The Tomahawk., 1919-12-25

give the saint Guy Of gold. Time went ~, and
beautiful boy was burn. Immediately tho father
had cup made of pure gold. 1t was very hSavy
and wrought all over with figures. In fact the
cup was so elegant thar when the goldsmith had
finished it the father decided to keep 1t for hlln
self, and have silver one made Tor the goou
saint.
When the silver cup was finished, the father
took his little son, who was old enough to walk
and set out for the shrine Of St. Nicholas. on
the way, feeling thirsty he stopped near a river
and giving the cup of gold to the boy told MIN 10
fetch some water The child went to do so out
STOPPING over, slipped on the bank and 1eil 'nto
the river. And he was seen no more.
The father weeping with grief and repentance,
hastened 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 on 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 1t Win
the silver one upon the altar. Then thanking st.
Nicholas he took his son and carried him sa1ely
home.
As the Christmas legend came down the ages
It gathered to itself the myths Of all the faiths'
and what more natural and right than that the
religion of the brotherhood Of man should contain
something of every ideal and every form OF wor-
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 Holland!
Hollanders celebrate Christmas most heartily.
The Star Of Bethlehem as seen in Holland. Is
the harbinger of Christmas-a huge illuminated
star which is carried through the silent, dark,
Dutch streets shining upon the crowding people,
and typical Of the star which guided the wise
men Of the east.
The Young men Of q Dutch town carry this
star through the streets as the signal that Christ
mas has come again. They gather money for the
moor from the crowds who come out to welcome
the symbol Of peace and having done this for tie
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. 'Tis great institution, the Star of Bethle-
hem in many Dutch towns and cities e
Christmas is celebrated in Holland as time
for sugar plums and candies and gifts Toward
dnsk. the story goes, white sheet Is spread in
side the door, and the family attired in their best
ond brayest await the saint Presently he ar
rives clad in embroidered robes with gems, jew
elad gloves and golden miter-and in his arms
either gifts or sweets the dreaded birch rod for
tho children according to their various deserts
And these, with little speech Of scolding or ap-
proval be drops upon the sheet before ne vanisnes
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-fke all the rest OF the immigrants.