y of her own sex. At the age
of nine years, she was separated from her mother, whom the Swedes did not
consider a proper person to be entrusted with the charge of her. No little
girl, who sits by a New England fireside, has cause to envy Christina, in
the royal palace at Stockholm.

Yet she made great progress in her studies. She learned to read the
classical authors of Greece and Rome, and became a great admirer of the
heroes and poets of old times. Then, as for active exercises, she could
ride on horseback as well as any man in her kingdom. She was fond of
hunting, and could shoot at a mark with wonderful skill. But dancing was
the only feminine accomplishment with which she had any acquaintance.

She was so restless in her disposition, that none of her attendants were
sure of a moment's quiet, neither day nor night. She grew up, I am sorry
to say, a very unamiable person, ill-tempered, proud, stubborn, and, in
short, unfit to make those around her happy, or to be happy herself. Let
every little girl, who has been taught self-control, and a due regard for
the rights of others, thank heaven that she has had better instruction
than this poor little queen of Sweden.

At the age of eighteen, Christina was declared free to govern the kingdom
by herself, without the aid of a regency. At this period of her life, she
was a young woman of striking aspect, a good figure and intelligent face,
but very strangely dressed. She wore a short habit of gray cloth, with a
man's vest over it, and a black scarf around her neck, but no jewels, nor
ornaments of any kind.

Yet, though Christina was so negligent of her appearance, there was
something in her air and manner that proclaimed her as the ruler of a
kingdom. Her eyes, it is said, had a very fierce and haughty look. Old
General Wrangel, who had often caused the enemies of Sweden to tremble in
battle, actually trembled himself, when he encountered the eyes of the
queen. But it would have been better for Christina if she could have made
people love her, by means of soft and gentle looks, instead of affrighting
them by such terrible glances.

And now I have told you almost all that is amusing or instructive, in the
childhood of Christina. Only a few more words need be said about her; for
it is neither pleasant nor profitable to think of many things that she
did, after she grew to be a woman.

When she had worn the crown a few years, she began to consider it beneath
her dignity to