This popular French song, the Légende de Saint Nicolas, dates back to the 16th century and is still sung by French children today. It tells the rather gruesome story of St. Nicholas rescuing three children from an evil butcher. The story, which was originally of three young men—traveling scholars, is told in France of three young children (see illustrations from 1935). Here on this page, they are shown as older children by 19th century artist E. de Liphart. Music and an English text, freely translated by poet James Henry Dixon, follow the original French.

freely translated from the French

Three little children sought the plain

Gleaners of the golden grain.

They lingered past the angel-song,

And dewy shadows swept along.

‘Mid the silence of the wood

The butcher’s lonely cottage stood,

“Butcher! lodge us for the night,

Lodge us till the morning light.”

“Enter in, ye children small,

I can find a place for all.”

Then the saint extended his arms

The butcher seized a knife straitway,

And did the little creatures slay.

He put them in a tub of brine,

In pieces small as they were swine.

St. Nicholas, at seven years end,

His way did to the forest wend.

He sought the butcher’s cottage drear:

“Butcher! I would rest me here!”

“Enter! enter, St. Nicholas!

You are welcome, St. Nicholas!

Enter! enter, St. Nicholas!

There’s place for you the night to pass.”

Scarce had the Saint his entrance made,

He would the supper board was laid.

“Will you have of ham a slice?”

“I will not, for it is not nice!”

“Of this veal you’ll take a bit?”

“No! I do not relish it.”

“Butcher! butcher! do not flee,

Repent and God will pardon thee!”

St. Nicholas the tub drew near,

And lo! he placed three fingers there.

The first one said, “I sweetly rest!”

The second said, “I too am blest!”

The third replied, “Tis well with me,

In Paradise I seem to be!”