"I don't call daring the only kind of bravery," said Jack. "Just think of those nurses and priests who go out to the leper islands to care for the sick. They know that they are going to something worse than death, yet they give up everything to make life easier for a few unknown people."
"I wasn't speaking of them," said George. "I mean those who stay at home, and don't do anything very remarkable."
"I've noticed one thing," said Jack. "The heroes are usually those who have done their work well every day. Father says that what the country needs is the quiet faithfulness of every citizen."
"Do you think," said Ned, with a superior smile, "that wars are going to stop because you disapprove of them?"
"I think that war is cruel," said Jack stoutly, "and I don't believe there is any need of our being cruel. I know that some of our wisest men think that the time is coming when nations will be ashamed to settle questions in that way."
"How do you propose to show your wonderful patriotism. if you won't fight?" demanded Ned.
Jack flushed a little, but he answered steadily:
"I propose to make of myself as good a citizen as I can. I propose to keep my temper, and to remember that others beside myself have rights. I propose to be honest and fair. If I do all my work as well as I can, I hope that some day my life will be of service to my country."
Ned and Dick walked off with a disagreeable laugh, but George slipped his arm through his friend's. "If I didn't know better, I should say that you were a coward, Jack," he said. "I wish you had more of the hero in you."
"Even a hero doesn't like to be laughed at," said Jack. "I know one thing, George: it takes more courage to be called a coward, and to stand up for what you think is right when others are laughing at you, than it does to fight."