Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-01-02

This popular name of the saint who presides over
Christmas and the toy gifts of that welcome season,
is derived from ST. Nicholas. The legend OF his first
appearance is an Ita an on According to This -
A shoemaker named Gra di, who lived in Ferara,
was so mserably poor that his labor from day to day
barely kept his family from starvation, and be was
unable TO give Il small d0w"y to his three pretty
daughters 1t not thought proper to marry
without dowry and thus the young girls, though
each had an admirer, compelled to remain sin
gle. Their father, however, went every morning to
the shrine to pray to his patron saint, St Nicholas
that he would work a miracle to relieve him from his
distress.
One of bis nearest neighbours a rich merchant, who
CHANGED day to 0verhear his simple petition,
G;culed the idea Of his expecting the saint to take
care of his daughters and recommended him 10 choose
a patron who would be able 10 do something for him.
" Mine" he SAID, sis the Jew Buonajuto he lends
money at two per cent month and if you know
how 10 manage, you may make four with it. He is
not so deaf as Saint Nicholas.
ne poor man was shocked at his mpious speech,
and assured the merchant that his religious faith
could never be shaken He went every day to church,
Notwithstanding the others mockery.
1t was nov Christmas day. when the merchant and
the Jew settled up their yearly accounts Buonajuto
found he owed his friend three hundred ducats, and
wishing to give him agreeable SURPRISE he ordered
Of the ducks he had carefully fattened to be Kill
led and roasted and then with his own hands intro.
duced The three hundred gold pieces into the inside,
and sewed them up. He then sent the duck to the
merchant a Christmas present.
The merchants vile, who shared the common pre-,
judices against Jews, declared she would not touch
the duck, and the rich resolved 10 sell it. When
Girald passed on his way from church. his neighbor,
usual banered him On his devotion, showed him
the Christmas gilt his patron saint had him, and
tainted him with the stolidity of Saint Nicholas,
who could not even send him piece Of bread
Finally, he offered to sell the duck for dollar, and
to wait for payment, he knew Graldi to be strict
ly honest. The shoemaker carried the duck home,
and when he ed it for his famy's Christmas din
ner, and the three hundred ducats fell out his first
exclamation was" Praise to Saint Nichoas'
When he recovered rom his surprise he would have
taken the money back, but his wife persuaded him
that, as he had bought the duck it was rghHul his
own. He therefore divided the sum between The two
suitors for his two eldest daughters.
The merchant, after some days, discovered the loss
of the hundred ducats, and went 10 the shoe maker
TO demand the money, which refused. The
cause came before the magistrate, who pIous
man, and heard with Indignation how cruelty the
poor man had been ridculpd about his religion His
sentenced was that Graldi should keep the money,
and that the merchant and the Jew should, besides
pay fine for their usuriCus dealings, of one hundred
and fifty ducats, to be given dOwry for he shoe
makers youngest daughter
The meaning of this legend is, that benefcent
Providence watches and takes care Of the poor
who are honest, religious and truthful The tradition
runs that since thai time Saint Nicholas pays a visit
every Christmas night TO all whom he thinks worthy
of his favors. He is known altogether by name
Santa Claus New York E1presa,
INTERESTING FROM JAPAN.-THe Steamer San Jn-