Item Info

Creation Date: 2/27/1811
Scripts/Text: Fraktur; German script
Language: German
Weiser Number: 942
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Laid paper; watercolor; ink
Watermark: WB and plough
Transcription:

[on the left]
Nehm diese Vorschrift hie, ich geb sie dir aus liebe \ Weil du so gut gelernt, und daß aus gutem Triebe. \ So übe dich noch mehr, und lern daß schreiben Kunst \ Damit es ja nicht heist, dein schreiben ist zu schlecht \ Ja merke dir dieß noch, und dencke oft daran \ Daß ich, Matthaus Fuchs, nun mehr ein Alter Man \ Dir diese Vorschrift hab geschrieben, mit einer zitternden Hand \ Und wohne ja noch jetzt, in Ruscombmanor Taun. \ Diese Vorschrift ist Maria Reists in \ Oly Taunschip Sie ist vor sie geschrieben \ worden im Jahr Unsers Herrn 1811 \ [den] 27^t February

[on the right]
Gelobet \ Seyst du Jesu Christ daß du Mensch \ gebohren bist: von einer Jungfrau daß ist wahr \ deß freuet sich der Engel Schar Hallelujah deß ewigen \ Vaters einig Kind, jetzt man in der Krippe find, in unser Armer Fleisch und Blut, Ver \ kleidet sich daß ewige guth, Halleluja. Dem Aller Welt Kreis nie beschloß, der liegt in Marien \ schoos, Er ist ein kindlein worden klein, der alle ding er hält allein Halleluja, daß Ewige Licht geht da herein \ Und gibt der Welt ein Neuen Schein Es leucht wohl mitten in der nacht, Und uns deß Lichtes \ Kinder macht Halleluja. Der Sohn deß Vaters Gott von art, Ein gast in der Welt Hie ward. \ Und führt uns aus dem Jammerthal, Er macht uns Erben in seinem Saal Halleluja: Halleluja

Translation:

[On the left]
Take this Writing Exercise, I give it to you with love, because you have learned so well, and with a good motivation. Continue to practice more, and learn the art of writing, so that it cannot be said that your writing is too bad. Yes, remember one more thing, and think of it often, that I, Matthaus Fuchs, now an old man, have written this writing exercise for you with a trembling hand, and I am still living in Ruscombmanor Township. This writing exercise belongs to Maria Reist in Oley Township. It was written for her in the year of our Lord 1811, on the 27^th of February. 

[on the right]
Praised be you, Jesus Christ
that you have been born as a man
from a virgin, this is true,
at which the group of angels rejoices. Hallelujah
The only child of the eternal father
is now found in the manger,
in our poor flesh and blood
eternal goodness has masked itself. Hallelujah
Whom the whole world could not enclose
now lies in Mary's lap,
he has become a little baby
who alone upholds everything. Hallelujah
The eternal light enters here,
it gives the world a new brilliance;
it shines in the middle of the night
and makes us children of the light. Hallelujah
The Father's son, God by nature,
was a guest here in the world,
and leads us from the vale of sorrow
he makes us heirs in his hall. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

Category: Writing Exercise (Vorschrift)
Media Type: Manuscripts
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:

Hand-drawn; hand-colored; hand-lettered. The document was divided in half, with the dedication by the artist to the recipient written in German script on the left half, and the hymn, in Fraktur and German script, on the right half with the text arranged perpendicular to the left half. The first word, Gelobet, is in large letters and decorated with tulips and other flowers. The hymn “Gelobet seyst du, Jesus Christ” was written by Martin Luther, with the exception of the first stanza, which dates to the late fourteenth century. It remains a popular Lutheran hymn that is commonly sung around Christmas time.
This is the only known fraktur by Matthaus Fuchs.
The watermark is William Barber’s, whose papermill was in Oley Township, Berks County, in 1808. By 1812, he had moved to Papertown, Cumberland County.

Associated Names: Reist, Maria
Provenance: Pennsylvania German Collection

Secondary Place Town/Township: Geographic Coverage State/Province:Pennsylvania
Geographic Coverage City/Town/Township:Oley Township
Geographic Coverage Note:Based on inscription on document
Geographic Coverage Region/County:Berks

Creation Place Town/Township: Creation Place Note:Based on artist's location
Region/County:Berks
City/Town/Township:Ruscombmanor Township
State/Province:Pennsylvania

Image Dimensions Width: 41.5 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 67
Creator Name: Matthaus Fuchs (?-?) - Decorator
Matthaus Fuchs (?-?) - Scrivener