Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-01-19
The Legend or Santa Claus.

ulS pOpuldT name or the saint who preSlQeS over Christmas and the toy gifts of that well come season, is derived from St. Nicholas. The legend of his first appearance is an Italian one. According to this, shoemaker named Giraldi, who lived in Ferrera, was so mserably poor that his labor from day to day barely kept his family from starvation, and he was unable to give even small dowry to his pretty daugh- ters. It was not thought proper to marry with out dowry, and thus the young girls, though each had an admirer, were compelled to remain singly. 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 his nearest neighbors, a rich merchant, who chanced one day to overhear his simple petition, rdculed the idea of his expecting the saint to take care of his daughters, and recom- mended him to choose patron saint who could be able to do something for him. Mne," he sid, is the Jew Buonajuto; he lends money at two per cent month; and if you know how to manage, you may make four of it. He is not so deaf as St. Nicholas"
 The poor man was shocked at this impous speech, and assured the merchant that his re- ligious faith could never be shaken. He went every day to church, notwithstanding the others mockerv.
 It was now Christmas day, when the mer- chant aud the Jew settled up their yearly &C., counts; Buonajuto found he owed his friend three hundred ducats, and wishing to give him an agreeable surprise, he ordered one of the ducks he had carefully fattened to be killed and roasted, and then with his own hands in- troduced the three hundred gold pieces into the inside and sewed them up. He then sent the duck to the merchant as Christmas present.
 The merchants wife, who shared the con- mon prejudees against Jews, declared she would not touch the duck, and the rich man resolved to sell it. When Giraldi passed on his way from church, his neighbor, as usual ban- tered him on his devotion, showed him the Christmas gift his patron saint had sent him, and taunted him with the stolidity of St. Mi cholas, who could not even send him piece of bread. Finally, he offered to sell the duck for dollar, and to wait for payment, as he kne w Glraldi to be strictly honest The shoemaker carried the duck home and when he carved it for the Christmas dinner, and three hundred du- cats fell out, his first exclamation was, Praise to Saint Methodist" ....
 When he recovered from his surprise, he would have taken the money back, but his wife persuaded him that, as he bought the duck, it was rightfully his. He therefore divided the sum between the two suitors for his two eldest daughters. . ...... .
 he merchaht, alter 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 mag istrate, who was pious man, and heard with indignation how cruel the poor man had been rldiculei about his religion. His sentence was that Glrald should keep the money, and that the merchant and the Jew should, besides, pay tine for their usurious dealing, of one hun dred and fifty ducats, to be given as dowry for the shoemaker's youngest daughter.
 The meaning of this legend is, that benif- cent Providence watches over and takes care of the poor, who are honest, religious and truth lul. The trodition runs hatfince that time St. Nicholas pays visit, every Christmas night to all whom he thinks worthy of his favors. He Is known altogether by the name-Santa Claus.