Part 42 (1/2)

CHAPTER XVI

NORWAY

STOCKHOLM--STORY OF THE HERO KING--UPSALA--NORWAY--CHRISTIANIA-- KING OLAF--DRONTHEIM--THE FISHERMAN OF FAROE

The narrative of travel and history was continued by Mr Beal

”Strange is the evolution of cities

”We are about to glance at Stockholination six hundred years

”There are some rocky islands in the Baltic, at the foot of the northern peninsula Sea birds wheel above theray air; they build their nests there Storht bursts upon the them, and scares away the birds

”Years pass Fishermen build huts on the islands Hunters coe people

”They build a village on the holms, or islets They defend themselves with stockades, and they found on stocks, or bea town rises from stock holms; hence, Stockholm

[Illustration: GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS]

”The years pass, and the sea birds fly away There are wings of gables where once ings of birds Stockhol in recent tiy, and is transforardens, arise Battles are fought, and here tread the feet of kings

”The wonder grows The birds screaes Stockholm stands a splendid city, one of the crowns of earth

”The city lies before us noble structures, villas, steeples, are seen aether like a town in the sea

”It is sunset The tops of the linden-trees are croith sunlight, the Gothic s burn A shadow falls froulls The shadow deepens It is night We are in Stockholm

”Every nation has its hero

”You have been told how that poor Louis le Debonnaire, the son of Charledodoh at first not successful, were theChristianity to all the nations of the North

THE HERO KING OF SWEDEN

There was born in Stockholm, in 1594, an heir to the Swedish throne, whose influence was destined to be felt throughout the world and to very distant periods of time The child was nados of the Diet and the councils of state In boyhood he was able to discuss state affairs in Latin, and in youth he was able to speak nearly all European tongues

He was schooled in the arts of war as well as peace In early manhood he entered Russia at the head of an army, and compelled the Czar to sue for peace

After the war the young king gave his whole heart to the developdom He founded schools, assisted churches, and everywhere ood Never did a monarch devote himself more earnestly to the improvement of his people, or accoood has ever lived in Sweden, and is felt strongly to-day

He was an ardent Protestant The Catholic powers of the South and the Protestant powers of the North had beco In this crisis the Protestant leaders looked to Gustavus Adolphus as the champion of their cause