The herald., 1893-12-25

No Wns btbnop Vt tuo Long A4osb City ok
1ryra In Asia Minor When the Roman
Caesars Ruled-Orlgin of the Legend OF
Midnight Visits on Christmas Eve.
What
Horns of elfland family blowing
aoes that name awakenl
What fragrant memories of the halcyon
days Of childhood fit through the mind
with the yuletides of the long agol
According to the strict canon of the saint,
he should pay two visits during the festal
week-nrst on Christmas eve, us O CON
gratulatory salutation Of the blissful day,
then again Oh New Years eve, as parting
bencdiction to the feast.
What hours of hilarious revelry have been
passed by happy children during this mem
orable week between realizing the gifts
which the generous saint has already bs-
slowed and anticipating those he Is sure to
bring on New Years evei
The faith Of the Christian may sometimes
grow feint and wever, but the trust of that
child over whom Santa Clans has cnce
waved his double wand is as the faith that
removes mountains.
Like mist on the mountains like ships on tho
sea, &.
So quickly the years of our childhood iee.
"Terque quaterque beatel'' (thrice four
times blessed) cried Eneas Of the heroes
who fell In defense Of Troy. So of those on
whose memories are deeply imprinted joy
GUS recollections of Santa Claus.
1t may be of interest to give brief bio
graphical sketch of this venerable saint
who has invaded all hearts and haunted
every imagination.
St. Nicholas, popularly called Santa
Claus, was bishop of Myra in Asia Minor
in an early age of the church, when that
now long lost city was under the empire
of the Roman Cesars.
1t is said that on one Christmas eve as he
wandered through the city at the midnight
hour, seeking like his divine Master, those
whom he could help, he witnessed an ex-
traordinary scene. As he passed the dwell
ing of a distinguished nobleman who had
been reduced to beggary he overheard a
startling conversation. The nobleman was
endeavoring to make to his two little Or
phaned daughters as tenderly as he could
a terrible communication. He was explain
ing to them that In their total destitution
and his own utter helplessness to relieve
them there was nothing left for them but a
life OF shame. The good bishop, horror
stricken at what he had overheard hasten
ed home and filed purse with gold.
Anxiously careful not to wound the sus-
capabilities of the family, he returned to the
noblemaH's home as secretly as possible
Carefully watching his opportunity when
all were retired to rest and everything
quiet, he silently opened the window. threw
the purse on the floor and fed.
He is said to have continued this friendly
exercise as opportunity effered until he had
accumulated there q sufficient quantity Of
gold for the permanent maintenance of the
children. AS his secret b1nefactions be-
came widespread, the real benefactor of the
orphans became known, with the attending
circumstances Hence the legend Of his
midnight visits on Christmas eve.
In the course Of years the beloved bishop
of Myra passed away from earth and be-
came st. Nicholas in heaven.
With his canonization the fame of his no.
BILE deeds few trumpet tongued over the
world.
For those who had loved their benefactor
and to the children ofthc church everywhere
in sympathy with them it was easy to be-
lieve that tho great heart which had throb-
bed while on earth with such tender solici-
tude for the little ones must now In the
courts of heaven beat responsive to every
chiid's prayer.
The divine promise. "What things So
ever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye
receive them, and ye shall have them, was
everywhere verified until the empire Of the
saint over the hearts and minds Of the chill
dren was more absolute than Cesar's
However much the Pphular faith in mod
ern theology may le shaken I'D, the
realm Of good Sd Niehoiss will not be
the least disturbed ,by kbeir,uiidest COM
motions, so long a. th& sabsd saint himself
continues to make gift laden visits to the
homes of childkbod. Enthroned TN the
hearts of successive ge1ezationa Of chill
dren, this deathless in6naroh has hourished
In perennial yiGdr. while the mighty en-
pire of the C@sefs has passed away like
the baseless fahric Of q dream" He has
preserved his beautiful sway and extended
his empire over !.
Regions Ocsar never knew, s.''s-ssSS
Where his easiss mover dew.
while the war god with the iron hand of
battle has smitten to the dust the haught-
lest potentates and overturned the HOTTEST
states.
After the memory Of the brightest saint
in the calendar may perhaps have faded
away and become mare tradition Of the
past, the beloved St. NichoIas, wreathed in
garlands of childs love, bids fair TO con-
tinue to reign In undim med splender until
the advent Of that other Christmas morn
ing when he will hail the return of the
Christ child as the king in his glory.
cago Inter Ocean.
Christmas ON q Monday.
In the Harleian manQscripts prophecy