In our native land, where flows the Rhine, In infancy we culled the vine: Although we toiled with patient care, But poor and scanty was our fare. SOLO. Till tempting waves, with anxious toil, We landed on Columbia’s soil; Now plenty, all our cares repay, So laugh and dance the hours away. CHORUS. Now plenty, all our cares repay, So laugh and dance the hours away; Ha, ha, ha! Ha, ha, ha! So laugh, ha, ha! and dance the hours away. VEDDER. Neighbour Clausen, on your way hither, saw you anything of our friend, Rip Van Winkle? Where there’s a cup of good liquor to be shared, he’s sure to be on hand—a thirsty soul. KNICKERBOCKER. Truly, the man that turns up his nose at good liquor is a fool, as we Dutchmen have it; but cut no jokes on Rip; remember, I’m soon to be a member of his family: and any insult offered to him, I shall resent in the singular number, and satisfaction must follow, as the Frenchmen have it. VEDDER. So, Knickerbocker, you are really determined to marry Rip’s sister, the pretty Alice? KNICKERBOCKER. Yes, determined to be a prisoner in Hymen’s chains, as the lovers have it. I’ve got Rip’s consent, I’ve got Alice’s consent, and I’ve got my own consent. CLAUSEN. But have you got the dame’s consent, eh? KNICKERBOCKER. There I’m dished and done up brown; would you believe it? she calls me a long, scraggy, outlandish animal, and that I look like two deal boards glued together! RORY. Here comes Alice, and with her, Rip’s daughter. _Enter_ ALICE, _with_ LORRENNA. [LOWENA](1) ALICE. Come along, loiterer! Woe betide us when we get home, for having tarried so long! What will the dame say? LORRENNA. Well, it’s not my fault, for you have been up and down the lane a dozen times, looking for the schoolmaster, Knickerbocker. ALICE. Hold your tongue, Miss, it’s no such thing. LORRENNA. You know you love him. ALICE. How do you know that, Miss Pert? LORRENNA. I can see it; and seeing is believing, they say. Oh, you’re monstrous jealous of him, you know you are. KNICKERBOCKER _advances._ ALICE. Jealous! I, jealous of him? No, indeed, I never wish to see his ugly face again. KNICKERBOCKER. Say not so, sweet blossom of the valley, for in that case I shall shoot myself in despair. ALICE. Oh, don’t think of such a thing, for then your ghost might haunt me. LORRENNA. And I’m sure you would rather have him than his ghost, wouldn’t you, Alice? KNICKERBOCKER. That’s a very smart child. But Alice, sweet Alice, can’t I drop in this evening, when the old folks are out of the way? ALICE. Not for the world; if the dame were to find you in the house, I don’t know what would happen. LORRENNA.