The evening world., 1912-12-06
THE GOOD SAINT NICHOLAS.

kE@HRISTMAS" PRESENTS todsy-Dso s-would b tho
rule If We living In tho Middle Agss To-day u 81.
Nicholas Day. and st. Nicholas the real father Of the
rt Of joyous giving transferred to Christina Even Santa
Claus only the learned San Ncoaas from Dutch
orefathe who brought his jolly kindly and customs to
America.
No saint popular For centuries he has pro-
scor Of children, scholars merchants and sailors while travellers
he oden days used invoke him against robbers long
made him her patron saint hundred England
named for him.
His life Of the simple kindly In three
ord the record Of thousand good deeds Born during
ourth century Asia Minor he for many years worthy
blot Of monastery Having distinguished himself by his charity
nd benevoence he made Archbishop Though
martyr he suffered Imprisonment for his faith under the Emperor
Hocletan After his death his bones with all
his native town until the eleventh century, when certain pous
nechans from Italy bore them Of to Bari the Adrso ooas
where they have been revced and cherished day. where
he annual festival In honor Of st. Nicholas the towns chief
motion and pride
related that the good snts early pdsty was such that
en infant In he refused to take his natural nourshment
Wednesdays and Fdhoe being fast days appointed by the
hurch.
ST. Nicholas established himself guardian Of children and
travellers by singular service wealthy ot Asia his
ns be educated at Athens dressing them visit holy
bishop Nicholas the and receive his blessing bows
rived the town late at might put off their call the Archbishop
TIL the next morning and lodged At inn During the night the
landlord tempted by their rich garments murdered two thew
% and their bodies pieces which he sailed and throw
INTO picking tub song with pork But the good Archop
warned by vision Of what going hurried to the inn and
The confessed
M mercy Wheeupon tho saint not only promised ntercede
With heaven the wh behalf but proceeded etraghtway to the
Tub Of brine where with Of the PRAYER he made
tho chopped and mang limbs reun the two Youths amc
forth whole and sound to throw themselves their benc
factor The Archbishop gave them hin blessing and sent them low
fully on their way Athens.
The good became the beloved Of all kindly and my
FERROUS giving this wise nobean in the town Of Paaro
had three daughter but became poor not only could he give
them marriage portions but reduced turning them
INTO the street St Nicholas who had fallen large fortune
heard OF their plight and resolved the rescue As he go
erey sought the nobeman house night debating how he might
oher aid without being repusd by the pride the moon cnme
out from behind cloud and showed him window through
which he threw Of gold This feet of the unhappv
father who ahway thanked God poroncd his eldest dauo
ter second and third visit of the mysterious kind provcd
Tor the other two But the grateful father lying in wait on The
last occasion to discover his beneao caught the saint nv e
skirt and fell his feet crying 40 Methodist Servant of Cod WHY
seek to hide hysef? The saint however made him promise 10 Toll
Of the good deed
The secret have leaked out for after while It became Tho
custom for children leave their and stockings somewhere
plain sight the Eve Of st. Nicholas in the morning thew
would be found full OF good things put loving patton
In parts Of Europe children still hang their stockings on Tho
Of Dec but the saint has been very good about letting
his be changed Santa Claus and his visiting round for ~
Of the world re-scheduled for Christmas
To the incident of the saints kindness TO the thro doh
tiers the world trace curiou enough another familiar
OF less descent Owing to this hreeod muncence 81
Nicholas often represented in story and bearing three
three gold balls These three gded balls were later
ed the sign the famous Md family Florence who owed
their high position to long and prosperous trfnc
and monevlendng The Lombard merchants went TO England
in the Middle Ages and who omen
for lending money brought with them the dvceree golden
balls Even humble pawnhokes sign therefore traces its on
little wndnry perhaps back kindly deed in the life Of the
good st. Nicholas.