Family Feature--Johann Wilhelm Rehbein--In Memory 1830-1909--Germany

(shared and authorized for publication by Gert Knop—a Whispers’ contributor since 2013)

Christmas Wishes (English)

Oh Christkind, come with your gifts

In every heart, in every house;

Give all what they need,

Do not exclude a single soul!

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Weihnachtswünsche (German)

O Christkind, komm' mit deinen Gaben

In jedes Herz, in jedes Haus;

Gib Allen, was sie nötig haben,

Schließ' keine Menschenseele aus !

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Johann Wilhelm Rehbein (listed as Wilhelm Rehbein) was born on October 28, 1830 at Mülheim/ Ruhr. He devoted himself to the profession of an elementary schoolteacher and worked as such for 43 years, of which he spent 37 years in Remscheid as head of a boys' school and as a conductor of the municipal advanced training school. In the fall of 1895, he retired due to throat problems, and lived since then in comfortable circumstances in Dusseldorf, he was able to celebrate his golden wedding here as well. He continued his literary career until old age. He died of a heart attack on a journey to Wermelskirchen on May 16, 1909.  His works were: Poems, 1870, Poems, 1872 and a second edition, 1875. Engelbert, Bishop of Cologne, a theater play, 1894 and Cecilia, an opera libretto, 1894.