Lēgt sich, Kinderlach, alle arum mir, Euer Tate is' vun euch vertrieben. Klēine Jessomim sent ihr doch Un' ich bin ein Almone geblieben. On the mountain stands a dove; she is cooing to her brood: I have had a good friend, and I cannot get to him.--Brooks of tears flow out of my eyes; I am left like a piece of wood swimming on the water.--The whole world has fallen upon me since I am left alone; I sit day and night and weep bitterly.--Rivers of tears pour forth from my eyes. If I had wings I should fly to him.--Lie down, children, all around me! Your father has been taken away from you: You are now young orphans, and I am left a widow. As sad as the widow's is the lot of the orphan. Fatherless and motherless, he seems to be in everybody's way, and no matter what he does, he is not appreciated by those he comes in contact with. There are many songs of the dying mother who finds her last moments embittered by the thought that her children will suffer privations and oppression from their stepmother and from other unkind people. There are also beggar's songs which tell that the singers were driven to beggary through loss of parents. The following verses, touching in their simplicity, recite the sad plight of an orphan: Wasser schaumt, Wasser schaumt, Thut män ganz weit hören,-- Wenn es starbt der Vāter-Mutter, Giesst der Jossem mit Trähren. Der Jossem gēht, der Jossem gēht, Der Jossem thut gār umsüst,-- Leut' schatzen, Leut' sāgen, As der Jossem täug' gār nischt Der Jossem gēht, der Jossem gēht, Un' in Zar un' in Pein,-- Leut' schatzen, Leut' sāgen, As der Jossem is' schicker vun Wein. Bei meine Freund', bei meine Freund' Wachst Weiz un' Körner,-- Bei mir Jossem, bei mir Jossem Wachst doch Grās un' Dörner. Gottunju, Gottunju, Gottunju du mein, Wās hāst du mich nit beschaffen Mit dem Masel wie meine Freund? Water foams, water foams, one can hear afar. When father and mother die the orphan sheds tears.--The orphan goes, the orphan goes, the orphan does all in vain. People judge, people say that the orphan is good for nothing.--The orphan goes, the orphan goes, in pain and in sorrow. People judge, people say that the orphan is drunk with wine.--With my friends, with my friends there grows wheat and grain. With me, orphan, with me, orphan, there grow but grass and thorns.--Dear God, dear God, dear God of mine! Why have you not created me with the same luck as my friends have?