Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-01-03
The Legend Of Santa Claus.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. q, 1856.
To the Republicans


The popular nature of the saint who pre-
sides over Oh stnas and the toy gifts OF
that welcome senson, is derived from Saint
Nicholas. lhe legend Of his first appear
ance is en Italian one. According to this :
Z shoemaker named Giraidi, who lived in
Ferrara, was SO miserahly poor, tina; his la
Dor from day to day barely kept his father
from starvation, and he WAS unable to give
even small dowry to his three pretty daugh-
tiers. 1t was not thought proper to marry
without dowry; and taus the young girls,
though each had an adhirer, were compel
led to remain single. Their father, how
ever, went every morning to the shrine to
pray to his patron saint, st. Nicholas, that
he would work miracle to relieve him
from his distress.
One Of his nearest neighbors, rich mer-
chant, who Glanced one day to overhear his
simple petition ridiculed the idea of his ex-
pecting the saint to take care of his daugh-
tiers, and recommended him to choose pat
saint who would be able to do something
for him. Mime" he said, lis the jew
Baonaiu,o he lends money at two per cent
a month aud if you know how to manage
you may make four with it. He is not so
deaf as Saint Nicholas
The poor man was shocked at this impi-
ous speech, and assured the merchant that
his religious faith could never be shaken
lie wont every day to church, notwith-
standing the others mockery.
It was now Christmas day, when the mer-
chaut and the jew settlsd up their yearly
accounts; Buonajuto found he owed his
friend three hundred duca's, and wishing
TO give him an agreea5.o surprise, h. Or
dered one of the ducks he had fattenaa, 10
be killed and roasted, and then with his
own hands introduced the three hundred
pieces into the inside, and sewed them up.
Christmas present.
The merchants wife, who shared the
common prejudiees against the Jews, de-
clared she would not touch the duck, and
the rich man resolved to sell it. When Gil
raldi passed on his way from his neighbors,
as usual he bantered him on his devotion,
showed him the Christmas gift his patron
Saint had sent him with the stolidty of St.
Nicholas, who would not even send him a
piece of bread. Finally he offered to sell
the duck for dollar, and to wait for pay
ment, as he knew Giraldi 10 be strictly hon
est. The shoemaker carried the duck home
and when he carved it for his family's
Christmas dinner, and the hundred ducats
fell out, his first exclamation -"Praise
to Saint Nicholas.
When he recovered from his surprise. he
wonld have taken the money back, hut his
W f. p rsuaded him that us he had bought the
duck, it was rightlully his own. lie there
fore divided the sum between the two suit
ors for his two eldest daughters.
The merchant. after some days, diseoy-l
cred his loss of three hundred ducats, and
went to the shoemaker to demand the mo-
ney. which was refused, The cause came
before the magistrate who was pious man,
and heard with indignation how cruelty the
poor man had been ridiculed about his re-
ligion His sentence was that Giraldi should
keep the money, and that the merchant and
the Jew should, besides, pay a fine for
their usurious dealings, of one hundred and
fifty ducats, to be given as dowry for the
shoe-maker's youngest daughter.
The meaning of the legend is, that a
benefcent Providence watches over, and
takes care of the poor who are honest, reli-
gious and truthful The tradition runs that
since that time st. Nicholas pays visit ev-
cry Christmas night, to all whom he thinks
worthy of his favors He is known alto
eether by the naasn-santa Claus.