Midnight
At a wave of little Lucy 's wand the shining , golden Santa Claus floated away as he came . When he next appeared -- and it seemed but a moment or two after -- he bore a salver that was gorgeous to see . Upon it , sending up clouds of steam , was a wonderfully beautiful pitcher that his mistress never before had seen , encircled by some exquisite small black cups , inlaid and encrusted heavily with gold , each with a perforated cover . `` Sky-High presents to his mistress , the Moon Lady of the Christ Child Night , '' the little fellow said in his best flowery English , `` and to her friends , the Stars of the Midnight , the mandarin tea in the mandarin cups of his country -- they will please to be accepted from the Santa Claus . '' From the pitcher he poured the bubbling water in the mandarin cups , when an exquisite fragrance filled the rooms , as of apple-blossoms . While the guests sipped the priceless tea from the priceless cups , at the request of his mistress the little Chinaman related a Buddhist legend . THE DHARMA 'S EYELASHES .