Bals, Balz & Baltz
The History of the Family of Henry & Elizabeth Bals of Nebraska

From information compiled and edited by Gene Bals © 2014

 

 

This website was created by Gene Bals on December 1, 2022
All content is the exclusive property of the author, unless noted otherwise.
For permission to ereproduce any content , please contact the author at genebals@bals.info

It lies there a village in the quiet country.
It probably doesn't wear a princely rich robe.
But work it with honor, and defiantly
defend, it leads the plow where the Hellweg stretches.
And when the larks warble and the field adorns itself,
Then it becomes a jewel of the bleak world.

And there is a little church with a holy duty,
That little bell speaks the Ave call early in the morning.
Then the fields listen, then the meadow smiles,
And worships the heavenly lady in awe.
You brave little church, so honest and trusting,
Didn't the Lord God build you himself?

And houses and cottages snuggle together.
Warmed with faith and lighted with love.
There is Westphalia in safe custody, loyalty
to the Place, loyalty to the blood.
Whomever has found his domestic happiness
Will not be pushed back into the waves of the world.
                                                             Clemens Gahlen