The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1894-03-29
WHO 81, mcsAolss WAS,


~
Dear TO the Children
ST. Nicholas was no abstraction. He
was a bishep Of Niyrh. in Asie Minor, in
the fourth century, and duf3nc HE long
and careful life devoted himself in 80 emf
nent degree TO the service of the young
that even before ho was Rnthergd to his ia
theirs his services were invoked by moth
ers In behalf Of their offspring. The
ssLives OF the Saints" arc full OF queer
tales, but few are stranger thur fhoec told
OF the bishop OF Myrh. When hcwss born,
his nurses put him IN n basin TO wash
him. but inetead Of being washed he put
them aside, stood up ia the basin, raised
his eyes and hands TO hcnyen and for tho
space OF two hours remained in au ecstasy,
gazing upward.
Some say that during the whole OF this
time he sang psalms, but Others doubt tho
psalm singing and content themselves With
stating that he pronounced gloria and
half dozen patcrs and then relapsed into
his former silence. However this may be,
there is practical agreement among tho
tradition makers as TO his reYerepce fnr
fasts OF the church, for from his birth they
all sny that on Wednesdays nnd Fridays
be refused 70 take nourishment until after
rundown, when he would suck enough to
last him till next morning, and then after
saying his praycr aloud would 90 tosleep,
As snon US he could walk about he be-
gan to interest himself IN behalf of the
young people OF his acquaintance. In Pa
tara, his native town, there was noble
man who, by the force OF circumstances,
had been reduced TO poverty SO great that,
unable TO provide his daughters with nns%
rlage portions, he was about to turn them
out OF the house TO make their living MS
best they could. Nicholas heard OF this
case, and going to the house after dark
on Christmas eve, bearing with him a
puree OF gold, he was puzzled as TO the
best method OF conveying the gift to its
recipients without beiug known. Looking
through the window, hosaw that tho old
man had taken Off his cloth stockings and
hung them up before the Dire to dry them.
I After all was quiet Nicholas assembled the
F.. chimney, an old fashioned wide affair.
and he threw the purse OF gold down with
such precision OF aim that IL fell In the
old mans stocking. On Christmas morn
1 inn the old gentleman rose, found the
money and with II provided marriage
portion for his eldest daughter. Similar
presents followed for the two younger, the
Z old man hanging mp his stocking regular
Z ~ after that, and thus originated the prSc-
\ tice of hanging UP the stocking 60 reoeive
Z the presents OF ,l. INlCuoAaH Va AhiAhhAnAA
( eve.
Before st. Nicholas had attained middle
age, however, there occurred an incident
Z IN his native town which gave him his
! distinguished accessory in art. Three boys
came from a distance Co attend tho schools
In the town, and as soon MS they arrived
went to an inn and after supper went to
bed The innkeeper, however, discovered
the fact that they had a little money with
them, and as soon as they wero asleep he
I quietly killed them all. Puzzled as to the
best disposition 70 make OF the bodies, no
I finally remembered that there were several
barrels Of pork In tho cellar to be sent
i away on the morrow, SO he removed the
meat from one, and cutting the bodies TO
pieces packed them into the barrel. Be
fore day Nicholas had vision in which
he was made aware OF what had been done.
and rising he went to the inn, taxed the
iunkeeper with the crime and went down
into tho cellar, where he called ON the muir
lered boys TO come forth. AT once the dis
united pieces OF the mangled youths reas-
bembled themselves in tho proper ccnner-
/. tion, the three boys stood mp IN the barrel
and united in q hymn Of praise to thei'
deliverer. ST. Louis Glohe-Democrat