Burli! Lass Die Fusse 'Runter !

We were sitting on a streetcar in Vienna in 1975, me Martina and Jamey. Jamey had a window seat to himself and was curled up watching the world go by.I was next to him with Martina on my lap. We had been somewhere with my Mother-in -law, I can't remember where and we were all sleepy and daydreamy.
Into this reverie squawked an ugly shrill voice from the seat ahead of me. It came from a scrawny little woman with thin grey hair pulled up in a tiny tight bun and a wee shrewish face.She was looking at Jamey and shrilling at him"Burli,lass die fusse 'runter (little boy put your feet down.)
It took all of us a minute to first, figure out what she was saying and then, to whom. Jamey just looked confused then resumed his stare out the window.Martina started to suck her thumb.I looked for help from my Mother -in- law but when I saw her turn her head away and fixate on something outside the window I knew it was up to me.
Now to give those of you non Austrians a heads up you have to understand that in Austria if you see a child that needs attention good or bad you give it. Whether said child is alone or with parents doesn't matter. It takes a village to raise a child is in the heart of everyone there, especially little angry women. I've been got at too when my shoelace was undone and I was no child!
Back to the Strassenbahn.When I saw Oma stick her head up her ass I mustered all the German I had for my reply and realized it was sorely lacking. So I did the next best thing and tried to ignore the repeated complaints. Little Shrew Woman was getting shriller and redder by the minute and poor Jamey was now aware that he was in trouble, but how?
Finally I leaned forward and let her have both barrels in English! Quietly. The little shrew deflated like a pricked balloon.
Something else you have to understand about Austrians.They are very ingratiating with foreigners no matter how much they despise them in their hearts.To be shown up in public by going after a tourist was more than she had bargained for. She was so badly mortified I felt sorry for her. A bit.
By the way his little feet were clean.