THE RED SHOES. 157

as aservant. She promised to be industrious, and to do all she
could; she did not care for wages, and only wished to be undera
roof and with good people. Theclergyman’s wife pitied her, and
took her into her service. And she was industrious and thought-
fv. Silently she sat and listened when in the evening the pastor
read the Bible aloud. All the little ones were very fond of her;
but when they spoke of dress and splendour and beauty, she would
shake her head. :

Next Sunday they all went to church, and she was asked if she
wished to go too but she looked sadly, with tears in her eyes, at
her crutches. And then the others went to hear God’s word; but
she went alone into her little room, which was only large enough
tocontain her bed and achair. And here she sat with her hymn-
book; and as she read it with a pious mind, the wind bore the
notes of the organ over to her from the church; and she lifted up
her face, wet with tears, and said,

“O Lord, help me!”

Then the sun shone so brightly ; and before her stood the angel
in the white garments, the same she had. seen that night at the
church door. But heno longer grasped the sharp sword; he held
a green branch covered with roses.; and he touched the ceiling;
and it rose up high, and wherever he touched it a golden star
gleamed forth; and he touched the walls, and they spread forth
widely, and she saw the organ which was pealing its rich sounds ;
and she saw the old pictures of clergymen and their wives; and
the congregation sat in the decorated seats, and sang from their
hymn-books. The church had come to the poor girl in her narrow
room, or her chamber had become achurch. She sat in the chair
with the rest of the clergyman’s people; and when they had
finished the psalm, and looked up, they nodded and said,

“That was right that you came here, Karen.”

“Tt was mercy!” said she.

And the organ sounded its glorious notes; and the children’s
voices singing in the chorus sounded sweet and lovely ; the clear
sunshine streamed so warm through the window upon the chair in
which Karen:sat; and her heart became so filled with sunshine,
peace, and joy, that it broke. Her soul flew on the sunbeams to
heaven ; and there was nobody who asked after the RED SHOES!