The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1899-09-15

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"Sir, am told that you are rich and
good. Why are you sad"
The man raised his head and gazed
intently at Stephana.
MY boy" he said, kindly, shave you
a sster?'
NO." said Stephana, with little
start; "but have brother"
"That is very WE'LL" said the owner
of the mansion, ''but sister is bet
ter for boy. l had sister,; but she
is gone now. l am, indeed, rich in this
worlds goods; but if l could give them
all away and have my sister back, l
should be infinitely richer. You are
very young, and you are just setting
out upon life's journey; therefore,
listen! Many years ago my parents
died, leaving me great fortune and
my little sister. l was not able to with
stand the temptations thrown in my
way by the possession of so much
wealth. 1 spent my idle days in riot
Gus living, surrounded by dissolute
companions, who sought me only be-
cause l could purchase folly for their
amusement. Every night when went
home paused to look at my sleeping
sister. No matter how late the hour,
Brother, 1 prayed for you tonight
In few years she grew to be young
woman, and L found that the fortune
which had been left me was reduced to
few thousands. But my sister set
herself to work to change my manner
of life. By her unfailing sweetness and
devotion she gradually won me away
from my idleness and dissipation.
Then she induced me to embark in COM
mercial enterprise with my few re-
naming thousands, while she devoted
herself to the beautiful task of MAX
ing my home paradise for me. My
ventures prospered and l grew rich
and was tempted again. But my sis
ter led me to spend my money and my
leisure in doing good deeds, and so she
won for me what | never had before,
the love and respect of good men and
women. All my life she surrounded
with the glory of her love. She gave up
L
myself. She was noble woman. And
now she is gone. Do you wonder that
1 am sad?"
Stephana was much touched by the
story of the devoted sister, and went
upon her way, thinking that any girl
who had the opportunity to lead so
beautiful life need not be so greatly
disconnected with her lot. Neverthe-
less, Stephana reflected that, as she
had no such opportunity, she would
prefer to remain a boy. In an hour
she was quite as eager as ever to find
great deeds to do. So she walked brisk
ly along the road until presently she
heard the sound of surf beating upon
rocks, and, turning sharp bend, she
came upon wide prospect of the sea.
Ragged cliffs stretched away before
her, save where an opening led to a
pretty little bay, in which the waves
sang gently upon a beach of silvery
sand. Beyond the beach stood hand
some house, while just outside the
bay rode at anchor splendid steel
battleship. Beside little pier in front
of the house lay barge, which had
evidently brought ashore some officer
of high rank. Stephana descended to
the beach and walked to the pier.
''Whose house is this?" she asked a
sailor.
THAT is the home of our great adj
miral,'' was the reply, ''and we have
brought him ashore to see his wife, who
is dying"
HAS he done great deeds?" asked
Stephana.
''The greatest on the sea- answered
the sailor. eff you live to do but one
such deed, my boy, you will have, the
world at your feet"
Stephana, full of desire to meet such
man and hear of his deeds, walked
towards the house. In a little grove
beside it she saw a man walking up
and down in great agitation. She
judged by his uniform that he was an
officer.
Sir" she said, 81 wish to hear about
the admirars great deeds.''
'My boy" said the man, 81 am the
admiral. L do not know what great
deeds 1 have done, for to-day my life
is empty. My wife is dying"
But" said Stephana, ''those we love
must die, but noble deeds live forever"
Boy" said the admiral, sadly, ''you
speak like a child. When you are a
man with gray hair you will know
that riches, fame, wealth and rank are
empty and worthless; and that the
only thing worth living for is the love
of a good wife. It is better for man
to be poor laborer and to have his
wife by his side, than to be a king and
be alone. was a poor lieutenant when
L married her, and l had no ambition,
no energy, no courage. But she used
to sit by my side in the evenings and
read to me from the histories of navies
the achievements of good officers.
Finally / said: i wish l could be like
those men, so you SHALL she said.
But / am only poor lieutenant said
/, and they were all commanders, or
captains, or admirals.' But they were
all ieutenants first she said. And
then one by one she read to me the
books that told the story of their lives
i