The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-12-25

give the saint a cup OF gold. Time went by, and
beautiful boy was born Immediately the father
had cup made Of pure gold. 1t was very heavy
and wrought all over with figures In fact the
cup was so elegant that when the goldsmith had
finished It the father decided to keep it for him
self, and have a silver one made for the good
saint.
When the silver cup was finished the father
took his little son, who old enough to walk.
and set out for the shrine OF St NichOlas. On
the way. feeling thirsty, he stopped near river
and giving the cup OF gold to the boy, told him TO
fetch some water. The child went TO do SO, but
STOPPING over, slipped on the bank and fell Into
the river. And he was seen no more
The father, weeping with grief and repentance,
FASTENED to the shrine and laid the silver cup
on the altar But the cup rolled to the floor. Once.
twice, thrice did the man place it the altar,
but every time it fell to the ground And while
all the people who stood by marveled to see this
wonder, suddenly the little boy himself stood on
the altar steps, holding the cup Of gold In his
hand. ST. Nicholas had saved him. Full OF joy
the father took the cup OF gold and placed it with
the silver upon the altar. Then thanking St
Nicholas, he took his and carried him safely
home.
AS the Christmas legend came down the ages
it gathered to itself the myths of ali the faiths;
and what more natural and right than that the
religion Of the brotherhood Of should contain
something OF every ideal and every form Of woz-
ship Of man. since the human race began?
And last, but somehow most conspicuous now
among all the traditions, the legend OF St Nicho-
las or Santa Claus. straight from Holiandl
Hollanders celebrate Christmas most heartily.
The Star of Bethlehem, in Holland Is
the harbinger of Christmas huge illuminated
star which is carried through the silent, dark.
Dutch streets shining upon the crowding people,
and typical of the star which once guided the wise
men Of the east.
The young men of a Dutch town carry this
star through the streets the signal that Christ
mas has come again. They gather money for the
poor from the crowds who come out TO welcome
the symbol of peace, and having done this for the
good of those whom fortune has not befriended.
they betake them to the head burgomaster of the
town, who Is bound to set down the youths who
form the star company to a very comfortable
meal IT'S a great institution, the Star OF Bethle-
hem in many Dutch towns and cities
Christmas is celebrated in Holland as a time
for sugar plurns and candles and gifts. Toward
dusk the story goes, white sheet is spread In
side the door, and the family. attired in their best
and braTest, await the saint Presently he ar
rfves clad in embroidered robes. with gems, jew
eled gloves and golden miter-and in his arms
either gifts or sweets the dreaded birch rod for
the children according TO their various deserts.
And these, with a little speech Of scolding ap-
prevail he drops upon the sheet before he vanishes
again into the night
Such is the kindly saint who came to the island
OF Manhattan with the first Dutch settlers and
still lives among changed only in name and
costume-like all the rest OF the immigrants