Then Hans took a position in the middle of the room, threw his chest out and his head back, opened his mouth and let out some very remarkable sounds. This is his version of “The Old Oaken Bucket” as he gave it:
“How tear to your heart der scenes uf my shildhoot vos alretty yet,
Ven I sot me town und let vond reggolections bresent dem vor me to view ofer,
Der abble drees, der meatow, und der pushes vot vos all tangled up,
Und efery odder oldt blace vot I knew ven you vos a kid.
Der vrog pond spreat oudt, und der mill britty near it to,
Der pridge und der pig stone vere der water run ofer und vell down,
Der house vot pelonged mein varter to, und der blace vere dey made putter britty close to dot,
Und der nexd thing vos der oldt oaken pucket dot hung der vell down indo.
Der oldt oaken pucket, the pucket vot vas cofered mit moss all ofer,