"HURRAH FOR KING FREDERIK!"
"VALDEMAR, tell me! What is a real king like?" exclaimed Karl, as both
boys sprang quickly out of bed bright and early Monday morning. "Is
a real king something like a President, only he's all gorgeous with
flashing decorations, and a sword and helmet,--like the pictures of
Napoleon and the German Emperor?"
"Karl, you must have been dreaming about kings! I can't tell you
whether a king is like a President or not, for I've never seen a
President," said Valdemar. "But I am sure of one thing, and that is
that our King isn't one bit like the German Emperor! King Frederik just
looks like the very best king Denmark ever had, and that is what he
really is!"
"Oh, excuse me, Valdemar. I forgot that you don't love the Germans. But
does King Frederik come riding a great prancing charger with an arched
neck and--"
"You'll soon enough see for yourself how the King looks, Karl. Oh,
there's Uncle Thor! Uncle Thor, how long before we can start?" cried
Valdemar, who was himself almost as excited over the prospect of seeing
two great kings at once, as was Karl. Valdemar had never seen King
Haakon of Norway, son of his own dear King, and, although Karl, who was
nearly twelve years old, had seen two Presidents, and gone once with
his father to the White House in Washington, he had never seen a real
live king in all his short life.
"Oh, father dear!" he cried, "when _can_ we start? There! I think I
heard a bugle! Oh, do let's go!"
"We will start before very long, Karl, but not until you boys have had
your tea and bread. And, if I'm not mistaken, I heard Valdemar's uncle
say that he was to have a good lesson in drawing this morning. King
Haakon's ship does not arrive in Copenhagen harbor before almost noon,
so there will be plenty of time."
"Yes, I do want my lesson!" said Valdemar, as they finished their cups
of hot tea. "I'm ready, Uncle Thor," he called out, as he saw his uncle
passing.
Valdemar was in a very happy frame of mind this fine June morning, for
his uncle had praised his work of the day before. Valdemar had modelled
a half life-sized figure of his Great Dane, Frederik, and, to his great
surprise, Uncle Thor had not only said that it was good, but had told
his mother that it undeniably showed evidence of real talent. Nothing
could please Valdemar more.
Saturday's sightseeing had given them all a taste for more.
Fortunately, Karl had brought his bicycle with him from Chicago, and
so the two boys followed on their wheels, while Fru Ingemann took her
brother, Mr. Hoffman, and little Karen all in a carriage, and drove
the length of the beautiful Shore Road, called the _Langelinie_, or
Long Line,--Copenhagen's fashionable drive, that stretches for miles
along the sea. The place was gay with Sunday crowds,--walking, riding,
wheeling, driving,--all out enjoying the warm June sunshine, as well as
the bracing sea-breeze.
When they reached the quaint old Citadel, they left the carriage and
strolled about the earthworks, viewing the monument made from the
guns of the wrecked _Dannebrog_, a ship fitly named after the Danish
flag. Promenaders thronged the Shore Road at this point, gazing at the
shipping of all nations which here covered the Sound, and off into the
dim distance, at the shores of Sweden.
Karl thought that his Aunt Else must have hosts of little friends, for
all the small boys bowed, and the little girls courtesied so prettily,
as she passed. But Fru Ingemann explained to him that it was only a
custom of all well-bred Danish children to bow and courtesy to their
elders, and then she told him how, every spring at _Paaske_, or Easter,
as we call it, this beautiful Shore Road is thronged all day long with
gay crowds all decked out in their _Paaske_ finery, as it is again
later at _Store Bededag_, or Great Praying Day, on the fourth Friday
after Easter.
From here they drove out to the old Castle of Rosenborg, with its
fine garden where little children were playing about the statued-form
of their beloved story-teller, Hans Christian Andersen; and then
straight home again, passing, on their way, the royal residential
quarter, Amalienborg, which forms a great open Square, adorned with
the beautiful Marble Church, and, in the centre of the Square, with a
statue of King Frederik V.
"Now we're off!" said Uncle Thor, as Valdemar finished a very good
drawing lesson, for Karl and his father, and Karen and her mother were
already waiting.
At first the electric tram simply flew. But, as they approached the
down-town section of the city, its way was often blocked by the dense
crowds, who, like themselves, were coming to witness the arrival of
Copenhagen's honored royal guest, His Majesty, King Haakon of Norway.
"Norroway-over-the-Foam, as it was once called," laughed Fru Ingemann,
"is a land of beauty which we must all visit some day. It is so many,
many times the size of our little Denmark that it makes us feel, by
comparison at least, a very small country indeed."
"But Denmark occupies more space on the map than either Belgium or
Holland," said Valdemar.
"And Denmark is nearly twice the size of Massachusetts," added Karl.
"But, oh! Just do look at the terrible crowds!--and right here is where
we get off! Father says 'Come!'"
All at once they were thrust into the vast crowd. All Copenhagen seemed
suddenly to have poured by thousands forth into the streets, and the
flags of Norway and Denmark floated everywhere side by side.
"If only we can make the opposite side of the street!" said Uncle Thor,
nervously looking about him in every direction, "we shall be safe, for
right up there, on the second floor of that building, is my friend's
office, from the window of which we are to view the royal procession.
Ah! we're safe now!"
No sooner had they taken their positions in the large open window, than
they heard, in the distance, a cannon's loud report. It was followed by
a salute of guns and loud cheering.
"There!" said both boys at once. "That means that King Haakon has
landed, and is now on his way here!"
The cheering sounded nearer and nearer, and the cannon continued to
boom.
"Forty guns!" said Valdemar, who had been counting. "Forty guns is
Denmark's royal salute. Karen dear, can you see?"
"Yes, thank you, brother," said the child, whose feet were fairly
dancing with so much excitement. "But look! They are clearing the
street! The people are being made to keep back on the sidewalks.
Listen! That is our glorious old National Hymn that the splendid Royal
Guards are now playing. The King must be near! Listen, Karl! Oh, isn't
it all thrilling!"
Nearer and nearer sounded the familiar strains.
"It _is_ splendid, Karen," conceded Karl, "but I'd like the Star
Spangled Banner just as well, and, besides, I guess a king's no
bigger'n a President! Oh, look!" But it was only an advance guard of
mounted police.
"I'm glad, mother, that our window has the largest flag in town flying
from it," said Valdemar. "I just _do_ hope the King will look up here
and see it! Listen! Now the people are beginning to cheer right down
here under our very window! And the men are doffing their hats!"
"Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!" cheered the loyal thousands, as the
scarlet-coated King's Guard came in view.
"Oh!" gasped Karen, with a long-drawn breath of delight. "Oh! isn't it
glorious! Hear the bugle! And here come the mounted Hussars with their
little red capes fastened on one shoulder, and swords flashing! How
splendidly they ride!"
"Mother, I'm going to wave my own flag when the King's carriage
passes!" cried patriotic little Valdemar. "If King Frederik will only
look up! Don't you hope he will, Karl? Oh! there's his carriage now!
Yes, he sees my flag waving! He's looking! I'm going to cheer! Hurrah
for King Frederik!"
The King heard and raised his head. His eyes fell directly upon
Valdemar's bright face, as had been the case that long ago day, in the
Children's Hospital. King Frederik smiled, bowed, and gave the lad a
military salute of recognition. King Haakon was seated beside King
Frederik, but Valdemar did not see him. In the following carriage were
the two queens, Queen Maud of Norway, and their own beloved Danish
Queen Lowisa, with little Crown Prince Olaf, of Norway, seated between
them; but Valdemar saw only King Frederik.
"Mother! He _knew_ me!" cried Valdemar, as the brilliant procession
passed slowly out of sight, and the music, whose strains came faintly
back to them, had changed from Denmark's "Kong Christian" to the
Norwegian National Hymn in honor of King Haakon.