_For the third verse all rise and stand in couples in small groups all around stage. On the first two lines of the third verse each one faces his partner slightly, nods at him and shakes index finger of right hand at partner. On "dear, old U.S.A." all make a deep bow to audience. After third verse is completed, all form a circle and skip around in time to the music, repeating the third verse. On "clap, clap, clap together," they stand still and clap hands as before. When the song is ended all resume former positions, as at the rise of the curtain, but the boys do not play leapfrog._) TOMASSO (_seated on floor at C._). Tomorrow comes the great, grand festival of Christmas, is it not, Paddy Mike? PADDY MIKE (_seated near him, nods his head_). Sure and it is. This is the holy Christmas Eve. MEENY (_seated down L., knitting stocking_). The night of the day behind Christmas is always Christmas Eve, ain't it? (_Nods head._) Sure it is. SCHWILLIE. Und tomorrow we gets lots of Christmas presents always, me und Klinker; don't we, Klinker? KLINKER. Sure we do. Leedle horses and pictures und candy und other things also; don't we, Schwillie Willie Winkum? HULDA. That was when we were at home in Holland. It's different, maybe, out here in this great big boat. Ven we get by the city of New York next week then maybe we'll get some presents already. KLINKER. But good Saint Nicholas always comes the night before Christmas; don't he, Schwillie Willie Winkum? SCHWILLIE. Sure. Won't he come tonight, Hulda? HULDA. How could he get way out here on the ocean already? Do you think he is a fish? We ain't living at home in Holland no more. We're way out on the Atlantic Ocean in a great big ship. MEENY. Ja, und I wish I was back at home already. So much have I been seasick, mit der ship going oop und down, oop und down! Ach, it's awful. (SERGIUS, TOMASSO, YAKOB, PADDY MIKE _and_ AH GOO _play jack-stones._) KLINKER. But Saint Nicholas ought to come tonight, Hulda. I been a awfully good boy, isn't I, Schwillie Willie Winkum? SCHWILLIE. Sure you is. Und I've been a awfully good boy, too. Isn't I, Klinker? KLINKER. Sure. We've been awfully good boys. HULDA. Maybe even if Saint Nicholas don't come tonight, you can see the great, big whale tomorrow. If he's a good whale he'll surely let the leedle Dutch twins see him on Christmas Day. MEENY. Oh, I vant to see der whale. I've looked und I've looked und I've looked, but I ain't even so much as seen his leedle tail yet already. Und it makes me seasick to look so much, too. BIDDY MARY. Are ye sure it was a whale ye saw that day, Sergius boy? SERGIUS. Of course I'm sure. It was awful big. The biggest fish I ever saw. Even in Russia we do not have such big fish as whales. Paddy Mike saw it, too.