most school
collections, would prove effective either as a vocal solo or as a
violin solo._)

BIDDY MARY. Sure, that's beautiful. It takes me back again to dear
ould Ireland where the River Shannon flows.

HULDA. What do you do in Ireland the night before Christmas, Biddy
Mary?

MEENY. Do you have a Christmas tree like we do in Germany?

BIDDY MARY. We do not. We don't have any tree at all, at all.

PADDY MIKE. And we don't get many presents. But it's a fine time we
have for all that. Instead of getting presents, we have the fun of
giving presents--and that's the finest thing in all the world, so it
is, to make the other fellow happy. Sure, I just love to give
presents.

KLINKER. You can give me some if you want to.

SCHWILLIE. Und me also some.

BIDDY MARY. But where would we be getting presents out here in the
middle of the ocean? In dear ould Ireland sure it's a fine time we're
after having on Christmas Day.

PADDY MIKE. It is that. With the fiddles playing and the dancers
dancing and the fine suppers upon the table.

SERGIUS. In Russia we always set a table in front of the window and
put a fine linen cloth on it. (_Produces white lace-edged cloth._)
Here is the cloth, but we have no window.

HULDA. Here, use this box as a table. (_Indicates a large box at rear
C._) Now, let us put the cloth on, so! (HULDA _and_ SERGIUS _put cloth
on the box._)

BIDDY MARY. The night before Christmas we always put a big candle, all
gay with ribbons, in the window to welcome the Christ child.

PADDY MIKE. Here is the candle. (_Places it on box at rear C._) Now
I'll light it. (_Lights candle._)

TOMASSO. We do that also in Italy. And we put a leetla picture of the
Christ child on the table. (_Puts colored picture of Madonna and Child
back of the candle._)

BIDDY MARY. On Christmas Day it's the fine old tales we're after
hearing in Ireland, all about the wonderful star that shone so bright
that it turned night into day, and led the Wise Men all the way to
where a little Babe in the manger lay.

PADDY MIKE. And all the angels sang above of peace on earth, good will
and love.

BIDDY MARY.

The shepherds wandering on the hill,
Beheld the star and followed till
They saw the Child and heard the song,
The angels sang the whole night long.

SERGIUS. May the spirit of Christmas enter every heart tonight, making
all the world one big, happy family, no rich, no poor, no high, no
low, all brothers a