cautioned the virtuous Crown Prince to beware of breaking a fine vase which he showed a propensity to demolish.

"If you break that vase, Carl," said King Oscar, "you shall go into arrest for the day."

On went the frolicsome boy, and down came the fine vase. Carl was marched off under arrest, and locked up in the prison chamber of the Palace. Soon after came the gentle Gustaf lamenting to its door.

"Carl, my brother," said he through the keyhole, "what can I do for you? Shall I go and beg papa to let you come out? or shall I beg him to let me come in and stay with you ?"

"It is useless to ask him to let me out, my little Gustaf," said Carl in reply. " "Papa has ordered me into arrest for the day, and I am to be alone too. But I can tell you how to get in here, if you really wish to bear me company, my good little brother."

"Yes, yes, dear brother; tell me, Carl, what shall I do to get in?"

"Run quickly and break the other vase," whispered Carl through the key-hole.

I thought of the story when I looked at the two brothers to-night.

The overflowing vigour, strength, and vivacity of the heir to the Swedish crown may adapt him better to the part he may yet be called to take in the history and service of his country; while the elegant aspect, the refined and cultivated taste, of the second brother appear to designate him at once of gentle mind as well as birth, an artist and a prince.

King Oscar is as much unlike his father, Carl Johan, as the sons of great men usually are, and the two elder brothers are as dissimilar.

Prince Oscar, the young seaman of Sweden, is considered a great practical genius; and his talents in his profession are so highly esteemed by his country, that an old lady here told me that, during a late visit to our dockyards, he so astonished all the British admirals who examined him concerning nautical affairs, that they confessed their years and experience were completely baffled by the royal youth!

The Queen was a beautiful, and still is a graceful and gracious lady; the grand-daughter of poor Josephine could scarcely be otherwise. Her father, the once celebrated Eugene Beauharnois, having been the comrade in arms with Bernadotte, the fortunate fellow-soldiers sealed, as it were, the memories of their eventful lives in the union of

their children. She was betrothed to the then Crown Prince at the age of sixteen, and married at nineteen. She is a Roman Catholic, and a truly devout one-giving an example to her people in the observance of religion and its duties, which many of them would do well to follow. The marriage of the heir to the throne, however, with a Protestant Princess gave general satisfaction to the country.

The Crown Princess was educated as a Calvinist in Holland, but on coming to Sweden embraced the Lutheran faith, which, in many essential points, seems almost as distinct from it as if Calvin and Luther were not the two great fathers of the same reformation.

But really the idea of getting away from a presentation, a supper and a ball-room-to Calvin, Luther, and the distinctions of faith propounded by the Reformers-appears to be a most uncommonly stupid flight of the imagination. Yet when one has been sitting for four or five hours looking on at dancing, the mind may fly anywhere by way of exercise; and a discussion itself appear to be a penance scarcely less severe.

However, this was only some words by the way, just to fill up my brief sketches of the per

sonages to whom my presentation was to be made.

The ball concluded with a pretty dance, performed by the Crown Prince and his young wife alone. It was the most pleasing to me; the royal couple seeming so good and so well matched in all respects. King Oscar, who is a most affectionate father, came up to me when it was finished, and said these words-which I am not likely to forget: -"Do not Carl and Louise dance well together?" The tone, the look, the words, are quite an epitome of his character. If it had been the humblest of his subjects speaking with simplicity of two little pet children, the words would have been as natural, but perhaps not so well remembered. And just in keeping with the speech, was the kindness with which, when, at three o'clock, a nobleman in attendance presented to his Majesty a cup of coffee, he turned to the stranger, and asked if she too would not have some. Matters that are almost less than trifles in themselves, when they indicate the character of those whose position is great, acquire some degree of great

ness.

Very weary, yet much gratified by the amiability of the truly charming Royal Family of

Sweden, I descended the vast, bare, chillingly cold stone stairs, which always remind one of being in Scandinavia, whatever refinement above them may tempt you to forget the fact; and in the passage (having the right of entry) the sledge of Sir E. was waiting, with its windows cased with a rim of iron-hard ice, a full inch thick, and several inches high. Something like a misty rain had been falling when we came, so that the King had remarked to the English stranger that it has quite "un tems, Anglais;" yet such was the change that had now occurred. And so I got back to my room, and was afraid to leave it all the next day, lest I should have to tell my old state-loving hostess that not one of my well-practised reverences had been made, nor a single bit of my little train displayed.

She heard the story, however; and when I confessed that my train had been tucked over my arm the whole night, she lifted up both hands, and exclaimed: "Madame, never tell any one else of your presentation at Court! It is just as had not been presented at all!"

if you

I assured her I knew how to keep my own secrets; and I hope you will approve of my method of keeping them.