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THE RED SHOES |
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the walls, and they spread forth widely, and she saw the organ which was pealing its rich sounds ; a«nd 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 a church. She sat in the pew with the rest of the clergyman's people ; and when they had finished the psalm, and looked up, they nodded and said,
1 That was right, that you came here, Karen.'
' It was mercy ! ' said she.
And the organ sounded its glorious notes ; and the children's voices singing in 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 rilled 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. |
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THE JUMPER
The Flea, the Grasshopper, and the Frog once wanted to see which of them could jump highest; and they invited the whole world, and whoever else would come, to see the grand sight. And there the three famous jumpers were met together in the room.
* Yes, I'll give my daughter to him who jumps highest,' said the King, ' for it would be mean to let these people jump for nothing.'
The Flea stepped out first. He had very pretty manners, and bowed in all directions, for he had young ladies' blood in his veins, and was accustomed to consort only with human beings ; and that is of great consequence.
Then came the Grasshopper : he was certainly much heavier, but he had a good figure, and wore the green uniform that was born with him. This person, moreover, maintained that he belonged to a very old family in the land of Egypt, and that he was highly esteemed there. He had just come from the field, he said, and had been put
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