The Legend of the Three Golden Purses.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2081, 7 November 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Legend of the Three Golden Purses.

None of tbo nnny diligent in\?3t.'gi{oi-s of tt popular nnti<]'«il-ieh h'iv \<-t rriW h 'J M' *\,rd \illenbalh of our p^wn'/io'... ra tj tho i-mbie-n of St. Nicholas IV.py hw bc'ii properly enoH"n lfl'^rrod to the Tiv.ibiid merchant*, w!i'> »yen} the first co oyc-n ta-ii-Aiofs in Englanc for the rehf-f of temporary distress. Bat ILe Lombaids had merely assumed an eniblem which had been appropriated to St. Nicholas, a3 their charitable predecessor in that very line of business. The following ia the legend, and it 13 too prettily told to be lost :— 11 Now ia that city (P.inthera) theredwelta certain moblemfm who had three daughters, and from being rich he bacame poor— so poor that there remained no means of obtnining food for hia daughters. Meantime the maidens wept continually, not knowing what to do, and not having bread to eat, and the father became more and more desperate. When Nicholas heard of this, he thought it a shame that Buch a thing should happen in a Christion laud; therefore one mght, when the maidens weie asleep, and their father sat alone watching and weeping, he took a handful of gold and, tying it up in 8 handkerchief, repaired to the dwelling of tho poor man. He considered how- he might bestow it without making himself known; and, while he stood irresolute, the moon coming from behind a cloud showed him a window opsn; so he threw it in, and it fell at the feet of the father, who, when he found it, returned thanks, and with it he portioned his eldeat daughter. A second time Nicholas provided a similar euni, and again he threw it in by night, and with it the nobleman married hia second daughter. But he greatly desired to know who it was that came to his aid, therefore he determined to watch ; end wnen the good oaint came for tho third time, and prepared to throw in the third portion, he waa discovered, for the nobleman seized him by the akirt of his robe and flung himself at hw feel, saying, " Oh, Nicholas ! servant of God? why seek to hide thyself ?" and he kiascd his feet and hands. But Nicholas made him promise that he would tell no man. And many other charitable works did Nicholas perform in his native city. 41 These three purses of gold, as they are more customarily figured, theso throe golden balls, disposed in exact pawnbroker fashion, are to this day the recognised special emblem of the charitable St. Nicholas."