MARTHY--[Her curiosity also aroused.] What's that yuh got--a
letter, fur Gawd's sake?

CHRIS--[Pauses for a moment, after finishing the letter, as if to
let the news sink in--then suddenly pounds his fist on the table
with happy excitement.] Py yiminy! Yust tank, Anna say she's
comin' here right avay! She gat sick on yob in St. Paul, she say.
It's short letter, don't tal me much more'n dat. [Beaming.] Py
golly, dat's good news all at one time for ole fallar! [Then
turning to MARTHY, rather shamefacedly.] You know, Marthy, Ay've
tole you Ay don't see my Anna since she vas little gel in Sveden
five year ole.

MARTHY--How old'll she be now?

CHRIS--She must be--lat me see--she must be twenty year ole, py
Yo!

LARRY--[Surprised.] You've not seen her in fifteen years?

CHRIS--[Suddenly growing somber--in a low tone.] No. Ven she vas
little gel, Ay vas bo'sun on vindjammer. Ay never gat home only
few time dem year. Ay'm fool sailor fallar. My voman--Anna's
mother--she gat tired vait all time Sveden for me ven Ay don't
never come. She come dis country, bring Anna, dey go out
Minnesota, live with her cousins on farm. Den ven her mo'der die
ven Ay vas on voyage, Ay tank it's better dem cousins keep Anna.
Ay tank it's better Anna live on farm, den she don't know dat ole
davil, sea, she don't know fader like me.