还剩2页未读,继续阅读
文本内容:
TheRedShoes红鞋Therewasoncealittlegirlveryniceandveryprettybutsopoorthatshehadtogobarefootedallsummer.Andinwintershehadtowearthickwoodenshoesthatchafedheranklesuntiltheywereredohasredascouldbe.InthemiddleofthevillagelivedOldMotherShoemaker.,zShetooksomeoldscrapsofredclothanddidherbesttomakethemintoalittlepairofshoes.Theywereabitclumsybutwellmeantforsheintendedtogivethemtothelittlegirl.KarenwasthelittlegirTsname.ThefirsttimeKarenworehernewredshoeswasontheverydaywhenhermotherwasburied.Ofcoursetheywerenotrightformourningbuttheywereallshehadsosheputthemonandwalkedbareleggedaftertheplainwickercoffin.Justthenalargeoldcarriagecamebywithalargeoldladyinsideit.Shelookedatthelittlegirlandtookpityuponher.Andshewenttotheparsonandsaid:GivethelittlegirltomeandIshalltakegoodcareofher.〃Karenwassurethatthishappenedbecausesheworeredshoesbuttheoldladysaidtheshoeswerehideousandorderedthemburned.Karenwasgivenpropernewclothes.Shewastaughttoreadandshewastaughttosew.Peoplesaidshewasprettybuthermirrortoldher“Youaremorethanpretty.Youarebeautiful.z/IthappenedthattheQueencametravelingthroughthecountrywithherlittledaughterwhowasaPrincess.Karenwentwithallthepeoplewhoflockedtoseethematthecastle.ThelittlePrincessalldressedinwhitecametothewindowtoletthemadmireher.Shedidn,twearatrainandshedidn,twearagoldcrownbutshedidwearapairofsplendidredmoroccoshoes.OfcoursetheyweremuchnicerthantheonesOldMotherShoemakerhadputtogetherforlittleKarenbutthere,snothingintheworldlikeapairofredshoes!WhenKarenwasoldenoughtobeconfirmednewclothesweremadeforherandshewastohavenewshoes.Theywenttothehouseofathrivingshoemakertohavehimtakethemeasureofherlittlefeet.Inhisshopwerebigglasscasesfilledwiththeprettiestshoesandtheshiniestboots.Theylookedmostattractivebutastheoldladydidnotseeverywelltheydidnotattracther.AmongtheshoestherewasapairofredleatheroneswhichwerejustlikethosethePrincesshadworn.Howperfecttheywere!Theshoemakersaidhehadmadethemforthedaughterofacountbutthattheydidnotquitefither.“Theymustbepatentleathertoshineso〃saidtheoldlady.“Yesindeedtheyshine〃saidKaren.AstheshoesfittedKarentheoldladyboughtthembutshehadnoideatheywerered.IfshehadknownthatshewouldneverhaveletKarenwearthemtoconfirmationwhichisjustwhatKarendid.Everyeyewasturnedtowardherfeet.Whenshewalkeduptheaisletothechancelofthechurchitseemedtoherasifeventhoseportraitsofbygoneministersandtheirwivesinstarchedruffsandlongblackgowns-eventheyfixedtheireyesuponherredshoes.ShecouldthinkofnothingelseevenwhenthepastorlaidhishandsuponherheadandspokeofherholybaptismandhercovenantwithGodandherdutyasaChristian.ThesolemnorganrolledthechildrensangsweetlyandtheoldchoirleadersangtoobutKarenthoughtofnothingexceptherredshoes.Beforetheafternoonwasovertheoldladyhadheardfromeveryoneintheparishthattheshoeswerered.ShetoldKarenitwasnaughtytowearredshoestochurch.Highlyimproper!Inthefutureshewasalwaystowearblackshoestochurcheventhoughtheywereheroldones.NextSundaytherewasholycommunion.Karenlookedatherblackshoes.Shelookedatherredones.Shekeptlookingatherredonesuntilsheputthemon.Itwasafairsunnyday.Karenandtheoldladytookthepaththroughthecornfieldwhereitwasratherdusty.Atthechurchdoortheymetanoldsoldierwhostoodwithacrutchandworealongcuriousbeard.Itwasmorereddishthanwhite.Infactitwasquitered.Heboweddowntothegroundandaskedtheoldladyifhemightdusthershoes.Karenputoutherlittlefoottoo.〃0hwhatbeautifulshoesfordancing,zthesoldiersaid.Nevercomeoffwhenyoudance〃hetoldtheshoesashetappedthesoleofeachofthemwithhishand.TheoldladygavethesoldierapennyandwentonintothechurchwithKaren.AllthepeopletherestaredatKaren,sredshoesandalltheportraitsstaredtoo.WhenKarenkneltatthealtarrailandevenwhenthechalicecametoherlipsshecouldthinkonlyofherredshoes.Itwasasiftheykeptfloatingaroundinthechaliceandsheforgottosingthepsalm.SheforgottosaytheLord,sPrayer.Thenchurchwasoverandtheoldladygotintohercarriage.Karenwasliftingherfoottostepinafterherwhentheoldsoldiersaid〃0hwhatbeautifulshoesfordancing!〃Karencouldn,tresisttakingafewdancingstepsandonceshebeganherfeetkeptondancing.Itwasasiftheshoescontrolledher.Shedancedroundthecornerofthechurch-shesimplycouldnothelpit.Thecoachmanhadtorunafterhercatchherandliftherintothecarriage.Buteventhereherfeetwentondancingsothatshegavethegoodoldladyaterriblekicking.Onlywhenshetookhershoesoffdidherlegsquietdown.WhentheygothometheshoeswereputawayinacupboardbutKarenwouldstillgoandlookatthem.Shortlyafterwardstheoldladywastakenillanditwassaidshecouldnotrecover.SherequiredconstantcareandfaithfulnursingandforthisshedependedonKaren.ButagreatballwasbeinggiveninthetownandKarenwasinvited.Shelookedattheoldladywhocouldnotliveinanycase.Shelookedattheredshoesforshethoughttherewasnoharminlooking.Sheputthemonforshethoughttherewasnoharminthateither.Butthenshewenttotheballandbegandancing.Whenshetriedtoturntotherighttheshoesturnedtotheleft.Whenshewantedtodanceuptheballroomhershoesdanceddown.Theydanceddownthestairsintothestreetandoutthroughthegateofthetown.Danceshedidanddanceshemuststraightintothedarkwoods.Suddenlysomethingshonethroughthetreesandshethoughtitwasthemoonbutitturnedouttobethered-beardedsoldier.Henoddedandsaid〃0hwhatbeautifulshoesfordancing.〃Shewasterriblyfrightenedandtriedtotakeoffhershoes.Shetoreoffherstockingsbuttheshoeshadgrownfasttoherfeet.Anddanceshedidfordanceshemustoverfieldsandvalleysintherainandinthesunbydayandnight.Itwasmostdreadfulbynight.Shedancedoveranunfencedgraveyardbutthedeaddidnotjoinherdance.Theyhadbetterthingstodo.Shetriedtositonapaupersgravewherethebitterfennelgrewbuttherewasnorestorpeaceforherthere.Andwhenshedancedtowardtheopendoorsofthechurchshesawitguardedbyanangelwithlongwhiterobesandwingsthatreachedfromhisshouldersdowntotheground.Hisfacewasgraveandsternandinhishandheheldabroadshiningsword.“Danceyoushall!”hetoldher.,zDanceinyourredshoesuntilyouarepaleandcoldandyourfleshshrivelsdowntotheskeleton.Danceyoushallfromdoortodoorandwherevertherearechildrenproudandvainyoumustknockatthedoortilltheyhearyouandareafraidofyou.Danceyoushall.Dancealways.“Havemercyuponme!〃screamedKaren.Butshedidnotheartheangelanswer.Hershoessweptheroutthroughthegateandacrossthefieldsalonghighwaysandbywaysforeverandalwaysdancing.Onemorningshedancedbyadoorsheknewwell.Therewasthesoundofahymnandacoffinwascarriedoutcoveredwithflowers.Thensheknewtheoldladywasdead.ShewasallaloneintheworldnowandcursedbytheangelofGod.Danceshedidanddanceshemustthroughthedarknight.Hershoestookherthroughthornandbriarthatscratchedheruntilshebled.Shedancedacrossthewastelandsuntilshecametoalonelylittlehouse.Sheknewthatthiswaswheretheexecutionerlivedandshetappedwithherfingeronhiswindowpane.“Comeout!z,shecalled.Comeout!Ican,tcomeinforIamdancing.〃Theexecutionersaid“Youdon,tseemtoknowwhoIam.IstrikeofftheheadsofbadpeopleandIfeelmyaxbeginningtoquiver.〃,,Don,tstrikeoffmyheadforthenIcouldnotrepentofmysins〃saidKaren.Butstrikeoffmyfeetwiththeredshoesonthem.〃Sheconfessedhersinandtheexecutionerstruckoffherfeetwiththeredshoesonthem.Theshoesdancedawaywithherlittlefeetoverthefieldsintothedeepforest.Buthemadewoodenfeetandapairofcrutchesforher.Hetaughtherahymnthatprisonerssingwhentheyaresorryforwhattheyhavedone.Shekissedhishandthatheldtheaxandwentbackacrossthewasteland.“NowIhavesufferedenoughforthoseredshoesz,shesaid.〃Ishallgoandbeseenagaininthechurch.〃Shehobbledtochurchasfastasshecouldbutwhenshegottheretheredshoesdancedinfrontofherandshewasfrightenedandturnedback.Allweeklongshewassorryandcriedmanybittertears.ButwhenSundaycameagainshesaid“NowIhavesufferedandcriedenough.IthinkImustbeasgoodasmanywhositinchurchandholdtheirheadshigh.,zShestartedoutunafraidbutthemomentshecametothechurchgateshesawherredshoesdancingbeforeher.Morefrightenedthaneversheturnedawayandwithallherheartshereallyrepented.Shewenttothepastorshouseandbeggedhimtogiveherworkasaservant.Shepromisedtoworkhardanddoallthatshecould.Wagesdidnotmatterifonlyshecouldhavearoofoverherheadandbewithgoodpeople.Thepastor,swifetookpityonherandgaveherworkattheparsonage.Karenwasfaithfulandserious.ShesatquietlyintheeveningandlistenedtoeverywordwhenthepastorreadtheBiblealoud.Thechildrenweredevotedtoherbutwhentheyspokeoffrillsandfurbelowsandofbeingasbeautifulasaqueenshewouldshakeherhead.WhentheywenttochurchnextSundaytheyaskedhertogotoobutwithtearsinhereyesshelookedathercrutchesandshookherhead.TheotherswenttohearthewordofGodbutshewenttoherlonelylittleroomwhichwasjustbigenoughtoholdherbedandonechair.Shesatwithherhymnalinherhandsandasshereaditwithacontriteheartsheheardtheorganroll.Thewindcarriedthesoundfromthechurchtoherwindow.Ilerfacewaswetwithtearsasshelifteditupandsaid“Helpme0Lord!”Thenthesunshonebrightandthewhite-robedangelstoodbeforeher.Hewasthesameangelshehadseenthatnightatthedoorofthechurch.Buthenolongerheldasharpsword.Inhishandwasagreenbranchcoveredwithroses.Hetouchedtheceilingwithit.Therewasagoldenstarwhereittouchedandtheceilingrosehigh.Hetouchedthewallsandtheyopenedwide.Shesawthedeep-tonedorgan.Shesawtheportraitsofministersandtheirwives.Shesawthecongregationsitinflower-deckedpewsandsingfromtheirhymnals.Eitherthechurchhadcometothepoorgirlinhernarrowlittleroomoritwasshewhohadbeenbroughttothechurch.Shesatinthepewwiththepastor,sfamily.Whentheyhadfinishedthehymntheylookedupandnoddedtoher.〃ItwasrightforyoutocomelittleKarentheysaid.〃ItwasGod,sownmercy〃shetoldthem.Theorgansoundedandthechildreninthechoirsangsoftlyandbeautifully.ClearsunlightstreamedwarmthroughthewindowrightdowntothepewwhereKarensat.Shewassofilledwiththelightofitandwithjoyandwithpeacethatherheartbroke.Hersoultraveledalongtheshaftofsunlighttoheavenwherenoonequestionedherabouttheredshoes.。