"
Mr. Rathburn put on his hat and coat, and left the schoolroom.
After his departure Frank rose and spoke modestly, thus:
"Boys, I have been thinking for some time past that we were not
doing all that we ought in this crisis, which puts in such danger
the welfare of our country. If anything, we boys ought to feel
more deeply interested than our elders, for while they will soon
pass off the stage we have not yet reached even the threshold of
manhood. You will ask me what we can do. Let me remind you that
when the war broke out the great want was, not of volunteers, but
of men trained to military exercises. Our regiments were at first
composed wholly of raw recruits. In Europe, military instruction
is given as a matter of course; and in Germany, and perhaps other
countries, young men are obliged to serve for a time in the army.
"I think we ought to profit by the lessons of experience. However
the present war may turn out, we cannot be certain that other
wars will not at some time break out.
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