me
out of the chest were of an astonishing character.

"And I will serve you the tea that you have not yet tasted," added the
little servant. "On the Christ Child night I will make in the cup the
tea that came from the eyelashes of the Dharma. And afterwards I will
tell you the story of the Dharma."

Again, a day or two before the holiday of Good Will, Sky-High's mistress
asked him to take his wages.

"Keep it for me, mistress," said the boy as before. "Sky-High, he works
for the good of his people."

Mrs. Van Buren stood pondering the words. What meant the little
Washee-washee-wang?

"Mistress," said the boy, busy folding the glossy napkins on the ironing
table, "the master plans to make a voyage around the world with his
family."

"Yes, Sky-High," said Mrs. Van Buren, "that the children may see the
world before they begin to study about it."

"And you will come to my country, mistress?"

"Yes; we hope to visit at least Hong Kong and Canton, Shanghai and
Pekin."

"You will wish to see the home of Sky-High, mistress."

"Yes, we would like to see you in your own country."

"When will the master go?"

"Next year, probably."

"Sky-High will go home next year. Will you let him go with you,
mistress? He will serve you on the ships, and in China he will make
your visit pleasant. He will interpret for you, and show you about,
and introduce you about."

Mrs. Van Buren was too kind to let her astonishment be seen by her
little serving-man. She said that possibly it might be so arranged.

As she went up-stairs she heard Nora exclaiming to herself in the
pantry. "And he says he'll inthroduce the misthress about, and the
misthress is narely as quare!"

After supper Mrs. Van Buren related to her husband the singular
interview she had had with their little Chinaman. Sky-High's kind offers
seemed to amuse him for a long time. "But as for the little fellow's
wages," said he, "don't bother. I'll step in to the consul's, and
deposit them with Bradley."

When Sky-High found that he was serving to amuse his mistress's
household, he turned silent. He worked, asking few questions, and
listened to even the children without answering them.

This disturbed Charlie and Lucy.

"See here, Sky-High, can't you take a joke?" demanded Charlie.

"Sky-High no joke with the mistress. Sky-High no make a lie!" said the
patient Chinaman; "Sky-High, his heart is hurt."

XII.

A CHINESE SANTA CLAUS.

The day before Chr