In the story "Water Never Hurt a Man" by Walter D. Edmonds, what kind of person was John?

At the end of the story, John was not afraid as he use to be. John worried about alot of things and he was frightened alot of the time. John says to his father "watter never hurt a man; it keeps his hide from cracking. " this says to me that John is very changed after his encounter with the other boys. good luck

The most generous person in the story. I don't know if that's the same story u r talking about.