can’t make a catch every day, you’ve got to hunt some times.

Gratitude is rare.
So lean his bones rattle.
As lean as a sawhorse (Holzblock).

Between the devil and the deep sea. (a variation is “Dead Sea.”)
When you look into the mirror at night, the devil looks out.
The devil gets the turnips and you get the tops.
Don’t complain about the devil to his grandmother; don’t expect help from a
crook’s pal.
You need not call the devil, he’ll come without calling.
(or) Chase the devil out and he’ll come back anyhow.
The devil was handsome too when young.
Even the devil does not know it all.
Now I must do something that the devil never did – leave you.
There is a devil in every berry of the grape.

When the cover is short, you must pull up your legs.
Think ten times, talk once.
Think thrice ere you speak.
Think what you please but not too loud.
He doesn’t think farther than his nose is long.
The little thief is in prison and the big one goes free.

What’s the use of a pretty table if there is nothing on it?
He that would the daughter win must with the mother first begin.

Everybody must believe in death once.
None can escape death.
Death cannot be bribed.
Death will find you wherever you are.
Nothing is as certain as death and nothing so uncertain as the hour.


John Blankenbaker
http://www.germanna.com/
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~george/johnsgermnotes/germhis1.html
http://genelea.hypermart.net/gerhist/index.htm

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