Song: A Ballad of Santa Claus (Story of St. Nicholas)br Lyrics: Henry Van Dykebr Music & Voices: aibr br [verse1]br Among the earliest saints of old, br Before the first Hegira,br I find the one whose name we hold, br St. Nicholas of Myra:br br The best-beloved name, I guess, br in sacred nomenclature, —br The patron-saint of helpfulness, br and friendship, and good-nature.br br [verse2]br A bishop and a preacher too, br a famous theologian,br He stood against the Arian crew,br and fought them like a Trojan:br br But when a poor man told his need,br and begged an alms in trouble,br He never asked about his creed, br but quickly gave him double.br br [verse3]br Three pretty maidens, so they say, br were longing to be married;br But they were paupers, lack-a-day, br and so the suitors tarried.br br St. Nicholas gave each maid a purse, br of golden ducats chinking,br And then, for better or for worse, br they wedded quick as winking.br br [verse4]br Once, as he sailed, a storm arose; br wild waves the ship surrounded;br The sailors wept and tore their clothes, br and shrieked “We'll all be drownded!”br br St. Nicholas never turned a hair; br serenely shone his halo;br He simply said a little prayer, br and all the billows lay low.br br [verse5]br The wicked keeper of an inn, br had three small urchins taken,br And cut them up in a pickle-bin, br and salted them for bacon.br br St. Nicholas came and picked them out, br and put their limbs together, —br They lived, they leaped, they gave a shout, br “St. Nicholas forever!”br br [verse6]br And thus it came to pass, you know, br that maids without a nickel,br And sailor-lads when tempest blow, br and children in a pickle,br br And every man that's fatherly, br and every kindly matron,br In choosing saints would all agree, br to call St. Nicholas patron.br br [verse7]br He comes again at Christmas-time, br and stirs us up to giving.br He rings the merry bells that chime, br good-will to all the living;br br He blesses every friendly deed, br and every free donation;br He sows the secret, golden seed, br of love through all creation.br br [verse8]br Our fathers drank to Santa Claus, br the sixth of each December,br And still we keep his feast because, br his virtues we remember.