The Washington herald., 1916-05-28
The Prodigy.
BY JOHN ID. BARRY

unknown among children of commonplace quail
ties; when he was told to do one thing he
would try to do another.
This fault he showed conspicuously at bed
time.
Often when o'clock was long past the
father would come out of the library and say
irritably to the mother: Hasn't that child
gone to bed YETI"
Instantly the mother would be on the defen-
Isve. DO let him alone. He's just finishing his
play"
But he's been playing all day long Get
him to bed and then we'll have some peace in
the family
One evening the child was particularly ex-
cited. There had been a meeting of public
spirited people in the house that afternoon to
discuss the and he had listened at the door
Ito the speeches. He and his mother were having
the usual argument.
Now dear, it's time"
well, can't play we're going to have free
trade:"
mo. Your father will be very cross"
But it won't take more than minute. III
just here in the corner and tell him III
come right back"
After few minutes of whispering in the
corner he was back again. Its alt right.
There won't be any more trouble about the
tariff mother"
Very well, dear Now for bed"
But there's another thing I must DO.
mother"
whats that, dear?"
81 can't possibly go to bed before I give free
dom to Poland and Serbia and all the other
countries that oppressed That wouldn't be
fright, would it,"
mo, of course, it wouldn't be right But
fyou really"
But mother, the Poles and the Serbs and
all the rest of the poor people would feel ter
rible if | didn't help them. They'd think |
didn't have any principles. They'd say l was
bad"
Of Re went again. this time into another
corner. He returned breathless They say
they're very much obliged. Now they won't
have to go to for their freedom. Russia
will give it to them of her own accord"
Darling, you really must go to bed. If your
father comes in and catches your'
WELL mother, I'll be ready just as soon as |
settle the problem of the colonies All | have
to do is to tell them they're going to be under
international control. Now you stay here while
run away to this corner | couldn't sleep if
didn't settle that problem. Oh mother they're
$50 glad! And the nations that own the colo
mics arc glad, too. The nations say they get
very tired taking in much money from their
colonies. They don't know what to do with
III all They say they'd rather share it with
the other nations. It's such relief to have that
problem off my mind"
The mother was gently strokins the head Of
the child. You're such comfort, dear. You
think of everything that's generous and fine"
He pulled away mpaticntly There's one
thing I've forgotten mother"
Whats that, dear?"
"Alssce-Lorraine and the disputed boun-
daries. I'll rush and tell the nations we'll
settle all. those questions by popular vote. And
IIn tell them the women must have the vote
too"
"Thatll be very nice dear, if the women al
ready have the vote in al those countries"
mo matter, mother. If they haven't got it
now they ought to have it. o, mother the
women are all cheering Can't you hear them?"
MY dear little man, I'm afraid you're get
ting too excited You on't be able to sleep
for hours. Do come to bed now just to please
mother"
20, but mother"
"Yes, darling"
1--WE forgotten the most important thing OF
all"
Whats that dear heart"
why, complete disarmament Of all the ma
hons by international agreement, OF course
Mother, I'm really surprised. If Id forgotten
that I'd have had to crawl out of bed in my
lnight-dress and come down in the dark and tell
them. That wouldn't have been very pleasant
would ii? o, mother, mother, it's perfectly
wonderful Germany is te; ring down all her
forts and England is going to turn her navy
into merchant marine Now there can't ever be
a war again, there, mother"
At that moment stern face appeared at
the library door.
so we're going through this scene all over
again, are we?"
Please don't be hard on the child dearest
He's been ending the war"
But it's understood he's to be in bed at
this time Why isn't he there? That's the
only business he has to attend to- Now look
here, sir. If you don't walk off tc bed this
minute I'll give you spanking"
Meekly. the boy started up the stairs fol-
lowed by his mother. His lips were trembling