Billy sprang on the little platform, lifted his smiling face, his hands tightly gripped behind his back and spoke in firm, boyish tones: “My only regret is that I have but one life to give for my country!” “And what do you say to that, children?” Vassar shouted. “Three cheers for Uncle Sam!” they answered. Three times three they gave it without the need of a prompter. Vassar waved a signal to the right and from the dressing-room slowly marched a procession of children of all nations, dressed in their native costume, each child bearing the tiny flag of their old-world allegiance. The line of floating color circled the open space in front of the platform, and, as they passed Vassar surrendered the old flag and received from his hand the Stars and Stripes which each waved in answer to a cheer from the crowd. When the last nation had surrendered allegiance the procession marched again around the circle to the continuous cheering of the crowd and took their places about Vassar who held aloft the regimental standard of the nation with its golden eagle gleaming from the staff. The little children crowded close and about them gathered a ring of Boy Scouts and beyond them the mothers of the kids. He lifted high the flag and every Scout and grown up and every child saluted it with uplifted hands and cheered. “Now, boys and girls!” Vassar cried to the outer circle. They solemnly responded in chorus: “I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the Republic for which it stands--one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” “Now, kiddies!” he shouted to the little ones. The answer came in straggling unison: “I give my hand and my heart to God and my country. One country, one language, one flag--” “And now!” the leader cried: “Hurrah for the President of the United States!” With a shout they gave the cheers and the ceremony ended again in a babel of joyous polyglot chatter. Vassar found Virginia surrounded by a mob of mothers struggling to shake hands under the guidance of Angela. “I must say,” he laughed, “that your methods are quite up to date.” “I assure you I’m not trying to take advantage of my host to seduce his constituents. I’m only doing my best to make Angela happy by meeting her friends--” “Si, signor--we will vote for the signorina--and you, too, is it not so?” “Apparently they need no seduction,” Vassar laughed. Virginia blushed and lifted her hands in protest. “Well,” the young leader asked in conciliatory tones, “how did you like it?” “I’ve been charmed beyond measure,” was the quick answer. “I’ve got a new view of my country. I’ve a new view of the possibilities of political leadership. I’m more determined than ever to wield a ballot--” “You’re not willing to trust me with that duty?” “No. We can add something you can never give to these people. These mothers know instinctively that I can understand them as you could not.”