The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-01-03
The Legend of st. Nicholas.

ST. NICHOLAS was born in the province of
Lycia In Asia Minor. His parents were of
I'D great wealth, and noble. They had been many
years married without the blessing of child
and the birth of Nicholas was hailed with
many prayers and exceeding great Joy. His
hfe began with the sa ne sanity devotion which
ola marked its continuance and end, as is shown
by the remarkable fact that on the day OF his
birth ne stood up in his bath, and clasped his
haadS in prayer of gratitude to the God who
hal given MIN existence. During his youth
he was distinguished by pious gravity of de-
mea1or AMI precociou3 reluctance to partake
In the Sports OF his more earthly companions.
HiI parents conveniently died of the plague,
SO that their vast possessions became his own.
There upon Nicholas gave himself to deeds of
charity. Many wonderful acts are recorded
or him. Among the most famous was the
story of the three bags of gold. For you must
vt know tnat there was certain nobeman who
hal great riches and three daughters. But the
rlcle' took to them selves wings, and the daugh-
tefS to tears. Nor had the nobieman anything
wlefewitnal he might teed and clGthe the
m .iden,. Now while he sat day by day in his
hol,e overwhemed with grief, and perplexed
wi5l mlly dolot, and plans for sustenance
wli"h he told not to the maidens; and while
the maidens wept and mourned exceedingly,
st. Nicholas heard thereof and his heart melt
ed within him. So, upon certain night while
the maidens lay sleeping, and the nObleman
kept watch and sighed in his porch, he stole
INTO the house and bethought hmselfin what
manner he should best dispose his charity and
a-t remain uknown And while he was donhtinp
within himself in great perplexity the moon
10y miracle, of Counsel shone suddeniy from
tine clouds and pointed out to him the window
-of which st. Nicholas had not been bright
t5s enough to think. Then did he joytuly give
tnalkj and let fall his bag OF gold through the
wiadow and went away. with the bao of gold
the m ourniny father married his first daugh-
tei, and te.t reiev I'd exceedingly. Then did
Nicholas in like manner leave second bag of
god aad depart unknown and thus was the
e., second daughter married, and the heart
OF the father made joyful. Now when
Nlchoa3 went the third night the nobleman
kept watch for his benefactor, and sprang up-
on him, and caught him by the robe and cried
Gan, st. Nicholas tine God of the poor be with
theeP
st. Nicholas babe him hold his peace in the
city, and went his way. co..
Now st. Nicholas travelled much in his own
- land, working MANY miracles because of his
superior devotion. = And the most wonderful
OF tue miracles was on this wise:-
In the course of his journeyings to and fro.
-}as, he stopped at an inn where the host, beine
corrupt man and brutal and being short, of
meat, he was in the habit of stealing children
and disnsmbering them for his fricassees.-
Now wnen ne set mis- dish before Nicholas the
Saint was enabled at once to be- aware of tb .e1
contents, and he cried out with voice Of
thunder and commanded the host to renent of
his sins Then he went unto the tub where
the three unfortunate children, who had been
destroyed for that days bill of fare Law sailed
down, and prayed over them and they arose
81 up ia the tub alive and whole. The bystand.
81. er5 being somewhat a,tonishcd, the fame of the
E miracle spreaI far and near. 1Ii7-- =
Nicnoas lived to good old age. and grew
in piety year by year. Kings obeyed his in
spired commands, emperor trembied at his
fown, I-a 100 =
H, died death of triumnh. was horne to
Heaven by angels and burial on earth with
great pomp. A stately church was Afterwards
erected on the SPOT. "''N 40
Tie ancient representations of St. Nicholas
are yerv curious, The charity 70 ths ,,oha
man was a fayorite theme. and del;obts in !.
H- - " ,"'oAiSo DiiSu'o, anu uoiiShts III