Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-01-14
The Legend Of Santa CLANS.

Ihis popular name of the saint who nra-
sldes over Christmas and the TOW gifts of that
welcome season, is derived from, Saint Niche
las. The legend of his first appearance is an
itaian one According to this shoemaker
named Glraldi, who lived in Ferrara, Was 80
mise niseraoly poor, that bis labor frora day e
cay fearefy Kept hiss fsr1Iiii it..s e.r yatio,,.
and he was unable to give even a small doEry
to has three pretty daughters 1t was not
thonght proper to marry without a cowry:
ana thus the young girls, though each had
an admirer, were compelled to remain single.
ineir father however, went every morning
10 the snrine to pray to his patron saint, S..
Nicholas, that he woald work a miracle 70
relieve him from his distress.
One OF his nearest neighbors, rich mer-
chant who chanced one day to ogerhear his
simple petition, ridiculed the idea of his
daughters, and recommended him tn choose
patron saint who would be able to do some
thing for him. Mine, he said, sis the Jew
buonaJuto ne lends money at two per cent,
month; and if you know how to manage.
you may make four with it. He is not so
dear as Saint Nicholas"
lhe poor man was shocked at this impious
speech, and assured The merchant that his
religious faith could never be shaken, lie
went every day to church, notwithstanding
the others mockerv.
1t was now Christmas day, when the mer
chant and the Jew settled up their yearly
accounts; Buonaluto found he owed his
friend three hundred ducats, and wishing to
give hlm an agreeable surprise he ordered
one OF the ducks he had carefully fattened
to be killed and roasted and then with his
own hands introduced the three hundred gold
pieces into the inside, and sewed them up
lie then sent the duck to the merchant as n
Christmas present
The merchants wife, who shared the COM
mon preJudices against Jews, declared she
would not touch the du k and the rich man
resolved to sell it. When Giraldi passed on
nls way from his neighbor, a usual, banter
ed him on his devotion, showed him the
Christmas gift his patron Saint had sent him.
and taunted him with the stolidity Of Saint
Nicholas. who could not even send him 4
piece OF bread. Finally he offered to sell
the duck for dollar, and to wait for payment.
as he knew Giralci to be strictly honest
Ihe shoemaker carried the duck home, and
when he carved 1t for his family's Christmas
dinner, and the hundred ducats fell out, his
first exclamation was-"Praise to Saint Mich
olas''
When he recovered from his surprise. he
Would have taken the money back, but his
the duck, it was rightfully his own. lie
therefore divided the sum between the two
suitors for his two eldest daughters.
The merchant, after some days, discovered
his loss of the three hundred ducats, and went
to the shoemaker to demand the money,
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 religion.
His sentence was that Giraldi should keen
the money, and that the merchant and tho
jew should, besides pay fno for their us
urlous dealings, Of one hundred and fifty da-
cats, to be given as a dowry for the shoema-
ker's youngest daughter.
The meaning of this legend is, that ben
lhcent Providence watches over, and takes
care of the poor who are honest, religious
and truthful. The tradition runs that sircs
that time st. Nicholas pays visit, every
Christmas night, to all whom'he thinks wor-
thy of his favors. He is known altogether by
the name-Santa Claus.-N. T. ETpress.