ing 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 were wings of birds. Stockholm becomes a fortress, and, as
in the case of St. Petersburg in recent times, the sea desolation
pulses with life and energy, and is transformed into a city. Churches,
palaces, gardens, arise. Battles are fought, and here tread the feet
of kings.

"The wonder grows. The birds scream far away now. The islands are
spanned by bridges. Stockholm stands a splendid city, one of the
crowns of earth.

"The city lies before us. Noble structures, villas, steeples, are seen
among the green trees. The ships of many flags lie together like a
town in the sea.

"It is sunset. The tops of the linden-trees are crowned with sunlight,
the Gothic windows burn. A shadow falls from the gray sky. Afar fly
the white sea-gulls. 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
Charlemagne, preferred to win crowns for Christ's kingdom rather than
for his own. He lost his own kingdom; but the missionaries he sent
forth, though at first not successful, were the means of giving
Christianity 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 named Gustavus Adolphus.

He was educated for the kingdom. At the age of ten he was made to
attend the sittings 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 development
of the industries and institutions of his kingdom. He founded
schools, assisted churches, and everywhere multiplied influences
for good. Never did a monarch devote himself more earnestly to the
improvement of his people, or accomplish more in a short time. His
influence for good has ever lived in Sweden, and is felt strongly
to-day.

He was an ardent Protestant. The Catholic powers of t