"The stockings were hung,
by the chimney with care.
In hopes that Saint Nicholas,
soon would be there"
There was a kindly nobleman;
whose wife had died of an illness;
leaving the nobleman and his three;
daughters in despair.
After losing all his money;
in useless and bad inventions;
the family had to move;
into a peasant's cottage;
where the daughters did their own;
cooking, sewing and cleaning.
When it came time for the daughters;
to marry, the father became;
even more depressed as his daughters;
could not marry without dowries,;
money and property given to the new;
husband's family.
One night after the daughters;
had washed out their clothing;
they hung their stockings;
over the fireplace to dry.
That night Saint Nicholas,;
knowing the despair of the father;
stopped by the nobleman's house.
Looking in the window Saint Nicholas;
saw that the family had gone to bed.
He also noticed the daughters stockings.
Inspiration struck Saint Nicholas;
and he took three small bags of gold;
from his pouch and threw them;
one by one down the chimney;
and they landed in the stockings.
The next morning when the daughters awoke;
they found their stockings contained;
enough gold for them to get married.
The nobleman was able to see;
his three daughters marry;
and he lived a long and happy life.
Children all over the world continue;
the tradition of hanging Christmas stockings.
In some countries children have similar customs;
in France the children place their shoes;
by the fireplace, a tradition dating back;
to when children wore wooden peasant shoes.
In Holland the children fill their shoes;
with hay and a carrot for the horse of Sintirklass.
In Hungary children shine their shoes;
before putting them near the door;
or a window sill.
Italian children leave their shoes;
out the night before Epiphany, January 5,;
for La Befana the good witch.
And in Puerto Rico children;
put greens and flowers in small boxes;
and place them under their beds;
for the camels of the Three Kings.
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