The people of Myra were suffering from famine, One day a ship loaded with grain, but on its way to Constantinople, sailed into the harbour. When the people saw it they asked the captain if he could let them have some corn. But he refused, telling them that his cargo had been carefully weighed, and that his masters would know if he gave any away. But then Nicholas went to him and said: “If you help these hungry people, God will see that you do not lose any of your corn.” The captain then gave Nicholas some sacks of corn, which he distributed among the people.
When the ship arrived at Constantinople and the corn was weighed, not an ounce was missing. But the corn that the captain had left behind at Myra lasted for years, for some of it was sown in the fields, and there was plenty for everybody.