Nicholas, as their charitable predecessor in that very line of
business. The following is the legend: and it is too prettily told
to be omitted:--
"'Now in that city (Panthera) there dwelt a certain nobleman, who
had three daughters, and, from being rich, he became poor; so poor
that there remained no means of obtaining food for his daughters but
by sacrificing them to an infamous life; and oftentimes it came into
his mind to tell them so, but shame and sorrow held him dumb.
Meanwhile the maidens wept continually, not knowing what to do, and
not having bread to eat; and their father became more and more
desperate. When Nicholas heard of this, he thought it shame that
such a thing should happen in a Christian land; therefore one night,
when the maidens were asleep, and their father alone sat watching
and weeping, he took a handful of gold, and, tying it up in a
handkerchief, he repaired to the dwelling of the 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 open; 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 eldest daughter. A second time Nicholas provided a
similar sum, and again he threw it in by night; and with it the
nobleman married his second daughter.
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