The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-12-26

"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. Mich
oias, 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 u rich merchant who was q Christian.
He lived near the border of q heather land. One
day his only son was stolen by some wicked
neighbours, who sold him to q heather king. The
boy was handsome, SO the king made him the
royal cup-bearer.
II happened that the king was giving a 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 sisters-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 wine?'
This is the Feast of st. Nicholas" answered
the boy, sohbing, '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 u
ScaTCely III tne kHS spoken THESE WOTuS WHen
Il violent whirlwind tore around outside the palace,
and q 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
hs 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 a man who would
not become a 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 i'm 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 l return, / 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 filed
with fury. He took a 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 its owner. They told him what had hap
pened, and he was so astonished that he immedi-
ately became a Christian.
The Boy and the Cup.
Once there was a rich man who had no SON to
Nicholas that II q son were born to him he would