the following Sunday， when the family was going to church， they asked her whether shewould not go with them; but she glanced sorrowfully， with tears in her eyes， at hercrutches. The family went to hear the word of God; but she went alone into her littlechamber; there was only room for a bed and chair to stand in it; and here she sat down withher Prayer-Book; and whilst she read with a pious mind， the wind bore the strains of theorgan towards her， and she raised her tearful countenance， and said， “O God， help me!”
And the sun shone so clearly， and straight before her stood the angel of God in whitegarments， the same she had seen that night at the church door; but he no longer carried thesharp sword， but in its stead a splendid GREen spray，full of roses. And he touched theceiling with the spray， and the ceiling rose so high， and where he had touched it theregleamed a golden star. And he touched the walls， and they widened out， and she saw theorgan which was playing; she saw the old pictures of the preachers and the preachers' wives.The congregation sat in cushioned seats， and sang out of their Prayer-Books. For the churchitself had come to the poor girl in her narrow chamber， or else she had come into the church.She sat in the pew with the clergyman's family，and when they had ended the psalm and lookedup， they nodded and said， “It is right that thou art come!”
“It was through mercy!” she said.
And the organ pealed， and the children's voices in the choir sounded so sweet and soft!The clear sunshine streamed so warmly through the window into the pew where Karen sat! Herheart was so full of sunshine， peace， and joy， that it broke. Her soul flew on the sunshine toGod， and there no one asked after the RED SHOES.