Der Struwwelpeter

Die Geschichte von Hans Guck-in-die-Luft

Wenn der Hans zur Schule ging,
Stets sein Blick am Himmel hing.
Nach den Dächern, Wolken, Schwalben
Schaut er aufwärts allenthalben:
Vor die eignen Füße dicht,
Ja, da sah der Bursche nicht,
Also daß ein jeder ruft:
"Seht den Hans Guck-in-die-Luft!"

Kam ein Hund daher gerannt;
Hänslein blickte unverwandt
In die Luft.
Niemand ruft:
"Hans gib acht, der Hund ist nah!"
Was geschah?
Bauz! Perdauz! - da liegen zwei!
Hund und Hänschen nebenbei.

Einst ging er an Ufers Rand
Mit der Mappe in der Hand.
Nach dem blauen Himmel hoch
Sah er, wo die Schwalbe flog,
Also daß er kerzengrad
Immer mehr zum Flusse trat.
Und die Fischlein in der Reih'
Sind erstaunt sehr, alle drei.

Noch ein Schritt! und plumbs! der Hans
Stürzt hinab kopfüber ganz! -
Die drei Fischlein sehr erschreckt
Haben sich sogleich versteckt.

Doch zum Glück da kommen zwei
Männer aus der Näh' herbei,
Und die haben ihn mit Stangen
Aus dem Wasser aufgefangen.

Seht! Nun steht er triefend naß!
Ei! das ist ein schlechter Spaß!
Wasser läuft dem armen Wicht
Aus dem Haaren ins Gesicht,
Aus den Kleidern, von dem Armen;
Und es friert ihn zum Erbarmen.

Doch die Fischlein alle drei,
Schwimmen hurtig gleich herbei;
Strecken's Köpflein aus der Flut,
Lachen, daß man's hören tut,
Lachen fort noch lange Zeit;
Und die Mappe schwimmt schon weit.

As he trudg'd along to school,
It was always Johnny's rule
To be looking at the sky
And the clouds that floated by;
But what just before him lay,
In his way,
Johnny never thought about;
So that every one cried outÑ
"Look at little Johnny there,
Little Johnny Head-In-Air!"

Running just in Johnny's way,
Came a little dog one day;
Johnny's eyes were still astray
Up on high,
In the sky;
And he never heard them cry -
"Johnny, mind, the dog is nigh!"
What happens now?
Bump!
Dump I
Down they fell, with such a thump,
Dog and Johnnv in a lump!
They almost broke their bones
So hard they tumbled on the stones.

Once, with head as high as ever,
Johnny walked beside the river.
Johnny watch'd the swallows trying
Which was cleverest at flying.
Oh! what fun!
Johnny watch'd the bright round sun
Going in and coming out;
This was all he thought about.
So he strode on, only think!
To the river's very brink,
Where the bank was high and steep,
And the water very deep;
And the fishes, in a row,
Stared to see him coming so.

One step more! Oh! sad to tell!
Headlong in poor Johnny fell.
The three little fishes, in dismay,
Wagged their tails and swam away.

There lay Johnny on his face;
With his nice red writing-case;
But, as they were passing by,,
Two strong men had heard him cry;
And, with sticks, these two strong men
Hook'd poor Johnny out again.

Oh! you should have seen him shiver
When they pull'd him from the river
He was in a sorry plight,
Dripping wet, and such a fright!
Wet all over, everywhere,
Clothes, and arms, and face, and hair
Johnny never will forget
What it is to be so wet.

And the fishes, one, two, three,
Are come back again, you see;
Up they came the moment after,
To enjoy the fun and laughter.
Each popp'd out his little head,
And, to tease poor Johnny, said,
"Silly little Johnny, look,
You have lost your writing-book!"
Look at them laughing and do you see?
His satchel is drifting, far out to sea!