Iron County register., 1899-09-07
StGphana'S Travels in Trousers
By W. J. Henderson.

A'IEPHANA sat on the great stone
y under the old willow and gazed into
the brook. Her eyes were big and
round and had far-away look, for Ste
phana was thinking very hard about
the book she had been reading. 1t was
a book of great deeds by great men, and
Stephana wished to do such deeds, but
could not see her way to them because
she was a girl. The ripples in the brook
danced and sang in the twinknng sun
light that slipped between the leaves
of the old willow. and many little fishes,
with soft, gray backs and bright silver
sides. flashed in and out among the long
grasses that grew on the bottom. But
Stephana's eyes were full of the smoke
OF battles and spray of stormy oceans,
and so she did not see them.
Il Just wish l was boy!" she said,
aloud.
And why, should like to know?"
The far-away look went out of Ste
phana's eyes, and she started up, drop
ping the book, at the sound of a strange
voice. She saw little old woman in a
black gown and a red tippet standing
near her.
why do you wish to be boy?" asked
the old woman.
Because | should like to be Il great
man and do great deeds, and be valued
by the world" answered Stephana;
but am only girl
The old woman gazed earnestly at the
girl and shook her head. Then she
walked away short distance, plucked
some leaves and came back.
Have you ever eaten any of these
leaves" she asked.
NO" said Stephana.
'.Try them; they are very refreshing"
Stephana hardly knew what to think
of this curious old woman, who seemed
TO have dropped out of the skies, but she
felt impelled to take the leaves and
eat some of them. Straightway she
grew exceedingly drowsy; and, lying
down beside the tree, went fast asleep.
When she awoke she was lost in amaze
ment. for she saw that her feet had
grown large and were shOd with heavy,
hob-nailed boots; that her limbs had
lost their graceful roundness and be-
come long and muscular, and were en-
cased in trousers; that her arms were
thin and wiry her shoulders sinewy
and her chest broad and fiat. and that
her whole body was covered with
blue shirt; that her hands had become
large rough and bony: that her hair
had turned short and stubby; in fine
that she was a boy! Beside her lay
BOYS cap. little bundle of clothing and
a stout staff.
Il am no longer Stsphan." 8he muir
INJURED. but Stephen" Then she-for,
after all, she still had a girls mind, and
so let us call her ''she"-sprang to her
feet with new light in her eyes. The
ripples danced and sang and the little
fishes flashed in and out, but she saw
them not.
Il must set out upon my travels, she
said to herself; Il must go in search of
my great deeds, so that the world may
value me-"
So, setting the cap on her head and
shouldering the staff and bundle, Ste
phana set forth with an eager heart.
She walked long distance before noon.
and then she paused at the farm house
to get a glass of milk and piece of
bread. The farmers boy slapped her
shoulder so that it stung and said:
We'll, my young buck, where do you
tramp"
u go in search of great Deeds" she
answered.
well, if you'll stop here" said the
boy, land ride our bay stallion that has
killed three men, I'll warrant it's Il
greater deed than ever you did before.
Bat Stephana shook her head.
thanked the farmers wife and pressed
on When she had gone mile she saw
a man sitting by the roadside, under
tree, writing. AS she came up to him
he paused in his work and smiled so
kindly that she was emblodened TO ask
him what he wrote.
II am writing poem" he said.
Are you poet?" she asked.
"Men have said So
..Nhat is your poem about?
s.It is about woman's love-"
81 don't think that fine subject,
aid Stephana, about to depart.
..Mv dear lad" said the poet, with
sweet solemnity, lit is the finest of all
subjects. Believe me when / tell you,
though perchance you are yet too
xoung to understand me, that without
tbe love of woman-mother, sister or
vife-life would be miserable doom,
and no man would do great or gener-
ous deed. VIII it please you to hear my
poem?'
NO. it will not" answered Stephana
al sxcuid rather hear soldier te.i C. Rs