安徒生童话-第155章
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her legs continued to dance。 It seemed asif the shoes had got power over them。 She danced round the churchcorner； for she could not stop； the coachman had to run after herand seize her。 He lifted her into the carriage； but her feet continuedto dance； so that she kicked the good old lady violently。 At last theytook off her shoes； and her legs were at rest。
At home the shoes were put into the cupboard； but Karen couldnot help looking at them。
Now the old lady fell ill； and it was said that she would not risefrom her bed again。 She had to be nursed and waited upon； and this wasno one's duty more than Karen's。 But there was a grand ball in thetown； and Karen was invited。 She looked at the red shoes； saying toherself that there was no sin in doing that； she put the red shoes on；thinking there was no harm in that either； and then she went to theball； and menced to dance。
But when she wanted to go to the right； the shoes danced to theleft； and when she wanted to dance up the room； the shoes danceddown the room； down the stairs through the street； and out through thegates of the town。 She danced； and was obliged to dance； far outinto the dark wood。 Suddenly something shone up among the trees； andshe believed it was the moon； for it was a face。 But it was the oldsoldier with the red beard； he sat there nodding his head and said：〃Dear me； what pretty dancing shoes！〃
She was frightened； and wanted to throw the red shoes away； butthey stuck fast。 She tore off her stockings； but the shoes had grownfast to her feet。 She danced and was obliged to go on dancing overfield and meadow； in rain and sunshine； by night and by day… but bynight it was most horrible。
She danced out into the open churchyard； but the dead there didnot dance。 They had something better to do than that。 She wanted tosit down on the pauper's grave where the bitter fern grows； but forher there was neither peace nor rest。 And as she danced past theopen church door she saw an angel there in long white robes； withwings reaching from his shoulders down to the earth； his face wasstern and grave； and in his hand he held a broad shining sword。
〃Dance you shall；〃 said he； 〃dance in your red shoes till youare pale and cold； till your skin shrivels up and you are askeleton！ Dance you shall； from door to door； and where proud andwicked children live you shall knock； so that they may hear you andfear you！ Dance you shall； dance… ！〃
〃Mercy！〃 cried Karen。 But she did not hear what the angelanswered； for the shoes carried her through the gate into thefields； along highways and byways； and unceasingly she had to dance。
One morning she danced past a door that she knew well； they weresinging a psalm inside； and a coffin was being carried out coveredwith flowers。 Then she knew that she was forsaken by every one anddamned by the angel of God。
She danced； and was obliged to go on dancing through the darknight。 The shoes bore her away over thorns and stumps till she was alltorn and bleeding； she danced away over the heath to a lonely littlehouse。 Here； she knew； lived the executioner； and she tapped withher finger at the window and said：
〃e out； e out！ I cannot e in； for I must dance。〃
And the executioner said： 〃I don't suppose you know who I am。 Istrike off the heads of the wicked； and I notice that my axe istingling to do so。〃
〃Don't cut off my head！〃 said Karen； 〃for then I could notrepent of my sin。 But cut off my feet with the red shoes。〃
And then she confessed all her sin； and the executioner struck offher feet with the red shoes； but the shoes danced away with the littlefeet across the field into the deep forest。
And he carved her a pair of wooden feet and some crutches； andtaught her a psalm which is always sung by sinners； she kissed thehand that guided the axe； and went away over the heath。
〃Now； I have suffered enough for the red shoes；〃 she said； 〃I willgo to church； so that people can see me。〃 And she went quickly up tothe church…door； but when she came there； the red shoes were dancingbefore her； and she was frightened； and turned back。
During the whole week she was sad and wept many bitter tears；but when Sunday came again she said： 〃Now I have suffered andstriven enough。 I believe I am quite as good as many of those whosit in church and give themselves airs。〃 And so she went boldly on；but she had not got farther than the churchyard gate when she sawthe red shoes dancing along before her。 Then she became terrified； andturned back and repented right heartily of her sin。
She went to the parsonage； and begged that she might be taken intoservice there。 She would be industrious； she said； and do everythingthat she could； she did not mind about the wages as long as she hada roof over her； and was with good people。 The pastor's wife hadpity on her； and took her into service。 And she was industrious andthoughtful。 She sat quiet and listened when the pastor read aloud fromthe Bible in the evening。 All the children liked her very much； butwhen they spoke about dress and grandeur and beauty she would shakeher head。
On the following Sunday they all went to church； and she was askedwhether she wished to go too； but； with tears in her eyes； shelooked sadly at her crutches。 And then the others went to hear God'sWord； but she went alone into her little room； this was only largeenough to hold the bed and a chair。 Here she sat down with herhymn…book； and as she was reading it with a pious mind； the windcarried the notes of the organ over to her from the church； and intears she lifted up her face and said： 〃O God！ help me！〃
Then the sun shone so brightly； and right before her stood anangel of God in white robes； it was the same one whom she had seenthat night at the church…door。 He no longer carried the sharp sword；but a beautiful green branch； full of roses； with this he touchedthe ceiling； which rose up very high； and where he had touched itthere shone a golden star。 He touched the walls； which opened wideapart； and she saw the organ which was pealing forth； she saw thepictures of the old pastors and their wives； and the congregationsitting in the polished chairs and singing from their hymn…books。The church itself had e to the poor girl in her narrow room； or theroom had gone to the church。 She sat in the pew with the rest of thepastor's household； and when they had finished the hymn and looked up；they nodded and said； 〃It was right of you to e； Karen。〃
〃It was mercy；〃 said she。
The organ played and the children's voices in the choir soundedsoft and lovely。 The bright warm sunshine streamed through thewindow into the pew where Karen sat； and her heart became so filledwith it； so filled with peace and joy； that it broke。 Her soul flew onthe sunbeams to Heaven； and no one was there who asked after the RedShoes。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE SAUCY BOY
by Hans Christian Andersen
ONCE upon a time there was an old poet； one of those right goodold poets。
One evening； as he was sitting at home； there was a terrible stormgoing on outside； the rain was pouring down； but the old poet satfortably in his chimney…corner； where the fire was burning andthe apples were roasting。
〃There will not be a dry thread left on the poor people who areout in this weather；〃 he said。
〃Oh； open the door！ I am so cold and wet through；〃 called a littlechild outside。 It was crying and knocking at the door； whilst the rainwas pouring down and the wind was rattling all the windows。
〃Poor creature！〃 said the poet； and got up and opened the door。Before him stood a little boy； he was naked； and the water flowed fromhis long fair locks。 He was shivering with cold； if he had not beenlet in； he would certainly have perished in the storm。
〃Poor little thing！〃 said the poet； and took him by the hand。〃e to me； I will soon warm you。 You shall have some wine and anapple； for you are such a pretty boy。〃
And he was； too。 His eyes sparkled like two bright stars； andalthough the water flowed down from his fair locks； they stillcurled quite beautifully。
He looked like a little angel； but was pale with cold； andtrembling all over。 In his hand he held a splendid bow； but it hadbeen entirely spoilt by the rain； and the colours of the pretty arrowshad run into one another by getting wet。
The old man sat down by the fire； and taking the little boy on hisknee； wrung the water out of his locks and warmed his hands in hisown。
He then made him some hot spiced wine； which quickly revivedhim； so that with reddening cheeks； he sprang upon the floor anddanced around the old man。
〃You are a merry boy；〃 said the latter。 〃What is your name？〃
〃My name is Cupid；〃 he answered。 〃Don't you know me？ There lies mybow。 I shoot with that； you know。 Look； the weather is getting fineagain… the moon is shining。〃
〃But your bow is spoilt；〃 said the old poet。
〃That would be unfortunate；〃 said the little boy； taking it up andlooking at it。 〃Oh； it's quite dry and isn't damaged at all。 Thestring is quite tight； I'll try it。〃 So； drawing it back； he took anarrow； aimed； and shot the good old poet right in the heart。 〃Do yousee now that my bow was not spoilt？〃 he said； and； loudly laughing；ran away。 What a naughty boy to shoot the old poet like
