people.

Chicago, February, 1912.

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE   Preface vii I. The Distinguished Visitor 1 II. Copenhagen 22 III. "Hurrah for King Frederik!" 48 IV. Up the Sound to Hamlet's Castle 59 V. "Fairy-tale" Castles and Palaces 73 VI. The Legend of the Sacred "Dannebrog" 82 VII. The Story of the Danish "Ahlhede" 100 VIII. Skagen 117 IX. A Danish Peasant Wedding 134 X. Jul-tide at Grandmother Ingemann's 144

List of Illustrations

Map of DENMARK

CHAPTER I
THE DISTINGUISHED VISITOR

"Hurtig! kaere Karen, mit lommetørklæde!"

Fru Oberstinde Ingemann and her little flaxen-haired daughter, Karen, were sitting at their embroidery work in the deep window-seat that made one whole side of the cozy Ingemann living-room overlooking the Botanical Gardens. Between stitches, Karen was watching the rain patter on the little diamond window-panes, now and then pausing to take a quick look at some favorite newly-blossomed flower in the brilliant, long line of window-boxes which bordered the windows "like a long bright ribbon," as Karen said.

The bell rang.

"Hurtig! kaere Karen, mit lommetorklaede!" sounds like something terrible, but Fru Ingemann was only saying in Danish: "Quick, dear Karen, my handkerchief!"

"Thank you, Karen," said the lady, as the fair child replaced the sheer bit