This concise, enlightening volume combines a short story and essays that present tales of patriotism, hard work, self-worth, and ingenuity.

The Man Without a Country, by Edward Everett Hale

Originally written in 1863 by a relative of patriot Nathan Hale, this story, according to the author, was created "for the single purpose of teaching young Americans what it is to have a country, what is the duty which they owe to that country, and how central that duty is among all the duties of their lives."

Philip Nolan, a fictional character also known as the man without a country,...