Saint Nicholas in Holland

Saint Nicholas in Holland

from Hans Brinker by Mary Mapes Dodge

It is said that Saint Nicholas originally came from Holland. There, he visits earth on the fifth of December, the eve of Saint Nicholas Day. Early on the morning of the sixth, he distributes his candies, treasures, and toys, then vanishes for a year.

Christmas day is devoted by the Hollanders to church rites and to pleasant family visiting. It is on Saint Nicholas' Eve that their young people become half wild with joy and expectation. To some of them it is a sorry time, for the saint is very candid, and if any of them have been bad during the past year, he is quite sure to tell them so.

Hilda van Gleck's little brothers and sisters were in a high state of excitement that night. They had been admitted into the grand parlor, and they were dressed in their best. Hilda was as joyous as any. She laughed and advanced as gaily as the youngest, and was the soul of all their merry games. At last matters grew so uproarious that Mynheer van Gleck regarded his children with astonishment. Madame suggested that if they wished to see the good Saint Nicholas they should sing the same loving invitation that had brought him the year before.

The children, each holding a pretty willow basket, formed at once in a ring, and moved slowly around. Madame commenced playing softly upon the piano; soon the voices rose in song.

“Welcome, friend! Saint Nicholas, welcome!” During the chorus, glances, half in eagerness, half in dread, were cast at the polished folding doors. Now a loud knocking was heard. The circle was broken in an instant. Some of the little ones, with a strange mixture of fear and delight, pressed against their mothers.

“come in,” said Madame softly.

The door slowly opened and Saint Nicholas stood before them. He was in full array, with his embroidered robes glittering with gems and gold, his mitre, his crozier, and his jeweled gloves. You could have heard a pin drop! Soon he spoke. What a mysterious majesty in his voice! What kindliness in his tones!

“Karel van Gleck, I am pleased to greet thee, and thy honored vrouw Kathrine, and thy son and his good vrouw Annie!

“Children, I greet ye all! Good children ye have been, in the main, since I last accosted ye. Diedrich, I trust, will continue to be a polite, manly boy, and Mayken will endeavor to shine as a student. Let her remember, too, that economy and thrift are needed in the foundation of a worthy and generous life. Little Katy has been cruel to the cat more than once. Saint Nicholas can hear the cat cry when its tail is pulled. I will forgive her if she will remember from this hour that the smallest dumb creatures have feelings and must not be abused.”

As little Katy burst into a frightened cry, the saint graciously remained silent until she was soothed.

“thou, Hendrick, didst distinguish thyself in the archery match last spring and didst hit the bull's eye, though the bird was swung before it to unsteady thine eye. I give thee credit for excelling in manly sport and exercise.

“Lucretia and Hilda shall have a blessed sleep tonight. The consciousness of much kindness to the poor, devotion in their souls, and cheerful, hearty obedience to household rule will render them happy.

“With one and all I avow myself well content. Goodness, industry, benevolence, and thrift have prevailed in your midst. Therefore, my blessings upon you, and may the New Year find all treading the paths of obedience, wisdom, and love. Tomorrow you shall find more substantial proofs that I have been in your midst. Farewell!”

With these words came a great shower of sugarplums. The children fairly tumbled over each other in their eagerness to fill their baskets. The bravest of the youngest sprang up and burst open the closed doors. In vain they peered into the mysterious apartment. Saint Nicholas was nowhere to be seen.

Soon there was a general rush to another room, where stood a long table. Each child, in a flutter of excitement, laid a shoe upon it. The door was then carefully locked and its key hidden in the mother's bedroom. Next followed good-night kisses, merry farewells at bedroom doors, and silence at last, reigned in the Van Gleck mansion.

Early the next morning the door was solemnly unlocked and opened in the presence of the assembled household; when, lo! A sight appeared, proving Saint Nicholas to be a saint of his word!

Every shoe was filled to overflowing and beside each stood many a colored pile. The table was heavy with its load of presents, candies, toys, trinket,s books.

Little Katy clapped her hands with glee and vowed, inwardly, that the cat should never know another moment's grief.

Hendrick capered gaily about the room, flourishing a superb bow and arrows over his head. Hilda laughed with delight as she opened a crimson box and drew forth its glittering contents. The rest chuckled and said, “Oh!” and “Oh!” over their treasures.

With her glittering necklace in her hands and a pile of books in her arms, Hilda stole toward her parents and held up her beaming face for a kiss.

“I am delighted with this book, thank you, Father.” she said, touching the top one with her chin.

Frolic and joy reigned supreme.