The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-09-14
Stephana'S Travels in Trousers
BY W. J. Henderson.


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 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.
81 just wish / 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 strange
voice She saw little old woman in a
black gown and red tippet standing
near her.
"Why do you wish to be a bog ?" asked
the old woman.
Because | 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
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 rcundness 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 a
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
boys cap, little bundle of clothing and
q stout staff.
cat nrrf frn val ha
said to herself; II must 60 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 glass of milk and piece of
bread. The farmers boy slapped her
shoulder so that il 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, "apd ride our bay stallion that has
killed three men, III warrant it's a
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
tree, writing. AS she came up to him
he paused in his work and smiled so
kindly that she was emblodened 10 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?"
''It is about woman's love"
81 don't think that fine subject"
said Stephana, about to depart
"My dear lad said the poet, with
sweet solemnity, ''it is the finest of all
subjects. Believe me when 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 miserable doom,
and no man would do a great or gener-
Gus deed. Will it please you to hear my
poem?"
mo, il will not" answered Stepbana
II would rather hear a soldier tell of his
great triumphs, or a sailor of his VIC
tories over the angered sea-"
That night the new boy slept in
barn and set forth again at sunrise.
After walking some miles Stephana
saw a magnificent mansion standing in
the midst of beautiful park. At the
lodge gate stood the porter.
rs the master of the place very
rich?" she asked.
He has millions of money, and he
made ii all by his own genius" said the
porter.
II 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, "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