PADUTCH-LIFE-L Archives

From: "Vee L. Housman" <>
Subject: 36-Sally Writes for Advice
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1998 12:34:18 -0400

SALLY WRITES FOR ADVICE

The other day I received a letter from a girl, and here it is with
my answer:

My Liever Boonastiel: I am asking for your help. I have two
boyfriends who are courting me. I am an only daughter and my
Daddy has two farms and plenty of money. One of the boys is a
hard working farmer's son. He is handsome enough, but his hands
are raw and his clothing don't fit him well. He is as honest and as
straight as the day is long, and he thinks the world and all of me.

The other is a young man who has never worked before in his
life, and no one knows how he's making a living. He always wears
the best clothing, and they fit him like wallpaper. But it's been
reported that he hasn't settled some debts with his tailor. He is very
polite, is a good dancer, and can talk like a lawyer. He says he
wants to keep me as a lady--”an ornament” he calls me--and I'd
never have to work again in my whole life.

Now tell me, Gottlieb, which of these boys should I marry?

Sally Lauderbach.

Well, Sally, I only married one time in my life, and I don't
think I'd ever want to repeat the risk that I took that time. Since my
time isn't all booked for other things, I can give you the benefit of
my advice, and it will cost you nothing.

The farmer's boy has raw hands, and his clothes don't fit him
too well. Well, I would rather buy an expensive horse with good
points than a cheap horse that staggers. His hands are raw. Perhaps
if he were a loaf, his hands would be smooth. Raw hands are only a
disgrace for those whom work is a disgrace. His clothes don't fit
him. So? Perhaps they're all paid for. The other boy wants to
marry you so he can settle down with you. Tell him that he ought
to settle his tailor bills before he marries you.

My dear Sally, an honest, upright, diligent farm boy is worth
more than a whole sheep stable full of loafers. The one boy wants
you as a lady. But then, didn't he say with your father's money?
Yes! a man who is so ready to make promises is usually the first to
break them. Also, a man who doesn't know how to make money,
doesn't know how to hold it. Your Daddy's fortune may be large,
but in all my life I never saw money bags so long that they had no
bottom.

An honest hand, raw even though it may be, will be a warm
poultice for the heart of a grief-stricken wife, compared to the
smooth hand of a polished rascal which will be as cold as a toad that
has slid down behind your trouser belt. Don't marry a man for his
hands and his clothes--also not for his polished manners and his
clever tongue. These things are all nice if you can afford them, but
they aren't as important as an honest heart and a righteous hand.
My Daddy used to say, "Better a piece of bread in the pocket than a
feather on the hat," and let me tell you there's a lot of truth in those
words.

You now have my advice. Clothes amount to no more than
the stamp on the dollar. The man himself is the gold.

* * *

Note: This collection of Boonastiel stories was written by H. A.
Harter in the original Penna-Dutch dialect and were published in the
Keystone Gazette, Bellefonte, PA, between 1894 and 1904. They
were translated and transcribed by Bob James of Alaska and they
are being posted to this PADUTCH-LIFE mailing list with his
permission.

This thread:

• 36-Sally Writes for Advice by "Vee L. Housman" <>