Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-31
THELEGEND OF ST. NICHOLAS
A STORY ron OUR LITTLE FRIENDS

A STORY FOR OUR LITTLE FRIENDS.
Now that the holidays are over ana our
little friends. the children, far and near,
nave been the recipients Of SO many iaSors
from that ever good but mysterious person
age. ST. NICHOLAS, they viii be anxlousiy
enquiring Of fathers and mothers as to VINO
he is and what is his history. For their IN
formation. therefore, we make this brief
epitome of the facts, trusting that the life OF
innocence and purity ascribed to this myth
ical parsonage viii 50 rest upon their minds
and hearts that they will commence early
to initiate his example in deeds OF love
and charity, remembering that an iiiimita-
Bile field for the exercise Of such virtues IS
ever before them.
ST.. NICHOLAS was born in the province Of
Lycia in Asia Minor. His parents were OF
great 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.
His life began with the same sanity devo-
ton which marked its continuance and Its
end. a. 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
existence. During his youth he was distin-
guished by pious gravity of demeanor and
precOcious reluctance 10 partake in the sports
Of his more earthly companions. His par
ents very conveniently died Of the plague,
so that their vast possessions became his
own. Thereupon,.N Nicholas gave himself to
works of charity. Many wonderful acts are
recorded CT him. Among the most famous
was the story of the three bags of gold. For
you must know that there was a certain no
bleman who had great riches and three
daughters. But the riches took to themselves
wings. and the daughters took TO tears. Nor
had the nobleman anything wherewithal he
might feed and clothe thesmaidens. Now
while he sat day by day within his house
overwhelmed with grief and perplexed with
many doubts and plans for sustenance which
he told not 10 tie maidens: and while the
maidens wept and mourned exceedingly, St.
Nicholas heard thereof and his heart melted
within him. So, upon certain night while
the maidens lay sleeping, and the noble
man kept watch and sighed in his
porch. he stole unto the house and bethought
himself in what manner he should best dis
pense his charityXs and lremain unknown.
And while he was doubling within himself
in great perplexity the moon (by miracle,
of course) shown suddenly from the clouds
and pointed out 10 him the window-of
which st. Nicholas had not been bright
enough to think. Then did he joyfully give
thanks and let fall his bag of gold through
the window and went away. With the bag
Of gold, the mourning father married his
first daughter, and felt relieved exceedingly.
Then did Nicholas in like manner leave
second bag of gold aud 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 benefactor,
and sprang upon him, and caught him by
the robe, and cried, "Ah, St. Nicholas the
God Of the poor be with thee y
SO Nicholas babe him hold his peace in
the city, and went his way.
Now st. Nicholas travelled much in his
own land, working many miracles because
Of his superior devotion. And the most
wonderful Of the miracles was on this
wise:-
In the course of his journeyings to and
fro, 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
children and Remembering them for his
fricassees Now when he set his dishes be-
fore Nicholas the saint was enabled at once
to be aware Of their contents, and he cried
out with voice Of thunder and commanded
the host to repent of his sin. Then he went
unto the tub where the three unfortunate
children, who had been destroyed for that
days bill OF fare, lay sailed down, and
prayed over them, and they rose up in the
tub alive and whole. The bystanders being
somewhat astonished, the fame Of this mira
Gle spread far and near.
Nicholas lived to good old age, and grew
in piety year by year. Kings obeyed his in
spired commands, emperors trembled at his
frown.
He died death of triumph, was borne to
Heaven by angels, and buried on earth with
great pomp. Astately church was afterwards
erected on the spot.