or, The Silver Skates WB

IX

THE FESTIVAL OF ST. NICHOLAS

\ \ 7 E all know how, before the Christmas-tree began to

flourish in the home-life of our country, a certain

“right jolly old elf,”
with “eight tiny rein-
deer,” used to drive
his sleigh-load of toys
up to our housetops,
and then bound down
the chimney to fill the
stockings so hopefully
hung by the fireplace.
His friends called him
Santa Claus; and those
who were most inti-
mate ventured to say,
“ Old Nick.” It was
said that he originally
came from Holland.
Doubtless he did; but,
if so, he certainly, like
many other foreigners,

 

SANTA CLAUS.

changed his ways very much after landing upon our shores.
In Holland, St. Nicholas is a veritable saint, and often appears