Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-10-12


phana was thinking very hard about
the book she had been reading. 1t was
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 twinkling 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.
u lust wish 1 was boy!" she said'
aloud.
and why, should like to know%
The PARKWAY 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 q little old woman in a
black gown and q red tippet standing
near her.
"Why do you wish to be boy? asked
the old woman.
Because I should like to be 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
co,,,a laavec md Game hack
Have you ever eaten any of these
leapes2" she asked.
Ne" 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 why, her shoulders sinewy
and her chest broad and fiat, and that
her whole body was covered with q
blue shirt; that her hands had become
large, rough and bony; that her hair
had turned short and stubby; in fine
that she was boy! Beside her lay q
boys cap, a little bundle of clothing and
a stout staff.
81 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 a long distance before noon,
and then she paused at the farm house
to get glass of milk and piece Of
bread. The farmers boy slapped her
shoulder so that it stung and said:
well, my young buck, where do you
tramp"
81 go in search of great deeds" she
answered.
"Well, if you'll stop here" said the
boy, "and ride our bay stallion that has
killed three men, I'll warrant it's q
greater deed than ever you did before"
But 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 a
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.
81 am writing poem" he said.
"Are you poet?" she asked.
Men have said So"
"What is your poem about?"
at is about woman's love-"
81 don't think that a fine subject"
said Stephana, about to depart.
my dear lad" said the poet, with
sweet solemnity, at is the finest of all
subjects. Believe me when L tell you,
though perchance you are yet too
young to understand me, that without
the love of woman-mother, sister or
wife-life would be u miserable doom,
and no man would do great or gener-
Gus deed. VIII it please you to hear my
poem?"
NO, it will not" answered Stephana.
81 would rather hear soldier tell of his
great triumphs, or a sailor of his vic
tories over the angered sea-"
That night the new boy slept in q
barn and set forth again at sunrise.
alter walking some miles SteDhana
saw magnificent mansion standing in
the midst of beautiful park. At the
lodge gate stood the porter.
Els 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 might go to the man,
sion and ask for bread and milk?"
Surely" answered the porter, ''fol
the master is very good"
I(lSlls ASSiO CIV SoOON. @S%A~SN~N S>~
phana, as she walked up the beautiful
path leading to the house. GLOW happy
he must be, and how the world must ad
mire him!"
Presently she saw q man sitting in {
large chair in the shade of fine tree
which grew before the house. Hii
hands hung idly by his sides, and hii
head was bowed. His whole attitude
; betrayed depression, and when Ste
phana had drawn near to him she per
ceived that there was deep sadness
upon his countenance. So she said t.
him:
"Sir, I am told that you are rich ant
good, Why are you sad?"
The man raised his head and gazoI
intently at Stephana-
"My b0y," he said, kindly, have yo
sister,"
teN- - eo:5 c+a,obo1o with n 1ittl