ous
controversy over the situation. The nation was in desperate strait, and
some were for one thing and some were for another. There was even talk
of making the government a republic, like the state of Venice; and the
supporters of the king of Poland, cousin to the dead King Gustavus,
openly advocated his claim to the throne.

But the Grand Chancellor, Axel Oxenstiern, one of Sweden's greatest
statesmen, acted promptly.

"Let there be no talk between us," he said, "of Venetian republics or
of Polish kings. We have but one king--the daughter of the immortal
Gustavus!"

Then up spoke one of the leading representatives of the peasant class,
Lars Larsson, the deputy from the western fiords.

"Who is this daughter of Gustavus?" he demanded. "How do we know this
is no trick of yours, Axel Oxenstiern? How do we know that King Gustavus
has a daughter? We have never seen her."

"You shall see her at once," replied the Chancellor; and leaving the
Hall for an instant, he returned speedily, leading a little girl by
the hand. With a sudden movement he lifted her to the seat of the high
silver throne that could only be occupied by the kings of Sweden.

"Swedes, behold your king!"

Lars Larsson, the deputy, pressed close to the throne on which the small
figure perched silent, yet with a defiant little look upon her face.

"She hath the face of the Grand Gustavus," he said. "Look, brothers, the
nose, the eyes, the very brows are his."

"Aye," said Oxenstiern; "and she is a soldier's daughter. I myself did
see her, when scarce three years old, clap her tiny hands and laugh
aloud when the guns of Calmar fortress thundered a salute. 'She
must learn to bear it,' said Gustavus our king; 'she is a soldier's
daughter.'"

"Hail, Christina!" shouted the assembly, won by the proud bearing of the
little girl and by her likeness to her valiant father. "We will have her
and only her for our queen!"

"Better yet, brothers," cried Lars Larsson, now her most loyal
supporter; "she sits upon the throne of the kings; let her be proclaimed
King of Sweden."

And so it was done. And with their wavering loyalty kindled into a
sudden flame, the States of Sweden "gave a mighty shout" and cried as
one man, "Hail, Christina, King of Sweden!"

There was strong objection in Sweden to the rule of a woman; and the
education of this little girl was rather that of a prince than of a
princess. She was taught to ride and to shoot, to hunt and to fence,