Let me tell you a tale of Saint Nicholas that you may not know, It happened in the 300’s, which was quite very long ago. This is no children’s tale crafted just to amuse you Why as far as we know it’s probably true. It is about a lonely craftsman and his daughters numbering three, This hard working old soul had no money and was a poor as can be. He couldn’t afford a dowry so no daughter could marry, And without husband or job, in the red lights they would tarry. That is a fate that would fill the three with woe, But how would they be able to marry? They did not know. So they were stuck with there in that town, Then one day good old Nicholas came around. Sooner or later he heard of their plight, And a cunning plan he came up with one night. You see Nick was a man devoted to God, He pitied the people on which life had trod. He wouldn’t shame the man with public charity, And he had to protect the girls’ souls and chastity. Now how would he be able to stop the grief? Why that wily old Bishop thought like a thief! He knew what to do: hide out of sight, He would give alms under the cover of night. As was his right, from tithings and dues, Three bags of gold he took and off he flew. To the family’s house he stealthily snuck, Not seen by a soul, God’s will or good luck. And just like a thief, in the front door he wouldn’t go, As not to be seen, Nicholas used an open window! Inside their home he left sacks numbering three, And with that each daughter could now marry. Hidden by the shadows away Nicholas stole, The next day there would be four happy souls. Now maybe he did it in three days or maybe three years, That isn’t the point, let’s be perfectly clear. And maybe the father found him out on the third trip, That I don’t know, so please don’t flip. And maybe the father wanted to give thanks to the man, To which Nick said ‘No. Thank God and His Lamb.’ You see Saint Nicholas loved God and Jesus his Lord, So he did this merciful thing to live by the Word. So in the Christmas season and throughout the year, Love God and thy neighbor, it’s why we’re all here. ************************************************** 411 is the number of words in this short story/poem. It was inspired by one of the tales told of the real and historical Saint Nicholas. It was done in rhyme because I thought it would sound better that way if read aloud; so this is the sort of thing you could tell your family while sitting around the tree.