Project Gutenberg 2010-09-02 Public domain in the USA. 181 Balfour, Grant 1853 1940 Grant, James Miller The Mother of St. Nicholas: A Story of Duty and Peril Produced by Al Haines "The Mother of St. Nicholas: A Story of Duty and Peril" by Grant Balfour is a historical novel crafted in the late 19th century. Set in the 3rd century AD during the early days of Christianity, the book centers around the themes of duty, peril, and sacrifice, particularly through the character of Pathema, a dedicated Christian woman who faces persecution for her beliefs. This narrative ties into the legendary origins of St. Nicholas, also known as Santa Claus, highlighting his mother's profound influence on his character and the values she instilled in him. The story follows Pathema as she selflessly aids the suffering and less fortunate in the city of Patara, risking her life amid rising tensions against Christians. Her acts of compassion draw the ire of the authorities, leading her to be imprisoned and ultimately brought to the Roman Colosseum, where she faces a ferocious lion. In a twist of fate, a nobleman named Tharsos enters the arena to save her, showcasing extraordinary bravery. Their lives intertwine as they must grapple with the consequences of their actions, faith, and the transformative power of love and sacrifice. Ultimately, the book not only tells a tale of personal courage but also signifies the enduring impact of Christian values and the legacy of kindness that would evolve into the myth of Santa Claus. (This is an automatically generated summary.) http://book.klll.cc/files/33607/33607-h/images/img-cover.jpg Reading ease score: 70.3 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. en Christian fiction Persecution -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600 -- Fiction Patara (Extinct city) -- Fiction PS Text Category: Historical Novels Category: Novels Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore 116778 2025-10-13T13:31:05.919655 text/html 107042 2021-01-06T23:37:12 text/html 167535 2025-10-13T13:31:08.367736 application/epub+zip 168243 2025-10-13T13:31:06.301642 application/epub+zip 93167 2025-10-13T13:31:06.084636 application/epub+zip 217892 2025-10-13T13:31:10.039642 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 207433 2025-10-13T13:31:08.061636 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 132310 2022-09-15T10:49:08.221059 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 97078 2025-10-13T13:31:05.660643 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 96810 2021-01-06T23:37:12 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 18979 2025-10-13T13:31:10.165633 application/rdf+xml 17876 2025-10-13T13:31:06.150662 image/jpeg 2564 2025-10-13T13:31:06.117640 image/jpeg 159154 2021-01-06T23:37:12 application/octet-stream application/zip 38835 2021-01-06T23:37:12 application/octet-stream application/zip 160342 2025-10-13T13:31:05.934633 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog