The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-12-21

by ST. Nicholas when they had any
swearing to do. They blessed him
when they were happy, thanked him
when they were favored, committed
their voyaging and absent friends to
his guiding and protecting care, went
to the field of war singing his great
song and fought their conflicts shout
ing, "St. Nicholas and the Manhat-
toes" as their battle cry.
Interesting as the history of the
grave bishop of Myra may prove
and interviewer as his memory
must ever be with the tradi-
tons of the city of which he afterward
became the tutelary saint, it is not
of either of these manifestations that
the children like best to think. 1t is
as master of the ceremonies of Christ
mastide that he appears enveloped IN
the most fascinating glamor.
Bayard Taylor tells us that on one
occasion, when he was in Germany,
about December 1, fair was held in
the town he was visiting, at which fair
many toys were exhibited, and st.
Nicholas, in counterfeit presentment,
was everywhere to be seen. On many
of the little booths were also bundles
of rods with gilded bands" designed
for the punishment of naughty chill
dren. On st. Nicholas Eve, December
5, the family with which he was stay
ing was visited by a gentleman wear
ing mask, fur robe, and long, Ia
pering cap," and carrying a sack, a
bunch of rods and broom" He
threw the contents of the sack upon
the table, and, while the recipients
were devouring the nuts and candies,
gave them many sharp raps over the
fingers" He remarks further that
some of the children had been taught
to say, 81 thank you, Herr Nicholas
In Germany, in days gone by, all
presents were put in charge Of Herr
Nicholas, called, in Northern Germany,
Knecht Rupert, who talked with each
child about his conduct for the past
year. If he had been naughty, he left
rod, recommending to the parents
it's frequent use. AS the custom is still
followed in some of. the German vii
lagos, we rejoice to know that the
might before Christmas" beautiful
the faults of the culprit So every
thing ends happily after all.
In America, the descendants of the
old German and Dutch settlers have
some underlined notions of the Pels-
nichol floating through their brains.
In the old days, they are told, Pels-
nichol (Nicholas of the furs), dressed
in a buffalo robe, and with horns and
tail, would pass from house to house,
talked gruffly to the children, who
would flee for refuge to their mother
and cluster round her Skirts
In some such families the children
still hang up their stockings in the be-
lief that they will be filled with rods
by Pels-nichol, the furnishing spirit, or
with goodies by Kriss-Kringle Christ
kindlen) the Christ-child.
1t is, then, a two-fold role that our
hero has been called upon to fill at
Christmas-that of Pels-nichol, the
avenger, and that of st. Nicholas, the
beneficent giver The former phase Of
his Office, now fast passing into OBJ
security, was but a subordinate one,
even in the days gone by. 1t but gave
a little variety and added zest to the
Christmas merriment Christmas then,
as now, was, above all, joyous sea-
son. Then, as now, it was in the rein
deer steeds that the children delighted,
and their
Little old driver, so lively and quick,
1 knew in moment it must be st.
Nick
Gle was chubby and plump; right
jolly old elf;
And l laughed when I saw him in
spite of myself"
In the days of Peter Stuyyesant-
most obstinate and best beloved of the
Dutch governors-all the holidays, in
Guiding ST. Nicholas Eve, were cele-
hro+od with pCnnciaI U1nn while par1v