diff --git a/src/Routing/Router.php b/src/Routing/Router.php
index 36dd59e..38c350c 100644
--- a/src/Routing/Router.php
+++ b/src/Routing/Router.php
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use WellRESTed\Message\Response;
 use WellRESTed\Message\ServerRequest;
 use WellRESTed\Routing\Route\RouteFactory;
 use WellRESTed\Routing\Route\RouteFactoryInterface;
-use WellRESTed\Stream\StringStream;
+use WellRESTed\Stream\Stream;
 
 class Router implements MiddlewareInterface
 {
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class Router implements MiddlewareInterface
             $this->routeTable->dispatch($request, $response);
         } catch (HttpException $e) {
             $response = $response->withStatus($e->getCode());
-            $response = $response->withBody(new StringStream($e->getMessage()));
+            $response = $response->withBody(new Stream($e->getMessage()));
         }
         $statusCode = $response->getStatusCode();
         if (isset($this->statusHandlers[$statusCode])) {
diff --git a/src/Stream/Stream.php b/src/Stream/Stream.php
index b0c901c..6257298 100644
--- a/src/Stream/Stream.php
+++ b/src/Stream/Stream.php
@@ -7,15 +7,27 @@ use Psr\Http\Message\StreamableInterface;
 class Stream implements StreamableInterface
 {
     /** @var resource */
-    private $handle;
+    private $resource;
 
     /**
-     * @param resource $handle A file system pointer resource that is typically created using fopen().
+     * Create a new Stream passing either a stream resource handle (e.g.,
+     * from fopen) or a string.
+     *
+     * If $resource is a string, the Stream will open a php://temp stream,
+     * write the string to the stream, and use that temp resource.
+     *
+     * @param resource|string $resource A file system pointer resource or
+     *     string
      */
-    public function __construct($handle)
+    public function __construct($resource)
     {
-        if (is_resource($handle)) {
-            $this->handle = $handle;
+        if (is_resource($resource) && get_resource_type($resource) === "stream") {
+            $this->resource = $resource;
+        } elseif (is_string($resource)) {
+            $this->resource = fopen("php://temp", "r+");
+            if ($resource !== "") {
+                $this->write($resource);
+            }
         } else {
             throw new \InvalidArgumentException("Expected a resource handler.");
         }
@@ -33,7 +45,7 @@ class Stream implements StreamableInterface
      */
     public function __toString()
     {
-        rewind($this->handle);
+        rewind($this->resource);
         return $this->getContents();
     }
 
@@ -44,7 +56,7 @@ class Stream implements StreamableInterface
      */
     public function close()
     {
-        fclose($this->handle);
+        fclose($this->resource);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -56,8 +68,8 @@ class Stream implements StreamableInterface
      */
     public function detach()
     {
-        $stream = $this->handle;
-        $this->handle = null;
+        $stream = $this->resource;
+        $this->resource = null;
         return $stream;
     }
 
@@ -68,7 +80,7 @@ class Stream implements StreamableInterface
      */
     public function getSize()
     {
-        $statistics = fstat($this->handle);
+        $statistics = fstat($this->resource);
         return $statistics["size"] ?: null;
     }
 
@@ -79,7 +91,7 @@ class Stream implements StreamableInterface
      */
     public function tell()
     {
-        return ftell($this->handle);
+        return ftell($this->resource);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -89,7 +101,7 @@ class Stream implements StreamableInterface
      */
     public function eof()
     {
-        return feof($this->handle);
+        return feof($this->resource);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -116,7 +128,7 @@ class Stream implements StreamableInterface
      */
     public function seek($offset, $whence = SEEK_SET)
     {
-        fseek($this->handle, $offset, $whence);
+        fseek($this->resource, $offset, $whence);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -132,7 +144,7 @@ class Stream implements StreamableInterface
      */
     public function rewind()
     {
-        rewind($this->handle);
+        rewind($this->resource);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -155,7 +167,7 @@ class Stream implements StreamableInterface
      */
     public function write($string)
     {
-        return fwrite($this->handle, $string);
+        return fwrite($this->resource, $string);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -180,7 +192,7 @@ class Stream implements StreamableInterface
      */
     public function read($length)
     {
-        return fread($this->handle, $length);
+        return fread($this->resource, $length);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -190,7 +202,7 @@ class Stream implements StreamableInterface
      */
     public function getContents()
     {
-        return stream_get_contents($this->handle);
+        return stream_get_contents($this->resource);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -207,7 +219,7 @@ class Stream implements StreamableInterface
      */
     public function getMetadata($key = null)
     {
-        $metadata = stream_get_meta_data($this->handle);
+        $metadata = stream_get_meta_data($this->resource);
         if ($key === null) {
             return $metadata;
         } else {
diff --git a/src/Stream/StringStream.php b/src/Stream/StringStream.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 63da573..0000000
--- a/src/Stream/StringStream.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace WellRESTed\Stream;
-
-class StringStream extends Stream
-{
-    public function __construct($string = "")
-    {
-        $handle = fopen("php://memory", "w+");
-        fwrite($handle, $string);
-        parent::__construct($handle);
-    }
-}
diff --git a/test/tests/unit/Routing/RouterTest.php b/test/tests/unit/Routing/RouterTest.php
index 9bb0742..24113a1 100644
--- a/test/tests/unit/Routing/RouterTest.php
+++ b/test/tests/unit/Routing/RouterTest.php
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ use WellRESTed\Routing\Router;
  * @uses WellRESTed\Routing\Route\StaticRoute
  * @uses WellRESTed\Routing\Route\Route
  * @uses WellRESTed\Stream\Stream
- * @uses WellRESTed\Stream\StringStream
  */
 class RouterTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
 {
diff --git a/test/tests/unit/Stream/StingStreamTest.php b/test/tests/unit/Stream/StingStreamTest.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 8e4e16d..0000000
--- a/test/tests/unit/Stream/StingStreamTest.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,34 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace WellRESTed\Test\Stream;
-
-use WellRESTed\Stream\StringStream;
-
-/**
- * @covers WellRESTed\Stream\StringStream
- * @uses WellRESTed\Stream\Stream
- */
-class StringStreamTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
-{
-    public function testCreatesInstance()
-    {
-        $stream = new StringStream();
-        $this->assertNotNull($stream);
-    }
-
-    public function testCreatesInstanceWithString()
-    {
-        $message = "Hello, World!";
-        $stream = new StringStream($message);
-        $this->assertEquals($message, (string) $stream);
-    }
-
-    public function testAllowsWriting()
-    {
-        $message = "Hello, World!";
-        $stream = new StringStream();
-        $stream->write("Hello,");
-        $stream->write(" World!");
-        $this->assertEquals($message, (string) $stream);
-    }
-}
diff --git a/test/tests/unit/Stream/StreamTest.php b/test/tests/unit/Stream/StreamTest.php
index 014f499..d6fa259 100644
--- a/test/tests/unit/Stream/StreamTest.php
+++ b/test/tests/unit/Stream/StreamTest.php
@@ -4,134 +4,125 @@ namespace WellRESTed\Test\Stream;
 
 use WellRESTed\Stream\Stream;
 
+/**
+ * @uses WellRESTed\Stream\Stream
+ */
 class StreamTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
 {
-    private $handle;
+    private $resource;
     private $content = "Hello, world!";
 
     public function setUp()
     {
-        $this->handle = fopen("php://memory", "w+");
-        fwrite($this->handle, $this->content);
+        $this->resource = fopen("php://memory", "w+");
+        fwrite($this->resource, $this->content);
     }
 
     public function tearDown()
     {
-        if (is_resource($this->handle)) {
-            fclose($this->handle);
+        if (is_resource($this->resource)) {
+            fclose($this->resource);
         }
     }
 
     /**
      * @covers WellRESTed\Stream\Stream::__construct()
      */
-    public function testCreatesInstance()
+    public function testCreatesInstanceWithStreamResource()
     {
-        $stream = new Stream($this->handle);
+        $stream = new Stream($this->resource);
+        $this->assertNotNull($stream);
+    }
+
+    public function testCreatesInstanceWithString()
+    {
+        $stream = new Stream("Hello, world!");
         $this->assertNotNull($stream);
     }
 
     /**
      * @covers WellRESTed\Stream\Stream::__construct()
      * @expectedException \InvalidArgumentException
+     * @dataProvider invalidResourceProvider
      */
-    public function testThrowsExceptiondWithoutHandle()
+    public function testThrowsExceptiondWithInvalidResource($resource)
     {
-        new Stream(null);
+        new Stream($resource);
+    }
+
+    public function invalidResourceProvider()
+    {
+        return [
+            [null],
+            [true],
+            [4],
+            [[]]
+        ];
     }
 
     /**
      * @covers WellRESTed\Stream\Stream::__toString()
-     * @uses WellRESTed\Stream\Stream
      */
     public function testCastsToString()
     {
-        $content = "Hello, world!";
-
-        $h = fopen("php://memory", "w+");
-        fwrite($h, $content);
-        rewind($h);
-
-        $stream = new Stream($h);
-        $this->assertEquals($content, (string) $stream);
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * @covers WellRESTed\Stream\Stream::__toString()
-     * @uses WellRESTed\Stream\Stream
-     */
-    public function testRewindsBeforeCastingToString()
-    {
-        $content = "Hello, world!";
-
-        $h = fopen("php://memory", "w+");
-        fwrite($h, $content);
-
-        $stream = new Stream($h);
-        $this->assertEquals($content, (string) $stream);
+        $stream = new Stream($this->resource);
+        $this->assertEquals($this->content, (string) $stream);
     }
 
     /**
      * @covers WellRESTed\Stream\Stream::close()
-     * @uses WellRESTed\Stream\Stream
      */
     public function testClosesHandle()
     {
-        $stream = new Stream($this->handle);
+        $stream = new Stream($this->resource);
         $stream->close();
-        $this->assertFalse(is_resource($this->handle));
+        $this->assertFalse(is_resource($this->resource));
     }
 
     /**
      * @covers WellRESTed\Stream\Stream::detach()
-     * @uses WellRESTed\Stream\Stream
      */
     public function testDetachReturnsHandle()
     {
-        $stream = new Stream($this->handle);
-        $h = $stream->detach();
-        $this->assertSame($this->handle, $h);
+        $stream = new Stream($this->resource);
+        $this->assertSame($this->resource, $stream->detach());
     }
 
     /**
      * @covers WellRESTed\Stream\Stream::detach()
-     * @uses WellRESTed\Stream\Stream
      */
     public function testDetachUnsetsInstanceVariable()
     {
-        $stream = new Stream($this->handle);
+        $stream = new Stream($this->resource);
         $stream->detach();
         $this->assertNull($stream->detach());
     }
 
     /**
      * @covers WellRESTed\Stream\Stream::getSize
-     * @uses WellRESTed\Stream\Stream
      */
     public function testReturnsSize()
     {
-        $stream = new Stream($this->handle);
+        $stream = new Stream($this->resource);
         $this->assertEquals(strlen($this->content), $stream->getSize());
     }
 
     /**
      * @covers WellRESTed\Stream\Stream::tell
-     * @uses WellRESTed\Stream\Stream
      */
     public function testTellReturnsHandlePosition()
     {
-        $stream = new Stream($this->handle);
-        fseek($this->handle, 10);
+        $stream = new Stream($this->resource);
+        fseek($this->resource, 10);
         $this->assertEquals(10, $stream->tell());
     }
 
     /**
      * @covers WellRESTed\Stream\Stream::eof
-     * @uses WellRESTed\Stream\Stream
      */
     public function testReturnsOef()
     {
-        $stream = new Stream($this->handle);
+        $stream = new Stream($this->resource);
         $stream->rewind();
         $this->assertFalse($stream->eof());
         $stream->getContents();
@@ -140,58 +131,53 @@ class StreamTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
 
     /**
      * @covers WellRESTed\Stream\Stream::isSeekable
-     * @uses WellRESTed\Stream\Stream
      */
     public function testReadsSeekableStatusFromMetadata()
     {
-        $stream = new Stream($this->handle);
-        $metadata = stream_get_meta_data($this->handle);
+        $stream = new Stream($this->resource);
+        $metadata = stream_get_meta_data($this->resource);
         $seekable = $metadata["seekable"] == 1;
         $this->assertEquals($seekable, $stream->isSeekable());
     }
 
     /**
      * @covers WellRESTed\Stream\Stream::seek
-     * @uses WellRESTed\Stream\Stream
      */
     public function testSeeksToPosition()
     {
-        $stream = new Stream($this->handle);
+        $stream = new Stream($this->resource);
         $stream->seek(10);
-        $this->assertEquals(10, ftell($this->handle));
+        $this->assertEquals(10, ftell($this->resource));
     }
 
     /**
      * @covers WellRESTed\Stream\Stream::rewind
-     * @uses WellRESTed\Stream\Stream
      */
     public function testRewindReturnsToBeginning()
     {
-        $stream = new Stream($this->handle);
+        $stream = new Stream($this->resource);
         $stream->seek(10);
         $stream->rewind();
-        $this->assertEquals(0, ftell($this->handle));
+        $this->assertEquals(0, ftell($this->resource));
     }
 
     /**
      * @covers WellRESTed\Stream\Stream::write
-     * @uses WellRESTed\Stream\Stream
      */
     public function testWritesToHandle()
     {
         $message = "\nThis is a stream.";
-        $stream = new Stream($this->handle);
+        $stream = new Stream($this->resource);
         $stream->write($message);
         $this->assertEquals($this->content . $message, (string) $stream);
     }
 
     /**
      * @covers WellRESTed\Stream\Stream::read
-     * @uses WellRESTed\Stream\Stream
      */
     public function testReadsFromStream()
     {
-        $stream = new Stream($this->handle);
+        $stream = new Stream($this->resource);
         $stream->seek(7);
         $string = $stream->read(5);
         $this->assertEquals("world", $string);
@@ -199,11 +185,10 @@ class StreamTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
 
     /**
      * @covers WellRESTed\Stream\Stream::getContents
-     * @uses WellRESTed\Stream\Stream
      */
     public function testReadsToEnd()
     {
-        $stream = new Stream($this->handle);
+        $stream = new Stream($this->resource);
         $stream->seek(7);
         $string = $stream->getContents();
         $this->assertEquals("world!", $string);
@@ -211,28 +196,25 @@ class StreamTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
 
     /**
      * @covers WellRESTed\Stream\Stream::getMetadata
-     * @uses WellRESTed\Stream\Stream
      */
     public function testReturnsMetadataArray()
     {
-        $stream = new Stream($this->handle);
-        $this->assertEquals(stream_get_meta_data($this->handle), $stream->getMetadata());
+        $stream = new Stream($this->resource);
+        $this->assertEquals(stream_get_meta_data($this->resource), $stream->getMetadata());
     }
 
     /**
      * @covers WellRESTed\Stream\Stream::getMetadata
-     * @uses WellRESTed\Stream\Stream
      */
     public function testReturnsMetadataItem()
     {
-        $stream = new Stream($this->handle);
-        $metadata = stream_get_meta_data($this->handle);
+        $stream = new Stream($this->resource);
+        $metadata = stream_get_meta_data($this->resource);
         $this->assertEquals($metadata["mode"], $stream->getMetadata("mode"));
     }
 
     /**
      * @covers WellRESTed\Stream\Stream::isReadable
-     * @uses WellRESTed\Stream\Stream
      * @dataProvider modeProvider
      */
     public function testReturnsIsReadableForReadableStreams($mode, $readable, $writeable)
@@ -241,15 +223,13 @@ class StreamTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
         if ($mode[0] === "x") {
             unlink($tmp);
         }
-        fclose($this->handle);
-        $this->handle = fopen($tmp, $mode);
-        $stream = new Stream($this->handle);
+        $resource = fopen($tmp, $mode);
+        $stream = new Stream($resource);
         $this->assertEquals($readable, $stream->isReadable());
     }
 
     /**
      * @covers WellRESTed\Stream\Stream::isWritable
-     * @uses WellRESTed\Stream\Stream
      * @dataProvider modeProvider
      */
     public function testReturnsIsWritableForWritableStreams($mode, $readable, $writeable)
@@ -258,9 +238,8 @@ class StreamTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
         if ($mode[0] === "x") {
             unlink($tmp);
         }
-        fclose($this->handle);
-        $this->handle = fopen($tmp, $mode);
-        $stream = new Stream($this->handle);
+        $resource = fopen($tmp, $mode);
+        $stream = new Stream($resource);
         $this->assertEquals($writeable, $stream->isWritable());
     }