Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-12-22
~, Nicholas.

N, Nicholas.
Ut. Nicholas, as all the wo...s Knows
is the patron Of childrsn, with WHOM, b,
is the most popular Aaint in ,hc calendar
bishop OF Myra, In Lycia, In the time o
Constantine the Great, II We are TO creili
the Roman breviary, supplied three des
titute msidens with dowries by secretly
leaving a marriage portion for each a,
their window. Hence the popular hc
ton that he Ia purveyor Of presents u
chittinn Oh Christmas Eve. He usual,
makes his appearance NJ mn old man with
n venerable beard, and dressed IA q
bishop. either riding white horse or an
ass, and carrying large basket on HE
arm, and bundle OF rods In his hand.
In some parts Of Bohemia he appears
dressed up in sheet instead Of q sur.
plice, with crushed pillow ON his head
instead Of mitre. On his calling ont
"Wilt thou pray?" all the children fall
upon their knees, whereupon he let's fall
some fruit upon the floor and disap.
pears. In this manner he goes from
house to house, sometimes ringing bell
to announce his arrival, visits the nurse.
ries, inquiries into the conduct Of the
children, praises or admonishes them, ms
the case may be, distributing sweetmeats
or rods accordingly.
st. Nicholas ia the Santa Claus of Hol-
land, and the Smiklaus of Switzerland,
and the Sonnoe Klas of Heligoland. In
the Vorarlberg he is known as Fem.
miklas, who threatens to put naughty
children into his hay.sack in Neither
Austria as Niklo, or Niglo, who il fol-
lowed by masked servant called Kram.
pus while in the Tyrol he goes by the
name Of the "Holy Man," and shares
the patronage OF his Office with st.
Luco, who distributes gifts a nong the
girls, as he among the boys. Some.
times he is accompanied by the Christ
child.
In many parts of Switzerland, Ger.
many and the Netherlands, st. Nicholas
still distributes his presents ON st.
Nicholas eve-the 9th of December
instead of on Christmas Eve. In the
Netherlands and adjoining provinces he
is especially popular, and is perhaps the
only saint who has maintained his full
credit, even among the Professionals. For
days previous to his expected advent
busy housewives have been secretly con-
spring with the bakers in gliding nuts,
cakes and gingerbread, and torturing
pastry, prepared with -four. sugar,
honey, spices and sweetmeats into the
most fantastical forms, from which the
good saint may from time to time re-
plenish his supplies. As to the children,
st. Nicholas, or Sunder Klass is the bur.
den of their prayers, the staple of their
dreams and the inspiration OF their
songs. As they importune him to let
fall from the chimney top some pretty
gift into their little aprons, they go on
singing with childish fervor,
"Sunder Klass du code Bloot
Breng mi Moot un Zukerbrod,
NIGHT to veel un Mich to MUM
Smiet in mine Scllorten in"
In Belgium, on the eve of the good
bishops serial voyage in his pastoral
visitation Of his bishoprics of chimney
ops, the children polish their shoes,
md after filling them with hay, oats or
,arrots for the saints white horse, they
put them OH table or set them in the
fireplace. The room is then carefully
,losed and the door locked. Next morn
ng it is opened in the presence of the
assembled household, when. niribile
lictu! the furniture is found to be
burned topsy-turvy, while the little
,hoes, instead of the horses forage, are
HE'D with sweetmeats and toys for the
,ood children, and with rods for the bad
mes. In some places, wooden or China
hoes. stockings, baskets, cups and
aucers, and even bundles Of hay are
laced in the chimney or by the side of
he bed, or in a corner of the room, as
ne favorite receptacle of st. Nicholas
resents.