A long long time ago
there was a family that was very poor.
Three girls
and a father and mother
lived in a little house.

When the girls became young women,
the oldest first,
they still were very poor.
But people didn't realise all too well
how poor they were.
The girls looked handsome
and they took well care of themselves.
They didn't know
that the father and the mother
worried till they were exhausted
and finally fell asleep.

One day a handsome young man
came for the hand of their oldest daughter.
Everybody was so very happy,
because the daughter was deeply in love.
But when it was night
all cried in their sleep
for there was no money
to pay for a wedding.

The father and mother
had to make a difficult decision:
They wouldn't marry
but work hard the rest of their lives.
They felt they had no choice
and experienced a lot of pain.

There was a bishop
who saw their red eyes in the morning
and he suddenly knew
which problem those caring people had.

The next night
he took a sack
and filled it with money
and whatever else was needed
and threw it through an open window.

The oldest girl married happily.

When the second eldest girl fell in love
none expected another miracle.
So all worried again
and they felt cold and afraid
that all the happiness would disappear.

But the men didn't think long
again he trew a sack
with all they needed
through an open window
and the girl married
and they lived a happy life.

None expected the youngest girl
to be able to marry
and they kept her hidden
from all the young men
for she was very handsome
and very bright.

But love always finds a way.
So when she took a walk
and warmed her face in the sun
a handsome young man
fell in love with her.

She refused to marry him
afraid that her parents
would give their last money and food
and would die from starvation.

Can you imagine how she felt
when she woke up one morning
and found a huge sack
with all they needed???

They too married.
And from a little distance
a man stood smiling
because of the happiness
of this family.

When other people heard
from the miracles
they praised the man
who had given so much joy.

But he didn't hear this praise anymore
for he had died
with a smile on his face.

Then the people gathered
and decided to honor him
by following his example.

They weren't rich at all
but each year
they put things together
to make others happy.
Especially the children
who have a whole future
waiting for them.

So now you know
why Sinterklaas comes at night
when all children are asleep.