Victorian Politics and History/A Dutch Witness

A DUTCH WITNESS. – “What is your name?” – “Vel, I calls mineself Fred, but maybe so – I don’t know – it is Yawcup. You see, chudge, mine modder she have two little poys; one of them was me and one was my broder, or one was my broder and t’other was me, I don’t know which; and I was chust so old as my broder was young, or my broder was chust as old as me, I don’t know which, and mine modder she don’t; and one of us was named Fred and t’other Yawcup, or one named Yawcup and t’other Fred, I don’t know which; and one of us got died – but mine modder, she never could tell whether it was me or mine broder what got died; so, chudge, I does not know whether I am Fred or Yawcup – and mine modder, she don’t know.”

A modern translation of the above article:-

A DUTCH WITNESS. – “What is your name?” – “Well, I call myself Fred, but maybe it's Yawcup – I don’t know. You see, chum, my mother had two little boys; one of them was me and one was my brother, or one was my brother and the other was me, I don’t know which; and I was just so old as my brother was young (twins), or my brother was just as old as me, I don’t know which, and my mother she doesn't’t know either. One of us was named Fred and the other Yawcup, or one named Yawcup and the other Fred, I don’t know which; and one of us died – but my mother, she never could tell whether it was me or my brother who died; so, chum, I don't know whether I am Fred or Yawcup – and my mother, she doesn't know either.”

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