PADDY MIKE. Sure and I did. And me two eyes nearly fell out of me head with lookin' at it, it was that wonderful. He shot a big stream of water right up out of his head, he did, and then he dived down in the ocean again, and we didn't see him any more at all, at all. (MIEZE _and_ SANO SAN _turn backs to audience and look over the railing into the water._) HULDA (_to the twins_). There! Now if you get to see the great big whale, that's almost as good as having old Saint Nicholas come, ain't it? SCHWILLIE. Whales can't bring you no Christmas presents, can they, Klinker? KLINKER. Und whales you can see any time. I'd rather have Saint Nicholas, wouldn't I, Schwillie Willie Winkum? SERGIUS. Who is this Saint Nicholas they are looking for, Hulda? HULDA (_astonished_). Why, don't you know who he is yet? He's the best old man that ever was. Und he comes the night before Christmas und visits all the little children in Holland. MEENY (_proudly_). Und in Germany, too. (SERGIUS _goes to_ HULDA.) KLINKER. Und if they're good they get candy und oranges und toys und things, don't they, Schwillie Willie Winkum? SCHWILLIE. Und if they're bad, they get a good big birch stick. But I ain't been bad. I've been awfully good, isn't I, Klinker? KLINKER. Sure. Und me also. HULDA (_to_ SERGIUS). On Christmas Eve in Holland all the children march around the streets, following one who carries a big silver star. And the people who meet us give us money and gifts to help the poor. Oh, Christmas time is just grand in Holland! KLINKER. Und we set out our leedle wooden shoes und old Saint Nicholas fills 'em with candy. SCHWILLIE. Und we put a leedle bit of hay in our shoes for his good old horsie, Sleipner. Dot makes him happy. MEENY. In Germany we call him Santa Claus, und he comes riding in a sleigh drawn through the sky mit reindeers. Und we have Christmas trees all lighted mit candles und things, und full of toys und paper stars und angels und apples. But Santa Claus could never get out here in der middle of der ocean. If he did maybe he'd get seasick already, und all der reindeers would get drownded in der water. SERGIUS (_standing R.C._). In Russia there is an old woman named Babouska who visits all the children on the night before Christmas. She carries a big basket full of good things. TOMASSO (_seated on floor at C._). In sunny Italy the children all go to midnight church on Christmas Eve, and when we make ourselves awake on Christmas morning, our shoes are all full of candy and chestnuts and figs and oranges. But of course on a big ship like-a this we'll not get-a nothing at all. KLINKER (_crying_). But I want some presents already. SCHWILLIE (_crying_). Und me also. I want some presents, too. KLINKER. Und Saint Nicholas can't come. Oh, oh! He can't get out on the big ocean. SCHWILLIE. Maybe he could float out on a piece of ice yet. Could he, Hulda? HULDA. No. I don't think he's much of a floater.