Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1919-12-19

"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 on the eve 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 q rich merchant who was Christian.
He lived near the border Of a heather land one
day his only son was stolen by some wicked
nelghbors, who sold him to heather king The
boy was handsome, SO the king made him the
royal cup-bearer.
1t happened that the king was giving great
banquet And as the boy was presenting the cup
full of wine he suddenly remembered that 1t 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 cryT 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 hoy, sobblng "and 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
handl"
Scarcely had the king spoken these words when
n violent whrlwind tore around outside the palace,
and flash of lightning Illuminated the hall, and
loud thunder reared 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, whired him rapidly through the air.
In 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 was dead, he still cared to
help people. Once there was man who would
not become Christian. He heard how many kind
things St. Nicholas did for his followers SO he
stole an image Of the saint. He placed the
image in the best room Of his house. which was
filled with treasures. The next morning, before
no left the house. he said to the image: Guard
NV treasures! II, when return, l find anything
gone I'll beat you well !" So saying he went
away.
He hid 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 1t
back to its owner. They told him what had hap
nened and he was so astonished 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 "a vow to st
Nicholas that II son were born to him he would