The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-12-20

"a legend of his surreptitiOuS beStowal OF dow
ries 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 NlcI-
Oas. 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 D&ch colonsts
Many wonder tales are told of st. Nicholas
Here are three famous adventures of the SAINT
Rescue of the Stolen Boy,
There was n rich merchant who was Chrlstlah.
He lived near the border of Il heather land one
day his only was stolen by some VICE."
neighbors who sold him To heather King Inc
boy was handsome, the king made MN lhe
royal cup-bearer.
If honpened mat the king was giving a great
banouet Ana 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
f,IbSlr mother and sisters-were happily cele-
, Oratng the day. Thinking about this the boy
burst into tears.
"Why do you cry?" asked the king angrily.
"Do you not that your tears are falling INTO
my cup and spelling my wine?"
This is the Feast Of St Nicholas" answered
the boy sobbing land every one at home is eat
ing and is merry, And, alas! Il am not there"
.'Great may he your St. Nicholas" replied the
king scornfuy. hut he cannot save you from my
hand!"
Scarcely
violent whirlwind 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. whirled him rnpidly through the air.
: In few minutes he set him down in the midst of
x 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
helm people Once there was 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
filed with treasures. The next morning, before
no left the house he said to the image: Guard
my treasuresl IT, when l return, find anything
gone I'll beat you well! :" SO saying, he went
away.
Re 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
boc, and saw what had happened. He was filled
with fury He took a whip and beat and hacked
the image without mercy.
That very night ST. Nicholas himself appeared
m the robbers. He showed them his bruised ant
bleeding form. and commanded them to restore
tho treasure they had stolen. They were terrified
and gathering together all the stuff, carried i
hack 10 It's owner They told him what had hap
nened. and he was so astOnished that he mmedi
ately became a Christian.
The Boy and the Cup.
Once there was Il rich who had no son 4
be heir TO his wealth. He made TO 81
Nicholas that If son were born to him he wou