The Docks of New York

THE DOCKS OF NEW YORK

The waterfront of New York

- the end of many journeys,

the beginning of many adventures.

Miles of docks wait day

and night for strange

cargo - and stranger men.

Ships come in from the sea -

tarrying a day or two in the endless

journey from port to port.

These were the days before

oil fuel made stoking a lady's job -

when stokers earned their pay

in sweat and coal-dust.

"Well, Bill! We brought the

ol' barge in right on time!"

"Pick up that waste!

Nobody goes ashore till

this hole is cleaned up!"

"This packet sails

tomorrow morning."

"You've got one night ashore.

If any o' you muckers come

back drunk, you'll do double shift!"

"He's the most even-

tempered guy I ever

knew - always sore!"

"He thinks we're goin'

ashore to play marbles!"

The Sandbar, a cable's length

from the wharf, has vanished now -

wiped out by commerce and reform.

But that night it was

wide awake and roaring.

Save his soul and money

comes to Hymn-Book Harry

"Meet my husband!"

"Well, Andy! I guess you never

expected to run across me here!"

Night and fog met

the stokers coming ashore.

"Hey, Bill! That's no place

to take a lady!"

"Come on, Bill. They'll

take care of her!"

"Okay, Bill! Be a hero an'

leave your pal!"

"But just remember Singapore - -

an' recollect Shanghai!"

"Well, you gave me the air.

It's been three years -

what did you expect me to do?"

"Take that out o' here -

before you draw the police!"

"Get her a hot drink!"

"One hot toddy!"

"You're not goin' in there!

That's the only rag

she had to her back!"

"So you're the guy

that saved my life?"

"You could have saved yourself

the trouble, an' let me die."

"All right! Make believe you

died - make believe you're

startin' all over again!"

"You left all that slush in

the river, Baby. All you

need is a good time!"

"I've had too many good times."

"You ain't never been out

with Bill Roberts."

"Dry up before you catch cold!"

"Would you care?"

"Well, I might..."

"After a month in the stoke-hole,

I got no sympathy for anybody that

wants to quit a swell world like this!"

"Throw yourself into them

new rags an' give me a chance!"

"All right, Bill Roberts,

I'll give you a chance."

"Anyway, I can always

make a hole in the water."

"Are you goin' to let me have

a good time in my own quiet way -

or must I take this place apart?"

"Thought you might want

your tie - Bill."

"Pretty, ain't she?"

"You better take my tip -

an' stay away from that dame!"

"Shove off, my lad! I want

to talk with your lady friend."

"You may be big game

aboard ship, but you're

only an animal-cracker here."

"Gee, but you're strong!"

"I guess you've known

a lot o' girls."

"I ain't braggin'

about my love-affairs."

"I'm not braggin', either."

"Ever been married, Bill?"

"Say, who'd marry a

guy like me?"

"Oh, I don't know.

A lot o' girls might."

"You ever been married, Baby?"

"Say, who'd marry a girl like me?"

"I've sailed the seven seas,

but I never saw a craft

as trim as you."

"I don't think it's fair

of you to kid me."

"Say! What makes you

think I'm kiddin'?"

"What did you ever do that

makes you worse than me?

I'd marry you in a minute!"

"An' come to think of it,

I'll marry you right now!"

"You don't know Bill Roberts!

I'll try anything once!"

"Get me a parson - I'm goin' to

get spliced to my girl friend!"

"Come back here, Bill -

don't make a fool o' yourself!"

"Meet the bride!"

"I better get Hymn-Book Harry -

before he wrecks the place!"

"I'm goin' to do right by our Nell!

I'm goin' to marry her - here an' now!"

"Do you think he can make

you decent by marryin' you?"

"I don't know what to

think, any more."

"Until I got married,

I was decent!"

"We'll give you a marriage

you'll never forget!"

"Where's your license?"

"Are you goin' to queer our fun

just because you got to have

a little piece o' paper?"

"If you got to have a license,

Bill will get one first thing

in the morning."

"Won't you, Bill?"

"Word of honor, Parson.

First thing in the morning!"

"Let the old fusser go!

I'll marry you."

"If any of you eggs know why these

heels shouldn't get hitched, speak now

or forever after hold your trap!"

"Does it mean that

much to you?"

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered

together in the sight of God

and in the face of this company -"

"- to join this Man, and this

Woman, in Holy Matrimony."

"Matrimony is an honorable

estate .... and is not to be

entered into lightly -"

"Do you take this woman

to be your wedded wife?"

"Will you love her, comfort her,

honor her, and keep her in sickness

and in health, forsaking all others

-- as long as you both shall live?"

"Sure, I will!"

"I will."

"Give me the ring."

"Here's mine - I hope it does

you more good than it did me!"

"Here's your wages, Parson.

Easy come, easy go!"

"I expect you to bring me

the license in the morning.

Pay me then."

"What's the meanin' of

this jamboree?"

"Oh, I thought I'd get married,

and settle down."

"But how are you goin'

to get rid of her?"

"Who says I want to

get rid of her?"

"I know you, Bill Roberts!

You might fool her,

but you can't fool me!"

"What lady threw that shoe?"

"You don't know what this

means to me, Bill!"

"I'll be a good wife, Bill."

Morning.

"Got a match, Chief?"

"I s'pose you've forgot all

about last night?"

"Wasn't you never young, Chief?

I was just havin' a good time!"

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