The Washington herald., 1916-11-29
Fate, the Joker
by JOHN ID. BARRY.

Fate the Joker. happened to be in a
particularly festive mood. He determin-
ed to try one Of his most original effects.
He would take contradictory qualities
and make them into a man-chiId. "I'u
do something impossible" he said to him
! self, and at the thought OF the conse-
quences he went into spasms of laughter.
NOW let me see how I'd better start"
Fate thought. IN give the child a
i strong will. 1t will keep him going
like dynamo. Then I'll give him
qualities that will keep getting him into
mischief, sentiment, passion, irreverence,
curiosity. vanity and anger I'll fix him
! up with spirituality. tenderness, devotion.
selt-denial, truth and loyalty. I'll make
him go from one extreme to another.
He'll get himself into the most ridiculous
situations and he'll wonder why he was
ever born"
After perpetrating this little Joke. Fate
went on to others. stopping now and
| then to hold his sides.
"If people only knew what a good time
l had and what lot OF sport l get out
OF every day they wouldn't say so many
disagreeable things about me-" he saio
to himself. As something reminded him
OF that impossible man-chld he decided
he must watch developments.
He ought to keep me in good humor
as long as he lives"
! So every now and then Fate would
! glance at the man-child rapidly growing
into a man. loving and hating, quarreling
and making up. passing from excitement
to excitement. amazed by the wonders OF
dan GaI va1
resting only in sleep and then imper-
fectly. and waking to face each day with
the sense OF fatigue and OF trouble, to
| be escaped only by fresh activities
We'll. he's just what l expected him to
| be-" Fate reflected, "and he has some
! fine adventures ahead OF him all alons
| the line"
Occasionally Fate would be entertained
by noting what people thought and felt
! about this complex character. There were
| those who brought out his fine qualities
only. They predicted success and happi-
ness for him. There were others that
| could see only his bad qualities. They
predicted disaster.
He will make a fine man." said one,
and another said, "He will be a great
criminal Among those ne was asso-
hated. But a few loved him deeply, the
few that he gave his confidence to. and
always their love was touched with pity
| Then followed some dark years. 1t
looked as II the worst prophecies re-
garding the youth would be fulfilled.
Fate had many laughs over the ticlIlish
| situations. the periods OF penitence and
of peaceful living, followed by wild out
! breaks always accompanied by the sense
| OF bew!lderment and helpless resistance.
/ III the poor fool only understood what
| Joke he is" Fate thought and he had
one Of his spasms OF laughter.
One day when Fate looked at the man
| there was a change. All. he is in one
OF his periods OF repentance and spirit
uality. 1t won't last long. I'll not bother
with him just now. I'll look again when
he's passed through that mood and may
be he'll be more amusing" But when
! Fate looked again the man was in the
! same mood. Something must have hap
pened. After watching for a while Fate
had another parOXysm OF laughter. The
| fellow had fallen in love. and with a very
| high-minded woman. too. who was think
ing OF marrying him She doesn't know
| what's in store for her." Fate said TO
himself. But she'll find out soon
| enough"
| The next time Fate looked the man was
married. and having a hard struggle to
| keep his happiness. But now he was
not working alone Some one was helping
| him, one that saw him as he was and
loved everything in him that was good.
Some OF the qualities that had led him
into trouble before were enlisted in his
service now. but some of the others were
trying desperately to assert their mastery.
When the struggle would seem to be
going against the man the woman would
step in and in nearly every instance there
would be victory
Fate kept looking on with astonishment
"Is 1t possible that a feeble little creature
| like that woman can get ahead OF me-
he thought. and he laughed at the ab-
surdity Of the idea.
During the next few years Fate kept
| close watch on the man. Most OF the
old weaknesses were still operating and
creating absurd situations, but, somehow.
they weren't so effective as they had
been before and the situations did not
cause very serious consequences. Now
| the man had other helpers, little crea-
lures whose lives were bound in his
whose qualities reflected his qualities. and
were often a reproach to him and an in
centive to endeavor. Once when Fate
was observing the man happened to be
| talking about them with his wife. 1T
scares me to think OF what may happen
to them unless they learn self-control."
he was saying
They will learn" said his wife quietly.
You learned. didn't YOU"
| The man did not answer in words.
Silence often spoke between those two.
Think Of all went through before I
settled down." he said and she replied:
They didn't understand you. We must
try to understand the children. II they
had taken the trouble to try and under
stand you everything would have been
different"
But 1 was such a bundle of contra
dictions till settled down and found
had something to live for
Every strong man is a bundle OF con-
| tradctions," said the woman.
Then Fate turned away in disapoint-
ment. There are some people that spoil
my jokes" he said.