The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1860-12-20

for each of the young ladies.+ Some time
the nuns of a certain monas-
terry in Italy, requested the Lady Alb
5ess to entreat st. Nicolas to make
them presents. She complied and af-
ter that received every Christmas
stocking from each of the nuns, which
she carried to her room, whore st, Mic.
olas filled them with sweet meats.
The true explanation, however, Of st.
Nicolas's connection with Christmas, is
to be found in the fact that he was the
patron of school boys. Some accounts |
state that this was on account Of his
early piety and goodness, furnishing
such an example, but a more satisiac-
tory reason is to be found in legend
carefully preserved by his biographers.
A nobloman was intending to send
his two sons to Athens, to complete
their education, but desired them before
sailing to 60 to St. Nicolas and secure
"a blessing of so holy a man. They
started in obedience to their father, but,
reaching their destination late in the
evening, determined to spend the night
at the inn, TO avoid disturbing the bish-
on. While they were asleep, the land
lord murdered them for their gold, and
cutting their bodies into small pieces
hid them i'm two barrels Of salted meat.
The crime was Immediately revealed to
St. Nicolas in a vision. and he at once
proceeded to the landlord and reproach.
ed him for his fcndish conduct. Find.
| ing that he was detected. the wretchcd
man confessed his crime and cntreatod
with great anguish that's Nicolas would
pray heaven to forgive him ST. NicO-
/ las was smitten with compassion at the
mans great grief and prayed so fer
vently that not only was he forgiven,
but the two innocent boys-hashed and
packed so nicely-were also restored to
life, and continued their journey to
Athens with the bishops blessing.
Not only is St. Nicolas the patron Of
school-bOys but also Of mariners, travel
ors, virgins, artisans aud tradesmen.- .--
He seems to have some such universal
sphere of activity as EIermes had among
theGrecks who was not only the interpre
ter Of the Gods--his original employ
mont, as his name implies-but also the
guardian Of sailors, Of thieves, the con.
ductor of the dead and the superintend
ent Of the Tyre which he 6lched from
Apollo Ho had as many avocations as
Prof. TIsCHENDORF has titles Of honor
1t was the custom, as has been said
for parents to give presents to thoir
children at the Saturnalia. They Otter
consisted of little waXen figures--thC
sigillaria. This custom was preserved
and St. Nicolas being the patron Of boys
the Youngsters were instructed to pray
for them to him. It was the wilder fan
CIV of the North which endowed hin
with his sleigh and reindeer horses, O'
minutely described in Mr.. Moore's po
om, "The Night Before Christmas. -
FSt. Nicolas, who fills our stockings, ha
been'empIoyed ingratifying eXpcotantiu
veniles for more than fourteen centuries
But word about another Christina
person, popularly confOunded with tn
above.
I Just heard little girl asking wha
"Krisskingle" would probably brin3
her this Christmas. "Kmhle," my dear
"say Criskinhle." But the little girl
with profound contempt for me, cOntin
ued "Krisskringle" "
So fear all the little folks will mutt
ny and attuck me if insist upon thei
saying "Criskrinkle." l will conform
to their prciudices, therefore, and say
my life, as Galileo tried to do; (but "i
q still moves" for all that) Krisskrin
gle then, my dears, with all my heart
, Still, you ouqht to say CjskMkle, sine
it is a corruption of two German word
which are Criss-Kinklein, and meo
Little Christ Child" SO, Criskinkl
is the really great gift from the univcT
sal Father to all his children, Of whic
all the presents mothers and fathers ar
J giving, and sons and daughters are re
T. ccivng, this day, are symbols. Thoug
d nolo ST. Nicolas and Criskinkle are con
founded, they were once distinct, and "
would do we'll to mark the distinotio
now,
Merry Christmas, then, to all the lii
, tie folks; Merry Christmas to all III
. bic folks; and may all remember Ill
great gift God gave us when He mad
the occasion Of all Christmas days
70 There are two I know Of whom Go
gave a little boy one Christmas morr
o ing. / wanted them to call him Thee
doro. So whenever this day comes the
think of their Christmas gift, and "thr
r a little child leadcth them" to the trr
Q Girls Kinkle, the Christ-child, tn,
makes the great gift to men. B.
asanta Claus. A contraction after a not unusual n
aogy the frt nstoad on 1si part of tine word ben
y abscinlad Tho Latin form Nlcolaus, contracted,
n aus, Claus.
according 90 Brant, of hanging ont three bags of SO
the door of their shop, tushow that ST. Nicolas
,t proved of their business. I'm time the three bags
place to the gilt balls, as matter Of convenience
-aop-
t. SMOKING CIGARs.-It is quito usu
10 in this day to see boys going to scho
It with a package of books, and smOkir
d cigars, a practice that ought to attra
p the attention Of parents and teache
s. as most injurious to the health Of Il
boys. A letter from Paris says ii
h Minister Of Public Instruction had i
j. sued a circular order, addressed to q
IS chiefs Of the national schools and lyo
10 ums throughout France, presoribir
}. very severe measures for the suppre
l. sion of the use Of tobacco among Il
rs pupils. Reports have reached the Nil