Let me tell you about a girl named Karen. She was very poor, so poor that in summer she had to go barefoot, and in winter, she wore big wooden shoes that made her little ankles all red and sore. She loved pretty things, but most of all, she dreamed of a pair of red shoes.

When her mother became very sick and then passed away, Karen had nothing but a pair of rough, red shoes she had made herself. They weren't very good, but they were red. She wore them to her mother's funeral, which wasn't quite the right thing to do, but they were all she had.

As she walked sadly, a big carriage rolled by. Inside sat an old lady. She saw Karen and felt sorry for her. "Come live with me," said the old lady. "I will give you nice clothes and good food." Karen was happy to go. The old lady burned Karen's old red shoes, saying they were not proper.

Karen got new dresses, new shoes, and learned to read and sew. But sometimes, she still thought about red shoes. One day, they went to town to buy shoes for Karen's confirmation, a special church ceremony. Karen was supposed to get sensible white shoes. But in the shoemaker's window, what did she see? The most beautiful pair of shiny red leather shoes! They seemed to whisper, "Buy us, Karen!"

Karen couldn't resist. The old lady's eyesight wasn't very good, so she didn't notice Karen chose the red ones.

On confirmation day, Karen wore her new red shoes to church. Everyone stared. The shoes felt wonderful! After church, the old lady became ill. Karen was supposed to look after her. But there was a big party in town, and Karen wanted to go. She put on her red shoes. "Just a little dance," she thought.

But once she started dancing, she couldn't stop! The shoes danced her out the door, down the street, and away from the town. Oh, how she danced! Through fields and forests, day and night. She danced past the church, and an old soldier with a long beard stood at the gate. He said, "Oh, what beautiful dancing shoes!"

Karen wanted to stop, but the shoes wouldn't let her. She was tired and scared. She danced and danced until she came to the executioner's lonely house in the woods. The executioner was the person who carried out punishments. "Please," she cried, "cut off these shoes! I cannot stop dancing!"

The executioner felt sorry for her. He took his sharp axe, and *chop, chop* – he cut off the red shoes. And, oh dear, Karen's feet were still inside them! The red shoes, with her little feet still in them, danced away into the forest and were never seen again.

Karen now had wooden feet and crutches. She felt very sorry for being vain and for leaving the old lady. She found work at the parsonage, helping the kind pastor's family. She was quiet and humble.

One Sunday, she wanted to go to church. But as she approached, she thought she saw the red shoes dancing in front of the door, blocking her way. She turned back, sad. She sat in her little room and prayed. She read her psalm book. Suddenly, the room filled with sunshine. She felt a great peace. Her heart felt so light, it was as if it could fly. And some say, her soul flew up to heaven, where no one ever asked about red shoes again.

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