Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-12-29
THE LEGEND OF ST. NICHOLAS,

THE LEGEND OF ST. NICHOLAS.
81. Nicholas was born in the province OF
Lycia in Asin Minor His parents were OF
preat wealth, and noble They had been
many wears married without the blessing OF
"A child. and the birth OF Nicholas was hailed
with many prayers and exceeding great joy.
Ills life began with the same sanity deyo-
lion which marked its continuance and its
end, as is shown by the remarkable fact that
ON the day of his birth he stood up in his
bath, and clasped his hands in prayer Of
gratitude to the God who had given him eN-
islencc. During his youth hewas distinguish
ed hy pious gravity of demeanor and preco-
cious reluctance to partake in the sports Of
his more earthly companions. His parents
very conveniently died of the plague, so that
their vast possessions became his own.-
Thcreupon Nicholas gave himself to works
ol charity Many wonderful acts are re-
corded of him Among the most famous
was the story of the three bags of gold. For
you must know that there was a certain no
hleman who had great riches and three
daughters But the riches took to themselves
wings, and the daughters took to tears. Nor
had the noblcman anything whcrewithal he
might feed and clothc the maidens. Now
while he sat day by day within his house
overwhelmed with grief, and perpleXed with
many doubts and plans for sustenance which
hr told not to the maidcns and while the
maidcns wept and mourned exceedingly, ST.
Nicholas heard thereof and his heart melted
within him. So, upon a certain night while
the maidcns lay sleeping, and the nobleman
kept watch and sighed in his porch, he stole
unto the porch and bethought himself in
what manner he should best dispense his
charity and remain unknown. And while
Nc was doubling within himself in great
pcrplcxiiy the moon (by a miracle, of course)
'honc suddenly from the clouds and pointed
nut 10 him the windOw-of which st. .NiCho-
las had not been bright enough to think
Then did he joyfuiy give thanks and let
all his bag of gold through the window and
went away With the bag of gold, the
mourning father married his first daughter,
Nicholas i'll like manner leave second bag
q gold and depart unknown, and thus was
the second daughter married, and the heart
of the father made joyful Now when
Nicholas went the third night the nobleman
Kept watch for his bcneiactor, and sprang
upon him, and caught him by the robe, and
cried, "Ah, st. Nicholas! the God of the poor
he with thee"
80 Nicholas bade him hold his peace in
'he city, and went his way.
Now st. Nicholas travelled much in his
own land, working many miracles because
"l his superior devotion. And the most
wonderful of the miracles was on this wise
In the course of his iourneyings to and
no. he stopped at an inn where the host be
ing corrupt man and brutal, and being
short of meat, was in the habit of stealing
'hildren and dismembering them for his
lneassees. Now when he set his dishes before
Nicholas the saint was enabled at once to be
aware OF their contents, and he cried out
with a voice OF thunder and commanded the
most TO repent of his sin. Then he went IN
70 the tub where the three unfortunate chill.
afen' who had been destroyed for that DAYS
piil oi iare, lay salted down, and prayed
over them, and they rose up in the tub alive
ana whole The bysanders being somewhat
astonished, the fame of this miracle spread
far and near
Nicholas lived to good old age, and grew
IN mety year by year Kings obeyed his in
spired commands, emperors trembled at his
frown. '''''' w. '''s
lie died death of triumph, was horne IN
Heaven by angels, and burici on earth with
gre@. pomp. A stately church was aner.
wards erected on the spot.
me ancient representations .f ST Nicholas
arc very curious. The charityto the noble.
nun Is a iavorito theme, and delights in n
somewhat ., remarkably constructed house,
%i'h one little square window ike the win.
wv" VI u prison. which, as neary as the in
Hu''hg mind can calculate, mut he some
1"''e IN The second story-a wide omen
una the disconsolate iatbe with IiCo
W., 5 "o"us' which appear to be it'd together
nl r,'" a piece of twine, sitting in ne porch
rnan ''' uaughters are asleep inan inner
room on three little round pillows N in ono
~ a marvellously long ST. Nichoas with
,a',N arms and diminutye head, st,nds ON
. "p.o' and pushes his bag of gold tito the
''cond.story window To the ouor, v,h,,
i ,Ie a'iie'ed father neither sees nor hears
moi, '''poi'' uepoheht saith
,,;iH.f ;nihotnef Is the resurrection of the throo
wer,ien ufen CWho, by the way belonged to a. a
nor %rJplng ~ widow, and were given fTon - the q
Ni,HI,'iIlcl NicI,,1Ilcl back to her joyful embrac, ! 81
,mh"lhs' who towers several feet oho,13 ~ ~.
roof has discovered the tnb Of se,,nd ta1
craa ", IN ne back yard, and three htte %,, NM
blv uiill1ren are dancing about in il forri.
of IieHninnding the unsophisticated oSsortor ..r
" we three maids in a tub1 Of clossin W. WI
,ver ywn; Il, ~ Nicholas is praying maenif"entiy
,he 1n mem Tho unfortunate host is s,o,, 4
o1 @v NORWAY shouldering weanon nix. a,Iiat ~
",sT some investigation, Won copci,,do Hti,ch -, Ill.,
in,oad5 i%,sale5 harpoon. For what nnrnoss i, IL IL
"vrr ueu @ Is not so clear You. feel now
hr,,9ui hvn, quite sure that the saint wonid TT" npo,.
hn hsei out of any tub into which be ri,nsy R,rIy
bp,lIssonally and individually salted If NJ
fn,aI f,a,ehlan with the harpoon IL on eyilthn W., %
Boston Trauaeriof g"