So in the evening she said, "I have composed another Jataka story. Would
you like to hear it, mother? Would you, Sky-High?"




IX.

LUCY'S JATAKA STORY.


Now the little Chinaman began his stories with words like these, for
most Jataka stories so begin:

"Once upon a time in the days of Buddha-Atta in Benares."

To-night Lucy began her tale in nearly the same manner--the words
sounded so fine.

"Once on a time, _after_ the days of Buddha-Atta in Benares, there
was a little Chinese boy who was born a wang, which is a king. And they
called him Wang High-Sky.

"And he lived in a palace, and the stairs of the palace were golden
amber, and the windows were of crystal, and all the knives and forks
were made of pearl and silver.

"And they told little Wang High-Sky that there were countries beyond the
water, also.