Iron County register., 1899-09-07

4
lodge gate stood the porter.
| rs the master of the place very
rich? ?" she asked
He has millions of money, and he
made it all by his own genius said the
porter.
Il must see this man." thought Ste
phana, and then she said to the porter:
do you think l might go to the man
sion and ask for bread and milk?''
Surely" answered the porter, "'for
the master is very good"
| Rich, great and good!" reflected Ste
phana, as she walked up the beautiful
path leading to the house. How happy
he must be, and how the world must ad-
mire him!"
I Presently she saw a man sitting in a
large chair in the shade of a fine tree,
which grew before the house. His
hands hung idly by his sides. and his
head was bowed. His whole attitude
betrayed depression, and when Ste
phana had drawn near to him she per-
ceived that there was a deep sadness
| upon his countenance. So she said to
him:
''Sir, I 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 sister?'
No" said Stephana. with a little
start; but have a brother
THAT is very well,' said the owner
of the mansion, but a sister is bet
for. In. IL
| 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 Il great fortune and
| my little sister. | was not able to with
stand the temptations thrown in my
way by the possession of so much
wealth. | 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 l went
home paused to look at my sleeping
sister. No matter how late the hour,
she always awoke and said to me:
Brother, l prayed for you tonight.
In few years she grew to be a young
woman, and L found that the fortune
which had been left me was reduced to
a 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 a paradise for me. My
ventures prospered and | 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
the world for me and saved me from
myself. She was noble woman. And
now she is gone. Do you wonder that
l 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 a life need not be so greatly
discontented 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 Il splendid steel
battleship. Beside little pier in front
of the house lay n 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.
IL nat Is the 1OHIS vi ouI great dI-
miral," was the reply. land 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 If you live to do but one
such deed, my boy. YOU will have the
world at your feet
Stephana. full of desire 20 meet such
a man and hear of MS deeds, walked
towards the house. In a little grove
beside it she saw Il man walking up
and down in great agitation. She
Judged by his inform that ne was an
officer.
Sig she said. Il wish to hear about
the admira;s great deeds
MY bay said the man. Il am the
admiral. l do not know what great
deeds l 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
sDeak like child. When you are
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 good wife. 1t is better for man
to be poor laborer and to have his
wife bv his side. than to be king and
be alone. l was poor lieutenant when
,,,arriad her and | had no ambition.