Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1919-12-18

give the saint cup of gold Time went by, and
beautiful boy was born. Immediately the father
had cup made of pure gold It very heavy
and wrought all 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 silver made for the good
saint.
When the silver cup finished, tts. 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 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,
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
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 one upon the altar. Then thanking st.
Nicholas, he took his son and carried him safely
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
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 Hoandl
Hollanders celebrate Christmas most heartily.
The Star of Bethlehem 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.
of 41,,.
star through the streets as the signal that ChrE.
mas has come again. They gather money for IT,
poor from the crowds who come out to welcoIs--
the symbol Of peace, and having done this for TIL
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 very comfortable
meal Ills great institution, the Star Of Bethle-
hem in many Dutch towns and cities.
Christmas is celebrated in Holland as a time
for sugar pums and candies and gifts. Toward
Dusk the story goes, white sheet is spread in
side the door, and the family, attred in their best
and bravest, await the saint. Presently he ar
rlves, 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 little speech Of scolding or 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.