na for three generations; I suppose we
are known nearly everywhere."

"I am fortunate, master," said the little Chinaman.

They prepared to go on to Canton. Sky-High arranged the journey, and
explained the details to Mr. Van Buren. He had an air of taking the
family under his protection, and seemed to be wholly familiar with the
way along the boat-lined waters.

"We are to stop just before we reach the city," he said to Mr. Van
Buren, "to meet a mandarin of Manchuria of the Crystal Sea. He is
visiting at the summer palace of a grand mandarin of Canton. A barge
will come out to meet us. There will be fireworks. I have arranged it
all. Besides these two there will be also a mandarin from the Yellow
River."

"'Meet us! I have arranged it all!' What does our little house-boy
mean?" thought Mr. Van Buren. He called Sky-High, and asked him to
explain his strange words.

"I have arranged it all," said Sky-High simply. "A barge will meet you,
and take you to this summer palace. There will be fireworks for the sake
of Charles and Lucy; the heavens will blaze. The mandarins have heard
of your family. They wish to receive you and to please the children of
the mandarin of Boston."

Lucy danced at these hospitable words. She had treated little Sky-High
like a wang. She had dreamed that he was a wang. Perhaps--well, little
Lucy found it thrilling to feel that almost anything splendid might
happen!

But Mr. Van Buren had no idea that his family had become of importance
to the grandees of China, although it was true that his father and
grandfather had traded in the country and had extensive correspondence
with the hongs. "Sky-High," said he, "you must be simply amusing
yourself! A grand mandarin would not order fireworks for Charles and
Lucy. What mandarin is he?"

"Of the Crystal province. He has heard of you; he wishes to honor you
as a noble American and the friend of his people."

Mr. Van Buren wondered if his wife's little house-boy had gone insane.
He spoke with impatience. "Let us not be fooling ourselves with this
business any longer!"

"I have never deceived you, master," said the little serving-man.
"I am as the great George Washington in his youth. The mandarin of the
province of the Crystal Sea holds you in high esteem, and he wishes to
entertain the children."

Mr. Van Buren inquired at the American consular office concerning this
"Mandarin of the province of the Crystal Sea." The consul informed him,
with