her surprise, she hears a mysterious noise in a great big
barrel, and who should jump out but little Jack Frost himself. Jack
assures her that Santa Claus really is coming to visit the ship, and
more than that, he is going to make an especial trip in an air ship!
And this is little Anita's secret. The children all fall asleep, but
Anita keeps watch for the mysterious aeroplane that will bring joy to
every little heart in the steerage, and, sure enough, just a little
before midnight Anita and Jack Frost look through a telescope and see
the lights of the approaching air ship.

Soon Santa Claus himself is on board, and such a time as he and Anita
and jolly Jack Frost have in arranging a wonderful Christmas surprise
for the children. As an especial favor the good Saint decides to
awaken the children himself very early on Christmas morning. The clock
strikes twelve and it is Christmas Day. The bells of merry Christmas
are heard chiming in the distance, and Santa Claus and jolly Jack
Frost hold a Christmas morning revel with the little immigrant
children away down in the steerage of the big vessel.

* * * * *

SCENE: _The steerage of a large ocean-going vessel. Entrances R. and
L. Boxes and barrels down L. Box down R. Large barrel up L.C., with_
JOLLY JACK FROST _concealed therein._ HULDA _is seated on a small
stool down R., taking care of_ KLINKER _and_ SCHWILLIE WILLIE WINKUM,
_who are standing near her._ MEENY _is seated down L. on a box; she is
knitting a woolen stocking._ SERGIUS, PADDY MIKE, TOMASSO, YAKOB _and_
AH GOO _are playing leapfrog at C. of stage._ HANS, MIEZE, NEELDA
_and_ SANO SAN _stand at rear._ BIDDY MARY _is seated near_ HULDA;
_she is peeling potatoes. All sing._

OPENING SONG.

[Music illustration:

1. The ship is sail-ing ver-y fast,
We can't go out to play;
But Christmas Day is com-ing soon,
It is-n't far a-way.

2. We're sail-ing to A-mer-i-ca,
So far a-cross the sea,
We're hap-py lit-tle im-mi-grants,
Our hearts are light and free.

3. We're hap-py lit-tle for-eign-ers,
From far a-cross the way,
But soon we will be cit-i-zens
Of dear old U.S.A.

Then clap, clap, clap to-geth-er,
Clap, clap, a-way;
The steer-age is a hap-py place--
Tomorrow's Christmas Day.]

(_On the words "clap, clap, clap together," the children hold left
hand horizontally in front of their chest