Once upon a time there was a girl, pretty, pretty, but very poor, and in the summer she had to walk barefoot, and in the winter - in rough wooden shoes, which rubbed her feet terribly.

An old shoemaker lived in the village. So she took and sewed, as best she could, a pair of shoes from scraps of red cloth. The shoes came out very clumsy, but they were sewn with good intentions - the shoemaker gave them to the poor girl.

The girl's name was Karen.

She received and renewed the red shoes just in time for her mother's funeral.

It cannot be said that they were suitable for mourning, but the girl had no others; she put them on right on her bare feet and went behind the wretched straw coffin.

At this time, a large old carriage was passing through the village and in it was an important old lady.

She saw the girl, felt sorry and said to the priest:

Look, give me the girl, I'll take care of her.

Karen thought that all this came out thanks to her red shoes, but the old lady found them terrible and ordered them to be burned. Karen was dressed up and taught to read and sew. All the people said that she was very sweet, but the mirror said: "You are more than sweet, you are lovely."

At this time, the queen traveled around the country with her little daughter, the princess. The people fled to the palace; Karen was there too. The princess, in a white dress, stood at the window to let people look at her. She had neither a train nor a crown, but wonderful red morocco shoes flaunted on her legs; it was impossible to compare them with those that the shoemaker made for Karen. There could be nothing better in the world than these red shoes!

Karen had grown up and it was time for her to be confirmed; a new dress was made for her and they were going to buy new shoes. The city's best shoemaker measured her little foot. Karen and the old lady were sitting in his studio; there was also a large cupboard with glass windows, behind which adorable shoes and patent leather boots flaunted. One could admire them, but the old lady did not get any pleasure: she saw very badly. Between the shoes stood a pair of red ones, they were exactly like those that flaunted on the legs of the princess. Ah, what a delight! The shoemaker said that they were ordered for the count's daughter, but they did not hit her leg.

Is that patent leather? asked the old lady. - They shine!

Yes, they shine! Karen replied.

The shoes were tried on, they fit, and they were bought. But the old lady didn't know they were red—she would never have let Karen go to be confirmed wearing red shoes, and Karen did just that.

All the people in the church looked at her feet as she walked to her seat. It seemed to her that the old portraits of dead pastors and pastors in long black robes and plaited round collars also stared at her red shoes. She herself only thought about them, even at the time when the priest laid his hands on her head and began to talk about holy baptism, about union with God and that she was now becoming an adult Christian. The solemn sounds of the church organ and the melodious singing of pure children's voices filled the church, the old choirmaster was raising the children, but Karen thought only of her red shoes.

After mass, the old lady learned from other people that the shoes were red, explained to Karen how indecent it was, and ordered her to go to church always in black shoes, even if they were old.

The next Sunday I had to go to communion. Karen looked at the red shoes, looked at the black ones, looked at the red ones again, and put them on.

The weather was wonderful, sunny; Karen and the old lady walked along the path through the field; it was a bit dusty.

Standing at the church door, leaning on a crutch, was an old soldier with a long, strange beard: it was more red than gray. He bowed to them almost to the ground and asked the old lady to let him dust off her shoes. Karen also extended her little foot to him.

Look, what glorious ballroom shoes! - said the soldier. - Sit tight when you dance!

And he clapped his hand on the soles.

The old lady gave the soldier a skill and entered the church with Karen.

All the people in the church were again looking at her red shoes, all the portraits too. Karen knelt before the altar, and the golden bowl approached her lips, and she thought only of her red shoes, as if they were floating in front of her in the bowl itself.

Karen forgot to sing the psalm, forgot to read the Lord's Prayer.

The people began to leave the church; the old lady got into the carriage, Karen also put her foot on the footboard, when suddenly an old soldier appeared near her and said:

Look, what glorious ballroom shoes! Karen could not resist and made a few steps, and then her feet began to dance by themselves, as if the shoes had some kind of magical power. Karen rushed on and on, rounded the church and couldn't stop. The coachman had to run after her, take her in his arms and put her in the carriage. Karen sat up, her legs still dancing, so that the good old lady got a lot of kicks. I finally had to take off my shoes, and my legs calmed down.

We arrived home; Karen put the shoes in the closet, but she couldn't help but admire them.

The old lady fell ill and was told that she would not live long. She had to be cared for, and who was more concerned with this matter than Karen. But there was a big ball in town, and Karen was invited. She looked at the old mistress, who still had no life, looked at the red shoes - is it a sin? - then I put them on - and it's not a problem, and then ... I went to the ball and went to dance.

But now she wants to turn to the right - her legs carry her to the left, she wants to make a circle around the hall - her legs carry her out of the hall, down the stairs, into the street and out of town. So she danced all the way to the dark forest.

Something lit up between the tops of the trees. Karen thought it was a month, because there was something that looked like a face, but it was the face of an old soldier with a red beard. He nodded to her and said:

Look, what glorious ballroom shoes!

She was frightened, she wanted to throw off her shoes, but they were tight; she only tore her stockings to shreds; her shoes seemed to stick to her feet, and she had to dance, dance through the fields and meadows, in rain and in sunny weather, and night and day. The worst thing was at night!

She danced, danced, and found herself in a cemetery; but all the dead slept peacefully in their graves. The dead have better things to do than dance. She wanted to sit down on one poor grave, overgrown with wild mountain ash, but it was not there! No rest, no rest! She danced and danced... Here in the open doors of the church she saw an angel in a long white robe; over his shoulders he had large wings descending to the very ground. The angel's face was stern and serious, in his hand he held a wide shiny sword.

You will dance,” he said, “dance in your red shoes until you turn pale, cold, dry like a mummy!” You will dance from gate to gate and knock on the doors of those houses where proud, vain children live; your knock will frighten them! You will dance, dance!

Have mercy! Karen screamed.

But she no longer heard the angel's answer - the shoes dragged her into the gate, beyond the fence of the cemetery, into the field, along the roads and paths. And she danced and could not stop.

One morning she danced past a familiar door; from there, with the singing of psalms, they carried out a coffin decorated with flowers. Then she learned that the old mistress had died, and it seemed to her that now she was abandoned by everyone, cursed, by the angel of the Lord.

And she kept dancing, dancing, even on a dark night. Her shoes carried her over stones, through thicket and thorn bushes, the thorns of which scratched her until she bled. So she danced to a small secluded house, standing in an open field. She knew that the executioner lived here, tapped her finger on the window pane and said:

Come out to me! I myself can’t enter you, I’m dancing!

And the executioner answered:

You don't know who I am, do you? I cut the heads of bad people, and as I see my ax trembles!

Don't cut off my head! Karen said. “Then I won’t have time to repent of my sin.” bran me better legs with red shoes.

And she confessed all her sin. The executioner cut off her feet with red shoes, - dancing feet rushed across the field and disappeared into the thicket of the forest.

Then the executioner attached pieces of wood to her instead of legs, gave her crutches and taught her a psalm, which sinners always sing. Karen kissed the hand that held the ax and wandered across the field.

Well, I've suffered enough because of the red shoes! - she said. - I'll go to church now, let people see me!

And she quickly went to the church doors: suddenly her feet in red shoes danced in front of her, she was frightened and turned away.

For a whole week she was sad and wept Karen with bitter tears; but Sunday came, and she said:

Well, I have suffered and suffered enough! Really, I'm no worse than many of those who sit and show off in the church!

And she boldly went there, but only reached the gate, - then the red shoes danced in front of her again. She was frightened again, turned back and repented of her sin with all her heart.

Then she went to the priest's house and asked to serve, promising to be diligent and do everything she could, without any salary, because of a piece of bread and shelter from good people. The priest's wife took pity on her and took her into her house. Karen worked tirelessly, but was quiet and thoughtful. With what attention she listened in the evenings to the priest reading the Bible aloud! The children loved her very much, but when the girls chatted about the outfits in front of her and said that they would like to be in the place of the queen, Karen shook her head sadly.

The next Sunday everyone was ready to go to church; she was asked if she would go with them, but she only looked at her crutches with tears. Everyone went to listen to the word of God, and she went to her closet. There was only room for a bed and a chair; she sat down and began to read the psalter. Suddenly the wind carried the sounds of a church organ to her. She lifted her tear-stained face from her book and exclaimed:

Help me Lord!

And suddenly it shone all over her, like the sun, - before her appeared an angel of the Lord in a white robe, the same one whom she had seen that terrible night at the church doors. But now in his hands he held not a sharp sword, but a wonderful green branch strewn with roses. He touched the ceiling with it, and the ceiling rose high, high, and in the place that the angel touched, a golden star shone. Then the angel touched the walls - they were heard, and Karen saw the church organ, old portraits of pastors and pastors and all the people; all sat on their pews and sang psalms. What is it, was the poor girl’s narrow closet transformed into a church, or was the girl herself miraculously transported to the church? Karen was sitting on her chair next to the priest’s household, and when they finished the psalm and saw her, they affectionately nodded to her, saying :

You did well to come here too, Karen!

By the grace of God! she answered.

The solemn sounds of the organ merged with the gentle children's voices of the choir. The rays of the clear sun streamed through the window directly on Karen. Her heart was so overflowing with all this light, peace and joy that it burst. Her soul flew with the rays of the sun to God, and there no one asked her about the red shoes.

Andersen Hans Christian

Once upon a time there was a girl, pretty, pretty, but very poor, and in the summer she had to walk barefoot, and in the winter - in rough wooden shoes, which rubbed her feet terribly.
An old shoemaker lived in the village. So she took and sewed, as best she could, a pair of shoes from scraps of red cloth. The shoes came out very clumsy, but they were sewn with good intentions - the shoemaker gave them to the poor girl.
The girl's name was Karen.
She received and renewed the red shoes just in time for her mother's funeral.
It cannot be said that they were suitable for mourning, but the girl had no others; she put them on right on her bare feet and went behind the wretched straw coffin.
At this time, a large old carriage was passing through the village and in it was an important old lady.
She saw the girl, felt sorry and said to the priest:
- Listen, give me the girl, I'll take care of her.
Karen thought that all this came out thanks to her red shoes, but the old lady found them terrible and ordered them to be burned. Karen was dressed up and taught to read and sew. All the people said that she was very sweet, but the mirror said: "You are more than sweet, you are lovely."
At this time, the queen traveled around the country with her little daughter, the princess. The people fled to the palace; Karen was there too. The princess, in a white dress, stood at the window to let people look at her. She had neither a train nor a crown, but wonderful red morocco shoes flaunted on her legs; it was impossible to compare them with those that the shoemaker made for Karen. There could be nothing better in the world than these red shoes!
Karen had grown up and it was time for her to be confirmed; a new dress was made for her and they were going to buy new shoes. The city's best shoemaker measured her little foot. Karen and the old lady were sitting in his studio; there was also a large cupboard with glass windows, behind which adorable shoes and patent leather boots flaunted. One could admire them, but the old lady did not get any pleasure: she saw very badly. Between the shoes stood a pair of red ones, they were exactly like those that flaunted on the legs of the princess. Ah, what a delight! The shoemaker said that they were ordered for the count's daughter, but they did not hit her leg.
Is this patent leather? asked the old lady. - They shine!
Yes, they shine! Karen replied.
The shoes were tried on, they fit, and they were bought. But the old lady didn't know they were red—she would never have let Karen go to be confirmed wearing red shoes, and Karen did just that.
All the people in the church looked at her feet as she walked to her seat. It seemed to her that the old portraits of dead pastors and pastors in long black robes and plaited round collars also stared at her red shoes. She herself only thought about them, even at the time when the priest laid his hands on her head and began to talk about holy baptism, about union with God and that she was now becoming an adult Christian. The solemn sounds of the church organ and the melodious singing of pure children's voices filled the church, the old choirmaster was raising the children, but Karen thought only of her red shoes.
After mass, the old lady learned from other people that the shoes were red, explained to Karen how indecent it was, and ordered her to go to church always in black shoes, even if they were old.
The next Sunday I had to go to communion. Karen looked at the red shoes, looked at the black ones, looked at the red ones again, and put them on.
The weather was wonderful, sunny; Karen and the old lady walked along the path through the field; it was a bit dusty.
Standing at the church door, leaning on a crutch, was an old soldier with a long, strange beard: it was more red than gray. He bowed to them almost to the ground and asked the old lady to let him dust off her shoes. Karen also extended her little foot to him.
- Look, what glorious ballroom shoes! - said the soldier. - Sit tight when you dance!
And he clapped his hand on the soles.
The old lady gave the soldier a skill and entered the church with Karen.
All the people in the church were again looking at her red shoes, all the portraits too. Karen knelt before the altar, and the golden bowl approached her lips, and she thought only of her red shoes, as if they were floating in front of her in the bowl itself.
Karen forgot to sing a psalm, forgot to read the Lord's Prayer.
The people began to leave the church; the old lady got into the carriage, Karen also put her foot on the footboard, when suddenly an old soldier appeared near her and said:
- Look, what glorious ballroom shoes! Karen could not resist and made a few steps, and then her feet began to dance by themselves, as if the shoes had some kind of magical power. Karen rushed on and on, rounded the church and couldn't stop. The coachman had to run after her, take her in his arms and put her in the carriage. Karen sat up, her legs still dancing, so that the good old lady got a lot of kicks. I finally had to take off my shoes, and my legs calmed down.
We arrived home; Karen put the shoes in the closet, but she couldn't help but admire them.
The old lady fell ill and was told that she would not live long. She had to be cared for, and who was more concerned with this matter than Karen. But there was a big ball in town, and Karen was invited. She looked at the old mistress, who still had no life, looked at the red shoes - is it a sin? - then I put them on - and it's not a problem, and then ... I went to the ball and went to dance.
But now she wants to turn to the right - her legs carry her to the left, she wants to make a circle around the hall - her legs carry her out of the hall, down the stairs, into the street and out of town. So she danced all the way to the dark forest.
Something lit up between the tops of the trees. Karen thought it was a month, because there was something that looked like a face, but it was the face of an old soldier with a red beard. He nodded to her and said:
- Look, what glorious ballroom shoes!
She was frightened, she wanted to throw off her shoes, but they were tight; she only tore her stockings to shreds; her shoes seemed to stick to her feet, and she had to dance, dance through the fields and meadows, in rain and in sunny weather, and night and day. The worst thing was at night!
She danced, danced, and found herself in a cemetery; but all the dead slept peacefully in their graves. The dead have better things to do than dance. She wanted to sit down on one poor grave, overgrown with wild mountain ash, but it was not there! No rest, no rest! She danced and danced ... Here in the open doors of the church she saw an angel in a long white robe; over his shoulders he had large wings descending to the very ground. The angel's face was stern and serious, in his hand he held a wide shiny sword.
“You will dance,” he said, “dance in your red shoes until you turn pale, cold, dry like a mummy!” You will dance from gate to gate and knock on the doors of those houses where proud, vain children live; your knock will frighten them! You will dance, dance!
- Have mercy! Karen screamed.
But she no longer heard the angel's answer - the shoes dragged her into the gate, beyond the fence of the cemetery, into the field, along the roads and paths. And she danced and could not stop.
One morning she danced past a familiar door; from there, with the singing of psalms, they carried out a coffin decorated with flowers. Then she learned that the old mistress had died, and it seemed to her that now she was abandoned by everyone, cursed, by the angel of the Lord.
And she kept dancing, dancing, even on a dark night. Her shoes carried her over stones, through thicket and thorn bushes, the thorns of which scratched her until she bled. So she danced to a small secluded house, standing in an open field. She knew that the executioner lived here, tapped her finger on the window pane and said:
- Come out to me! I myself can’t enter you, I’m dancing!
And the executioner answered:
- You really don't know who I am? I cut the heads of bad people, and as I see my ax trembles!
- Don't cut off my head! Karen said. “Then I won’t have time to repent of my sin.” Cut off my legs with red shoes.
And she confessed all her sin. The executioner cut off her feet with red shoes, - dancing feet rushed across the field and disappeared into the thicket of the forest.
Then the executioner attached pieces of wood to her instead of legs, gave her crutches and taught her a psalm, which sinners always sing. Karen kissed the hand that held the ax and wandered across the field.
"Well, I've suffered enough because of the red shoes!" - she said. - I'll go to church now, let people see me!
And she quickly went to the church doors: suddenly her feet in red shoes danced in front of her, she was frightened and turned away.
For a whole week she was sad and wept Karen with bitter tears; but Sunday came, and she said:
Well, I've suffered and suffered enough! Really, I'm no worse than many of those who sit and show off in the church!
And she boldly went there, but only reached the gate, - then the red shoes danced in front of her again. She was frightened again, turned back, and repented of her sin with all her heart.
Then she went to the priest's house and asked to serve, promising to be diligent and do everything she could, without any salary, because of a piece of bread and shelter from good people. The priest's wife took pity on her and took her into her house. Karen worked tirelessly, but was quiet and thoughtful. With what attention she listened in the evenings to the priest reading the Bible aloud! The children loved her very much, but when the girls chatted about the outfits in front of her and said that they would like to be in the place of the queen, Karen shook her head sadly.
The next Sunday everyone was ready to go to church; she was asked if she would go with them, but she only looked at her crutches with tears. Everyone went to listen to the word of God, and she went to her closet. There was only room for a bed and a chair; she sat down and began to read the psalter. Suddenly the wind carried the sounds of a church organ to her. She lifted her tear-stained face from her book and exclaimed:
- Help me, Lord!
And suddenly it shone all over her, like the sun, - before her appeared an angel of the Lord in a white robe, the same one whom she had seen that terrible night at the church doors. But now in his hands he held not a sharp sword, but a wonderful green branch strewn with roses. He touched the ceiling with it, and the ceiling rose high, high, and in the place that the angel touched, a golden star shone. Then the angel touched the walls - they were heard, and Karen saw the church organ, old portraits of pastors and pastors and all the people; all sat on their pews and sang psalms. What is it, was the poor girl’s narrow closet transformed into a church, or was the girl herself miraculously transported to the church? Karen was sitting on her chair next to the priest’s household, and when they finished the psalm and saw her, they affectionately nodded to her, saying :
"You did well to come here too, Karen!"
- By the grace of God! she answered.
The solemn sounds of the organ merged with the gentle children's voices of the choir. The rays of the clear sun streamed through the window directly on Karen. Her heart was so overflowing with all this light, peace and joy that it burst. Her soul flew with the rays of the sun to God, and there no one asked her about the red shoes.

Once upon a time there was a girl, pretty, pretty, but very poor, and in the summer she had to walk barefoot, and in the winter - in rough wooden shoes, which rubbed her feet terribly.

An old shoemaker lived in the village. So she took and sewed, as best she could, a pair of shoes from scraps of red cloth. The shoes came out very clumsy, but they were sewn with good intentions - the shoemaker gave them to the poor girl. The girl's name was Karen.

She received and renewed the red shoes just in time for her mother's funeral. It cannot be said that they were suitable for mourning, but the girl had no others; she put them on right on her bare feet and went behind the wretched straw coffin.

At this time, a large old carriage was passing through the village and in it was an important old lady. She saw the girl, felt sorry and said to the priest:

Look, give me the girl, I'll take care of her.

Karen thought that all this came out thanks to her red shoes, but the old lady found them terrible and ordered them to be burned. Karen was dressed up and taught to read and sew. All the people said that she was very sweet, but the mirror said: "You are more than sweet, you are lovely."

At this time, the queen traveled around the country with her little daughter, the princess. The people fled to the palace; Karen was there too. The princess, in a white dress, stood at the window to let people look at her. She had neither a train nor a crown, but wonderful red morocco shoes flaunted on her legs; it was impossible to compare them with those that the shoemaker made for Karen. There could be nothing better in the world than these red shoes!

Karen had grown up and it was time for her to be confirmed; a new dress was made for her and they were going to buy new shoes. The city's best shoemaker measured her little foot. Karen and the old lady were sitting in his studio; there was also a large cupboard with glass windows, behind which adorable shoes and patent leather boots flaunted. One could admire them, but the old lady did not get any pleasure: she saw very badly. Between the shoes stood a pair of red ones, they were exactly like those that flaunted on the legs of the princess. Ah, what a delight! The shoemaker said that they were ordered for the count's daughter, but they did not hit her leg.

Is that patent leather? asked the old lady. - They shine!

Yes, they shine! Karen replied.

The shoes were tried on, they fit, and they were bought. But the old lady didn't know they were red—she would never have let Karen go to be confirmed wearing red shoes, and Karen did just that.

All the people in the church looked at her feet as she walked to her seat. It seemed to her that the old portraits of dead pastors and pastors in long black robes and plaited round collars also stared at her red shoes. She herself only thought about them, even at the time when the priest laid his hands on her head and began to talk about holy baptism, about union with God and that she was now becoming an adult Christian. The solemn sounds of the church organ and the melodious singing of pure children's voices filled the church, the old choirmaster was raising the children, but Karen thought only of her red shoes.

After mass, the old lady learned from other people that the shoes were red, explained to Karen how indecent it was, and ordered her to go to church always in black shoes, even if they were old.

The next Sunday I had to go to communion. Karen looked at the red shoes, looked at the black ones, looked at the red ones again, and put them on.

The weather was wonderful, sunny; Karen and the old lady walked along the path through the field; it was a bit dusty.

Standing at the church door, leaning on a crutch, was an old soldier with a long, strange beard: it was more red than gray. He bowed to them almost to the ground and asked the old lady to let him dust off her shoes. Karen also extended her little foot to him.

Look, what glorious ballroom shoes! - said the soldier. - Sit tight when you dance!

And he clapped his hand on the soles.

The old lady gave the soldier a skill and entered the church with Karen.

All the people in the church were again looking at her red shoes, all the portraits too. Karen knelt before the altar, and the golden bowl approached her lips, and she thought only of her red shoes, as if they were floating in front of her in the bowl itself.

Karen forgot to sing a psalm, forgot to read the Lord's Prayer.

The people began to leave the church; the old lady got into the carriage, Karen also put her foot on the footboard, when suddenly an old soldier appeared near her and said:

Look, what glorious ballroom shoes! Karen could not resist and made a few steps, and then her feet began to dance by themselves, as if the shoes had some kind of magical power. Karen rushed on and on, rounded the church and couldn't stop. The coachman had to run after her, take her in his arms and put her in the carriage. Karen sat up, her legs still dancing, so that the good old lady got a lot of kicks. I finally had to take off my shoes, and my legs calmed down.

We arrived home; Karen put the shoes in the closet, but she couldn't help but admire them.

The old lady fell ill and was told that she would not live long. She had to be cared for, and who was more concerned with this matter than Karen. But there was a big ball in town, and Karen was invited. She looked at the old mistress, who still had no life, looked at the red shoes - is it a sin? - then I put them on - and it's not a problem, and then ... I went to the ball and went to dance.

But now she wants to turn to the right - her legs carry her to the left, she wants to make a circle around the hall - her legs carry her out of the hall, down the stairs, into the street and out of town. So she danced all the way to the dark forest.

Something lit up between the tops of the trees. Karen thought it was a month, because there was something that looked like a face, but it was the face of an old soldier with a red beard. He nodded to her and said:

Look, what glorious ballroom shoes!

She was frightened, she wanted to throw off her shoes, but they were tight; she only tore her stockings to shreds; her shoes seemed to stick to her feet, and she had to dance, dance through the fields and meadows, in rain and in sunny weather, and night and day. The worst thing was at night!

She danced, danced, and found herself in a cemetery; but all the dead slept peacefully in their graves. The dead have better things to do than dance. She wanted to sit down on one poor grave, overgrown with wild mountain ash, but it was not there! No rest, no rest! She danced and danced ... Here in the open doors of the church she saw an angel in a long white robe; over his shoulders he had large wings descending to the very ground. The angel's face was stern and serious, in his hand he held a wide shiny sword.

You will dance,” he said, “dance in your red shoes until you turn pale, cold, dry like a mummy!” You will dance from gate to gate and knock on the doors of those houses where proud, vain children live; your knock will frighten them! You will dance, dance!

Have mercy! Karen screamed.

But she no longer heard the angel's answer - the shoes dragged her into the gate, beyond the fence of the cemetery, into the field, along the roads and paths. And she danced and could not stop.

One morning she danced past a familiar door; from there, with the singing of psalms, they carried out a coffin decorated with flowers. Then she learned that the old mistress had died, and it seemed to her that now she was abandoned by everyone, cursed, by the angel of the Lord.

And she kept dancing, dancing, even on a dark night. Her shoes carried her over stones, through thicket and thorn bushes, the thorns of which scratched her until she bled. So she danced to a small secluded house, standing in an open field. She knew that the executioner lived here, tapped her finger on the window pane and said:

Come out to me! I myself can’t enter you, I’m dancing!

And the executioner answered:

You don't know who I am, do you? I cut the heads of bad people, and as I see my ax trembles!

Don't cut off my head! Karen said. “Then I won’t have time to repent of my sin.” Cut off my legs with red shoes.

And she confessed all her sin. The executioner cut off her feet with red shoes, - dancing feet rushed across the field and disappeared into the thicket of the forest.

Then the executioner attached pieces of wood to her instead of legs, gave her crutches and taught her a psalm, which sinners always sing. Karen kissed the hand that held the ax and wandered across the field.

Well, I've suffered enough because of the red shoes! - she said. - I'll go to church now, let people see me!

And she quickly went to the church doors: suddenly her feet in red shoes danced in front of her, she was frightened and turned away.

For a whole week she was sad and wept Karen with bitter tears; but Sunday came, and she said:

Well, I have suffered and suffered enough! Really, I'm no worse than many of those who sit and show off in the church!

And she boldly went there, but only reached the gate, - then the red shoes danced in front of her again. She was frightened again, turned back and repented of her sin with all her heart.

Then she went to the priest's house and asked to serve, promising to be diligent and do everything she could, without any salary, because of a piece of bread and shelter from good people. oskazkah.ru - website The priest's wife took pity on her and took her to her house. Karen worked tirelessly, but was quiet and thoughtful. With what attention she listened in the evenings to the priest reading the Bible aloud! The children loved her very much, but when the girls chatted about the outfits in front of her and said that they would like to be in the place of the queen, Karen shook her head sadly.

The next Sunday everyone was ready to go to church; she was asked if she would go with them, but she only looked at her crutches with tears. Everyone went to listen to the word of God, and she went to her closet. There was only room for a bed and a chair; she sat down and began to read the psalter. Suddenly the wind carried the sounds of a church organ to her. She lifted her tear-stained face from her book and exclaimed:

Help me Lord!

And suddenly it shone all over her, like the sun, - before her appeared an angel of the Lord in a white robe, the same one whom she had seen that terrible night at the church doors. But now in his hands he held not a sharp sword, but a wonderful green branch strewn with roses. He touched the ceiling with it, and the ceiling rose high, high, and in the place that the angel touched, a golden star shone. Then the angel touched the walls - they were heard, and Karen saw the church organ, old portraits of pastors and pastors and all the people; all sat on their pews and sang psalms. What is it, was the poor girl’s narrow closet transformed into a church, or was the girl herself miraculously transported to the church? Karen was sitting on her chair next to the priest’s household, and when they finished the psalm and saw her, they affectionately nodded to her, saying :

You did well to come here too, Karen!

By the grace of God! she answered.

The solemn sounds of the organ merged with the gentle children's voices of the choir. The rays of the clear sun streamed through the window directly on Karen. Her heart was so overflowing with all this light, peace and joy that it burst. Her soul flew with the rays of the sun to God, and there no one asked her about the red shoes.

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Andersen Hans Christian

red shoes

Once upon a time there was a pretty, pretty girl, but very poor, and in the summer she had to walk barefoot, and in the winter - in rough wooden shoes, which rubbed her feet terribly.

An old shoemaker lived in the village. So she took and sewed, as best she could, a pair of shoes from scraps of red cloth. The shoes came out very clumsy, but they were sewn with good intentions - the shoemaker gave them to the poor girl.

The girl's name was Karen.

She received and renewed the red shoes just in time for her mother's funeral.

It cannot be said that they were suitable for mourning, but the girl had no others; she put them on right on her bare feet and went behind the wretched straw coffin.

At this time, a large old carriage was passing through the village and in it was an important old lady.

She saw the girl, felt sorry and said to the priest:

Look, give me the girl, I'll take care of her.

Karen thought that all this came out thanks to her red shoes, but the old lady found them terrible and ordered them to be burned. Karen was dressed up and taught to read and sew. All the people said that she was very sweet, but the mirror said: "You are more than sweet, you are lovely."

At this time, the queen traveled around the country with her little daughter, the princess. The people fled to the palace; Karen was there too. The princess, in a white dress, stood at the window to let people look at her. She had neither a train nor a crown, but wonderful red morocco shoes flaunted on her legs; it was impossible to compare them with those that the shoemaker made for Karen. There could be nothing better in the world than these red shoes!

Karen had grown up and it was time for her to be confirmed; a new dress was made for her and they were going to buy new shoes. The city's best shoemaker measured her little foot. Karen and the old lady were sitting in his studio; there was also a large cupboard with glass windows, behind which adorable shoes and patent leather boots flaunted. One could admire them, but the old lady did not get any pleasure: she saw very badly. Between the shoes stood a pair of red ones, they were exactly like those that flaunted on the legs of the princess. Ah, what a delight! The shoemaker said that they were ordered for the count's daughter, but they did not hit her leg.

Is that patent leather? asked the old lady. - They shine!

Yes, they shine! Karen replied.

The shoes were tried on, they fit, and they were bought. But the old lady didn't know they were red—she would never have let Karen go to be confirmed wearing red shoes, and Karen did just that.

All the people in the church looked at her feet as she walked to her seat. It seemed to her that the old portraits of dead pastors and pastors in long black robes and plaited round collars also stared at her red shoes. She herself only thought about them, even at the time when the priest laid his hands on her head and began to talk about holy baptism, about union with God and that she was now becoming an adult Christian. The solemn sounds of the church organ and the melodious singing of the pure children's voices filled the church, the old choir director was pulling the children up, but Karen thought only of her red shoes.

After mass, the old lady learned from other people that the shoes were red, explained to Karen how indecent it was, and ordered her to go to church always in black shoes, even if they were old.

The next Sunday I had to go to communion. Karen looked at the red shoes, looked at the black ones, looked at the red ones again, and put them on.

The weather was wonderful, sunny; Karen and the old lady walked along the path through the field; it was a bit dusty.

Standing at the church door, leaning on a crutch, was an old soldier with a long, strange beard: it was more red than gray. He bowed to them almost to the ground and asked the old lady to let him dust off her shoes. Karen also extended her little foot to him.

Look, what glorious ballroom shoes! - said the soldier. - Sit tight when you dance!

And he clapped his hand on the soles.

The old lady gave the soldier a skill and entered the church with Karen.

All the people in the church were again looking at her red shoes, all the portraits too. Karen knelt before the altar, and the golden bowl approached her lips, and she thought only of her red shoes, as if they were floating in front of her in the bowl itself.

Karen forgot to sing a psalm, forgot to read the Lord's Prayer.

The people began to leave the church; the old lady got into the carriage, Karen also put her foot on the footboard, when suddenly an old soldier appeared near her and said:

Look, what glorious ballroom shoes! Karen could not resist and made a few steps, and then her feet began to dance by themselves, as if the shoes had some kind of magical power. Karen rushed on and on, rounded the church and couldn't stop. The coachman had to run after her, take her in his arms and put her in the carriage. Karen sat up, her legs still dancing, so that the good old lady got a lot of kicks. I finally had to take off my shoes, and my legs calmed down.

We arrived home; Karen put the shoes in the closet, but she couldn't help but admire them.

The old lady fell ill and was told that she would not live long. She had to be cared for, and who was more concerned with this matter than Karen. But there was a big ball in town, and Karen was invited. She looked at the old mistress, who still had no life, looked at the red shoes - is it a sin? - then I put them on - and it's not a problem, and then ... I went to the ball and went to dance.

But here she wants to turn to the right - her legs carry her to the left, she wants to make a circle around the hall - her legs carry her out of the hall, down the stairs, into the street and out of town. So she danced all the way to the dark forest.

Something lit up between the tops of the trees. Karen thought it was a month, because there was something that looked like a face, but it was the face of an old soldier with a red beard. He nodded to her and said:

Look, what glorious ballroom shoes!

She was frightened, she wanted to throw off her shoes, but they were tight; she only tore her stockings to shreds; her shoes seemed to stick to her feet, and she had to dance, dance through the fields and meadows, in rain and in sunny weather, and night and day. The worst thing was at night!

She danced, danced, and found herself in a cemetery; but all the dead slept peacefully in their graves. The dead have better things to do than dance. She wanted to sit down on one poor grave, overgrown with wild mountain ash, but it was not there! No rest, no rest! She danced and danced ... Here in the open doors of the church she saw an angel in a long white robe; over his shoulders he had large wings descending to the very ground. The angel's face was stern and serious, in his hand he held a wide shiny sword.

You will dance,” he said, “dance in your red shoes until you turn pale, cold, dry like a mummy!” You will dance from gate to gate and knock on the doors of those houses where proud, vain children live; your knock will frighten them! You will dance, dance!

Have mercy! Karen screamed.

But she no longer heard the angel's answer - the shoes dragged her into the gate, beyond the fence of the cemetery, into the field, along the roads and paths. And she danced and could not stop.

One morning she danced past a familiar door; from there, with the singing of psalms, they carried out a coffin decorated with flowers. Then she learned that the old mistress had died, and it seemed to her that now she was abandoned by everyone, cursed, by the angel of the Lord.

And she kept dancing, dancing, even on a dark night. Her shoes carried her over stones, through thicket and thorn bushes, the thorns of which scratched her until she bled. So she danced to a small secluded house, standing in an open field. She knew that the executioner lived here, tapped her finger on the window pane and said:

Come out to me! I myself can’t enter you, I’m dancing!

And the executioner answered:

You don't know who I am, do you? I cut the heads of bad people, and as I see my ax trembles!

Don't cut off my head! Karen said. “Then I won’t have time to repent of my sin.” Cut off my legs with red shoes.

And she confessed all her sin. The executioner cut off her feet with red shoes, - dancing feet rushed across the field and disappeared into the thicket of the forest.

Then the executioner attached pieces of wood to her instead of legs, gave her crutches and taught her a psalm, which sinners always sing. Karen kissed the hand that held the ax and wandered across the field.

Well, I've suffered enough because of the red shoes! - she said. - I'll go to church now, let people see me!

And she quickly went to the church doors: suddenly her feet in red shoes danced in front of her, she was frightened and turned away.

For a whole week she was sad and wept Karen with bitter tears; but Sunday came, and she said:

Well, I have suffered and suffered enough! Really, I'm no worse than many of those who sit and show off in the church!

And she boldly went there, but only reached the gate, - then the red shoes danced in front of her again. She was frightened again, turned back, and repented of her sin with all her heart.

Then she went to the priest's house and asked to serve, promising to be diligent and do everything she could, without any salary, because of a piece of bread and shelter from good people. The priest's wife took pity on her and took her into her house. Karen worked tirelessly, but was quiet and thoughtful. With what attention she listened in the evenings to the priest reading the Bible aloud! The children loved her very much, but when the girls chatted in front of her about the outfits and said that they would like to be in the place of the queen, Karen shook her head sadly.

The next Sunday everyone was ready to go to church; she was asked if she would go with them, but she only looked at her crutches with tears. Everyone went to listen to the word of God, and she went to her closet. There was only room for a bed and a chair; she sat down and began to read the psalter. Suddenly the wind carried the sounds of a church organ to her. She lifted her tear-stained face from her book and exclaimed:

Help me Lord!

And suddenly it shone all over her, like the sun, - before her appeared an angel of the Lord in a white robe, the same one whom she had seen that terrible night at the church doors. But now in his hands he held not a sharp sword, but a wonderful green branch strewn with roses. He touched the ceiling with it, and the ceiling rose high, high, and in the place that the angel touched, a golden star shone. Then the angel touched the walls - they were heard, and Karen saw the church organ, old portraits of pastors and pastors and all the people; all sat on their pews and sang psalms. What is it, was the poor girl’s narrow closet transformed into a church, or was the girl herself miraculously transported to the church? Karen was sitting in her chair next to the priest’s household, and when they finished the psalm and saw her, they affectionately nodded to her, saying :

You did well to come here too, Karen!

By the grace of God! she answered.

The solemn sounds of the organ merged with the gentle children's voices of the choir. The rays of the clear sun streamed through the window directly on Karen. Her heart was so overflowing with all this light, peace and joy that it burst. Her soul flew with the rays of the sun to God, and there no one asked her about the red shoes.