kable
changes of fortune. No one, however high or low, is free from the
accidents of this world. All men have surprises, either good or bad,
in store for them.

Few families have experienced a more striking change in position
than the present royal house of the little northern kingdom of
Denmark. Twenty years ago, the present king, Christian IX., was a
rather poor and obscure gentleman, of princely rank, to be sure,
residing quietly in Copenhagen, and bringing up his fine family of
boys and girls in a very domestic and economical fashion. He was
only a remote cousin of Frederick VII., the reigning monarch, and he
seemed little likely to come to the throne.

But death somewhat suddenly prepared the way for him, so that when
old Frederick died, in 1863, Christian found himself king.

This, however, was but the beginning of the fortunes of this once
modest and little-known household. Just before Christian came to the
throne, his eldest daughter, Alexandra, a beautiful and an amiable
girl, attracted the attention of the Prince of Wales. The prince
became attached to her, and in due time married her.

About the same time, Christian's second son, George, was chosen King
of Greece, and was crowned at Athens, and is still reigning there.

After three years had passed, the second daughter, Maria Dagmar,
who, like her sister Alexandra, was a very lovely and attractive
girl, was married to the Czarowitch Alexander of Russia, after
having been betrothed to his elder brother Nicholas, who died. She
is now Empress of Russia.

[Illustration: PALACE OF FREDERICKSBORG.]

Somewhat later, the eldest son of the Danish king married the only
daughter of Oscar II., King of Sweden and Norway, thus forming a new
link of national friendship between the three Scandinavian nations.

It is thus quite possible that in the not distant future no less
than four of King Christian's children, who were brought up with
little more expectation than that of living respectably and wedding
into Danish noble families, will occupy thrones in Europe. It may
happen that the two daughters will share two of the greatest of
those thrones,--that one will be Queen of England; the other is
Empress of Russia,--while the two sons will be respectively King of
Denmark and King of Greece.

This great good fortune, in a worldly point of view, which has come
to the Danish royal family, c