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puffed…up Dutch scholar into the high saddle； and away galloped
the hunt toward the Maelar woods。
As if blind to his own folly； Van Beunigen； the envoy； placed
himself near to the young Queen； and Christina； full of her own
mischief； began gravely to compliment him on his horsemanship；
and suggested a gallop。
Alas； fatal moment。 For while he yet swayed and jolted upon the
back of the restive Hannibal； and even endeavored to discuss with
the fair young scholar who rode beside him； the 〃Melanippe〃 of
Euripides； the same fair scholarwho； in spite of all her Greek
learning was only a mischievous and sometimes very rude young
girlfaced him with a sober countenance。
〃Good Herr Van Beunigen；〃 she said； 〃your Greek is truly as
smooth as your face。 But it seems to me you do not sufficiently
catch the spirit of the poet's lines commmencing
。＇1＇
I should rather say that should be〃
＇1＇ The commencement of an extract from the 〃Melanippe〃 of
Euripides； meaning； 〃To raise vain laughter； many exercise the
arts of satire。〃
Just what should be she never declared； for； as
the envoy of Holland turned upon her a face on which Greek
learning and anxious horsemanship struggled with one another；
Christina slyly touched black Hannibal lightly with her
riding…whip。
Light as the touch was； however； it was enough。 The unruly horse
reared and plunged。 The startled scholar； with a cry of terror；
flung up his hands； and then clutched black Hannibal around the
neck。 Thus； in the manner of John Gilpin；
〃His horse； who never in that way
Had handled been before；
What thing upon his back had got
Did wonder more and more。
〃Away went Gilpin； neck or nought；
Away went hat and wig；
He never dreamt when he set out；
Of running such a rig。〃
Minus hat and wig； too； the poor envoy dashed up the Maelar
highway； while Christina； laughing loudly； galloped after him in
a mad race； followed by all her hunting…party。
The catastrophe was not far away。 The black horse； like the
ill…tempered 〃bronchos〃 of our western plains； 〃bucked〃 suddenly；
and over his head like a flash went the discomfited Dutchman。 In
an instant； Greek learning and Dutch diplomacy lay sprawling in a
Swedish roadway； from which Jous； the groom； speedily lifted the
groaning would…be horseman。
Even in her zeal for study； really remarkable in so young a girl；
Christina could not forego her misguided love of power and her
tendency to practical joking； and one day she even made two grave
philosophers； who were holding a profound discussion in her
presence over some deep philosophic subject； suddenly cease their
arguments to play with her at battledore and shuttlecock。
A girlhood of uncontrolled power； such as hers； could lead but to
one result。 Self…gratification is the worst form of selfishness；
and never can work good to any one。 Although she was a girl of
wonderful capabilities； of the blood of famous kings and
conquerors； giving such promises of greatness that scholars and
statesmen alike prophesied for her a splendid future； Christina；
Queen of Sweden； made only a failure of her life。
At eighteen she had herself formally crowned as KING of Sweden。
But at twenty…five she declared herself sick and tired of her
duties as queen； and at twenty…eight； at the height of her power
and fame； she actually did resign her throne in favor of her
cousin； Prince Karl；publicly abdicated； and at once left her
native land to lead the life of a disappointed wanderer。
The story of this remarkable woman is one that holds a lesson for
all。 Eccentric； careless； and fearless； handsome； witty； and
learned； ambitious； shrewd； and visionary；she was one of the
strangest compounds of 〃unlikes〃 to be met with in history。
She deliberately threw away a crown； wasted a life that might
have been helpful to her subjects； regarded only her own selfish
and personal desires； and died a prematurely old woman at
sixty…five； unloved and unhonored。
Her story； if it teaches any thing； assures us that it is always
best to have in youth； whether as girl or boy； the guidance and
direction of some will that is acknowledged and respected。
Natures unformed or over…indulged； with none to counsel or
command； generally go wrong。 A mother's love； a father's care；
thesethough young people may not always read them arightare
needed for the moulding of character； while to every bright young
girl； historic or unhistoric； princess or peasant； Swedish queen
or modern American maiden； will it at last be apparent that the
right way is always the way of modesty and gentleness； of high
ambitions； perhaps； but； always and everywhere； of thoughtfulness
for others and kindliness to all。
MA…TA…OKA OF POW…HA…TAN：
THE GIRL OF THE VIRGINIA FORESTS。
＇Generally known as 〃The Princess Pocahontas。〃＇ A。D。 1607。
Throughout that portion of the； easterly United States where the
noble bay called the Chesapeake cuts Virginia in two； and where
the James； broadest of all the rivers of the 〃Old Dominion；〃
rolls its glittering waters toward the sea； there lived； years
ago； a notable race of men。
For generations they had held the land； and； though their
clothing was scanty and their customs odd； they possessed many of
the elements of character that are esteemed noble； and； had they
been left to themselves； they might have progressedso people
who have studied into their character now believeinto a fairly
advanced stage of what is known as barbaric civilization。
They lived in long； low houses of bark and boughs； each house
large enough to accommodate； perhaps； from eighty to a hundred
personstwenty families to a house。 These 〃long houses〃 were；
therefore； much the same in purpose as are the tenement…houses of
to…day； save that the tenements of that far…off time were all on
the same floor and were open closets or stalls； about eight feet
wide； furnished with bunks built against the wall and spread with
deer…skin robes for comfort and covering。 These 〃flats〃 or stalls
were arranged on either side of a broad； central passage…way； and
in this passage…way； at equal distances apart； fire pits were
constructed； the heat from which would warm the bodies and cook
the dinners of the occupants of the 〃long house；〃 each fire
serving the purpose of four tenements or families。
In their mode of life these peopletall； well…made； attractive；
and coppery…colored folkwere what is now termed communists；
that is； they lived from common stores and had all an equal share
in the land and its yieldthe products of their vegetable
gardens； their hunting and fishing expeditions； their home
labors； and their household goods。
Their method of government was entirely democratic。 No one； in
any household； was better off or of higher rank than his brot