The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-01-19
The Legend or santa Claus.

The Legend of Santa Claus.
This popular name Of the Saint Who pre-
sides over Christmas and the toy gifts o
that welcome season. is derived from Saint
Nicholas. The legend Of bis first appear
ance is an Italian one. According to this
shoemaker. lpamed Giraldi, who lived IA
Ferrari. was 80 measerably poor, that his
labor from day to day barely kept his family
from starvation, and he was unable even tc
give even small dowry to his pretty daugh.
tsss. i was not thought proper to marry
vithert 2 doyry, and thus the young girls,
though each had IN admirer, were compel.
I'd to REMAIN single. Their father. however,
went every morning to the shrine to pray to
bis patron nirt. saint Nicholss, that he
would work miracle to relieve him from
his distress.
One Of his nearest neighbor's rich per-
chant. Who chanced one day to hear his sim
pie petition, ridicu!ed the idea Of his expec-
ting the saint to take care Of his daughters.
and recommended him to choose patron
saint who would be able to do something
for him. ".Aine," be said, sis the Jew
Buonajute; he lends me money st two per
cent Wonth; aod ifyou know how to
manage vou may make four with il. He is
not % draft as Saint Nicholas"
The poor NAN was shocked at this impi-
Gus speech, and assured the merchant that
his reli sious faith could never be- shaken
He went every day to the church notwith.
standing the others mockery.
II was now Christmas day, when the
merchant and the Jew settled up their year.
ly accounts; Bnaniuto found he owed lis
friend three hundred ducats and wishing to
give him an agreeable surprise he ordered
ono ofthe ducks he had carefully fattened,
to be killed and roasted, and then with his
own hand introduced the three hundred
gold pieces into the inside. and sewed them
up. He then sen the duck to the merchant
- Christmas present.
The merchants wife. who shared the com.
toon prejudice 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 neigh.
Dor, as usual, bantered him on his devotion,
showed him the Christmas gift his patron
Saint had sent him, and taunted him with
stelidity Of Saint Nicholas, who could not
even send him . piece of bread Finally he
offered to sell the duck for dollar. and to
wait for payment, IS he knew Giraldi to be
strictly honest. The shoemaker carried the
duck home, and xI.en he carved it for hs
Christmas dimes. and the three hundred
ducats fell out. his fi,st exclamation was
'.Praise Saint Nicholas"
When he recovered from his surprise, he
would have taken the money back, bat his
wife persuaded him that, as he bought the
duck, il was riRhtiully h,s own. He there.
fore divided the sum between the suitors Of
his two eldest daughters.
The merchant, after some days. discover
ed his loss Of the three hundred ducats, and
went to the shoemaker to demand the mon
ey, which was refused. The cause came
before the magistrate who was pious man,
and heard with indignation how cruelty the
poor pasn bad been ridicu!ed about his re-
ligion. His sentence vas that Gir.ldi should
keep the money. and that the merchant and
the Jew should besides pay fine, for their
Hasprioqs dealings, Of one hundred and fifty
ducats to be given as dowry for the shoe !
maker 9 youngest daughter.
The meaning Of his'lesend is, that BEN
eficent Providence watches over and takes
care Of the poor who are honest, religious
and truthful. The tradition runs that since
that tune St. Nicholas pays visit. every
Christmas mig {, to all whom he thinks
worthy Of his favors. He is known alto
gether BY the namc--Santa Claus.