Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1919-12-18

"a legend of his surreptitious bestowal of dow
rles upon the three daughters of an Impoverished
citizen is said to have originated the old custom
OF giving presents in secret the of st. Mich
olas, subsequently transferred to Christmas day.
Hence the association Of Christmas with Santa
Claus, and American corruption of the Dutch
FORM San Nicolaas,' the custom being brought
to America by the early Dutch colonists"
Many wonder tales are told of st. Nicholas.
Here are three famous adventures of the saint:
Rescue of the Stolen Boy
There was rich merchant who was Christian.
He lived near the border of heather land One
day his only son stolen by some wicked
neighbors, who sold him to heather king The
boy was handsome, the king made him the
royal cup-bearer.
1t happened that the king giving great
banquet. And as the boy was presenting the cup
full of wine he suddenly remembered that it was
the Feast of st. Nicholas, and that his family
father, mother, and ssters-were happily cele-
brating the day. Thinking about this, the boy
burst into tears.
"Why do you cry? asked the king angrily
do you not see that your tears are falling into
my cup and spelling my wne?"
"This is the Feast of st. Nicholas" answered
the boy sobbing, land every one at home is eat
ing and is merry! And, alas ! am not there|
"Great may be your st. Nicholas" replied the
king scornfully, "but he cannot save you from my
hand!"
Scarcely had the king spoken these words when
violent whirlwind tore around outside the palace,
and flash of lightning illuminated the, hall, and
loud thunder roared. And, 10! st. Nicholas him
SELF dressed in his bishops robes and wearing his
mitre, stood before the throne. He caught the boy
by the locks, and flying with him through the dome
of the hall, whirled him rapidly through the air.
In a few minutes he set him down in the midst of
his astonished family who were keeping the feast
of the good ST. Nicholas.
The Terrified Robbers
After ST. Nicholas dead, he still cared to
help people. Once there who would
not become a Christian. He heard how many kind
things st. Nicholas did for his followers so he
stole image of the saint. He placed the
image in the best room of his house, which was
filed with treasures. The next morning before
he left the house, he said to the image: "Guard
my treasures! If, when / return l find anything
gone I'll beat you well !" So saying he went
away.
He had not been gone long when robbers broke
into the house and stole all the treasures and
carried them off to their den The man came
back and saw what had happened. He was filled
with fury. He took whip and beat and hacked
the image without mercy.
That very night st. Nicholas himself appeared
to the robbers. He showed them his bruised and
bleeding form. and commanded them to restore
the treasure they had stolen They were terrified
and gathering together all the stuff, carried it
back to it's owner. They told him what had hap
pened, and he was astonshed that he immedi-
ately became Christian.
The Boy and the Cup
Once there was rich man who had no son to
be heir to his wealth He made vow to St
Nicholas that If son were born to him he would