The Red Shoes (14)

The Red Shoes (14)

  When Sunday came she thought, " Now I have suffered and struggled long enough. I am just as good as many of those who are sitting and praying in church right now, and who dare to throw their heads back with pride. "

  This reasonig gave her courage, but she came no father than the gate of the churchyard. There were the shoes dancing in front of her.
  In terror she fled, but this tome she really repented in the depth of her heart.

  She went to the monister's house and begged to given work. She said that she did not care about wages but only wanted a roof over her head and enough to eat.

  The monister's wife hired the poor cripple because she felt sorry for her.

  Karen was grateful that she had been given a place to live and she worked hard.

  In the evening when the monister read from the Bible, she sat and listened thoughtfully.

  The children were fond of her and she played with them, but when they talked of finery and being beautiful like a princess. she would sadly shake her head.

  When Sunday came, everyone in the household got ready for church. and they asked her to go with them. Poor Karen's eyes filled with tears. She sighed and glanced towards her churches.

  When the others had gone, she went into her little room that was so small that a bed and a chair were all it could hold.

  She sat down and began to read from her psalmbook.

  The wind carried the music from the church organ down to her, and she lifted her tear-stained face and whispered, " Oh, God, help me ! "

  Suddenly teh sunlight seemed doubly bright and an angel of God stood before her. He was the same angel who with his sword had barred her entrance to the church, but now he held a rose branch covered with flowers.

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