Evening journal., 1899-09-15
Stephana'S TTaYelSin Trousers
By W. ]. Henderson.


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 twinlSling 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 was a boy!" she said,
aloud.
sand why, 1 should like TO lSnow?"
The far-away look went out of Ste
phanas eyes, and she started up, drop
ping the book, at the sound OF a strange
voice. She saw a little old woman in
black gown and a red tippet standing
near her.
"Why do you wish to be a boy ?" asked
the old woman.
Because / should like to be great
man and do great deeds, and'be valued
by the world" answered Stephana;
but 1 am only girl"
The old woman gazed earnestly at the
girl and shook her head. Then she
walked away a 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 a
blue shirt; that her hands had become
large, rough and bony; that her hail
had turned short and stubby; in fine
that she was boyl Beside her lay q
boys cap, little bundle of clothing an6
stout staff.
! Il must set out upon my travels" sh'
said TO herself; Il must go in search o
my great deeds, so that the world ma,
/ value me-"
4 So, setting the cap on her head an'
4 shouldering the staff and bundle, Ste
| phana set forth with an eager heart
She walked a long distance before noon
u and then she paused at the farm hous
}, to get glass of milk and piece o
. bread. The farmers boy slapped he
shoulder so that it stung and said:
e well, my young buck, where do yol
I tramp"
v Il go in search of great Deeds" sh
i answered.
"Well, if yeu'n stop here" said tn
d boy, "and ride our bay stallion that ha
v killed three men, III warrant it's
y greater deed than ever you did before.
3 But Stephana shook her head
thanked the farmers wife and presse
= on. When she had gone a mile she say
a man sitting by the roadside. under
tree, writing. As she came up TO hir
= he paused in his work and smiled S
kindly that she was emblodened to as
{, him what he wrote.
Il am writing poem, he said.
" "Are you poet?" she asked.
"Men have said So"
- "Nhat is your poem about?"
1T is about weman's love-"
= = 81 don't think that a fine subject
said Stephana, about TO depart.
10 MY dear lad" said the poet, wit
sweet solemnity, 1T is the finest of a
Ie subjects. Believe me when / tell yoi
l. though perchance you are yet to
young to understand me, that withol
4 the love of mother, sister {
rs wife-life would be a miserable doom
and no man would do a great or gene
y Gus deed. VIII it please you TO hear m
" Roem?"
p "No, it viii not" answered Stephan
n 81 would rather hear a soldier tell Of h
great triumphs, or a sailor of his vi
Id tories over the angered sea-
Of That night the new boy slept in
barn and set forth again at sunris
After walking some miles Stephan
y saw a magnificent mansion standing
- the midst of beautiful park. At Il
=" lodge gate stood the porter.
"Is the master of the place We
ne rich?" she asked.
a, lie has millions of money. and
he made it all by his own genius" said Il
nd porter.
IL Il must see this man." thought 81
+, phana. and then she said TO the porte
do you think 1 might go to the ma
ip' sion and ask for bread and milk2"
er Surely" answered the porter, If
M the master is very good"
n "Rich great and good." reflected 81
d. phana, as she walked up the beauth
,re path leading to the house. "How hap
-, he must be. and how the world must a
mire him."
Presently she saw man sitting il
large chair in the shade Of fine tr