night before Christmas.

KLINKER. Und we want to know if the good Saint Nicholas is coming
tonight.

ANITA. I don't know. You see it would be a great beeg-a, long-a trip
way out here on the ocean.

KLINKER (_half crying_). But I want him to come. I've been a awful
good boy, isn't I, Schwillie Willie Winkum?

SCHWILLIE. Sure, you is. Und me also, ain't I, Klinker?

ANITA. If you have both been verra, verra good I think that maybe the
good Saint will come. (_Looks around._) Have you all been verra, verra
good?

OTHERS. Yes, all of us.

HANS. We're always very, very good at Christmas time.

AH GOO. Me velly, _velly_ good.

ANITA (_points off R._). See, way up there on the upper deck, are the
rich, grand-a ladies and gentlemen coming out from the great, beeg-a
dining-room. If you go and stand under the hole maybe they'll throw
you some oranges or candy. They're awful nice peoples on the upper
deck.

MEENY. Let's all go right away quick. Maybe we'll get some oranges und
candy.

KLINKER. Oh, how I do love oranges und candy, don't I, Schwillie
Willie Winkum?

SCHWILLIE. Sure, und me also, don't I, Klinker?

SERGIUS. Let us all go together. (_All come forward and sing to tune
of the Opening Song._)

We're happy little immigrants,
We'll sing our happy song,
Our hearts are light, our faces bright--
The good ship speeds along.
Then clap, clap, clap together,
Clap, clap away;
The steerage is a happy place--
Tomorrow's Christmas Day.

(_All the children except_ ANITA _go out at R., repeating the chorus
of their song._)

ANITA. Surely the good-a Saint Nicholas will come tonight, because
there are so many, many verra good children on board this-a ship.
(_Counting on fingers._) There's Hulda from Holland and her two leetla
brothers, the Dutch twins, Klinker and Schwillie Willie Winkum. They
must have a great-a beeg-a Christmas present. And there's Sergius from
Russia, and Meeny and Paddy Mike and Biddy Mary, and Neelda from
Spain, and Yakob and Hans and Ah Goo and Mieze and leetla Sano San
from afar away Japan. They must all have the great-a, grand-a
presents. Maybe I could write old Santa Claus a leetla letter and tell
how good the poor children way down in the steerage have been. And
there's my cousin Tomasso from Italy. Oh, Santa Claus must bring him a
new violin. Then he can make-a the beautiful music on the golden
streets of New York. If there is anybody at