Hans Christian Andersen

“ When she danced toward the open church door she saw an angel standing there in long white robes and wings which reached from his shoulders to the ground; his face was grave and stern, and in his hand he held a broad and shining sword.
"Dance you shall!" said he; "you shall dance in your red shoes till you are pale and cold; till your skin shrivels up and you are a skeleton! You shall dance from door to door, and wherever you find proud, vain children, you must knock at the door so that they may see you and fear you. ”

“ I should think I am quite as good as many who sit holding their heads so high in church!" She went along quite boldly, but she did not get farther than the gate before she saw the red shoes dancing in front of her; she was more frightened than ever, and turned back, this time with real repentance in her heart. Then she went to the parson's house, and begged to be taken into service; she would be very industrious and work as hard as she could; she didn't care what wages they gave her, if only she might have a roof over her head and live among kind people. ”

“ I chop the bad people's heads off, and I see that my axe is quivering."
"Don't chop my head off," said Karen, "for then I can never repent of my sins, but pray, pray chop my feet off with the red shoes!" ”