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 Christmas Lucy came to her mother with a request.  “Just one thing, mother!  And it isn’t more presents—­the Good Will tree hangs full!”

“Well, then, what is it, Lucy?” asked Mrs. Van Buren.

Little Lucy laughed.  “A Chinese Santa Claus, mother!  Think what a Santa Claus Sky-High would make in his flowing robes of black, yellow, and white all sprinkled over with silver and gold!  Nearly all the gifts are Chinese, you know—­all but ours for him.  Just remember how he looked last summer on Sunday afternoons when the birds flew down to admire him!”