rning explained to him that her new boy had not yet
mastered the arts of American manners, although he intended to be
correct when addressing his superiors.

"I didn't notice anything whatever incorrect," said the governor, who
had hugely enjoyed the manner of his summons. "He awoke me--what more
was needed?"

V.

SKY-HIGH'S WONDER-TALE.

"My Lady of the Beautiful Morning" believed in the education of
story-telling; and she did not limit her stories wholly to tales with
"morals," but told those that awakened the imagination. This she did for
Lucy's sake and Charlie's, believing that all little people should pass
through fairyland once in their lives.

She used, like Queen Scheherazade of the Arabian Nights, to gather up
stories that pictured places, habits, and manners of the people, to
relate; and this year, when the garden began to flower, she had many
such to tell under the trees. Sky-High was always a listener. He was
always permitted to be with the family in the evening. He loved
wonder-tales. They carried him off as on an "enchanted carpet."

One evening Mrs. Van Buren said, "I have a new idea. Sky-High might tell
_us_ some stories. He speaks English well when he chooses.
Sky-High, tell us some tale of your own country. You have wonder-tales
in China."

"In the stories of my country animals talk," said Sky-High.

"Tell us some of your stories in which animals talk," said Lucy,
clapping her hands.

"Animals always talk, everywhere," said Sky-High. "In China we interpret
what they say."

The word "interpret" was rather a big one for Lucy. But as Sky-High was
given to using unexpected words, the little girl was herself beginning
to indulge in a larger vocabulary.

So Sky-High began to relate an old Chinese household story.

THE SELF-RESPECTING DONKEY.

There was once a Donkey who had great respect for himself, as many
people do. Such wear good clothes. You may know what a man thinks of
himself by the clothes he wears. We Chinese moralize in our stories
as we go along. We tell _think_-tales.

One day the Self-respecting Donkey went out into some green meadows
near a wood, and was eating grass when a Tiger appeared on the verge
of the meadow. The Self-respecting Donkey was very much surprised,
but did not lose his dignity. So he uttered a deep bray.

"Br-a-a-a!"

The Tiger, in his turn, was very much surprised--for the Donkey's voice
seemed to penetrate the earth. B