The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1902-12-25

may be found in every church calen-
dar as the Bishop, the Saint of Lycia
lit so happened, | say, that Nicholas
was passing by, and he heard their
supplications and prayerful lamenta-
tons, SO he resolved to be the In
etrument of their salvation.
A few nights afterward, the father
vas aroused by a heavy object falling
upon the floor of his chamber, cast
through an open window He arose
and found a packet upon which was
inscribed: For Margarita, the
Pearl; to him whom her heart shall
celect in lawful wedlock." Opening
il he found. in gold, the dowry re-
CURED by the law and custom.
Truly they we're happy. None but
an angel could have done this thing,
and deep in the hearts OF Roxana and
Claudia there was a trustful faith
that they. also. would be saved in like
manner And so 1t happened. for
after Margarita was lawfully and
happily espoused, and the second
month had almost halved, the father
was again awakened at night by the
ldlllUB VI SOnC hCaFJ ODJCCt uPOu Ills
chamber floor. This time the packet
bore the words: Let the lovely Rox-
ana find in her lawful spouse a new
Dawn of Day" 1t was mysterious to
tie Lord of Lucan, though he suspect
ed human Intervention; perhaps the
ning had relented; but to the daugh-
ters it was an angelic interposition.
Then began the third month, the
period OF probation for Claudia, the
Lame. This time, the Lord of Lucan
kept a close watch from dusk to dawn
and was rewarded one midnight in
the second week, by the stealthy
approach of a man. He caught him
in his arms while in the act of cast.
ing a third packet through his
chamber window, for Claudia. the
Lame.
Quickly tearing off a Disgusting
hood, there stood Nicholas, smiling.
Down upon his knees fell the Lord
of Lucan, pressing the Bishops hand
with love and veneration, his words
choked back by his emotions.
my son." said Nicholas, guard
my secret as thou wouldst thy life.
The money was for pious uses, and
lave saved thy daughters from worse
than death. Was it not well be-
slowed? But when death shall have
sealed mine eyelids, then thou mayst.
If thou shalt so incline, make known
the deed, that others may profit by
the example,"
At last he died, and over his bier.
and to the assembled mobiles, with the
King at their head, the lord of Lucan
told the story of his daughters dow
lies. The effect was immediate; the
vicious law and custom was repealed.
so that virtuous maids without the
requirements of a dowry could find
happiness in lawful wedlock.
The deed of the good Saint Nicho-
las, or Santa Claus, as he became IA
miliarly known, survived him, and
ever after gifts have been passed in
secret between tender, loving and
friendly hearts, and the day selected
sor that purpose was fixed on that
period of all others the most meet.
the day when the world rejoices that
the Savior was born; the day when
the bells ring our GLORY to God In the
highest, and on earth peace to men
of good will" 1t was and is the love
ly Christmas day, when little ones ex,
pect gifts, and when their elders find
emblems of love and friendship mys-
teriously conveyed to them.
All this, remember, is in commera'
ton of what St Nicholas, or the orig.
inal Santa Claus. gave secretly to save
the honor and virtue of Margarita the
Pearl, Roxana, the Dawn of Day and
OF Claudia, the little lame girl. GEN.
turtles ago-on the Booth Christmas.