Xmas Letter, Legend of Saint Nicholas

Dear

We were searching for some special way to express our good

wishes to you for Christmas and the coming year, but we

discovered that there are some things in life that cannot

be improved upon.  So, please accept our very best wishes

to you, your family, and your employees for a Merry

Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us here at

Information Retrieval Service.

From our search, we did learn some facts that we hadn't

known before, and hope you find them interesting.  Saint

Nicholas was a bishop of the Christian church of Myra,

in Lycia, Anatolia.  He enjoyed a reputation for great

generosity and compassion.  Legend has it that he saved

the three daughters of a poor nobleman from a life of

prostitution, by tossing a bag of gold through an open

window of their home on three, separate occasions.

This provided the young women with a dowry with which to

procure an honorable marriage. The custom of giving gifts

at Christmas is attributed to this legend.

In keeping with this legend, we hope that Santa brings you

and yours all that you want for Christmas.