People cannot get on
without dishes--you and I have proved that."
"Not unless we all go back to being savages," said Theo humorously.
"We shall not do that, I hope," returned Mr. Croyden gravely. "Each
century should see the race farther ahead--a more honest, kindlier,
Christian nation. That is the motto we must bring with us out of this
war. Not more territory, more money, more power; but truer manhood and
purer souls. If the conflict does this for our people all the
sacrifice and loss of life it has meant will not have been in
vain. Out of the wreck a better America should arise, and we each must
help it to arise--you as well as I, for we need not only good men and
women but good boys and girls, if we are to have a fine country."
"A boy can't do much toward it, I'm afraid," Theo said.
"On the contrary, a boy can do a great deal," replied Mr. Croyden. "It
is the boys of to-day who are going to be the men of to-morrow; and
there is no such thing as suddenly becoming a good man, any more than
there is such a thing as a seed suddenly becoming a full-blown plant.
Everything has to grow, and grow slowly, too. So if you wish to be a
wise, honest citizen who will help forward this glorious country we
all love so much, you want to be setting about it right now, you and
every other boy.
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