Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-12-30
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Legends OF the good st. Nicholas,
the patron saint of children, are
popular in many places at the time
of the New Year festival
Away back in the fourth century, 1t
is told, child, who was afterward
christened Nicholas, was born to a
wealthy couple, who had long de-
sired an heir in vain.
The child came in answer to many
prayers and as a reward for much
almsgiving 1t is said that on the
day of his birth he rose up in his bath,
and raised his clasped hands in CRATE
full alteration to God who had suffer.
ed him to be born. The story goes
that he refused to take food more
than once on Wednesdays and Fri
days, and that as soon as he was
able to speak he uttered words of wis
dom.
1t Is not to be wondered at, there
fore, that he was early dedicated for
the priesthood. His parents dying of
the plague soon after his consecra-
tion, the young priest fell heir to his
fathers vast possessions, which he re-
solved to employ for the service Of
the church and for charity.
The STORY is told of his issuing
forth from his monastery under cover
of night to render aid unseen to those
in distress. Among those who bene-
flied by his charity were the dover
less daughters of poor farmer. These
daughters were very unhappy because.
owing to their lack of money, they
Il, to tha - hai
choice. st. Nicholas came by night
TO the window of their chamber and
dropped bag of gold at the feet of
the oldest daughter. He escaped un-
discovered and returned the next
night with another bag of gold for the
second daughter. On the third night
as he was attempting to get away
after leaving bag of gold for the
third, he was discovered by the CRATE
ful father, and was forced to listen TO
his outpouring of thanks.
st. Nicholas, 1t is said, had the pow
er to still the waves. On his way to
the Holy Land terrific storm arose.
and the sailors entreated him to inter
.cede in their behalf. At a word from
the holy man, the storm subsidized
and calm once more reigned upon the
waters.
after the return of st. Nicholas TO
his native land, the bishop Of Myra
suddenly died. and the elders, meeting
TO appoint a successor, were sorely
'perplexed as to whom they should
choose. 1t was miraculously revealed
20 them that the first man to enter
the church the next morning would
be the one chosen, so they all repair
ed to the church long before the sun
was up. st. Nicholas, returning from
his charitable labors of the night, en-
tered the church to pray. as he
thought, alone. and was at once hail
ed as bishop.
Shortly after this, u heavy famine
fell upon the land. and in order to
prevent the people from starving to
anybody, performed a miracle upon
ship which lay in the harbor, where
by he caused the cargo to remain un-
diminished notwithstanding that 100
hogsheads of wheat were taken from
fl.
The famine nevertheless grew
worse and worse, until it was report
ed that some people were SO wicked
as to eat little children. st. Nicho-
las went to visit one of the men who
were so accused in order to find out
II this thing were really true. When
dinner was served, the main dish was
the meat of a child. st. Nicholas at
once arose from the table, demanding
OF his host how he dared do such
thing. Going down cellar he found
the bodies of many little children,
which had been preserved in salt, and
taking pity upon them, St. Nicholas
restored them to life and to their sor-
rowing parents.