the red shoes-第2部分

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that　she　could；　she　did　not　mind　about　the　wages　as　long　as　she　had

a　roof　over　her；　and　was　with　good　people。　The　pastor's　wife　had

pity　on　her；　and　took　her　into　service。　And　she　was　industrious　and

thoughtful。　She　sat　quiet　and　listened　when　the　pastor　read　aloud　from

the　Bible　in　the　evening。　All　the　children　liked　her　very　much；　but

when　they　spoke　about　dress　and　grandeur　and　beauty　she　would　shake

her　head。

　　　　On　the　following　Sunday　they　all　went　to　church；　and　she　was　asked

whether　she　wished　to　go　too；　but；　with　tears　in　her　eyes；　she

looked　sadly　at　her　crutches。　And　then　the　others　went　to　hear　God's

Word；　but　she　went　alone　into　her　little　room；　this　was　only　large

enough　to　hold　the　bed　and　a　chair。　Here　she　sat　down　with　her

hymn…book；　and　as　she　was　reading　it　with　a　pious　mind；　the　wind

carried　the　notes　of　the　organ　over　to　her　from　the　church；　and　in

tears　she　lifted　up　her　face　and　said：　〃O　God！　help　me！〃

　　　　Then　the　sun　shone　so　brightly；　and　right　before　her　stood　an

angel　of　God　in　white　robes；　it　was　the　same　one　whom　she　had　seen

that　night　at　the　church…door。　He　no　longer　carried　the　sharp　sword；

but　a　beautiful　green　branch；　full　of　roses；　with　this　he　touched

the　ceiling；　which　rose　up　very　high；　and　where　he　had　touched　it

there　shone　a　golden　star。　He　touched　the　walls；　which　opened　wide

apart；　and　she　saw　the　organ　which　was　pealing　forth；　she　saw　the

pictures　of　the　old　pastors　and　their　wives；　and　the　congregation

sitting　in　the　polished　chairs　and　singing　from　their　hymn…books。

The　church　itself　had　come　to　the　poor　girl　in　her　narrow　room；　or　the

room　had　gone　to　the　church。　She　sat　in　the　pew　with　the　rest　of　the

pastor's　household；　and　when　they　had　finished　the　hymn　and　looked　up；

they　nodded　and　said；　〃It　was　right　of　you　to　come；　Karen。〃

　　　　〃It　was　mercy；〃　said　she。

　　　　The　organ　played　and　the　children's　voices　in　the　choir　sounded

soft　and　lovely。　The　bright　warm　sunshine　streamed　through　the

window　into　the　pew　where　Karen　sat；　and　her　heart　became　so　filled

with　it；　so　filled　with　peace　and　joy；　that　it　broke。　Her　soul　flew　on

the　sunbeams　to　Heaven；　and　no　one　was　there　who　asked　after　the　Red

Shoes。





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　END

。