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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.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there
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