WHEN God had created the world， men multiplied。There were then towns and hamlets and gardens and fields。So one day a band of angels came to the Lord， and said：“Oh， Lord， let us go to examine the world which we now see only from afar。Grant us in Thy infinite mercy that we may go down and see it more closely。”
And the Lord， in His infinite love， granted their request， although He， Who knows everything， knew what would happen to them here-after。And the angels came down and mixed with the men and women， and rejoiced at everything they saw。After a time God Almighty came down to them， and told them that the time for their return to heaven had come。The angels gathered together in a joyful band to go back up to heaven。But there was one angel who did not share in their joy。He walked sadly and alone。
God asked every one of the angels what they had seen。And one told Him of the flowers and their sweet smell， and another told of the fruit， and a third of the singing birds。Everyone had a pleasant tale to tell。When the turn came of that angel who was walking sadly in that joyful company， the Lord asked him whether he had anything to tell， and whether he wished to return to heaven， as his companions did？ to which he replied that he would prefer to remain on earth， for he would not like to go back to heaven。And the good God asked him why he was so sad， and why he would prefer to remain in this world。The angel hesitated for a while， and then he said that he had looked too far into the eyes of a girl， which were as the blue of heaven， and he could not bear to go away from her。And the Lord asked who she was， and the angel replied：“A shepherdess feeding her flock on the mountain。”And the Lord asked him，“Hast thou spoken to her？”and he said，“I could not forbear doing so。”And the Lord asked him，“What didst thou tell her？”and he replied，“I said I would forego my angelic station rather than leave her。”
The Lord， Who had up till then looked very young， suddenly turned very old and careworn， and after gazing at this angel for a long time， walked on slowly and silently with the band of other angels。When they reached the Gates of Heaven， the Lord stopped short， and， turning to the angels， said：“You can no longer enter the heavenly abode。You are bringing tidings of the ways of the world， which must not be heard by the other angels。And as you like the world， you shall continue to look at the people’s doings。”Thereupon the Lord changed the angels and made them into stars， which He scattered all over the heavens， and from there they smile joyfully and kindly upon the earth。
But the angel who wished to return did not turn into a pleasant， twinkling star。He turned into a fiery star， that， always blazing and unsteady， looked angrily at the other stars。
At last the Lord， fearing that there would be strife between them， cast the red star down to the earth， and it descended on the meadow where the shepherdess was； it came down as a shower of sparks over the whole field。
And the sparks have never died out。The fire-flies carry them still。
center萤火虫、天使和少女
那时候，上帝才刚刚创造出世界，用泥土捏成了人类，人类慢慢开始繁殖。这以后，又出现了城镇、村庄、花园和田园。
有一天，一群天使来到上帝面前说：“哦，我的主啊！请允许我们到下界去走一走，看一看吧！”
上帝没有回答。
一个天使又恳求道：“让我们去看看人类是怎么生活的，或许他们还需要一些帮助，我们以后也可以做好更多的事。”
万能的无所不晓的主虽然知道将要发生的事，但还是答应了天使们的请求。
天使们很高兴，到下界去了。
天使与人们生活在一起，过得很开心。到了该回天上的时候了，上帝召唤他们返回天堂。于是天使们聚在一起准备上天，他们又说又唱，显得很快活，像作了一次愉快的旅行。只有一个天使看上去并不快活，他独自一个人，好像很悲伤。
这时，上帝问天使：“你们在下界看到了些什么？”
一个天使说：“下面有很大很美丽的花园。我天天去花园玩，那些花的颜色很好看，花儿也真香。”
另一个天使说：“我去了果园，那里的水果品种真多，又特别好吃，我这回吃了个够。”
还有一个天使说：“我看到了树林和鸟儿，它们飞来飞去真自由，还叽叽喳喳地唱着歌。”
许多天使叙述了人类是怎么从河里打水，怎样打猎，怎样建筑他们的房子的情况，讲得津津乐道。
上帝用心地听着，他知道每一个天使的心思，最后，上帝把目光落到那个伤心的天使身上，问他：“你有什么要说吗？”
那个天使迟疑了一会儿，然后说：“我不想回到天堂去，我愿意呆在地上。”
上帝温柔地说：“你看上去有些悲伤，能说说你为什么不想回到天上去吗？”
那个天使说：“我看到了一个女孩儿的眼睛，她的眼睛像天空一样湛蓝，让我着了迷，我不想离开她。”
“她是谁呢？”上帝问。
“她是一个在山顶上放羊的女孩儿。”那个悲伤的天使回答。
上帝又问：“你和她说过话吗？”
天使说：“我忍不住和她说了几句话。”
上帝接着问：“你和她说了些什么？”
天使说：“我对她说，你真美！我情愿放弃天使的位置陪在你的身边。”
听了那个天使的话，上帝似乎一下子变老了，变得憔悴了。他对天使凝视了一会儿，没说什么话就和众天使一起走了。
当上帝与众天使一起到了天堂门口的时候，上帝的脚步略略停了一下，他对众天使说：“你们不能再回到天堂里了，因为你们已经经历了凡间事物，而这些事情是不允许让众天使知道的。反正你们也很喜欢尘世，还是继续在天空观望人世间的沧桑变化吧。”
于是，上帝把众天使变成了天上的星星，分散到天空的每一个地方，让他们俯瞰着大地。
上帝又将那伤感的天使变成一颗红色的大星星，悬在上空的另一边。上帝怕天使之间起争端，就将红色的大星星降落到大草原里。红星幻化成雨点和闪电，降落在放羊女的草地里。落到草丛里的星光并没有完全消失，看呀，在草间飞着的萤火虫正是那星光的化身呢！