The Portland daily press., 1869-12-25
Sanln Clans.

In the old city OF Ghent, in Flanders, over
the porch of one of its oldest churches, is a
representation in stone, of an ancient Bishop,
as large as life, wearing his robes and mitre,
and holding in his hand his pastoral staff, with
which he appears to be stirring up three very
small children seated in tub at his feet 1t
is st. Nicholas, the time-honored friend of
children and the original of our own Santa
Claus" though how our Dutch cousins man
aged to metamorphose him into the fat, round,
chimney-sprite of & The Night before Christ
mas',' is more than we can explain. Certainly
all dignity and gravity mark the figure and
countenance of the Saint in his representa-
ton, and in the large painting of the same
subject within the church, these characters
tics are still more observable. From the Iic-
ture, too, we learn that st. Nicholas is wash
ing the children, not stirring them up, and
that he uses his pastoral staff in doing this,
may mean, that while he cared for the bodies
of poor, neglected little ones, he was also care
full to lead their souls to be cleansed by Jesus
Christ, the good Shepherd who commanded
to :" Feed my lambs" for st. Nicholas or San
| ia Claus, as we have grown to call him, was
| true Bishop and coniessor of the ancient
| Church.
The honor paid to him, as the patron OF
| children, was common TO many of the nations
of Europe. In England there are found
traces of the observance of this day as late as
the sixteenth century. In one of the beauti-
full aisles oil Salisbury Cathedral, there is an
old, flat stone monument, bearing on it, in
low relief, the recumbent figure Of boy,
dressed as bishop, with robes, mitre, and
staff complete. We asked what it meant
and learned that the boy was a st. Nicholas
Bishop, who died during his episcopacy. In
quiring further, we were told that it was once
a custom in this Cathedral for the chorister
boys, on st. Nicholas day, to elect one Of
their number as a kind Of Bishop over them.
We need not suppose that this boy was al
lowed to take upon himself anything like the
office of a real Bishop. 1t was probably only
because they were cathedral boys that they
gave their leader this title; but it is curious
| fact that this boy Bishop, during the time OF
| bis rule, that is from December 6th, 81 MICH
| GLASS day, to the festival OF the noiy tnno-
| cents, was allowed to wear immature Blsn-
| ops dress, and thus equpPea' 10 leau an tne
| other cboristers in procession around the
| Cathedral to receive the offerings OF the peo-
| pie.
| This is but one of the many curious Gus
| toms to which, handed down from age to age
| the love of st. Nicholas for children has given
rise. He lived too long ago for us to know
many particulars of his history, but of this
beautiful feature in his character, there can
be no doubt. His name is too constantly
| connected with deeds of goodness to
his distinguishing care for them, and perhaps
| it may be matter OF something more than
amusement, that children should have Just
| idea of one so interested for their race.
Christian boy or girl, on who have out
| grown the pleasant fable of Santa Claus and
his invisible team, will you not think little
about the true st. Nicholas, and do what you
can to be like him? 1t is our duty, you know,
to follow the good examples OF the saints
You have been used to call the parent OF
friend Santa Claus" who deposits the expect
ed gift in your stocking; well, then, be your,
self ST. Nicholas, and carry some good
Christmas Gift to one and another OF those
poor little ones. who often have no stockings
fo banS mn. Just try it for once. Spend
uo,r C5ristmas pocket-money this year upon
ibe fT" moor toyless and ioyless child, whom
Walk of five minutes will at any time find tor
Won. and see whether, in the happiness you
live, there does not spring up in your heart a
Sladness such as no present to yourself ever
afforded. at is more blessed to give than to
receive" said our Lord.-The Lifting Church.
.By throwing the accent strongly on the last syla-
ble and proueuncing the broad tdtol, we see now
the name is corrupted into the present vulgarism