RIP. No, I'll be tam if I do! You've got her, and you keep her--I
von't never have her no more.
VEDDER. I sha'n't have her--I have done with her, and glad to be rid
of her.
[_Exit._
RIP. Ha, ha! Then my poor frau is a vidder, with two husbands, an'
she ain't got none at all.
HERMAN. It is Rip Van Winkle, and alive!
RIP. Yes, and to the best of my belief, I have not never been dead
at all.
HERMAN. And I am left to poverty and despair. [_Exit._
RIP. And serve you right too--I'm stewed fun dat is fact. [_Looking
round._] But I had a leetle boy, last night--vhere is my
young baby boy, my leetle Rip?
ALICE. I saw him just now--oh, here he is.
_Enter, young Rip Van Winkle, a very tall young man._
RIP. Is dat my leetle baby boy? How he is grown since last night.
Come here, you young Rip. I am your fader. Vell, he is
much like me--he is a beautiful leetle boy.
KNICKERBOCKER. But tell us, Rip, where have you hid yourself for the
last twenty years?
RIP. Ech woll! ech woll! Vhen I take mine glass, I vill tell mine
strange story, and drink the health of mine friends--and,
ladies and gentlemen, I will drink to your good hells
and your future families, and may you all--and may Rip
Van Winkle too--live long and brosber.
_Curtain._

SCENE IV.

KNICKERBOCKER'S _House as before._

KNICKERBOCKER, ALICE _and_ LORRENNA _enter._

KNICKERBOCKER.

Give me joy, dears; I'm elected unanimously--elected a member of the
Legislature.

ALICE.

Why, spouse!

KNICKERBOCKER.

Mr. Knickerbocker, if you please, my dear; damme! I'm so happy I could
fly to the moon, jump over a steeple, dance a new fandango on stilts.
[_Dances._] Fal, lal, la.

_Enter_ HERMAN.

KNICKERBOCKER.

Well, sir, what the devil do you want?

HERMAN.

I came to claim this lady's fortune or her hand.

ALICE.

Knock him down, spouse.

KNICKERBOCKER.

Mr. Knickerbocker, my dear.

ALICE.

Oh, bother! I know if he comes near my niece, woman as I am, I'll
scratch his eyes out.

HERMAN.

Mr. Knickerbocker.

KNICKERBOCKER.

The honourable member from -