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Title: Heidi

Author: Johanna Spyri

Illustrator: Maria Louise Kirk

Translator: Elisabeth P. Stork

Release date: March 9, 2007 [eBook #20781]
Most recently updated: January 1, 2021

Language: English

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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HEIDI ***

Transcriber's Note:

In the original gift edition, there are 8 margin images repeated on each page, these
have been preserved and reproduced at the beginning of each chapter.
Inconsistent hyphenation in the original document has been preserved.
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected in this text.
For a complete list, please see the end of this document.

HEIDI
GIFT EDITION

WAVING HER HAND AND LOOKING AFTER HER DEPARTING FRIEND TILL HE
SEEMED NO BIGGER THAN A LITTLE DOTToList
Page 228

HEIDI

BY

JOHANNA SPYRI

TRANSLATED BY
ELISABETH P. STORK

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY
CHARLES WHARTON STORK, A.M., Ph.D.

14 ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOR BY
MARIA L. KIRK

GIFT EDITION

PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON
J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
1919

COPYRIGHT, 1915. BY J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY

ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS AND DECORATIONS
COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY

PRINTED BY J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
AT THE WASHINGTON SQUARE PRESS
PHILADELPHIA, U.S.A.

INTRODUCTION

Unassuming in plot and style, "Heidi" may none the less lay claim to
rank as a world classic. In the first place, both background and characters
ring true. The air of the Alps is wafted to us in every page; the house among
the pines, the meadows, and the eagle poised above the naked rocks form a
picture that no one could willingly forget. And the people, from the kindly
towns-folk to the quaint and touching peasant types, are as real as any
representation of human nature need be. Every goat even, has its
personality. As for the little heroine, she is a blessing not only to everyone
in the story, but to everyone who reads it. The narrative merits of the book
are too apparent to call for comment.
As to the author, Johanna Spyri, she has so entirely lost herself in her
creation that we may pass over her career rather rapidly. She was born in
Switzerland in 1829, came of a literary family, and devoted all her talent to
the writing of books for and about children.
Since "Heidi" has been so often translated into English it may well be
asked why there is any need for a new version. The answer lies partly in the
conventional character of the previous translations. Now, if there is any
quality in "Heidi" that gives it a particular charm, that quality is freshness,
absolute spontaneity. To be sure, the story is so attractive that it could never
be wholly spoiled; but has not the reader the right to enjoy it in English at
least very nearly as much as he could in German? The two languages are so
different in nature that anything like a literal rendering of one into the other
is sure to result in awkwardness and indirectness. Such a book must be not
translated, but re-lived and re-created.
To perform such a feat the writer must, to begin with, be familiar with the
mountains, and able to appreciate with Wordsworth

The silence that is in the starry sky,

[7]
The sleep that is among the lonely hills.
The translator of the present version was born and reared in a region
closely similar to that of the story. Her home was originally in the
picturesque town of Salzburg, and her father, Franz von Pausinger, was one
of the greatest landscape painters of his country and generation. Another
equally important requisite is knowledge of children. It happens that this
translator has a daughter just the age of the heroine, who moreover loves to
dress in Tyrolese costume. To translate "Heidi" was for her therefore a labor
of love, which means that the love contended with and overcame the labor.
The English style of the present version is, then, distinctive. It has often
been noticed that those who acquire a foreign language often learn to speak
it with unusual clearness and purity. For illustration we need go no further
than Joseph Conrad, a Pole, probably the greatest master of narrative
English writing to-day; or to our own fellow-citizen Carl Schurz. In the
present case, the writer has lived seven years in America and has
strengthened an excellent training with a wide reading of the best English
classics.
Many people say that they read without noticing the author's style. This is
seldom quite true; unconsciously every one is impressed in some way or
other by the style of every book, or by its lack of style. Children are
particularly sensitive in this respect and should, therefore, as much as is
practicable, read only the best. In the new translation of "Heidi" here
offered to the public I believe that most readers will notice an especial
flavor, that very quality of delight in mountain scenes, in mountain people
and in child life generally, which is one of the chief merits of the German
original. The phrasing has also been carefully adapted to the purpose of
reading aloud—a thing that few translators think of. In conclusion, the
author, realising the difference between the two languages, has endeavored
to write the story afresh, as Johanna Spyri would have written it had
English been her native tongue. How successful the attempt has been the
reader will judge.
Charles Wharton Stork
Assistant Professor of English at the

University of Pennsylvania

CONTENTS

PART I
HEIDI'S YEARS OF LEARNING AND TRAVEL
CHAPTER PAGE
I Going up to the Alm-Uncle 17
II. With the Grandfather 38
III. On the Pasture 50
IV. In the Grandmother's Hut 67
V. Two Visitors 83
VI. A New Chapter with New Things 95
VII. Miss Rottenmeier Has an Uncomfortable Day 104
VIII. Great Disturbances in the Sesemann House 119
IX. The Master of the House Hears of Strange Doings 129
X. A Grandmama 136
XI. Heidi Gains in Some Respects and Loses in Others 146
XII. The Sesemann House is Haunted 153
XIII. Up the Alp on a Summer Evening 165
XIV. On Sunday When the Church Bells Ring 183

PART II
HEIDI MAKES USE OF HER EXPERIENCE
XV. Preparations for a Journey 199
XVI. A Guest on the Alp 207
XVII. Retaliation 219
XVIII. Winter in the Village 229
XIX. Winter Still Continues 243
XX. News from Distant Friends 252
XXI. On Further Events on the Alp 268
XXII. Something Unexpected Happens 276
XXIII. Parting to Meet Again 293

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE
Waving Her Hand and Looking After Her Departing Friend till He Looked
No Bigger than a Little Dot Frontispiece
She Undid the Heavy Shawl and the Two Little Dresses 30
Here a Neat Little Bed Was Prepared 41
She Handed Him Also the Whole Slice of Cheese 57
Off they Started at Such a Pace that Heidi Shouted for Joy 71
When Heidi Heard that She Struggled to Get Free 92
Off they Started, and Soon Heidi Was Pulling the Door-Bell 116
There She Would Remain, Eating Her Heart Away with Longing 152
Throwing Herself in Her Grandfather's Arms, She Held Him Tight 179
With Heidi's Hand in His They Wandered Down Together 192
They Are Coming, Oh, the Doctor is Coming First 211
The Two Children Were Already Flying Down the Alp 241
He Watched His Fallen Enemy Tumbling Downwards, Downwards 277
Peter Shot Off and Rushed Down the Mountain-side, Turning Wild
Somersaults on His Perilous Way 298

Part I
Heidi's Years of Learning and Travel

HEIDI

IToC
GOING UP TO THE ALM-UNCLE

he little old town of Mayenfeld is charmingly situated. From
it a footpath leads through green, well-wooded stretches to
the foot of the heights which look down imposingly upon
the valley. Where the footpath begins to go steeply and
abruptly up the Alps, the heath, with its short grass and
pungent herbage, at once sends out its soft perfume to meet
the wayfarer.
One bright sunny morning in June, a tall, vigorous maiden of the
mountain region climbed up the narrow path, leading a little girl by the
hand. The youngster's cheeks were in such a glow that it showed even
through her sun-browned skin. Small wonder though! for in spite of the
heat, the little one, who was scarcely five years old, was bundled up as if
she had to brave a bitter frost. Her shape was difficult to distinguish, for she
wore two dresses, if not three, and around her shoulders a large red cotton
shawl. With her feet encased in heavy hob-nailed boots, this hot and
shapeless little person toiled up the mountain.
The pair had been climbing for about an hour when they reached a
hamlet half-way up the great mountain named the Alm. This hamlet was
called "Im Dörfli" or "The Little Village." It was the elder girl's home town,
and therefore she was greeted from nearly every house; people called to her
from windows and doors, and very often from the road. But, answering
questions and calls as she went by, the girl did not loiter on her way and
only stood still when she reached the end of the hamlet. There a few
cottages lay scattered about, from the furthest of which a voice called out to

her through an open door: "Deta, please wait one moment! I am coming
with you, if you are going further up."
When the girl stood still to wait, the child instantly let go her hand and
promptly sat down on the ground.
"Are you tired, Heidi?" Deta asked the child.
"No, but hot," she replied.
"We shall be up in an hour, if you take big steps and climb with all your
little might!" Thus the elder girl tried to encourage her small companion.
A stout, pleasant-looking woman stepped out of the house and joined the
two. The child had risen and wandered behind the old acquaintances, who
immediately started gossiping about their friends in the neighborhood and
the people of the hamlet generally.
"Where are you taking the child, Deta?" asked the newcomer. "Is she the
child your sister left?"
"Yes," Deta assured her; "I am taking her up to the Alm-Uncle and there I
want her to remain."
"You can't really mean to take her there Deta. You must have lost your
senses, to go to him. I am sure the old man will show you the door and
won't even listen to what you say."
"Why not? As he's her grandfather, it is high time he should do
something for the child. I have taken care of her until this summer and now
a good place has been offered to me. The child shall not hinder me from
accepting it, I tell you that!"
"It would not be so hard, if he were like other mortals. But you know him
yourself. How could he look after a child, especially such a little one? She'll
never get along with him, I am sure of that!—But tell me of your
prospects."
"I am going to a splendid house in Frankfurt. Last summer some people
went off to the baths and I took care of their rooms. As they got to like me,
they wanted to take me along, but I could not leave. They have come back
now and have persuaded me to go with them."

"I am glad I am not the child!" exclaimed Barbara with a shudder.
"Nobody knows anything about the old man's life up there. He doesn't
speak to a living soul, and from one year's end to the other he keeps away
from church. People get out of his way when he appears once in a twelve-
month down here among us. We all fear him and he is really just like a
heathen or an old Indian, with those thick grey eyebrows and that huge
uncanny beard. When he wanders along the road with his twisted stick we
are all afraid to meet him alone."
"That is not my fault," said Deta stubbornly. "He won't do her any harm;
and if he should, he is responsible, not I."
"I wish I knew what weighs on the old man's conscience. Why are his
eyes so fierce and why does he live up there all alone? Nobody ever sees
him and we hear many strange things about him. Didn't your sister tell you
anything, Deta?"
"Of course she did, but I shall hold my tongue. He would make me pay
for it if I didn't."
Barbara had long been anxious to know something about the old uncle
and why he lived apart from everybody. Nobody had a good word for him,
and when people talked about him, they did not speak openly but as if they
were afraid. She could not even explain to herself why he was called the
Alm-Uncle. He could not possibly be the uncle of all the people in the
village, but since everybody spoke of him so, she did the same. Barbara,
who had only lived in the village since her marriage, was glad to get some
information from her friend. Deta had been bred there, but since her
mother's death had gone away to earn her livelihood.
She confidentially seized Deta's arm and said: "I wish you would tell me
the truth about him, Deta; you know it all—people only gossip. Tell me,
what has happened to the old man to turn everybody against him so? Did he
always hate his fellow-creatures?"
"I cannot tell you whether he always did, and that for a very good reason.
He being sixty years old, and I only twenty-six, you can't expect me to give
you an account of his early youth. But if you'll promise to keep it to

yourself and not set all the people in Prätiggan talking, I can tell you a good
deal. My mother and he both came from Domleschg."
"How can you talk like that, Deta?" replied Barbara in an offended tone.
"People do not gossip much in Prätiggan, and I always can keep things to
myself, if I have to. You won't repent of having told me, I assure you!"
"All right, but keep your word!" said Deta warningly. Then she looked
around to see that the child was not so close to them as to overhear what
might be said; but the little girl was nowhere to be seen. While the two
young women had talked at such a rate, they had not noticed her absence;
quite a while must have elapsed since the little girl had given up following
her companions. Deta, standing still, looked about her everywhere, but no
one was on the path, which—except for a few curves—was visible as far
down as the village.
"There she is! Can't you see her there?" exclaimed Barbara, pointing to a
spot a good distance from the path. "She is climbing up with the goatherd
Peter and his goats. I wonder why he is so late to-day. I must say, it suits us
well enough; he can look after the child while you tell me everything
without being interrupted."
"It will be very easy for Peter to watch her," remarked Deta; "she is
bright for her five years and keeps her eyes wide open. I have often noticed
that and I am glad for her, for it will be useful with the uncle. He has
nothing left in the whole wide world, but his cottage and two goats!"
"Did he once have more?" asked Barbara.
"I should say so. He was heir to a large farm in Domleschg. But setting
up to play the fine gentleman, he soon lost everything with drink and play.
His parents died with grief and he himself disappeared from these parts.
After many years he came back with a half-grown boy, his son, Tobias, that
was his name, became a carpenter and turned out to be a quiet, steady
fellow. Many strange rumors went round about the uncle and I think that
was why he left Domleschg for Dörfli. We acknowledged relationship, my
mother's grandmother being a cousin of his. We called him uncle, and
because we are related on my father's side to nearly all the people in the

hamlet they too all called him uncle. He was named 'Alm-Uncle' when he
moved up to the Alm."
"But what happened to Tobias?" asked Barbara eagerly.
"Just wait. How can I tell you everything at once?" exclaimed Deta.
"Tobias was an apprentice in Mels, and when he was made master, he came
home to the village and married my sister Adelheid. They always had been
fond of each other and they lived very happily as man and wife. But their
joy was short. Two years afterwards, when Tobias was helping to build a
house, a beam fell on him and killed him. Adelheid was thrown into a
violent fever with grief and fright, and never recovered from it. She had
never been strong and had often suffered from queer spells, when we did
not know whether she was awake or asleep. Only a few weeks after Tobias's
death they buried poor Adelheid.
"People said that heaven had punished the uncle for his misdeeds. After
the death of his son he never spoke to a living soul. Suddenly he moved up
to the Alp, to live there at enmity with God and man.
"My mother and I took Adelheid's little year-old baby, Heidi, to live with
us. When I went to Ragatz I took her with me; but in the spring the family
whose work I had done last year came from Frankfurt and resolved to take
me to their town-house. I am very glad to get such a good position."
"And now you want to hand over the child to this terrible old man. I
really wonder how you can do it, Deta!" said Barbara with reproach in her
voice.
"It seems to me I have really done enough for the child. I do not know
where else to take her, as she is too young to come with me to Frankfurt. By
the way, Barbara, where are you going? We are half-way up the Alm
already."
Deta shook hands with her companion and stood still while Barbara
approached the tiny, dark-brown mountain hut, which lay in a hollow a few
steps away from the path.
Situated half-way up the Alm, the cottage was luckily protected from the
mighty winds. Had it been exposed to the tempests, it would have been a

doubtful habitation in the state of decay it was in. Even as it was, the doors
and windows rattled and the old rafters shook when the south wind swept
the mountain side. If the hut had stood on the Alm top, the wind would have
blown it down the valley without much ado when the storm season came.
Here lived Peter the goatherd, a boy eleven years old, who daily fetched
the goats from the village and drove them up the mountain to the short and
luscious grasses of the pastures. Peter raced down in the evening with the
light-footed little goats. When he whistled sharply through his fingers,
every owner would come and get his or her goat. These owners were mostly
small boys and girls and, as the goats were friendly, they did not fear them.
That was the only time Peter spent with other children, the rest of the day
the animals were his sole companions. At home lived his mother and an old
blind grandmother, but he only spent enough time in the hut to swallow his
bread and milk for breakfast and the same repast for supper. After that he
sought his bed to sleep. He always left early in the morning and at night he
came home late, so that he could be with his friends as long as possible. His
father had met with an accident some years ago; he also had been called
Peter the goatherd. His mother, whose name was Brigida, was called
"Goatherd Peter's wife" and his blind grandmother was called by young and
old from many miles about just "grandmother."
Deta waited about ten minutes to see if the children were coming up
behind with the goats. As she could not find them anywhere, she climbed up
a little higher to get a better view down the valley from there, and peered
from side to side with marks of great impatience on her countenance.
The children in the meantime were ascending slowly in a zigzag way,
Peter always knowing where to find all sorts of good grazing places for his
goats where they could nibble. Thus they strayed from side to side. The
poor little girl had followed the boy only with the greatest effort and she
was panting in her heavy clothes. She was so hot and uncomfortable that
she only climbed by exerting all her strength. She did not say anything but
looked enviously at Peter, who jumped about so easily in his light trousers
and bare feet. She envied even more the goats that climbed over bushes,
stones, and steep inclines with their slender legs. Suddenly sitting down on
the ground the child swiftly took off her shoes and stockings. Getting up she

undid the heavy shawl and the two little dresses. Out she slipped without
more ado and stood up in only a light petticoat. In sheer delight at the relief,
she threw up her dimpled arms, that were bare up to her short sleeves. To
save the trouble of carrying them, her aunt had dressed her in her Sunday
clothes over her workday garments. Heidi arranged her dresses neatly in a
heap and joined Peter and the goats. She was now as light-footed as any of
them. When Peter, who had not paid much attention, saw her suddenly in
her light attire, he grinned. Looking back, he saw the little heap of dresses
on the ground and then he grinned yet more, till his mouth seemed to reach
from ear to ear; but he said never a word.
The child, feeling free and comfortable, started to converse with Peter,
and he had to answer many questions. She asked him how many goats he
had, and where he led them, what he did with them when he got there, and
so forth.

SHE UNDID THE HEAVY SHAWL AND THE TWO LITTLE DRESSESToList

At last the children reached the summit in front of the hut. When Deta
saw the little party of climbers she cried out shrilly: "Heidi, what have you
done? What a sight you are! Where are your dresses and your shawl? Are
the new shoes gone that I just bought for you, and the new stockings that I
made myself? Where are they all, Heidi?"
The child quietly pointed down and said "There."

The aunt followed the direction of her finger and descried a little heap
with a small red dot in the middle, which she recognized as the shawl.
"Unlucky child!" Deta said excitedly. "What does all this mean? Why
have you taken your things all off?"
"Because I do not need them," said the child, not seeming in the least
repentant of her deed.
"How can you be so stupid, Heidi? Have you lost your senses?" the aunt
went on, in a tone of mingled vexation and reproach. "Who do you think
will go way down there to fetch those things up again? It is half-an-hour's
walk. Please, Peter, run down and get them. Do not stand and stare at me as
if you were glued to the spot."
"I am late already," replied Peter, and stood without moving from the
place where, with his hands in his trousers' pockets, he had witnessed the
violent outbreak of Heidi's aunt.
"There you are, standing and staring, but that won't get you further," said
Deta. "I'll give you this if you go down." With that she held a five-penny-
piece under his eyes. That made Peter start and in a great hurry he ran down
the straightest path. He arrived again in so short a time that Deta had to
praise him and gave him her little coin without delay. He did not often get
such a treasure, and therefore his face was beaming and he laughingly
dropped the money deep into his pocket.
"If you are going up to the uncle, as we are, you can carry the pack till
we get there," said Deta. They still had to climb a steep ascent that lay
behind Peter's hut. The boy readily took the things and followed Deta, his
left arm holding the bundle and his right swinging the stick. Heidi jumped
along gaily by his side with the goats.
After three quarters of an hour they reached the height where the hut of
the old man stood on a prominent rock, exposed to every wind, but bathed
in the full sunlight. From there you could gaze far down into the valley.
Behind the hut stood three old fir-trees with great shaggy branches. Further
back the old grey rocks rose high and sheer. Above them you could see
green and fertile pastures, till at last the stony boulders reached the bare,
steep cliffs.

Overlooking the valley the uncle had made himself a bench, by the side
of the hut. Here he sat, with his pipe between his teeth and both hands
resting on his knees. He quietly watched the children climbing up with the
goats and Aunt Deta behind them, for the children had caught up to her long
ago. Heidi reached the top first, and approaching the old man she held out
her hand to him and said: "Good evening, grandfather!"
"Well, well, what does that mean?" replied the old man in a rough voice.
Giving her his hand for only a moment, he watched her with a long and
penetrating look from under his bushy brows. Heidi gazed back at him with
an unwinking glance and examined him with much curiosity, for he was
strange to look at, with his thick, grey beard and shaggy eyebrows, that met
in the middle like a thicket.
Heidi's aunt had arrived in the meantime with Peter, who was eager to see
what was going to happen.
"Good-day to you, uncle," said Deta as she approached. "This is Tobias's
and Adelheid's child. You won't be able to remember her, because last time
you saw her she was scarcely a year old."
"Why do you bring her here?" asked the uncle, and turning to Peter he
said: "Get away and bring my goats. How late you are already!"
Peter obeyed and disappeared on the spot; the uncle had looked at him in
such a manner that he was glad to go.
"Uncle, I have brought the little girl for you to keep," said Deta. "I have
done my share these last four years and now it is your turn to provide for
her."
The old man's eyes flamed with anger. "Indeed!" he said. "What on earth
shall I do, when she begins to whine and cry for you? Small children always
do, and then I'll be helpless."
"You'll have to look out for that!" Deta retorted. "When the little baby
was left in my hands a few years ago, I had to find out how to care for the
little innocent myself and nobody told me anything. I already had mother on
my hands and there was plenty for me to do. You can't blame me if I want to
earn some money now. If you can't keep the child, you can do with her

whatever you please. If she comes to harm you are responsible and I am
sure you do not want to burden your conscience any further."
Deta had said more in her excitement than she had intended, just because
her conscience was not quite clear. The uncle had risen during her last
words and now he gave her such a look that she retreated a few steps.
Stretching out his arm in a commanding gesture, he said to her: "Away with
you! Begone! Stay wherever you came from and don't venture soon again
into my sight!"
Deta did not have to be told twice. She said "Good-bye" to Heidi and
"Farewell" to the uncle, and started down the mountain. Like steam her
excitement seemed to drive her forward, and she ran down at a tremendous
rate. The people in the village called to her now more than they had on her
way up, because they all were wondering where she had left the child. They
were well acquainted with both and knew their history. When she heard
from door and windows: "Where is the child?" "Where have you left her,
Deta?" and so forth, she answered more and more reluctantly: "Up with the
Alm-Uncle,—with the Alm-Uncle!" She became much provoked because
the women called to her from every side: "How could you do it?" "The poor
little creature!" "The idea of leaving such a helpless child up there!" and,
over and over again: "The poor little dear!" Deta ran as quickly as she could
and was glad when she heard no more calls, because, to tell the truth, she
herself was uneasy. Her mother had asked her on her deathbed to care for
Heidi. But she consoled herself with the thought that she would be able to
do more for the child if she could earn some money. She was very glad to
go away from people who interfered in her affairs, and looked forward with
great delight to her new place.

IIToC
WITH THE GRANDFATHER

fter Deta had disappeared, the Uncle sat down again on the
bench, blowing big clouds of smoke out of his pipe. He did
not speak, but kept his eyes fastened on the ground. In the
meantime Heidi looked about her, and discovering the goat-
shed, peeped in. Nothing could be seen inside. Searching for
some more interesting thing, she saw the three old fir-trees
behind the hut. Here the wind was roaring through the branches and the
tree-tops were swaying to and fro. Heidi stood still to listen. After the wind
had ceased somewhat, she walked round the hut back to her grandfather.
She found him in exactly the same position, and planting herself in front of
the old man, with arms folded behind her back, she gazed at him. The
grandfather, looking up, saw the child standing motionless before him.
"What do you want to do now?" he asked her.
"I want to see what's in the hut," replied Heidi.
"Come then," and with that the grandfather got up and entered the
cottage.
"Take your things along," he commanded.
"I do not want them any more," answered Heidi.
The old man, turning about, threw a penetrating glance at her. The child's
black eyes were sparkling in expectation of all the things to come. "She is
not lacking in intelligence," he muttered to himself. Aloud he added: "Why
don't you need them any more?"
"I want to go about like the light-footed goats!"

"All right, you can; but fetch the things and we'll put them in the
cupboard." The child obeyed the command. The old man now opened the
door, and Heidi followed him into a fairly spacious room, which took in the
entire expanse of the hut. In one corner stood a table and a chair, and in
another the grandfather's bed. Across the room a large kettle was suspended
over the hearth, and opposite to it a large door was sunk into the wall. This
the grandfather opened. It was the cupboard, in which all his clothes were
kept. In one shelf were a few shirts, socks and towels; on another a few
plates, cups and glasses; and on the top shelf Heidi could see a round loaf of
bread, some bacon and cheese. In this cupboard the grandfather kept
everything that he needed for his subsistence. When he opened it, Heidi
pushed her things as far behind the grandfather's clothes as she could reach.
She did not want them found again in a hurry. After looking around
attentively in the room, she asked, "Where am I going to sleep,
grandfather?"
"Wherever you want to," he replied. That suited Heidi exactly. She
peeped into all the corners of the room and looked at every little nook to
find a cosy place to sleep. Beside the old man's bed she saw a ladder.
Climbing up, she arrived at a hayloft, which was filled with fresh and
fragrant hay. Through a tiny round window she could look far down into the
valley.

HERE A NEAT LITTLE BED WAS PREPAREDToList

"I want to sleep up here," Heidi called down. "Oh, it is lovely here.
Please come up, grandfather, and see it for yourself."
"I know it," sounded from below.
"I am making the bed now," the little girl called out again, while she ran
busily to and fro. "Oh, do come up and bring a sheet, grandfather, for every
bed must have a sheet."

"Is that so?" said the old man. After a while he opened the cupboard and
rummaged around in it. At last he pulled out a long coarse cloth from under
the shirts. It somewhat resembled a sheet, and with this he climbed up to the
loft. Here a neat little bed was already prepared. On top the hay was heaped
up high so that the head of the occupant would lie exactly opposite the
window.
The grandfather was well pleased with the arrangement. To prevent the
hard floor from being felt, he made the couch twice as thick. Then he and
Heidi together put the heavy sheet on, tucking the ends in well. Heidi
looked thoughtfully at her fresh, new bed and said, "Grandfather, we have
forgotten something."
"What?" he asked.
"I have no cover. When I go to bed I always creep in between the sheet
and the cover."
"What shall we do if I haven't any?" asked the grandfather.
"Never mind, I'll just take some more hay to cover me," Heidi reassured
him, and was just going to the heap of hay when the old man stopped her.
"Just wait one minute," he said, and went down to his own bed. From it
he took a large, heavy linen bag and brought it to the child.
"Isn't this better than hay?" he asked.
Heidi pulled the sack to and fro with all her might, but she could not
unfold it, for it was too heavy for her little arms. The grandfather put the
thick cover on the bed while Heidi watched him. After it was all done, she
said: "What a nice bed I have now, and what a splendid cover! I only wish
the evening was here, that I might go to sleep in it."
"I think we might eat something first," said the grandfather. "Don't you
think so?"
Heidi had forgotten everything else in her interest for the bed; but when
she was reminded of her dinner, she noticed how terribly hungry she really
was. She had had only a piece of bread and a cup of thin coffee very early

in the morning, before her long journey. Heidi said approvingly: "I think we
might, grandfather!"
"Let's go down then, if we agree," said the old man, and followed close
behind her. Going up to the fireplace, he pushed the big kettle aside and
reached for a smaller one that was suspended on a chain. Then sitting down
on a three-legged stool, he kindled a bright fire. When the kettle was
boiling, the old man put a large piece of cheese on a long iron fork, and held
it over the fire, turning it to and fro, till it was golden-brown on all sides.
Heidi had watched him eagerly. Suddenly she ran to the cupboard. When
her grandfather brought a pot and the toasted cheese to the table, he found it
already nicely set with two plates and two knives and the bread in the
middle. Heidi had seen the things in the cupboard and knew that they would
be needed for the meal.
"I am glad to see that you can think for yourself," said the grandfather,
while he put the cheese on top of the bread, "but something is missing yet."
Heidi saw the steaming pot and ran back to the cupboard in all haste. A
single little bowl was on the shelf. That did not perplex Heidi though, for
she saw two glasses standing behind. With those three things she returned to
the table.
"You certainly can help yourself! Where shall you sit, though?" asked the
grandfather, who occupied the only chair himself, Heidi flew to the hearth,
and bringing back the little stool, sat down on it.
"Now you have a seat, but it is much too low. In fact, you are too little to
reach the table from my chair. Now you shall have something to eat at last!"
and with that the grandfather filled the little bowl with milk. Putting it on
his chair, he pushed it as near to the stool as was possible, and in that way
Heidi had a table before her. He commanded her to eat the large piece of
bread and the slice of golden cheese. He sat down himself on a corner of the
table and started his own dinner. Heidi drank without stopping, for she felt
exceedingly thirsty after her long journey. Taking a long breath, she put
down her little bowl.
"How do you like the milk?" the grandfather asked her.
"I never tasted better," answered Heidi.

"Then you shall have more," and with that the grandfather filled the little
bowl again. The little girl ate and drank with the greatest enjoyment. After
she was through, both went out into the goat-shed. Here the old man busied
himself, and Heidi watched him attentively while he was sweeping and
putting down fresh straw for the goats to sleep on. Then he went to the little
shop alongside and fashioned a high chair for Heidi, to the little girl's
greatest amazement.
"What is this?" asked the grandfather.
"This is a chair for me. I am sure of it because it is so high. How quickly
it was made!" said the child, full of admiration and wonder.
"She knows what is what and has her eyes on the right place," the
grandfather said to himself, while he walked around the hut, fastening a nail
or a loose board here and there. He wandered about with his hammer and
nails, repairing whatever was in need of fixing. Heidi followed him at every
step and watched the performance with great enjoyment and attention.
At last the evening came. The old fir-trees were rustling and a mighty
wind was roaring and howling through the tree-tops. Those sounds thrilled
Heidi's heart and filled it with happiness and joy. She danced and jumped
about under the trees, for those sounds made her feel as if a wonderful thing
had happened to her. The grandfather stood under the door, watching her,
when suddenly a shrill whistle was heard. Heidi stood still and the
grandfather joined her outside. Down from the heights came one goat after
another, with Peter in their midst. Uttering a cry of joy, Heidi ran into the
middle of the flock, greeting her old friends. When they had all reached the
hut, they stopped on their way and two beautiful slender goats came out of
the herd, one of them white and the other brown. They came up to the
grandfather, who held out some salt in his hands to them, as he did every
night. Heidi tenderly caressed first one and then the other, seeming beside
herself with joy.
"Are they ours, grandfather? Do they both belong to us? Are they going
to the stable? Are they going to stay with us?" Heidi kept on asking in her
excitement. The grandfather hardly could put in a "yes, yes, surely"

between her numerous questions. When the goats had licked up all the salt,
the old man said, "Go in, Heidi, and fetch your bowl and the bread."
Heidi obeyed and returned instantly. The grandfather milked a full bowl
from the white goat, cut a piece of bread for the child, and told her to eat.
"Afterwards you can go to bed. If you need some shirts and other linen, you
will find them in the bottom of the cupboard. Aunt Deta has left a bundle
for you. Now good-night, I have to look after the goats and lock them up for
the night."
"Good-night, grandfather! Oh, please tell me what their names are,"
called Heidi after him.
"The white one's name is Schwänli and the brown one I call Bärli," was
his answer.
"Good-night, Schwänli! Good-night, Bärli," the little girl called loudly,
for they were just disappearing in the shed. Heidi now sat down on the
bench and took her supper. The strong wind nearly blew her from her seat,
so she hurried with her meal, to be able to go inside and up to her bed. She
slept in it as well as a prince on his royal couch.
Very soon after Heidi had gone up, before it was quite dark, the old man
also sought his bed. He was always up in the morning with the sun, which
rose early over the mountain-side in those summer days. It was a wild,
stormy night; the hut was shaking in the gusts and all the boards were
creaking. The wind howled through the chimney and the old fir-trees shook
so strongly that many a dry branch came crashing down. In the middle of
the night the grandfather got up, saying to himself: "I am sure she is afraid."
Climbing up the ladder, he went up to Heidi's bed. The first moment
everything lay in darkness, when all of a sudden the moon came out behind
the clouds and sent his brilliant light across Heidi's bed. Her cheeks were
burning red and she lay peacefully on her round and chubby arms. She must
have had a happy dream, for she was smiling in her sleep. The grandfather
stood and watched her till a cloud flew over the moon and left everything in
total darkness. Then he went down to seek his bed again.

IIIToC
ON THE PASTURE

eidi was awakened early next morning by a loud whistle.
Opening her eyes, she saw her little bed and the hay beside
her bathed in golden sunlight. For a short while she did not
know where she was, but when she heard her grandfather's
deep voice outside, she recollected everything. She
remembered how she had come up the mountain the day
before and left old Ursula, who was always shivering with cold and sat near
the stove all day. While Heidi lived with Ursula, she had always been
obliged to keep in the house, where the old woman could see her. Being
deaf, Ursula was afraid to let Heidi go outdoors, and the child had often
fretted in the narrow room and had longed to run outside. She was therefore
delighted to find herself in her new home and hardly could wait to see the
goats again. Jumping out of bed, she put on her few things and in a short
time went down the ladder and ran outside. Peter was already there with his
flock, waiting for Schwänli and Bärli, whom the grandfather was just
bringing to join the other goats.
"Do you want to go with him to the pasture?" asked the grandfather.
"Yes," cried Heidi, clapping her hands.
"Go now, and wash yourself first, for the sun will laugh at you if he sees
how dirty you are. Everything is ready there for you," he added, pointing to
a large tub of water that stood in the sun. Heidi did as she was told, and
washed and rubbed herself till her cheeks were glowing. In the meanwhile
the grandfather called to Peter to come into the hut and bring his bag along.
The boy followed the old man, who commanded him to open the bag in
which he carried his scanty dinner. The grandfather put into the bag a piece

of bread and a slice of cheese, that were easily twice as large as those the
boy had in the bag himself.
"The little bowl goes in, too," said the Uncle, "for the child does not
know how to drink straight from the goat, the way you do. She is going to
stay with you all day, therefore milk two bowls full for her dinner. Look out
that she does not fall over the rocks! Do you hear?"
Just then Heidi came running in. "Grandfather, can the sun still laugh at
me?" she asked. The child had rubbed herself so violently with the coarse
towel which the grandfather had put beside the tub that her face, neck and
arms were as red as a lobster. With a smile the grandfather said: "No, he
can't laugh any more now; but when you come home to-night you must go
into the tub like a fish. When one goes about like the goats, one gets dirty
feet. Be off!"
They started merrily up the Alp. A cloudless, deep-blue sky looked down
on them, for the wind had driven away every little cloud in the night. The
fresh green mountain-side was bathed in brilliant sunlight, and many blue
and yellow flowers had opened. Heidi was wild with joy and ran from side
to side. In one place she saw big patches of fine red primroses, on another
spot blue gentians sparkled in the grass, and everywhere the golden rock-
roses were nodding to her. In her transport at finding such treasures, Heidi
even forgot Peter and his goats. She ran far ahead of him and then strayed
away off to one side, for the sparkling flowers tempted her here and there.
Picking whole bunches of them to take home with her, she put them all into
her little apron.
Peter, whose round eyes could only move about slowly, had a hard time
looking out for her. The goats were even worse, and only by shouting and
whistling, especially by swinging his rod, could he drive them together.
"Heidi, where are you now?" he called quite angrily.
"Here," it sounded from somewhere. Peter could not see her, for she was
sitting on the ground behind a little mound, which was covered with
fragrant flowers. The whole air was filled with their perfume, and the child
drew it in, in long breaths.

"Follow me now!" Peter called out. "The grandfather has told me to look
out for you, and you must not fall over the rocks."
"Where are they?" asked Heidi without even stirring.
"Way up there, and we have still far to go. If you come quickly, we may
see the eagle there and hear him shriek."
That tempted Heidi, and she came running to Peter, with her apron full of
flowers.
"You have enough now," he declared. "If you pick them all to-day, there
won't be any left to-morrow." Heidi admitted that, besides which she had
her apron already full. From now on she stayed at Peter's side. The goats,
scenting the pungent herbs, also hurried up without delay.
Peter generally took his quarters for the day at the foot of a high cliff,
which seemed to reach far up into the sky. Overhanging rocks on one side
made it dangerous, so that the grandfather was wise to warn Peter.
After they had reached their destination, the boy took off his bag, putting
it in a little hollow in the ground. The wind often blew in violent gusts up
there, and Peter did not want to lose his precious load. Then he lay down in
the sunny grass, for he was very tired.
Heidi, taking off her apron, rolled it tightly together and put it beside
Peter's bag. Then, sitting down beside the boy, she looked about her. Far
down she saw the glistening valley; a large field of snow rose high in front
of her. Heidi sat a long time without stirring, with Peter asleep by her side
and the goats climbing about between the bushes. A light breeze fanned her
cheek and those big mountains about her made her feel happy as never
before. She looked up at the mountain-tops till they all seemed to have
faces, and soon they were familiar to her, like old friends. Suddenly she
heard a loud, sharp scream, and looking up she beheld the largest bird she
had ever seen, flying above her. With outspread wings he flew in large
circles over Heidi's head.
"Wake up, Peter!" Heidi called. "Look up, Peter, and see the eagle there!"
Peter got wide wake, and then they both watched the bird breathlessly. It
rose higher and higher into the azure, till it disappeared at last behind the

mountain-peak.
"Where has it gone?" Heidi asked.
"Home to its nest," was Peter's answer.
"Oh, does it really live way up there? How wonderful that must be! But
tell me why it screams so loud?" Heidi inquired.
"Because it has to," Peter replied.
"Oh, let's climb up there and see its nest!" implored Heidi, but Peter,
expressing decided disapproval in his voice, answered: "Oh dear, Oh dear,
not even goats could climb up there! Grandfather has told me not to let you
fall down the rocks, so we can't go!"
Peter now began to call loudly and to whistle, and soon all the goats were
assembled on the green field. Heidi ran into their midst, for she loved to see
them leaping and playing about.
Peter in the meantime was preparing dinner for Heidi and himself, by
putting her large pieces on one side and his own small ones on the other.
Then he milked Bärli and put the full bowl in the middle. When he was
ready, he called to the little girl. But it took some time before she obeyed
his call.

SHE HANDED HIM ALSO THE WHOLE SLICE OF CHEESEToList

"Stop jumping, now," said Peter, "and sit down; your dinner is ready."
"Is this milk for me?" she inquired.
"Yes it is; those large pieces also belong to you. When you are through
with the milk, I'll get you some more. After that I'll get mine."
"What milk do you get?" Heidi inquired.
"I get it from my own goat, that speckled one over there. But go ahead
and eat!" Peter commanded again. Heidi obeyed, and when the bowl was

empty, he filled it again. Breaking off a piece of bread for herself, she gave
Peter the rest, which was still bigger than his own portion had been. She
handed him also the whole slice of cheese, saying: "You can eat that, I have
had enough!"
Peter was speechless with surprise, for it would have been impossible for
him ever to give up any of his share. Not taking Heidi in earnest, he
hesitated till she put the things on his knees. Then he saw she really meant
it, and he seized his prize. Nodding his thanks to her, he ate the most
luxurious meal he had ever had in all his life. Heidi was watching the goats
in the meantime, and asked Peter for their names.
The boy could tell them all to her, for their names were about the only
thing he had to carry in his head. She soon knew them, too, for she had
listened attentively. One of them was the Big Turk, who tried to stick his
big horns into all the others. Most of the goats ran away from their rough
comrade. The bold Thistlefinch alone was not afraid, and running his horns
three or four times into the other, so astonished the Turk with his great
daring that he stood still and gave up fighting, for the Thistlefinch had sharp
horns and met him in the most warlike attitude. A small, white goat, called
Snowhopper, kept up bleating in the most piteous way, which induced Heidi
to console it several times. Heidi at last went to the little thing again, and
throwing her arms around its head, she asked, "What is the matter with you,
Snowhopper? Why do you always cry for help?" The little goat pressed
close to Heidi's side and became perfectly quiet. Peter was still eating, but
between the swallows he called to Heidi: "She is so unhappy, because the
old goat has left us. She was sold to somebody in Mayenfeld two days ago."
"Who was the old goat?"
"Her mother, of course."
"Where is her grandmother?"
"She hasn't any."
"And her grandfather?"
"Hasn't any either."

"Poor little Snowhopper!" said Heidi, drawing the little creature tenderly
to her. "Don't grieve any more; see, I am coming up with you every day
now, and if there is anything the matter, you can come to me."
Snowhopper rubbed her head against Heidi's shoulder and stopped
bleating. When Peter had finally finished his dinner, he joined Heidi.
The little girl had just been observing that Schwänli and Bärli were by far
the cleanest and prettiest of the goats. They evaded the obtrusive Turk with
a sort of contempt and always managed to find the greenest bushes for
themselves. She mentioned it to Peter, who replied: "I know! Of course they
are the prettiest, because the uncle washes them and gives them salt. He has
the best stable by far."
All of a sudden Peter, who had been lying on the ground, jumped up and
bounded after the goats. Heidi, knowing that something must have
happened, followed him. She saw him running to a dangerous abyss on the
side. Peter had noticed how the rash Thistlefinch had gone nearer and
nearer to the dangerous spot. Peter only just came in time to prevent the
goat from falling down over the very edge. Unfortunately Peter had
stumbled over a stone in his hurry and was only able to catch the goat by
one leg. The Thistlefinch, being enraged to find himself stopped in his
charming ramble, bleated furiously. Not being able to get up, Peter loudly
called for help. Heidi immediately saw that Peter was nearly pulling off the
animal's leg. She quickly picked some fragrant herbs and holding them
under the animal's nose, she said soothingly: "Come, come, Thistlefinch,
and be sensible. You might fall down there and break your leg. That would
hurt you horribly."
The goat turned about and devoured the herbs Heidi held in her hand.
When Peter got to his feet, he led back the runaway with Heidi's help.
When he had the goat in safety, he raised his rod to beat it for punishment.
The goat retreated shyly, for it knew what was coming. Heidi screamed
loudly: "Peter, no, do not beat him! look how scared he is."
"He well deserves it," snarled Peter, ready to strike. But Heidi, seizing his
arm, shouted, full of indignation: "You mustn't hurt him! Let him go!"

Heidi's eyes were sparkling, and when he saw her with her commanding
mien, he desisted and dropped his rope. "I'll let him go, if you give me a
piece of your cheese again to-morrow," he said, for he wanted a
compensation for his fright.
"You may have it all to-morrow and every day, because I don't need it,"
Heidi assured him. "I shall also give you a big piece of bread, if you
promise never to beat any of the goats."
"I don't care," growled Peter, and in that way he gave his promise.
Thus the day had passed, and the sun was already sinking down behind
the mountains. Sitting on the grass, Heidi looked at the bluebells and the
wild roses that were shining in the last rays of the sun. The peaks also
started to glow, and Heidi suddenly called to the boy: "Oh, Peter, look!
everything is on fire. The mountains are burning and the sky, too. Oh, look!
the moon over there is on fire, too. Do you see the mountains all in a glow?
Oh, how beautiful the snow looks! Peter, the eagle's nest is surely on fire,
too. Oh, look at the fir-trees over there!"
Peter was quietly peeling his rod, and looking up, said to Heidi: "This is
no fire; it always looks like that."
"But what is it then?" asked Heidi eagerly, gazing about her everywhere.
"It gets that way of itself," explained Peter.
"Oh look! Everything is all rosy now! Oh, look at this mountain over
there with the snow and the sharp peaks. What is its name?"
"Mountains have no names," he answered.
"Oh, see, how beautiful! It looks as if many, many roses were growing on
those cliffs. Oh, now they are getting grey. Oh dear! the fire has gone out
and it is all over. What a terrible shame!" said Heidi quite despondently.
"It will be the same again tomorrow," Peter reassured her. "Come now,
we have to go home."
When Peter had called the goats together, they started downwards.
"Will it be like that every day when we are up?" asked Heidi, eagerly.

"It usually is," was the reply.
"What about tomorrow?" she inquired.
"Tomorrow it will be like that, I am sure," Peter affirmed.
That made Heidi feel happy again. She walked quietly by Peter's side,
thinking over all the new things she had seen. At last, reaching the hut, they
found the grandfather waiting for them on a bench under the fir-trees. Heidi
ran up to him and the two goats followed, for they knew their master. Peter
called to her: "Come again tomorrow! Good-night!"
Heidi gave him her hand, assuring him that she would come, and finding
herself surrounded by the goats, she hugged Snowhopper a last time.
When Peter had disappeared, Heidi returned to her grandfather. "Oh
grandfather! it was so beautiful! I saw the fire and the roses on the rocks!
And see the many, many flowers I am bringing you!" With that Heidi shook
them out of her apron. But oh, how miserable they looked! Heidi did not
even know them any more.
"What is the matter with them, grandfather? They looked so different!"
Heidi exclaimed in her fright.
"They are made to bloom in the sun and not to be shut up in an apron,"
said the grandfather.
"Then I shall never pick them any more! Please, grandfather, tell me why
the eagle screeches so loudly," asked Heidi.
"First go and take a bath, while I go into the shed to get your milk.
Afterwards we'll go inside together and I'll tell you all about it during
supper-time."
They did as was proposed, and when Heidi sat on her high chair before
her milk, she asked the same question as before.
"Because he is sneering at the people down below, who sit in the villages
and make each other angry. He calls down to them:—'If you would go apart
to live up on the heights like me, you would feel much better!'" The
grandfather said these last words with such a wild voice, that it reminded
Heidi of the eagle's screech.

"Why do the mountains have no names, grandfather?" asked Heidi.
"They all have names, and if you tell me their shape I can name them for
you."
Heidi described several and the old man could name them all. The child
told him now about all the happenings of the day, and especially about the
wonderful fire. She asked how it came about.
"The sun does it," he exclaimed. "Saying good-night to the mountains, he
throws his most beautiful rays to them, that they may not forget him till the
morning."
Heidi was so much pleased with this explanation, that she could hardly
wait to see the sun's good-night greetings repeated. It was time now to go to
bed, and Heidi slept soundly all night. She dreamt that the little
Snowhopper was bounding happily about on the glowing mountains with
many glistening roses blooming round her.

IVToC
IN THE GRANDMOTHER'S HUT

ext morning Peter came again with his goats, and Heidi
went up to the pasture with them. This happened day after
day, and in this healthy life Heidi grew stronger, and more
sunburnt every day. Soon the autumn came and when the
wind was blowing across the mountainside, the grandfather
would say: "You must stay home to-day, Heidi; for the wind
can blow such a little thing as you down into the valley with a single gust."
It always made Peter unhappy when Heidi did not come along, for he
saw nothing but misfortunes ahead of him; he hardly knew how to pass his
time, and besides, he was deprived of his abundant dinner. The goats were
so accustomed to Heidi by this time, that they did not follow Peter when she
was not with him.
Heidi herself did not mind staying at home, for she loved nothing better
than to watch her grandfather with his saw and hammer. Sometimes the
grandfather would make small round cheeses on those days, and there was
no greater pleasure for Heidi than to see him stir the butter with his bare
arms. When the wind would howl through the fir-trees on those stormy
days, Heidi would run out to the grove, thrilled and happy by the wondrous
roaring in the branches. The sun had lost its vigor, and the child had to put
on her shoes and stockings and her little dress.
The weather got colder and colder, and when Peter came up in the
morning, he would blow into his hands, he was so frozen. At last even Peter
could not come any more, for a deep snow had fallen over night. Heidi
stood at the window, watching the snow falling down. It kept on snowing
till it reached the windows; still it did not stop, and soon the windows could

not be opened, and they were all shut in. When it had lasted for several
days, Heidi thought that it would soon cover up the cottage. It finally
stopped, and the grandfather went out to shovel the snow away from the
door and windows, piling it up high here and there. In the afternoon the two
were sitting near the fire when noisy steps were heard outside and the door
was pushed open. It was Peter, who had come up to see Heidi. Muttering,
"Good-evening," he went up to the fire. His face was beaming, and Heidi
had to laugh when she saw little waterfalls trickling down from his person,
for all the ice and snow had melted in the great heat.
The grandfather now asked Peter how he got along in school. Heidi was
so interested that she asked him a hundred questions. Poor Peter, who was
not an easy talker, found himself in great difficulty answering the little girl's
inquiries, but at least it gave him leisure to dry his clothes.
During this conversation the grandfather's eyes had been twinkling, and
at last he said to the boy: "Now that you have been under fire, general, you
need some strengthening. Come and join us at supper."
With that the old man prepared a meal which amply satisfied Peter's
appetite. It had begun to get dark, and Peter knew that it was time to go. He
had said good-bye and thank you, when turning to Heidi he remarked:
"I'll come next Sunday, if I may. By the way, Heidi, grandmother asked
me to tell you that she would love to see you."
Heidi immediately approved of this idea, and her first word next morning
was: "Grandfather, I must go down to grandmother. She is expecting me."
Four days later the sun was shining and the tight-packed frozen snow was
crackling under every step. Heidi was sitting at the dinner-table, imploring
the old man to let her make the visit then, when he got up, and fetching
down her heavy cover, told her to follow him. They went out into the
glistening snow; no sound was heard and the snow-laden fir-trees shone and
glittered in the sun. Heidi in her transport was running to and fro:
"Grandfather, come out! Oh, look at the trees! They are all covered with
silver and gold," she called to the grandfather, who had just come out of his
workshop with a wide sled. Wrapping the child up in her cover, he put her
on the sled, holding her fast. Off they started at such a pace that Heidi

shouted for joy, for she seemed to be flying like a bird. The sled had
stopped in front of Peter's hut, and grandfather said: "Go in. When it gets
dark, start on your way home." When he had unwrapped her, he turned
homewards with his sled.

OFF THEY STARTED AT SUCH A PACE THAT HEIDI SHOUTED FOR JOYToList

Opening the door, Heidi found herself in a tiny, dark kitchen, and going
through another door, she entered a narrow chamber. Near a table a woman
was seated, busy with mending Peter's coat, which Heidi had recognized

immediately. A bent old woman was sitting in a corner, and Heidi,
approaching her at once, said: "How do you do, grandmother? I have come
now, and I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long!"
Lifting her head, the grandmother sought for Heidi's hand. Feeling it
thoughtfully, she said: "Are you the little girl who lives up with the uncle?
Is your name Heidi?"
"Yes," Heidi replied. "The grandfather just brought me down in the sled."
"How is it possible? Your hands are as warm as toast! Brigida, did the
uncle really come down with the child?"
Brigida, Peter's mother, had gotten up to look at the child. She said: "I
don't know if he did, but I don't think so. She probably doesn't know."
Heidi, looking up, said quite decidedly: "I know that grandfather
wrapped me up in a cover when we coasted down together."
"Peter was right after all," said the grandmother. "We never thought the
child would live more than three weeks with him. Brigida, tell me what she
looks like."
"She has Adelheid's fine limbs and black eyes, and curly hair like Tobias
and the old man. I think she looks like both of them."
While the women were talking, Heidi had been taking in everything.
Then she said: "Grandmother, look at the shutter over there. It is hanging
loose. If grandfather were here, he would fasten it. It will break the
window-pane! Just look at it."
"What a sweet child you are," said the grandmother tenderly. "I can hear
it, but I cannot see it, child. This cottage rattles and creaks, and when the
wind blows, it comes in through every chink. Some day the whole house
will break to pieces and fall on top of us. If only Peter knew how to mend
it! We have no one else."
"Why, grandmother, can't you see the shutter?" asked Heidi.
"Child, I cannot see anything," lamented the old woman.
"Can you see it when I open the shutter to let in the light?"

"No, no, not even then. Nobody can ever show me the light again."
"But you can see when you go out into the snow, where everything is
bright. Come with me, grandmother, I'll show you!" and Heidi, taking the
old woman by the hand, tried to lead her out. Heidi was frightened and got
more anxious all the time.
"Just let me stay here, child. Everything is dark for me, and my poor eyes
can neither see the snow nor the light."
"But grandmother, does it not get light in the summer, when the sun
shines down on the mountains to say good-night, setting them all aflame?"
"No, child, I can never see the fiery mountains any more. I have to live in
darkness, always."
Heidi burst out crying now and sobbed aloud. "Can nobody make it light
for you? Is there nobody who can do it, grandmother? Nobody?"
The grandmother tried all possible means to comfort the child; it wrung
her heart to see her terrible distress. It was awfully hard for Heidi to stop
crying when she had once begun, for she cried so seldom. The grandmother
said: "Heidi, let me tell you something. People who cannot see love to listen
to friendly words. Sit down beside me and tell me all about yourself. Talk to
me about your grandfather, for it has been long since I have heard anything
about him. I used to know him very well."
Heidi suddenly wiped away her tears, for she had had a cheering thought.
"Grandmother, I shall tell grandfather about it, and I am sure he can make it
light for you. He can mend your little house and stop the rattling."
The old woman remained silent, and Heidi, with the greatest vivacity,
began to describe her life with the grandfather. Listening attentively, the
two women would say to each other sometimes: "Do you hear what she
says about the uncle? Did you listen?"
Heidi's tale was interrupted suddenly by a great thumping on the door;
and who should come in but Peter. No sooner had he seen Heidi, than he
smiled, opening his round eyes as wide as possible. Heidi called, "Good-
evening, Peter!"

"Is it really time for him to come home!" exclaimed Peter's grandmother.
"How quickly the time has flown. Good-evening, little Peter; how is your
reading going?"
"Just the same," the boy replied.
"Oh, dear, I was hoping for a change at last. You are nearly twelve years
old, my boy."
"Why should there be a change?" inquired Heidi with greatest interest.
"I am afraid he'll never learn it after all. On the shelf over there is an old
prayer-book with beautiful songs. I have forgotten them all, for I do not
hear them any more. I longed that Peter should read them to me some day,
but he will never be able to!"
Peter's mother got up from her work now, saying, "I must make a light.
The afternoon has passed and now it's getting dark."
When Heidi heard those words, she started, and holding out her hand to
all, she said: "Good-night. I have to go, for it is getting dark." But the
anxious grandmother called out: "Wait, child, don't go up alone! Go with
her, Peter, and take care that she does not fall. Don't let her get cold, do you
hear? Has Heidi a shawl?"
"I haven't, but I won't be cold," Heidi called back, for she had already
escaped through the door. She ran so fast that Peter could hardly follow her.
The old woman frettingly called out: "Brigida, run after her. Get a warm
shawl, she'll freeze in this cold night. Hurry up!" Brigida obeyed. The
children had hardly climbed any distance, when they saw the old man
coming and with a few vigorous steps he stood beside them.
"I am glad you kept your word, Heidi," he said; and packing her into her
cover, he started up the hill, carrying the child in his arms. Brigida had
come in time to see it, and told the grandmother what she had witnessed.
"Thank God, thank God!" the old woman said. "I hope she'll come again;
she has done me so much good! What a soft heart she has, the darling, and
how nicely she can talk." All evening the grandmother said to herself, "If
only he lets her come again! I have something to look forward to in this
world now, thank God!"

Heidi could hardly wait before they reached the cottage. She had tried to
talk on the way, but no sound could be heard through the heavy cover. As
soon as they were inside the hut she began: "Grandfather, we must take
some nails and a hammer down tomorrow; a shutter is loose in
grandmother's house and many other places shake. Everything rattles in her
house."
"Is that so? Who says we must?"
"Nobody told me, but I know," Heidi replied. "Everything is loose in the
house, and poor grandmother told me she was afraid that the house might
tumble down. And grandfather, she cannot see the light. Can you help her
and make it light for her? How terrible it must be to be afraid in the dark
and nobody there to help you! Oh, please, grandfather, do something to help
her! I know you can."
Heidi had been clinging to her grandfather and looking up to him with
trusting eyes. At last he said, glancing down: "All right, child, we'll see that
it won't rattle any more. We can do it tomorrow."
Heidi was so overjoyed at these words that she danced around the room
shouting: "We'll do it tomorrow! We can do it tomorrow!"
The grandfather, keeping his word, took Heidi down the following day
with the same instructions as before. After Heidi had disappeared, he went
around the house inspecting it.
The grandmother, in her joy at seeing the child again, had stopped the
wheel and called: "Here is the child again! She has come again!" Heidi,
grasping her outstretched hands, sat herself on a low stool at the old
woman's feet and began to chat. Suddenly violent blows were heard
outside; the grandmother in her fright nearly upset the spinning-wheel and
screamed: "Oh, God, it has come at last. The hut is tumbling down!"
"Grandmother, don't be frightened," said the child, while she put her arms
around her. "Grandfather is just fastening the shutter and fixing everything
for you."
"Is it possible? Has God not forgotten us after all? Brigida, have you
heard it? Surely that is a hammer. Ask him to come in a moment, if it is he,

for I must thank him."
When Brigida went out, she found the old man busy with putting a new
beam along the wall. Approaching him, she said: "Mother and I wish you a
good-afternoon. We are very much obliged to you for doing us such a
service, and mother would like to see you. There are few that would have
done it, uncle, and how can we thank you?"
"That will do," he interrupted. "I know what your opinion about me is.
Go in, for I can find what needs mending myself."
Brigida obeyed, for the uncle had a way that nobody could oppose. All
afternoon the uncle hammered around; he even climbed up on the roof,
where much was missing. At last he had to stop, for the last nail was gone
from his pocket. The darkness had come in the meantime, and Heidi was
ready to go up with him, packed warmly in his arms.
Thus the winter passed. Sunshine had come again into the blind woman's
life, and made her days less dark and dreary. Early every morning she
would begin to listen for Heidi's footsteps, and when the door was opened
and the child ran in, the grandmother exclaimed every time more joyfully:
"Thank God, she has come again!"
Heidi would talk about her life, and make the grandmother smile and
laugh, and in that way the hours flew by. In former times the old woman
had always sighed: "Brigida, is the day not over yet?" but now she always
exclaimed after Heidi's departure: "How quickly the afternoon has gone by.
Don't you think so, too, Brigida?" Her daughter had to assent, for Heidi had
long ago won her heart. "If only God will spare us the child!" the
grandmother would often say. "I hope the uncle will always be kind, as he is
now."—"Does Heidi look well, Brigida?" was a frequent question, which
always got a reassuring answer.
Heidi also became very fond of the old grandmother, and when the
weather was fair, she visited her every day that winter. Whenever the child
remembered that the grandmother was blind, she would get very sad; her
only comfort was that her coming brought such happiness. The grandfather
soon had mended the cottage; often he would take down big loads of
timber, which he used to good purpose. The grandmother vowed that no

rattling could be heard any more, and that, thanks to the uncle's kindness,
she slept better that winter than she had done for many a year.

VToC
TWO VISITORS

wo winters had nearly passed. Heidi was happy, for the
spring was coming again, with the soft delicious wind that
made the fir-trees roar. Soon she would be able to go up to
the pasture, where blue and yellow flowers greeted her at
every step. She was nearly eight years old, and had learned
to take care of the goats, who ran after her like little dogs.
Several times the village teacher had sent word by Peter that the child was
wanted in school, but the old man had not paid any attention to the message
and had kept her with him as before. It was a beautiful morning in March.
The snow had melted on the slopes, and was going fast. Snowdrops were
peeping through the ground, which seemed to be getting ready for spring.
Heidi was running to and fro before the door, when she suddenly saw an old
gentleman, dressed in black, standing beside her. As she appeared
frightened, he said kindly: "You must not be afraid of me, for I love
children. Give me your hand, Heidi, and tell me where your grandfather is."
"He is inside, making round wooden spoons," the child replied, opening
the door while she spoke.
It was the old pastor of the village, who had known the grandfather years
ago. After entering, he approached the old man, saying: "Good-morning,
neighbor."
The old man got up, surprised, and offering a seat to the visitor, said:
"Good-morning, Mr. Parson. Here is a wooden chair, if it is good enough."
Sitting down, the parson said: "It is long since I have seen you, neighbor.
I have come to-day to talk over a matter with you. I am sure you can guess

what it is about."
The clergyman here looked at Heidi, who was standing near the door.
"Heidi, run out to see the goats," said the grandfather, "and bring them
some salt; you can stay till I come."
Heidi disappeared on the spot. "The child should have come to school a
year ago," the parson went on to say. "Didn't you get the teacher's warning?
What do you intend to do with the child?"
"I do not want her to go to school," said the old man, unrelentingly.
"What do you want the child to be?"
"I want her to be free and happy as a bird!"
"But she is human, and it is high time for her to learn something. I have
come now to tell you about it, so that you can make your plans. She must
come to school next winter; remember that."
"I shan't do it, pastor!" was the reply.
"Do you think there is no way?" the clergyman replied, a little hotly.
"You know the world, for you have travelled far. What little sense you
show!"
"You think I am going to send this delicate child to school in every storm
and weather!" the old man said excitedly. "It is a two hours' walk, and I
shall not let her go; for the wind often howls so that it chokes me if I
venture out. Did you know Adelheid, her mother? She was a sleep-walker,
and had fainting-fits. Nobody shall compel me to let her go; I will gladly
fight it out in court."
"You are perfectly right," said the clergyman kindly. "You could not send
her to school from here. Why don't you come down to live among us again?
You are leading a strange life here; I wonder how you can keep the child
warm in winter."
"She has young blood and a good cover. I know where to find good
wood, and all winter I keep a fire going. I couldn't live in the village, for the
people there and I despise each other; we had better keep apart."

"You are mistaken, I assure you! Make your peace with God, and then
you'll see how happy you will be."
The clergyman had risen, and holding out his hand, he said cordially: "I
shall count on you next winter, neighbor. We shall receive you gladly,
reconciled with God and man."
But the uncle replied firmly, while he shook his visitor by the hand:
"Thank you for your kindness, but you will have to wait in vain."
"God be with you," said the parson, and left him sadly.
The old man was out of humor that day, and when Heidi begged to go to
the grandmother, he only growled: "Not to-day." Next day they had hardly
finished their dinner, when another visitor arrived. It was Heidi's aunt Deta;
she wore a hat with feathers and a dress with such a train that it swept up
everything that lay on the cottage floor. While the uncle looked at her
silently, Deta began to praise him and the child's red cheeks. She told him
that it had not been her intention to leave Heidi with him long, for she knew
she must be in his way. She had tried to provide for the child elsewhere, and
at last she had found a splendid chance for her. Very rich relations of her
lady, who owned the largest house in Frankfurt, had a lame daughter. This
poor little girl was confined to her rolling-chair and needed a companion at
her lessons. Deta had heard from her lady that a sweet, quaint child was
wanted as playmate and schoolmate for the invalid. She had gone to the
housekeeper and told her all about Heidi. The lady, delighted with the idea,
had told her to fetch the child at once. She had come now, and it was a
lucky chance for Heidi, "for one never knew what might happen in such a
case, and who could tell—"
"Have you finished?" the old man interrupted her at last.
"Why, one might think I was telling you the silliest things. There is not a
man in Prätiggan who would not thank God for such news."
"Bring them to somebody else, but not to me," said the uncle, coldly.
Deta, flaming up, replied: "Do you want to hear what I think? Don't I
know how old she is; eight years old and ignorant of everything. They have
told me that you refuse to send her to church and to school. She is my only

sister's child, and I shall not bear it, for I am responsible. You do not care
for her, how else could you be indifferent to such luck. You had better give
way or I shall get the people to back me. If I were you, I would not have it
brought to court; some things might be warmed up that you would not care
to hear about."
"Be quiet!" the uncle thundered with flaming eyes. "Take her and ruin
her, but do not bring her before my sight again. I do not want to see her
with feathers in her hat and wicked words like yours."
With long strides he went out.
"You have made him angry!" said Heidi with a furious look.
"He won't be cross long. But come now, where are your things?" asked
Deta.
"I won't come," Heidi replied.
"What?" Deta said passionately. But changing her tone, she continued in
a more friendly manner: "Come now; you don't understand me. I am taking
you to the most beautiful place you have ever seen." After packing up
Heidi's clothes she said again, "Come, child, and take your hat. It is not very
nice, but we can't help it."
"I shall not come," was the reply.
"Don't be stupid and obstinate, like a goat. Listen to me. Grandfather is
sending us away and we must do what he commands, or he will get more
angry still. You'll see how fine it is in Frankfurt. If you do not like it, you
can come home again and by that time grandfather will have forgiven us."
"Can I come home again to-night?" asked Heidi.
"Come now, I told you you could come back. If we get to Mayenfeld
today, we can take the train to-morrow. That will make you fly home again
in the shortest time!"
Holding the bundle, Deta led the child down the mountain. On their way
they met Peter, who had not gone to school that day. The boy thought it was
a more useful occupation to look for hazel-rods than to learn to read, for he
always needed the rods. He had had a most successful day, for he carried an

enormous bundle on his shoulder. When he caught sight of Heidi and Deta,
he asked them where they were going.
"I am going to Frankfurt with Aunt Deta," Heidi replied; "but first I must
see grandmother, for she is waiting."
"Oh no, it is too late. You can see her when you come back, but not now,"
said Deta, pulling Heidi along with her, for she was afraid that the old
woman might detain the child.
Peter ran into the cottage and hit the table with his rods. The grandmother
jumped up in her fright and asked him what that meant.
"They have taken Heidi away," Peter said with a groan.
"Who has, Peter? Where has she gone?" the unhappy grandmother asked.
Brigida had seen Deta walking up the footpath a short while ago and soon
they guessed what had happened. With a trembling hand the old woman
opened a window and called out as loudly as she could: "Deta, Deta, don't
take the child away. Don't take her from us."
When Heidi heard that she struggled to get free, and said: "I must go to
grandmother; she is calling me."
But Deta would not let her go. She urged her on by saying that she might
return soon again. She also suggested that Heidi might bring a lovely
present to the grandmother when she came back.
Heidi liked this prospect and followed Deta without more ado. After a
while she asked: "What shall I bring to the grandmother?"
"You might bring her some soft white rolls, Heidi. I think the black bread
is too hard for poor grandmother to eat."
"Yes, I know, aunt, she always gives it to Peter," Heidi confirmed her.
"We must go quickly now; we might get to Frankfurt today and then I can
be back tomorrow with the rolls."

WHEN HEIDI HEARD THAT SHE STRUGGLED TO GET FREEToList

Heidi was running now, and Deta had to follow. She was glad enough to
escape the questions that people might ask her in the village. People could
see that Heidi was pulling her along, so she said: "I can't stop. Don't you see
how the child is hurrying? We have still far to go," whenever she heard
from all sides: "Are you taking her with you?" "Is she running away from
the uncle?" "What a wonder she is still alive!" "What red cheeks she has,"
and so on. Soon they had escaped and had left the village far behind them.

From that time on the uncle looked more angry than ever when he came
to the village. Everybody was afraid of him, and the women would warn
their children to keep out of his sight.
He came down but seldom, and then only to sell his cheese and buy his
provisions. Often people remarked how lucky it was that Heidi had left him.
They had seen her hurrying away, so they thought that she had been glad to
go.
The old grandmother alone stuck to him faithfully. Whenever anybody
came up to her, she would tell them what good care the old man had taken
of Heidi. She also told them that he had mended her little house. These
reports reached the village, of course, but people only half believed them,
for the grandmother was infirm and old. She began her days with sighing
again. "All happiness has left us with the child. The days are so long and
dreary, and I have no joy left. If only I could hear Heidi's voice before I
die," the poor old woman would exclaim, day after day.

VIToC
A NEW CHAPTER WITH NEW THINGS

n a beautiful house in Frankfurt lived a sick child by the
name of Clara Sesemann. She was sitting in a comfortable
rolling-chair, which could be pushed from room to room.
Clara spent most of her time in the study, where long rows
of bookcases lined the walls. This room was used as a
living-room, and here she was also given her lessons.
Clara had a pale, thin face with soft blue eyes, which at that moment
were watching the clock impatiently. At last she said: "Oh Miss
Rottenmeier, isn't it time yet?"
The lady so addressed was the housekeeper, who had lived with Clara
since Mrs. Sesemann's death. Miss Rottenmeier wore a peculiar uniform
with a long cape, and a high cap on her head. Clara's father, who was away
from home a great deal, left the entire management of the house to this lady,
on the condition that his daughter's wishes should always be considered.
While Clara was waiting, Deta had arrived at the front door with Heidi.
She was asking the coachman who had brought her if she could go upstairs.
"That's not my business," grumbled the coachman; "you must ring for the
butler."
Sebastian, the butler, a man with large brass buttons on his coat, soon
stood before her.
"May I see Miss Rottenmeier?" Deta asked.
"That's not my business," the butler announced. "Ring for Tinette, the
maid." With that, he disappeared.

Deta, ringing again, saw a girl with a brilliant white cap on her head,
coming down the stairway. The maid stopped half-way down and asked
scornfully: "What do you want?"
Deta repeated her wish again. Tinette told her to wait while she went
upstairs, but it did not take long before the two were asked to come up.
Following the maid, they found themselves in the study. Deta held on to
Heidi's hand and stayed near the door.
Miss Rottenmeier, slowly getting up, approached the newcomers. She did
not seem pleased with Heidi, who wore her hat and shawl and was looking
up at the lady's headdress with innocent wonder.
"What is your name?" the lady asked.
"Heidi," was the child's clear answer.
"What? Is that a Christian name? What name did you receive in
baptism?" inquired the lady again.
"I don't remember that any more," the child replied.
"What an answer! What does that mean?" said the housekeeper, shaking
her head. "Is the child ignorant or pert, Miss Deta?"
"I shall speak for the child, if I may, madam," Deta said, after giving
Heidi a little blow for her unbecoming answer. "The child has never been in
such a fine house and does not know how to behave. I hope the lady will
forgive her manners. She is called Adelheid after her mother, who was my
sister."
"Oh well, that is better. But Miss Deta, the child seems peculiar for her
age. I thought I told you that Miss Clara's companion would have to be
twelve years old like her, to be able to share her studies. How old is
Adelheid?"
"I am sorry, but I am afraid she is somewhat younger than I thought. I
think she is about ten years old."
"Grandfather said that I was eight years old," said Heidi now. Deta gave
her another blow, but as the child had no idea why, she did not get
embarrassed.

"What, only eight years old!" Miss Rottenmeier exclaimed indignantly.
"How can we get along? What have you learned? What books have you
studied?"
"None," said Heidi.
"But how did you learn to read?"
"I can't read and Peter can't do it either," Heidi retorted.
"For mercy's sake! you cannot read?" cried the lady in her surprise. "How
is it possible? What else have you studied?"
"Nothing," replied Heidi, truthfully.
"Miss Deta, how could you bring this child?" said the housekeeper, when
she was more composed.
Deta, however, was not easily intimidated, and said: "I am sorry, but I
thought this child would suit you. She is small, but older children are often
spoilt and not like her. I must go now, for my mistress is waiting. As soon as
I can, I'll come to see how the child is getting along." With a bow she was
outside and with a few quick steps hurried down-stairs.
Miss Rottenmeier followed her and tried to call her back, for she wanted
to ask Deta a number of questions.
Heidi was still standing on the same spot. Clara had watched the scene,
and called to the child now to come to her.
Heidi approached the rolling-chair.
"Do you want to be called Heidi or Adelheid?" asked Clara.
"My name is Heidi and nothing else," was the child's answer.
"I'll call you Heidi then, for I like it very much," said Clara. "I have never
heard the name before. What curly hair you have! Was it always like that?"
"I think so."
"Did you like to come to Frankfurt?" asked Clara again.
"Oh, no, but then I am going home again to-morrow, and shall bring
grandmother some soft white rolls," Heidi explained.

"What a curious child you are," said Clara. "You have come to Frankfurt
to stay with me, don't you know that? We shall have our lessons together,
and I think it will be great fun when you learn to read. Generally the
morning seems to have no end, for Mr. Candidate comes at ten and stays till
two. That is a long time, and he has to yawn himself, he gets so tired. Miss
Rottenmeier and he both yawn together behind their books, but when I do
it, Miss Rottenmeier makes me take cod-liver oil and says that I am ill. So I
must swallow my yawns, for I hate the oil. What fun it will be now, when
you learn to read!"
Heidi shook her head doubtfully at these prospects.
"Everybody must learn to read, Heidi. Mr. Candidate is very patient and
will explain it all to you. You won't know what he means at first, for it is
difficult to understand him. It won't take long to learn, though, and then you
will know what he means."
When Miss Rottenmeier found that she was unable to recall Deta, she
came back to the children. She was in a very excited mood, for she felt
responsible for Heidi's coming and did not know how to cancel this
unfortunate step. She soon got up again to go to the dining-room, criticising
the butler and giving orders to the maid. Sebastian, not daring to show his
rage otherwise, noisily opened the folding doors. When he went up to
Clara's chair, he saw Heidi watching him intently. At last she said: "You
look like Peter."
Miss Rottenmeier was horrified with this remark, and sent them all into
the dining-room. After Clara was lifted on to her chair, the housekeeper sat
down beside her. Heidi was motioned to sit opposite the lady. In that way
they were placed at the enormous table. When Heidi saw a roll on her plate,
she turned to Sebastian, and pointing at it, asked, "Can I have this?" Heidi
had already great confidence in the butler, especially on account of the
resemblance she had discovered. The butler nodded, and when he saw Heidi
put the bread in her pocket, could hardly keep from laughing. He came to
Heidi now with a dish of small baked fishes. For a long time the child did
not move; then turning her eyes to the butler, she said: "Must I eat that?"
Sebastian nodded, but another pause ensued. "Why don't you give it to
me?" the child quietly asked, looking at her plate. The butler, hardly able to

keep his countenance, was told to place the dish on the table and leave the
room.
When he was gone, Miss Rottenmeier explained to Heidi with many
signs how to help herself at table. She also told her never to speak to
Sebastian unless it was important. After that the child was told how to
accost the servants and the governess. When the question came up of how
to call Clara, the older girl said, "Of course you shall call me Clara."
A great many rules followed now about behavior at all times, about the
shutting of doors and about going to bed, and a hundred other things. Poor
Heidi's eyes were closing, for she had risen at five that morning, and
leaning against her chair she fell asleep. When Miss Rottenmeier had
finished instructions, she said: "I hope you will remember everything,
Adelheid. Did you understand me?"
"Heidi went to sleep a long time ago," said Clara, highly amused.
"It is atrocious what I have to bear with this child," exclaimed Miss
Rottenmeier, ringing the bell with all her might. When the two servants
arrived, they were hardly able to rouse Heidi enough to show her to her
bed-room.

VIIToC
MISS ROTTENMEIER HAS AN
UNCOMFORTABLE DAY

hen Heidi opened her eyes next morning, she did not know
where she was. She found herself on a high white bed in a
spacious room. Looking around she observed long white
curtains before the windows, several chairs, and a sofa
covered with cretonne; in a corner she saw a wash-stand
with many curious things standing on it.
Suddenly Heidi remembered all the happenings of the previous day.
Jumping out of bed, she dressed in a great hurry. She was eager to look at
the sky and the ground below, as she had always done at home. What was
her disappointment when she found that the windows were too high for her
to see anything except the walls and windows opposite. Trying to open
them, she turned from one to the other, but in vain. The poor child felt like a
little bird that is placed in a glittering cage for the first time. At last she had
to resign herself, and sat down on a low stool, thinking of the melting snow
on the slopes and the first flowers of spring that she had hailed with such
delight.
Suddenly Tinette opened the door and said curtly: "Breakfast's ready."
Heidi did not take this for a summons, for the maid's face was scornful
and forbidding. She was waiting patiently for what would happen next,
when Miss Rottenmeier burst into the room, saying: "What is the matter,
Adelheid? Didn't you understand? Come to breakfast!"
Heidi immediately followed the lady into the dining-room, where Clara
greeted her with a smile. She looked much happier than usual, for she

expected new things to happen that day. When breakfast had passed without
disturbance, the two children were allowed to go into the library together
and were soon left alone.
"How can I see down to the ground?" Heidi asked.
"Open a window and peep out," replied Clara, amused at the question.
"But it is impossible to open them," Heidi said, sadly.
"Oh no. You can't do it and I can't help you, either, but if you ask
Sebastian he'll do it for you."
Heidi was relieved. The poor child had felt like a prisoner in her room.
Clara now asked Heidi what her home had been like, and Heidi told her
gladly about her life in the hut.
The tutor had arrived in the meantime, but he was not asked to go to the
study as usual. Miss Rottenmeier was very much excited about Heidi's
coming and all the complications that arose therefrom. She was really
responsible for it, having arranged everything herself. She presented the
unfortunate case before the teacher, for she wanted him to help her to get rid
of the child. Mr. Candidate, however, was always careful of his judgments,
and not afraid of teaching beginners.
When the lady saw that he would not side with her, she let him enter the
study alone, for the A,B,C held great horrors for her. While she considered
many problems, a frightful noise as of something falling was heard in the
adjoining room, followed by a cry to Sebastian for help. Running in, she
beheld a pile of books and papers on the floor, with the table-cover on top.
A black stream of ink flowed across the length of the room. Heidi had
disappeared.
"There," Miss Rottenmeier exclaimed, wringing her hands. "Everything
drenched with ink. Did such a thing ever happen before? This child brings
nothing but misfortunes on us."
The teacher was standing up, looking at the devastation, but Clara was
highly entertained by these events, and said: "Heidi has not done it on
purpose and must not be punished. In her hurry to get away she caught on
the table-cover and pulled it down. I think she must never have seen a coach

in all her life, for when she heard a carriage rumbling by, she rushed out
like mad."
"Didn't I tell you, Mr. Candidate, that she has no idea whatever about
behavior? She does not even know that she has to sit quiet at her lessons.
But where has she gone? What would Mr. Sesemann say if she should run
away?"
When Miss Rottenmeier went down-stairs to look for the child, she saw
her standing at the open door, looking down the street.
"What are you doing here? How can you run away like that?" scolded
Miss Rottenmeier.
"I heard the fir-trees rustle, but I can't see them and do not hear them any
more," replied Heidi, looking in great perplexity down the street. The noise
of the passing carriage had reminded her of the roaring of the south-wind on
the Alp.
"Fir-trees? What nonsense! We are not in a wood. Come with me now to
see what you have done." When Heidi saw the devastation that she had
caused, she was greatly surprised, for she had not noticed it in her hurry.
"This must never happen again," said the lady sternly. "You must sit quiet
at your lessons; if you get up again I shall tie you to your chair. Do you hear
me?"
Heidi understood, and gave a promise to sit quietly during her lessons
from that time on. After the servants had straightened the room, it was late,
and there was no more time for studies. Nobody had time to yawn that
morning.
In the afternoon, while Clara was resting, Heidi was left to herself. She
planted herself in the hall and waited for the butler to come up-stairs with
the silver things. When he reached the head of the stairs, she said to him: "I
want to ask you something." She saw that the butler seemed angry, so she
reassured him by saying that she did not mean any harm.
"All right, Miss, what is it?"
"My name is not Miss, why don't you call me Heidi?"

"Miss Rottenmeier told me to call you Miss."
"Did she? Well then, it must be so. I have three names already," sighed
the child.
"What can I do for you?" asked Sebastian now.
"Can you open a window for me?"
"Certainly," he replied.
Sebastian got a stool for Heidi, for the window-sill was too high for her
to see over. In great disappointment, Heidi turned her head away.
"I don't see anything but a street of stone. Is it the same way on the other
side of the house?"
"Yes."
"Where do you go to look far down on everything?"
"On a church-tower. Do you see that one over there with the golden
dome? From there you can overlook everything."
Heidi immediately stepped down from the stool and ran down-stairs.
Opening the door, she found herself in the street, but she could not see the
tower any more. She wandered on from street to street, not daring to accost
any of the busy people. Passing a corner, she saw a boy who had a barrel-
organ on his back and a curious animal on his arm. Heidi ran to him and
asked: "Where is the tower with the golden dome?"
"Don't know," was the reply.
"Who can tell me?"
"Don't know."
"Can you show me another church with a tower?"
"Of course I can."
"Then come and show me."
"What are you going to give me for it?" said the boy, holding out his
hand. Heidi had nothing in her pocket but a little flower-picture. Clara had

only given it to her this morning, so she was loath to part with it. The
temptation to look far down into the valley was too great for her, though,
and she offered him the gift. The boy shook his head, to Heidi's satisfaction.
"What else do you want?"
"Money."
"I have none, but Clara has some. How much must I give you?"
"Twenty pennies."
"All right, but come."
While they were wandering down the street, Heidi found out what a
barrel-organ was, for she had never seen one. When they arrived before an
old church with a tower, Heidi was puzzled what to do next, but having
discovered a bell, she pulled it with all her might. The boy agreed to wait
for Heidi and show her the way home if she gave him a double fee.
The lock creaked now from inside, and an old man opened the door. In an
angry voice, he said: "How do you dare to ring for me? Can't you see that it
is only for those who want to see the tower?"
"But I do," said Heidi.
"What do you want to see? Did anybody send you?" asked the man.
"No; but I want to look down from up there."
"Get home and don't try it again." With that the tower-keeper was going
to shut the door, but Heidi held his coat-tails and pleaded with him to let her
come. The tower-keeper looked at the child's eyes, which were nearly full
of tears.
"All right, come along, if you care so much," he said, taking her by the
hand. The two climbed up now many, many steps, which got narrower all
the time. When they had arrived on top, the old man lifted Heidi up to the
open window.
Heidi saw nothing but a sea of chimneys, roofs and towers, and her heart
sank. "Oh, dear, it's different from the way I thought it would be," she said.

"There! what could such a little girl know about a view? We'll go down
now and you must promise never to ring at my tower any more."
On their way they passed an attic, where a large grey cat guarded her new
family in a basket. This cat caught half-a-dozen mice every day for herself,
for the old tower was full of rats and mice. Heidi gazed at her in surprise,
and was delighted when the old man opened the basket.
"What charming kittens, what cunning little creatures!" she exclaimed in
her delight, when she saw them crawling about, jumping and tumbling.
"Would you like to have one?" the old man asked.
"For me? to keep?" Heidi asked, for she could not believe her ears.
"Yes, of course. You can have several if you have room for them," the old
man said, glad to find a good home for the kittens.
How happy Heidi was! Of course there was enough room in the huge
house, and Clara would be delighted when she saw the cunning things.
"How can I take them with me?" the child asked, after she had tried in
vain to catch one.
"I can bring them to your house, if you tell me where you live," said
Heidi's new friend, while he caressed the old cat, who had lived with him
many years.
"Bring them to Mr. Sesemann's house; there is a golden dog on the door,
with a ring in his mouth."
The old man had lived in the tower a long time and knew everybody;
Sebastian also was a special friend of his.
"I know," he said. "But to whom shall I send them? Do you belong to Mr.
Sesemann?"
"No. Please send them to Clara; she will like them, I am sure."
Heidi could hardly tear herself away from the pretty things, so the old
man put one kitten in each of her pockets to console her. After that she went
away.

The boy was waiting patiently for her, and when she had taken leave of
the tower-keeper, she asked the boy: "Do you know where Mr. Sesemann's
house is?"
"No," was the reply.
She described it as well as she could, till the boy remembered it. Off they
started, and soon Heidi found herself pulling the door-bell. When Sebastian
arrived he said: "Hurry up." Heidi went in, and the boy was left outside, for
Sebastian had not even seen him.
"Come up quickly, little Miss," he urged. "They are all waiting for you in
the dining-room. Miss Rottenmeier looks like a loaded cannon. How could
you run away like that?"
Heidi sat down quietly on her chair. Nobody said a word, and there was
an uncomfortable silence. At last Miss Rottenmeier began with a severe and
solemn voice: "I shall speak with you later, Adelheid. How can you leave
the house without a word? Your behavior was very remiss. The idea of
walking about till so late!"
"Meow!" was the reply.
"I didn't," Heidi began—"Meow!"
Sebastian nearly flung the dish on the table, and disappeared.
"This is enough," Miss Rottenmeier tried to say, but her voice was hoarse
with fury. "Get up and leave the room."

OFF THEY STARTED, AND SOON HEIDI WAS PULLING THE DOOR-BELLToList

Heidi got up. She began again. "I made—" "Meow! meow! meow!—"
"Heidi," said Clara now, "why do you always say 'meow' again, if you
see that Miss Rottenmeier is angry?"
"I am not doing it, it's the kittens," she explained.
"What? Cats? Kittens?" screamed the housekeeper. "Sebastian, Tinette,
take the horrible things away!" With that she ran into the study, locking
herself in, for she feared kittens beyond anything on earth. When Sebastian

had finished his laugh, he came into the room. He had foreseen the
excitement, having caught sight of the kittens when Heidi came in. The
scene was a very peaceful one now; Clara held the little kittens in her lap,
and Heidi was kneeling beside her. They both played happily with the two
graceful creatures. The butler promised to look after the new-comers and
prepared a bed for them in a basket.
A long time afterwards, when it was time to go to bed, Miss Rottenmeier
cautiously opened the door. "Are they away?" she asked. "Yes," replied the
butler, quickly seizing the kittens and taking them away.
The lecture that Miss Rottenmeier was going to give Heidi was
postponed to the following day, for the lady was too much exhausted after
her fright. They all went quietly to bed, and the children were happy in the
thought that their kittens had a comfortable bed.

VIIIToC
GREAT DISTURBANCES IN THE SESEMANN
HOUSE

short time after the tutor had arrived next morning, the
door-bell rang so violently that Sebastian thought it must be
Mr. Sesemann himself. What was his surprise when a dirty
street-boy, with a barrel-organ on his back, stood before
him!
"What do you mean by pulling the bell like that?" the butler said.
"I want to see Clara."
"Can't you at least say 'Miss Clara', you ragged urchin?" said Sebastian
harshly.
"She owes me forty pennies," said the boy.
"You are crazy! How do you know Miss Clara lives here?"
"I showed her the way yesterday and she promised to give me forty
pennies."
"What nonsense! Miss Clara never goes out. You had better take yourself
off, before I send you!"
The boy, however, did not even budge, and said: "I saw her. She has curly
hair, black eyes and talks in a funny way."
"Oh," Sebastian chuckled to himself, "that was the little Miss."
Pulling the boy into the house, he said: "All right, you can follow me.
Wait at the door till I call you, and then you can play something for Miss
Clara."

Knocking at the study-door, Sebastian said, when he had entered: "A boy
is here who wants to see Miss Clara."
Clara, delighted at his interruption, said: "Can't he come right up, Mr.
Candidate?"
But the boy was already inside, and started to play. Miss Rottenmeier
was in the adjoining room when she heard the sounds. Where did they come
from? Hurrying into the study, she saw the street-boy playing to the eager
children.
"Stop! stop!" she called, but in vain, for the music drowned her voice.
Suddenly she made a big jump, for there, between her feet, crawled a black
turtle. Only when she shrieked for Sebastian could her voice be heard. The
butler came straight in, for he had seen everything behind the door, and a
great scene it had been! Glued to a chair in her fright, Miss Rottenmeier
called: "Send the boy away! Take them away!"
Sebastian obediently pulled the boy after him; then he said: "Here are
forty pennies from Miss Clara and forty more for playing. It was well done,
my boy."
With that he closed the door behind him. Miss Rottenmeier found it wiser
now to stay in the study to prevent further disturbances. Suddenly there was
another knock at the door. Sebastian appeared with a large basket, which
had been brought for Clara.
"We had better have our lesson before we inspect it," said Miss
Rottenmeier. But Clara, turning to the tutor, asked: "Oh, please, Mr.
Candidate, can't we just peep in, to see what it is?"
"I am afraid that you will think of nothing else," the teacher began. Just
then something in the basket, which had been only lightly fastened, moved,
and one, two, three and still more little kittens jumped out, scampering
around the room with the utmost speed. They bounded over the tutor's boots
and bit his trousers; they climbed up on Miss Rottenmeier's dress and
crawled around her feet. Mewing and running, they caused a frightful
confusion. Clara called out in delight: "Oh, look at the cunning creatures;
look how they jump! Heidi, look at that one, and oh, see the one over
there?"

Heidi followed them about, while the teacher shook them off. When the
housekeeper had collected her wits after the great fright, she called for the
servants. They soon arrived and stored the little kittens safely in the new
bed.
No time had been found for yawning that day, either!
When Miss Rottenmeier, who had found out the culprit, was alone with
the children in the evening, she began severely:
"Adelheid, there is only one punishment for you. I am going to send you
to the cellar, to think over your dreadful misdeeds, in company with the
rats."
A cellar held no terrors for Heidi, for in her grandfather's cellar fresh
milk and the good cheese had been kept, and no rats had lodged there.
But Clara shrieked: "Oh, Miss Rottenmeier, you must wait till Papa
comes home, and then he can punish Heidi."
The lady unwillingly replied: "All right, Clara, but I shall also speak a
few words to Mr. Sesemann." With those words she left the room. Since the
child's arrival everything had been upset, and the lady often felt
discouraged, though nothing remarkable happened for a few days.
Clara, on the contrary, enjoyed her companion's society, for she always
did funny things. In her lesson she could never get her letters straight. They
meant absolutely nothing to her, except that they would remind her of goats
and eagles. The girls always spent their evenings together, and Heidi would
entertain her friend with tales of her former life, till her longing grew so
great that she added: "I have to go home now. I must go tomorrow."
Clara's soothing words and the prospect of more rolls for the
grandmother kept the child. Every day after dinner she was left alone in her
room for some hours. Thinking of the green fields at home, of the sparkling
flowers on the mountains, she would sit in a corner till her desire for all
those things became too great to bear. Her aunt had clearly told her that she
might return, if she wished to do so, so one day she resolved to leave for the
Alm-hut. In a great hurry she packed the bread in the red shawl, and putting
on her old straw hat, started off. The poor child did not get very far. At the

door she encountered Miss Rottenmeier, who stared at Heidi in mute
surprise.
"What are you up to?" she exploded. "Haven't I forbidden you to run
away? You look like a vagabond!"
"I was only going home," whispered the frightened child.
"What, you want to run away from this house? What would Mr.
Sesemann say? What is it that does not suit you here? Don't you get better
treatment than you deserve? Have you ever before had such food, service
and such a room? Answer!"
"No," was the reply.
"Don't I know that?" the furious lady proceeded. "What a thankless child
you are, just idle and good-for-nothing!"
But Heidi could not bear it any longer. She loudly wailed: "Oh, I want to
go home. What will poor Snowhopper do without me? Grandmother is
waiting for me every day. Poor Thistlefinch gets blows if Peter gets no
cheese, and I must see the sun again when he says good-night to the
mountains. How the eagle would screech if he saw all the people here in
Frankfurt!"
"For mercy's sake, the child is crazy!" exclaimed Miss Rottenmeier,
running up the stairs. In her hurry she had bumped into Sebastian, who was
just then coming down.
"Bring the unlucky child up!" she called to him, rubbing her head.
"All right, many thanks," answered the butler, rubbing his head, too, for
he had encountered something far harder than she had.
When the butler came down, he saw Heidi standing near the door with
flaming eyes, trembling all over. Cheerfully he asked: "What has happened,
little one? Do not take it to heart, and cheer up. She nearly made a hole in
my head just now, but we must not get discouraged. Oh, no!—Come, up
with you; she said so!"
Heidi walked up-stairs very slowly. Seeing her so changed, Sebastian
said:

"Don't give in! Don't be so sad! You have been so courageous till now; I
have never heard you cry yet. Come up now, and when the lady's away we'll
go and look at the kittens. They are running round like wild!"
Nodding cheerlessly, the child disappeared in her room.
That night at supper Miss Rottenmeier watched Heidi constantly, but
nothing happened. The child sat as quiet as a mouse, hardly touching her
food, except the little roll.
Talking with the tutor next morning, Miss Rottenmeier told him her fears
about Heidi's mind. But the teacher had more serious troubles still, for
Heidi had not even learned her A,B,C in all this time.
Heidi was sorely in need of some clothes, so Clara had given her some.
Miss Rottenmeier was just busy arranging the child's wardrobe, when she
suddenly returned.
"Adelheid," she said contemptuously, "what do I find? A big pile of bread
in your wardrobe! I never heard the like. Yes, Clara, it is true." Then, calling
Tinette, she ordered her to take away the bread and the old straw hat she
had found.
"No, don't! I must keep my hat! The bread is for grandmother," cried
Heidi in despair.
"You stay here, while we take the rubbish away," said the lady sternly.
Heidi threw herself down now on Clara's chair and sobbed as if her heart
would break.
"Now I can't bring grandmother any rolls! Oh, they were for
grandmother!" she lamented.
"Heidi, don't cry any more," Clara begged. "Listen! When you go home
some day, I am going to give you as many rolls as you had, and more. They
will be much softer and better than those stale ones you have kept. Those
were not fit to eat, Heidi. Stop now, please, and don't cry any more!"
Only after a long, long time did Heidi become quiet. When she had heard
Clara's promise, she cried: "Are you really going to give me as many as I
had?"

At supper, Heidi's eyes were swollen and it was still hard for her to keep
from crying. Sebastian made strange signs to her that she did not
understand. What did he mean?
Later, though, when she climbed into her high bed, she found her old
beloved straw hat hidden under her cover. So Sebastian had saved it for her
and had tried to tell her! She crushed it for joy, and wrapping it in a
handkerchief, she hid it in the furthest corner of her wardrobe.

IXToC
THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE HEARS OF
STRANGE DOINGS

few days afterwards there was great excitement in the
Sesemann residence, for the master of the house had just
arrived. The servants were taking upstairs one load after
another, for Mr. Sesemann always brought many lovely
things home with him.
When he entered his daughter's room, Heidi shyly retreated into a corner.
He greeted Clara affectionately, and she was equally delighted to see him,
for she loved her father dearly. Then he called to Heidi: "Oh, there is our
little Swiss girl. Come and give me your hand! That's right. Are you good
friends, my girls, tell me now? You don't fight together, what?"
"Oh, no, Clara is always kind to me," Heidi replied.
"Heidi has never even tried to fight, Papa," Clara quickly remarked.
"That's good, I like to hear that," said the father rising. "I must get my
dinner now, for I am hungry. I shall come back soon and show you what I
have brought home with me."
In the dining-room he found Miss Rottenmeier surveying the table with a
most tragic face. "You do not look very happy at my arrival, Miss
Rottenmeier. What is the matter? Clara seems well enough," he said to her.
"Oh, Mr. Sesemann, we have been terribly disappointed," said the lady.
"How do you mean?" asked Mr. Sesemann, calmly sipping his wine.

"We had decided, as you know, to have a companion for Clara. Knowing
as I did that you would wish me to get a noble, pure child, I thought of this
Swiss child, hoping she would go through life like a breath of pure air,
hardly touching the earth."
"I think that even Swiss children are made to touch the earth, otherwise
they would have to have wings."
"I think you understand what I mean. I have been terribly disappointed,
for this child has brought the most frightful animals into the house. Mr.
Candidate can tell you!"
"The child does not look very terrible. But what do you mean?"
"I cannot explain it, because she does not seem in her right mind at
times."
Mr. Sesemann was getting worried at last, when the tutor entered.
"Oh, Mr. Candidate, I hope you will explain. Please take a cup of coffee
with me and tell me about my daughter's companion. Make it short, if you
please!"
But this was impossible for Mr. Candidate, who had to greet Mr.
Sesemann first. Then he began to reassure his host about the child, pointing
out to him that her education had been neglected till then, and so on. But
poor Mr. Sesemann, unfortunately, did not get his answer, and had to listen
to very long-winded explanations of the child's character. At last Mr.
Sesemann got up, saying: "Excuse me, Mr. Candidate, but I must go over to
Clara now."
He found the children in the study. Turning to Heidi, who had risen at his
approach, he said: "Come, little one, get me—get me a glass of water."
"Fresh water?"
"Of course, fresh water," he replied. When Heidi had gone, he sat down
near Clara, holding her hand. "Tell me, little Clara," he asked, "please tell
me clearly what animals Heidi has brought into the house; is she really not
right in her mind?"

Clara now began to relate to her father all the incidents with the kittens
and the turtle, and explained Heidi's speeches that had so frightened the
lady. Mr. Sesemann laughed heartily and asked Clara if she wished Heidi to
remain.
"Of course, Papa. Since she is here, something amusing happens every
day; it used to be so dull, but now Heidi keeps me company."
"Very good, very good, Clara; Oh! Here is your friend back again. Did
you get nice fresh water?" asked Mr. Sesemann.
Heidi handed him the glass and said: "Yes, fresh from the fountain."
"You did not go to the fountain yourself, Heidi?" said Clara.
"Certainly, but I had to get it from far, there were so many people at the
first and at the second fountain. I had to go down another street and there I
got it. A gentleman with white hair sends his regards to you, Mr.
Sesemann."
Clara's father laughed and asked: "Who was the gentleman?"
"When he passed by the fountain and saw me there with a glass, he stood
still and said: 'Please give me to drink, for you have a glass; to whom are
you bringing the water?' Then I said: 'I am bringing it to Mr. Sesemann.'
When he heard that he laughed very loud and gave me his regards for you,
with the wish that you would enjoy your drink."
"I wonder who it was? What did the gentleman look like?"
"He has a friendly laugh and wears a gold pendant with a red stone on his
thick gold chain; there is a horsehead on his cane."
"Oh, that was the doctor—" "That was my old doctor," exclaimed father
and daughter at the same time.
In the evening, Mr. Sesemann told Miss Rottenmeier that Heidi was
going to remain, for the children were very fond of each other and he found
Heidi normal and very sweet. "I want the child to be treated kindly," Mr.
Sesemann added decidedly. "Her peculiarities must not be punished. My
mother is coming very soon to stay here, and she will help you to manage

the child, for there is nobody in this world that my mother could not get
along with, as you know, Miss Rottenmeier."
"Of course, I know that, Mr. Sesemann," replied the lady, but she was not
very much pleased at the prospect.
Mr. Sesemann only stayed two weeks, for his business called him back to
Paris. He consoled his daughter by telling her that his mother was coming
in a very few days. Mr. Sesemann had hardly left, when the grandmother's
visit was announced for the following day.
Clara was looking forward to this visit, and told Heidi so much about her
dear grandmama that Heidi also began to call her by that name, to Miss
Rottenmeier's disapproval, who thought that the child was not entitled to
this intimacy.

XToC
A GRANDMAMA

he following evening great expectation reigned in the house.
Tinette had put on a new cap, Sebastian was placing
footstools in front of nearly every armchair, and Miss
Rottenmeier walked with great dignity about the house,
inspecting everything.
When the carriage at last drove up, the servants flew downstairs,
followed by Miss Rottenmeier in more measured step. Heidi had been sent
to her room to await further orders, but it was not long before Tinette
opened the door and said brusquely: "Go into the study!"
The grandmama, with her kind and loving way, immediately befriended
the child and made her feel as if she had known her always. To the
housekeeper's great mortification, she called the child Heidi, remarking to
Miss Rottenmeier: "If somebody's name is Heidi, I call her so."
The housekeeper soon found that she had to respect the grandmother's
ways and opinions. Mrs. Sesemann always knew what was going on in the
house the minute she entered it. On the following afternoon Clara was
resting and the old lady had shut her eyes for five minutes, when she got up
again and went into the dining-room. With a suspicion that the housekeeper
was probably asleep, she went to this lady's room, knocking loudly on the
door. After a while somebody stirred inside, and with a bewildered face
Miss Rottenmeier appeared, staring at the unexpected visitor.
"Rottenmeier, where is the child? How does she pass her time? I want to
know," said Mrs. Sesemann.
"She just sits in her room, not moving a finger; she has not the slightest
desire to do something useful, and that is why she thinks of such absurd
things that one can hardly mention them in polite society."
"I should do exactly the same thing, if I were left alone like that. Please
bring her to my room now, I want to show her some pretty books I have
brought with me."
"That is just the trouble. What should she do with books? In all this time
she has not even learned the A,B,C for it is impossible to instil any

knowledge into this being. If Mr. Candidate was not as patient as an angel,
he would have given up teaching her long ago."
"How strange! The child does not look to me like one who cannot learn
the A,B,C," said Mrs. Sesemann. "Please fetch her now; we can look at the
pictures anyway."
The housekeeper was going to say more, but the old lady had turned
already and gone to her room. She was thinking over what she had heard
about Heidi, making up her mind to look into the matter.
Heidi had come and was looking with wondering eyes at the splendid
pictures in the large books, that Grandmama was showing her. Suddenly she
screamed aloud, for there on the picture she saw a peaceful flock grazing on
a green pasture. In the middle a shepherd was standing, leaning on his
crook. The setting sun was shedding a golden light over everything. With
glowing eyes Heidi devoured the scene; but suddenly she began to sob
violently.
The grandmama took her little hand in hers and said in the most soothing
voice: "Come, child, you must not cry. Did this remind you of something?
Now stop, and I'll tell you the story to-night. There are lovely stories in this
book, that people can read and tell. Dry your tears now, darling, I must ask
you something. Stand up now and look at me! Now we are merry again!"
Heidi did not stop at once, but the kind lady gave her ample time to
compose herself, saying from time to time: "Now it's all over. Now we'll be
merry again."
When the child was quiet at last, she said: "Tell me now how your
lessons are going. What have you learnt, child, tell me?"
"Nothing," Heidi sighed; "but I knew that I never could learn it."
"What is it that you can't learn?"
"I can't learn to read; it is too hard."
"What next? Who gave you this information?"
"Peter told me, and he tried over and over again, but he could not do it,
for it is too hard."

"Well, what kind of boy is he? Heidi, you must not believe what Peter
tells you, but try for yourself. I am sure you had your thoughts elsewhere
when Mr. Candidate showed you the letters."
"It's no use," Heidi said with such a tone as if she was resigned to her
fate.
"I am going to tell you something, Heidi," said the kind lady now. "You
have not learnt to read because you have believed what Peter said. You shall
believe me now, and I prophesy that you will learn it in a very short time, as
a great many other children do that are like you and not like Peter. When
you can read, I am going to give you this book. You have seen the shepherd
on the green pasture, and then you'll be able to find out all the strange
things that happen to him. Yes, you can hear the whole story, and what he
does with his sheep and his goats. You would like to know, wouldn't you,
Heidi?"
Heidi had listened attentively, and said now with sparkling eyes: "If I
could only read already!"
"It won't be long, I can see that. Come now and let us go to Clara." With
that they both went over to the study.
Since the day of Heidi's attempted flight a great change had come over
the child. She had realized that it would hurt her kind friends if she tried to
go home again. She knew now that she could not leave, as her Aunt Deta
had promised, for they all, especially Clara and her father and the old lady,
would think her ungrateful. But the burden grew heavier in her heart and
she lost her appetite, and got paler and paler. She could not get to sleep at
night from longing to see the mountains with the flowers and the sunshine,
and only in her dreams she would be happy. When she woke up in the
morning, she always found herself on her high white bed, far away from
home. Burying her head in her pillow, she would often weep a long, long
time.
Mrs. Sesemann had noticed the child's unhappiness, but let a few days
pass by, hoping for a change. But the change never came, and often Heidi's
eyes were red even in the early morning. So she called the child to her room

one day and said, with great sympathy in her voice: "Tell me, Heidi, what is
the matter with you? What is making you so sad?"
But as Heidi did not want to appear thankless, she replied sadly: "I can't
tell you."
"No? Can't you tell Clara perhaps?"
"Oh, no, I can't tell anyone," Heidi said, looking so unhappy that the old
lady's heart was filled with pity.
"I tell you something, little girl," she continued. "If you have a sorrow
that you cannot tell to anyone, you can go to Our Father in Heaven. You can
tell Him everything that troubles you, and if we ask Him He can help us and
take our suffering away. Do you understand me, child? Don't you pray
every night? Don't you thank Him for all His gifts and ask Him to protect
you from evil?"
"Oh no, I never do that," replied the child.
"Have you never prayed, Heidi? Do you know what I mean?"
"I only prayed with my first grandmother, but it is so long ago, that I
have forgotten."
"See, Heidi, I understand now why you are so unhappy. We all need
somebody to help us, and just think how wonderful it is, to be able to go to
the Lord, when something distresses us and causes us pain. We can tell Him
everything and ask Him to comfort us, when nobody else can do it. He can
give us happiness and joy."
Heidi was gladdened by these tidings, and asked: "Can we tell Him
everything, everything?"
"Yes, Heidi, everything."
The child, withdrawing her hand from the grandmama, said hurriedly,
"Can I go now?"
"Yes, of course," was the reply, and with this Heidi ran to her room.
Sitting down on a stool she folded her hands and poured out her heart to
God, imploring Him to help her and let her go home to her grandfather.

About a week later, Mr. Candidate asked to see Mrs. Sesemann, to tell
her of something unusual that had occurred. Being called to the lady's room,
he began: "Mrs. Sesemann, something has happened that I never expected,"
and with many more words the happy grandmama was told that Heidi had
suddenly learned to read with the utmost correctness, most rare with
beginners.
"Many strange things happen in this world," Mrs. Sesemann remarked,
while they went over to the study to witness Heidi's new accomplishment.
Heidi was sitting close to Clara, reading her a story; she seemed amazed at
the strange, new world that had opened up before her. At supper Heidi
found the large book with the beautiful pictures on her plate, and looking
doubtfully at grandmama, she saw the old lady nod. "Now it belongs to you,
Heidi," she said.
"Forever? Also when I am going home?" Heidi inquired, confused with
joy.
"Certainly, forever!" the grandmama assured her. "Tomorrow we shall
begin to read it."
"But Heidi, you must not go home; no, not for many years," Clara
exclaimed, "especially when grandmama goes away. You must stay with
me."
Heidi still looked at her book before going to bed that night, and this
book became her dearest treasure. She would look at the beautiful pictures
and read all the stories aloud to Clara. Grandmama would quietly listen and
explain something here and there, making it more beautiful than before.
Heidi loved the pictures with the shepherd best of all; they told the story of
the prodigal son, and the child would read and re-read it till she nearly knew
it all by heart. Since Heidi had learned to read and possessed the book, the
days seemed to fly, and the time had come near that the grandmama had
fixed for her departure.

XIToC
HEIDI GAINS IN SOME RESPECTS AND
LOSES IN OTHERS

he grandmama sent for Heidi every day after dinner, while
Clara was resting and Miss Rottenmeier disappeared into
her room. She talked to Heidi and amused her in various
ways, showing her how to make clothes for pretty little dolls
that she had brought. Unconsciously Heidi had learned to
sew, and made now the sweetest dresses and coats for the
little people out of lovely materials the grandmama would give her. Often
Heidi would read to the old lady, for the oftener she read over the stories the
dearer they became to her. The child lived everything through with the
people in the tales and was always happy to be with them again. But she
never looked really cheerful and her eyes never sparkled merrily as before.
In the last week of Mrs. Sesemann's stay, Heidi was called again to the
old lady's room. The child entered with her beloved book under her arm.
Mrs. Sesemann drew Heidi close to her, and laying the book aside, she said:
"Come, child, and tell me why you are so sad. Do you still have the same
sorrow?"
"Yes," Heidi replied.
"Did you confide it to Our Lord?"
"Yes."
"Do you pray to Him every day that He may make you happy again and
take your affliction away?"
"Oh no, I don't pray any more."

"What do I hear, Heidi? Why don't you pray?"
"It does not help, for God has not listened. I don't wonder," she added,
"for if all the people in Frankfurt pray every night, He cannot listen to them
all. I am sure He has not heard me."
"Really? Why are you so sure?"
"Because I have prayed for the same thing many, many weeks and God
has not done what I have asked Him to."
"That is not the way, Heidi. You see, God in heaven is a good Father to
all of us, who knows what we need better than we do. When something we
ask for is not very good for us, He gives us something much better, if we
confide in Him and do not lose confidence in His love. I am sure what you
asked for was not very good for you just now; He has heard you, for He can
hear the prayers of all the people in the world at the same time, because He
is God Almighty and not a mortal like us. He heard your prayers and said to
Himself: 'Yes, Heidi shall get what she is praying for in time.' Now, while
God was looking down on you to hear your prayers, you lost confidence
and went away from Him. If God does not hear your prayers any more, He
will forget you also and let you go. Don't you want to go back to Him,
Heidi, and ask His forgiveness? Pray to Him every day, and hope in Him,
that He may bring cheer and happiness to you."
Heidi had listened attentively; she had unbounded confidence in the old
lady, whose words had made a deep impression on her. Full of repentance,
she said: "I shall go at once and ask Our Father to pardon me. I shall never
forget Him any more!"
"That's right, Heidi; I am sure He will help you in time, if you only trust
in Him," the grandmother consoled her. Heidi went to her room now and
prayed earnestly to God that He would forgive her and fulfill her wish.
The day of departure had come, but Mrs. Sesemann arranged everything
in such a way that the children hardly realized she was actually going. Still
everything was empty and quiet when she had gone, and the children hardly
knew how to pass their time.

Next day, Heidi came to Clara in the afternoon and said: "Can I always,
always read to you now, Clara?"
Clara assented, and Heidi began. But she did not get very far, for the
story she was reading told of a grandmother's death. Suddenly she cried
aloud: "Oh, now grandmother is dead!" and wept in the most pitiful fashion.
Whatever Heidi read always seemed real to her, and now she thought it was
her own grandmother at home. Louder and louder she sobbed: "Now poor
grandmother is dead and I can never see her any more; and she never got
one single roll!"
Clara attempted to explain the mistake, but Heidi was too much upset.
She pictured to herself how terrible it would be if her dear old grandfather
would die too while she was far away. How quiet and empty it would be in
the hut, and how lonely she would be!
Miss Rottenmeier had overheard the scene, and approaching the sobbing
child she said impatiently: "Adelheid, now you have screamed enough. If I
hear you again giving way to yourself in such a noisy fashion, I shall take
your book away forever!"
Heidi turned pale at that, for the book was her greatest treasure. Quickly
drying her tears, she choked down her sobs. After that Heidi never cried
again; often she could hardly repress her sobs and was obliged to make the
strangest faces to keep herself from crying out. Clara often looked at her,
full of surprise, but Miss Rottenmeier did not notice them and found no
occasion to carry out her threat. However, the poor child got more cheerless
every day, and looked so thin and pale that Sebastian became worried. He
tried to encourage her at table to help herself to all the good dishes, but
listlessly she would let them pass and hardly touch them. In the evening she
would cry quietly, her heart bursting with longing to go home.
Thus the time passed by. Heidi never knew if it was summer or winter,
for the walls opposite never changed. They drove out very seldom, for Clara
was only able to go a short distance. They never saw anything else than
streets, houses and busy people; no grass, no fir-trees and no mountains.
Heidi struggled constantly against her sorrow, but in vain. Autumn and
winter had passed, and Heidi knew that the time was coming when Peter

would go up the Alp with his goats, where the flowers were glistening in the
sunshine and the mountains were all afire. She would sit down in a corner
of her room and put both hands before her eyes, not to see the glaring
sunshine on the opposite wall. There she would remain, eating her heart
away with longing, till Clara would call for her to come.

THERE SHE WOULD REMAIN, EATING HER HEART AWAY WITH LONGINGToList

XIIToC
THE SESEMANN HOUSE IS HAUNTED

or several days Miss Rottenmeier had been wandering
silently about the house. When she went from room to room
or along the corridors, she would often glance back as if she
were afraid that somebody was following her. If she had to
go to the upper floor, where the gorgeous guest-rooms were,
or to the lower story, where the big ball-room was situated,
she always told Tinette to come with her. The strange thing was, that none
of the servants dared to go anywhere alone and always found an excuse to
ask each other's company, which requests were always granted. The cook,
who had been in the house for many years, would often shake her head and
mutter: "That I should live to see this!"
Something strange and weird was happening in the house. Every
morning, when the servants came down-stairs, they found the front door
wide open. At first everybody had thought that the house must have been
robbed, but nothing was missing. Every morning it was the same, despite
the double locks that were put on the door. At last John and Sebastian,
taking courage, prepared themselves to watch through a night to see who
was the ghost. Armed and provided with some strengthening liquor, they
repaired to a room down-stairs. First they talked, but soon, getting sleepy,
they leaned silently back in their chairs. When the clock from the old
church tower struck one, Sebastian awoke and roused his comrade, which
was no easy matter. At last, however, John was wide awake, and together
they went out into the hall. The same moment a strong wind put out the
light that John held in his hand. Rushing back, he nearly upset Sebastian,
who stood behind him, and pulling the butler back into the room, he locked
the door in furious haste. When the light was lit again, Sebastian noticed

that John was deadly pale and trembling like an aspen leaf. Sebastian, not
having seen anything, asked anxiously: "What is the matter? What did you
see?"
"The door was open and a white form was on the stairs; it went up and
was gone in a moment," gasped John. Cold shivers ran down the butler's
back. They sat without moving till the morning came, and then, shutting the
door, they went upstairs to report to the housekeeper what they had seen.
The lady, who was waiting eagerly, heard the tale and immediately sat down
to write to Mr. Sesemann. She told him that fright had paralyzed her fingers
and that terrible things were happening in the house. Then followed a tale of
the appearance of the ghost. Mr. Sesemann replied that he could not leave
his business, and advised Miss Rottenmeier to ask his mother to come to
stay with them, for Mrs. Sesemann would easily despatch the ghost. Miss
Rottenmeier was offended with the tone of the letter, which did not seem to
take her account seriously. Mrs. Sesemann also replied that she could not
come, so the housekeeper decided to tell the children all about it. Clara, at
the uncanny tale, immediately exclaimed that she would not stay alone
another moment and that she wished her father to come home. The
housekeeper arranged to sleep with the frightened child, while Heidi, who
did not know what ghosts were, was perfectly unmoved. Another letter was
despatched to Mr. Sesemann, telling him that the excitement might have
serious effects on his daughter's delicate constitution, and mentioning
several misfortunes that might probably happen if he did not relieve the
household from this terror.
This brought Mr. Sesemann. Going to his daughter's room after his
arrival, he was overjoyed to see her as well as ever. Clara was also
delighted to see her father.
"What new tricks has the ghost played on you, Miss Rottenmeier?" asked
Mr. Sesemann with a twinkle in his eye.
"It is no joke, Mr. Sesemann," replied the lady seriously. "I am sure you
will not laugh tomorrow. Those strange events indicate that something
secret and horrible has happened in this house in days gone by."

"Is that so? this is new to me," remarked Mr. Sesemann. "But will you
please not suspect my venerable ancestors? Please call Sebastian; I want to
speak to him alone."
Mr. Sesemann knew that the two were not on good terms, so he said to
the butler:
"Come here, Sebastian, and tell me honestly, if you have played the ghost
for Miss Rottenmeier's pastime?"
"No, upon my word, master; you must not think that," replied Sebastian
frankly. "I do not like it quite myself."
"Well, I'll show you and John what ghosts look like by day. You ought to
be ashamed of yourselves, strong young men like you! Now go at once to
my old friend, Dr. Classen, and tell him to come to me at nine o'clock to-
night. Tell him that I came from Paris especially to consult him, and that I
want him to sit up all night with me. Do you understand me, Sebastian?"
"Yes indeed! I shall do as you say, Mr. Sesemann." Mr. Sesemann then
went up to Clara's room to quiet and comfort her.
Punctually at nine o'clock the doctor arrived. Though his hair was grey,
his face was still fresh, and his eyes were lively and kind. When he saw his
friend, he laughed aloud and said: "Well, well, you look pretty healthy for
one who needs to be watched all night."
"Have patience, my old friend," replied Mr. Sesemann. "I am afraid the
person we have to sit up for will look worse, but first we must catch him."
"What? Then somebody is sick in this house? What do you mean?"
"Far worse, doctor, far worse. A ghost is in the house. My house is
haunted."
When the doctor laughed, Mr. Sesemann continued: "I call that
sympathy; I wish my friend Miss Rottenmeier could hear you. She is
convinced that an old Sesemann is wandering about, expiating some
dreadful deed."
"How did she make his acquaintance?" asked the doctor, much amused.

Mr. Sesemann then explained the circumstances. He said that the matter
was either a bad joke which an acquaintance of the servants was playing in
his absence, or it was a gang of thieves, who, after intimidating the people,
would surely rob his house by and by.
With these explanations they entered the room where the two servants
had watched before. A few bottles of wine stood on the table and two bright
candelabra shed a brilliant light. Two revolvers were ready for emergencies.
They left the door only partly open, for too much light might drive the
ghost away. Then, sitting down comfortably, the two men passed their time
by chatting, taking a sip now and then.
"The ghost seems to have spied us and probably won't come to-day," said
the doctor.
"We must have patience. It is supposed to come at one," replied his
friend.
So they talked till one o'clock. Everything was quiet, and not a sound
came from the street. Suddenly the doctor raised his finger.
"Sh! Sesemann, don't you hear something?"
While they both listened, the bar was unfastened, the key was turned, and
the door flew open. Mr. Sesemann seized his revolver.
"You are not afraid, I hope?" said the doctor, getting up.
"Better be cautious!" whispered Mr. Sesemann, seizing the candelabrum
in the other hand. The doctor followed with his revolver and the light, and
so they went out into the hall.
On the threshhold stood a motionless white form, lighted up by the
moon.
"Who is there?" thundered the doctor, approaching the figure. It turned
and uttered a low shriek. There stood Heidi, with bare feet and in her white
night-gown, looking bewildered at the bright light and the weapons. She
was shaking with fear, while the two men were looking at her in
amazement.
"Sesemann, this seems to be your little water carrier," said the doctor.

"Child, what does this mean?" asked Mr. Sesemann. "What did you want
to do? Why have you come down here?"
Pale from fright, Heidi said: "I do not know."
The doctor came forward now. "Sesemann, this case belongs to my field.
Please go and sit down while I take her to bed."
Putting his revolver aside, he led the trembling child up-stairs.
"Don't be afraid; just be quiet! Everything is all right; don't be
frightened."
When they had arrived in Heidi's room, the doctor put the little girl to
bed, covering her up carefully. Drawing a chair near the couch, he waited
till Heidi had calmed down and had stopped trembling. Then taking her
hand in his, he said kindly: "Now everything is all right again. Tell me
where you wanted to go?"
"I did not want to go anywhere," Heidi assured him; "I did not go myself,
only I was there all of a sudden."
"Really! Tell me, what did you dream?"
"Oh, I have the same dream every night. I always think I am with my
grandfather again and can hear the fir-trees roar. I always think how
beautiful the stars must be, and then I open the door of the hut, and oh, it is
so wonderful! But when I wake up I am always in Frankfurt." Heidi had to
fight the sobs that were rising in her throat.
"Does your back or your head hurt you, child?"
"No, but I feel as if a big stone was pressing me here."
"As if you had eaten something that disagreed with you?"
"Oh no, but as if I wanted to cry hard."
"So, and then you cry out, don't you?"
"Oh no, I must never do that, for Miss Rottenmeier has forbidden it."
"Then you swallow it down? Yes? Do you like to be here?"
"Oh yes," was the faint, uncertain reply.

"Where did you live with your grandfather?"
"Up on the Alp."
"But wasn't it a little lonely there?"
"Oh no, it was so beautiful!"—But Heidi could say no more. The
recollection, the excitement of the night and all the restrained sorrow
overpowered the child. The tears rushed violently from her eyes and she
broke out into loud sobs.
The doctor rose, and soothing her, said: "It won't hurt to cry; you'll go to
sleep afterward, and when you wake up everything will come right." Then
he left the room.
Joining his anxious friend down-stairs, he said: "Sesemann, the little girl
is a sleep-walker, and has unconsciously scared your whole household.
Besides, she is so home-sick that her little body has wasted away. We shall
have to act quickly. The only remedy for her is to be restored to her native
mountain air. This is my prescription, and she must go tomorrow."
"What, sick, a sleep-walker, and wasted away in my house! Nobody even
suspected it! You think I should send this child back in this condition, when
she has come in good health? No, doctor, ask everything but that. Take her
in hand and prescribe for her, but let her get well before I send her back."
"Sesemann," the doctor replied seriously, "just think what you are doing.
We cannot cure her with powders and pills. The child has not a strong
constitution, and if you keep her here, she might never get well again. If
you restore her to the bracing mountain air to which she is accustomed, she
probably will get perfectly well again."
When Mr. Sesemann heard this he said, "If that is your advice, we must
act at once; this is the only way then." With these words Mr. Sesemann took
his friend's arm and walked about with him to talk the matter over. When
everything was settled, the doctor took his leave, for the morning had
already come and the sun was shining in through the door.

XIIIToC
UP THE ALP ON A SUMMER EVENING

r. Sesemann, going upstairs in great agitation, knocked at
the housekeeper's door. He asked her to hurry, for
preparations for a journey had to be made. Miss
Rottenmeier obeyed the summons with the greatest
indignation, for it was only half-past four in the morning.
She dressed in haste, though with great difficulty, being
nervous and excited. All the other servants were summoned likewise, and
one and all thought that the master of the house had been seized by the
ghost and that he was ringing for help. When they had all come down with
terrified looks, they were most surprised to see Mr. Sesemann fresh and
cheerful, giving orders. John was sent to get the horses ready and Tinette
was told to prepare Heidi for her departure while Sebastian was
commissioned to fetch Heidi's aunt. Mr. Sesemann instructed the
housekeeper to pack a trunk in all haste for Heidi.
Miss Rottenmeier experienced an extreme disappointment, for she had
hoped for an explanation of the great mystery. But Mr. Sesemann, evidently
not in the mood to converse further, went to his daughter's room. Clara had
been wakened by the unusual noises and was listening eagerly. Her father
told her of what had happened and how the doctor had ordered Heidi back
to her home, because her condition was serious and might get worse. She
might even climb the roof, or be exposed to similar dangers, if she was not
cured at once.
Clara was painfully surprised and tried to prevent her father from
carrying out his plan. He remained firm, however, promising to take her to
Switzerland himself the following summer, if she was good and sensible

now. So the child, resigning herself, begged to have Heidi's trunk packed in
her room. Mr. Sesemann encouraged her to get together a good outfit for
her little friend.
Heidi's aunt had arrived in the meantime. Being told to take her niece
home with her, she found no end of excuses, which plainly showed that she
did not want to do it; for Deta well remembered the uncle's parting words.
Mr. Sesemann dismissed her and summoned Sebastian. The butler was told
to get ready for travelling with the child. He was to go to Basle that day and
spend the night at a good hotel which his master named. The next day the
child was to be brought to her home.
"Listen, Sebastian," Mr. Sesemann said, "and do exactly as I tell you. I
know the Hotel in Basle, and if you show my card they will give you good
accommodations. Go to the child's room and barricade the windows, so that
they can only be opened by the greatest force. When Heidi has gone to bed,
lock the door from outside, for the child walks in her sleep and might come
to harm in the strange hotel. She might get up and open the door; do you
understand?"
"Oh!—Oh!—So it was she?" exclaimed the butler.
"Yes, it was! You are a coward, and you can tell John he is the same.
Such foolish men, to be afraid!" With that Mr. Sesemann went to his room
to write a letter to Heidi's grandfather.
Sebastian, feeling ashamed, said to himself that he ought to have resisted
John and found out alone.
Heidi was dressed in her Sunday frock and stood waiting for further
commands.
Mr. Sesemann called her now. "Good-morning, Mr. Sesemann," Heidi
said when she entered.
"What do you think about it, little one?" he asked her. Heidi looked up to
him in amazement.
"You don't seem to know anything about it," laughed Mr. Sesemann.
Tinette had not even told the child, for she thought it beneath her dignity to
speak to the vulgar Heidi.

"You are going home to-day."
"Home?" Heidi repeated in a low voice. She had to gasp, so great was her
surprise.
"Wouldn't you like to hear something about it?" asked Mr. Sesemann
smiling.
"Oh yes, I should like to," said the blushing child.
"Good, good," said the kind gentleman. "Sit down and eat a big breakfast
now, for you are going away right afterwards."
The child could not even swallow a morsel, though she tried to eat out of
obedience. It seemed to her as if it was only a dream.
"Go to Clara, Heidi, till the carriage comes," Mr. Sesemann said kindly.
Heidi had been wishing to go, and now she ran to Clara's room, where a
huge trunk was standing.
"Heidi, look at the things I had packed for you. Do you like them?" Clara
asked.
There were a great many lovely things in it, but Heidi jumped for joy
when she discovered a little basket with twelve round white rolls for the
grandmother. The children had forgotten that the moment for parting had
come, when the carriage was announced. Heidi had to get all her own
treasures from her room yet. The grandmama's book was carefully packed,
and the red shawl that Miss Rottenmeier had purposely left behind. Then
putting on her pretty hat, she left her room to say good-bye to Clara. There
was not much time left to do so, for Mr. Sesemann was waiting to put Heidi
in the carriage. When Miss Rottenmeier, who was standing on the stairs to
bid farewell to her pupil, saw the red bundle in Heidi's hand, she seized it
and threw it on the ground. Heidi looked imploringly at her kind protector,
and Mr. Sesemann, seeing how much she treasured it, gave it back to her.
The happy child at parting thanked him for all his goodness. She also sent a
message of thanks to the good old doctor, whom she suspected to be the
real cause of her going.

While Heidi was being lifted into the carriage, Mr. Sesemann assured her
that Clara and he would never forget her. Sebastian followed with Heidi's
basket and a large bag with provisions. Mr. Sesemann called out: "Happy
journey!" and the carriage rolled away.
Only when Heidi was sitting in the train did she become conscious of
where she was going. She knew now that she would really see her
grandfather and the grandmother again, also Peter and the goats. Her only
fear was that the poor blind grandmother might have died while she was
away.
The thing she looked forward to most was giving the soft white rolls to
the grandmother. While she was musing over all these things, she fell
asleep. In Basle she was roused by Sebastian, for there they were to spend
the night.
The next morning they started off again, and it took them many hours
before they reached Mayenfeld. When Sebastian stood on the platform of
the station, he wished he could have travelled further in the train rather than
have to climb a mountain. The last part of the trip might be dangerous, for
everything seemed half-wild in this country. Looking round, he discovered
a small wagon with a lean horse. A broad-shouldered man was just loading
up large bags, which had come by the train. Sebastian, approaching the
man, asked some information concerning the least dangerous ascent to the
Alp. After a while it was settled that the man should take Heidi and her
trunk to the village and see to it that somebody would go up with her from
there.
Not a word had escaped Heidi, until she now said, "I can go up alone
from the village. I know the road." Sebastian felt relieved, and calling Heidi
to him, presented her with a heavy roll of bills and a letter for the
grandfather. These precious things were put at the bottom of the basket,
under the rolls, so that they could not possibly get lost.
Heidi promised to be careful of them, and was lifted up to the cart. The
two old friends shook hands and parted, and Sebastian, with a slightly bad
conscience for having deserted the child so soon, sat down on the station to
wait for a returning train.

The driver was no other than the village baker, who had never seen Heidi
but had heard a great deal about her. He had known her parents and
immediately guessed she was the child who had lived with the Alm-Uncle.
Curious to know why she came home again, he began a conversation.
"Are you Heidi, the child who lived with the Alm-Uncle?"
"Yes."
"Why are you coming home again? Did you get on badly?"
"Oh no; nobody could have got on better than I did in Frankfurt."
"Then why are you coming back?"
"Because Mr. Sesemann let me come."
"Pooh! why didn't you stay?"
"Because I would rather be with my grandfather on the Alp than
anywhere on earth."
"You may think differently when you get there," muttered the baker. "It is
strange though, for she must know," he said to himself.
They conversed no more, and Heidi began to tremble with excitement
when she recognized all the trees on the road and the lofty peaks of the
mountains. Sometimes she felt as if she could not sit still any longer, but
had to jump down and run with all her might. They arrived at the village at
the stroke of five. Immediately a large group of women and children
surrounded the cart, for the trunk and the little passenger had attracted
everybody's notice. When Heidi had been lifted down, she found herself
held and questioned on all sides. But when they saw how frightened she
was, they let her go at last. The baker had to tell of Heidi's arrival with the
strange gentleman, and assured all the people that Heidi loved her
grandfather with all her heart, let the people say what they would about
him.
Heidi, in the meantime, was running up the path; from time to time she
was obliged to stop, for her basket was heavy and she lost her breath. Her
one idea was: "If only grandmother still sits in her corner by her spinning
wheel!—Oh, if she should have died!" When the child caught sight of the

hut at last, her heart began to beat. The quicker she ran, the more it beat, but
at last she tremblingly opened the door. She ran into the middle of the room,
unable to utter one tone, she was so out of breath.
"Oh God," it sounded from one corner, "our Heidi used to come in like
that. Oh, if I just could have her again with me before I die. Who has
come?"
"Here I am! grandmother, here I am!" shouted the child, throwing herself
on her knees before the old woman. She seized her hands and arms and
snuggling up to her did not for joy utter one more word. The grandmother
had been so surprised that she could only silently caress the child's curly
hair over and over again. "Yes, yes," she said at last, "this is Heidi's hair,
and her beloved voice. Oh my God, I thank Thee for this happiness." Out of
her blind eyes big tears of joy fell down on Heidi's hand. "Is it really you,
Heidi? Have you really come again?"
"Yes, yes, grandmother," the child replied. "You must not cry, for I have
come and will never leave you any more. Now you won't have to eat hard
black bread any more for a little while. Look what I have brought you."
Heidi put one roll after another into the grandmother's lap.
"Ah, child, what a blessing you bring to me!" the old woman cried. "But
you are my greatest blessing yourself, Heidi!" Then, caressing the child's
hair and flushed cheeks, she entreated: "Just say one more word, that I may
hear your voice."
While Heidi was talking, Peter's mother arrived, and exclaimed in her
amazement: "Surely, this is Heidi. But how can that be?"
The child rose to shake hands with Brigida, who could not get over
Heidi's splendid frock and hat.
"You can have my hat, I don't want it any more; I have my old one still,"
Heidi said, pulling out her old crushed straw hat. Heidi had remembered her
grandfather's words to Deta about her feather hat; that was why she had
kept her old hat so carefully. Brigida at last accepted the gift after a great
many remonstrances. Suddenly Heidi took off her pretty dress and tied her
old shawl about her. Taking the grandmother's hand, she said: "Good-bye, I

must go home to grandfather now, but I shall come again tomorrow. Good-
night, grandmother."
"Oh, please come again to-morrow, Heidi," implored the old woman,
while she held her fast.
"Why did you take your pretty dress off?" asked Brigida.
"I'd rather go to grandfather that way, or else he might not know me any
more, the way you did."
Brigida accompanied the child outside and said mysteriously: "He would
have known you in your frock; you ought to have kept it on. Please be
careful, child, for Peter tells us that the uncle never says a word to anyone
and always seems so angry." But Heidi was unconcerned, and saying good-
night, climbed up the path with the basket on her arm. The evening sun was
shining down on the grass before her. Every few minutes Heidi stood still to
look at the mountains behind her. Suddenly she looked back and beheld
such glory as she had not even seen in her most vivid dream. The rocky
peaks were flaming in the brilliant light, the snow-fields glowed and rosy
clouds were floating overhead. The grass was like an expanse of gold, and
below her the valley swam in golden mist. The child stood still, and in her
joy and transport tears ran down her cheeks. She folded her hands, and
looking up to heaven, thanked the Lord that He had brought her home
again. She thanked Him for restoring her to her beloved mountains,—in her
happiness she could hardly find words to pray. Only when the glow had
subsided, was Heidi able to follow the path again.

THROWING HERSELF IN HER GRANDFATHER'S ARMS, SHE HELD HIM TIGHTToList

She climbed so fast that she could soon discover, first the tree-tops, then
the roof, finally the hut. Now she could see her grandfather sitting on his
bench, smoking a pipe. Above the cottage the fir-trees gently swayed and
rustled in the evening breeze. At last she had reached the hut, and throwing
herself in her grandfather's arms, she hugged him and held him tight. She
could say nothing but "Grandfather! grandfather! grandfather!" in her
agitation.

The old man said nothing either, but his eyes were moist, and loosening
Heidi's arms at last, he sat her on his knee. When he had looked at her a
while, he said: "So you have come home again, Heidi? Why? You certainly
do not look very cityfied! Did they send you away?"
"Oh no, you must not think that, grandfather. They all were so good to
me; Clara, Mr. Sesemann and grandmama. But grandfather, sometimes I felt
as if I could not bear it any longer to be away from you! I thought I should
choke; I could not tell any one, for that would have been ungrateful.
Suddenly, one morning Mr. Sesemann called me very early, I think it was
the doctor's fault and—but I think it is probably written in this letter;" with
that Heidi brought the letter and the bank-roll from her basket, putting them
on her grandfather's lap.
"This belongs to you," he said, laying the roll beside him. Having read
the letter, he put it in his pocket.
"Do you think you can still drink milk with me, Heidi?" he asked, while
he stepped into the cottage. "Take your money with you, you can buy a bed
for it and clothes for many years."
"I don't need it at all, grandfather," Heidi assured him; "I have a bed and
Clara has given me so many dresses that I shan't need any more all my life."
"Take it and put it in the cupboard, for you will need it some day."
Heidi obeyed, and danced around the hut in her delight to see all the
beloved things again. Running up to the loft, she exclaimed in great
disappointment: "Oh grandfather, my bed is gone."
"It will come again," the grandfather called up from below; "how could I
know that you were coming back? Get your milk now!"
Heidi, coming down, took her old seat. She seized her bowl and emptied
it eagerly, as if it was the most wonderful thing she had ever tasted.
"Grandfather, our milk is the best in all the world."
Suddenly Heidi, hearing a shrill whistle, rushed outside, as Peter and all
his goats came racing down. Heidi greeted the boy, who stopped, rooted to
the spot, staring at her. Then she ran into the midst of her beloved friends,
who had not forgotten her either. Schwänli and Bärli bleated for joy, and all

her other favorites pressed near to her. Heidi was beside herself with joy,
and caressed little Snowhopper and patted Thistlefinch, till she felt herself
pushed to and fro among them.
"Peter, why don't you come down and say good-night to me?" Heidi
called to the boy.
"Have you come again?" he exclaimed at last. Then he took Heidi's
proffered hand and asked her, as if she had been always there: "Are you
coming up with me to-morrow?"
"No, to-morrow I must go to grandmother, but perhaps the day after."
Peter had a hard time with his goats that day, for they would not follow
him. Over and over again they came back to Heidi, till she entered the shed
with Bärli and Schwänli and shut the door.
When Heidi went up to her loft to sleep, she found a fresh, fragrant bed
waiting for her; and she slept better that night than she had for many, many
months, for her great and burning longing had been satisfied. About ten
times that night the grandfather rose from his couch to listen to Heidi's quiet
breathing. The window was filled up with hay, for from now on the moon
was not allowed to shine on Heidi any more. But Heidi slept quietly, for she
had seen the flaming mountains and had heard the fir-trees roar.

XIVToC
ON SUNDAY WHEN THE CHURCH BELLS
RING

eidi was standing under the swaying fir-trees, waiting for
her grandfather to join her. He had promised to bring up her
trunk from the village while she went in to visit the
grandmother. The child was longing to see the blind woman
again and to hear how she had liked the rolls. It was
Saturday, and the grandfather had been cleaning the cottage.
Soon he was ready to start. When they had descended and Heidi entered
Peter's hut, the grandmother called lovingly to her: "Have you come again,
child?"
She took hold of Heidi's hand and held it tight. Grandmother then told the
little visitor how good the rolls had tasted, and how much stronger she felt
already. Brigida related further that the grandmother had only eaten a single
roll, being so afraid to finish them too soon. Heidi had listened attentively,
and said now: "Grandmother, I know what I shall do. I am going to write to
Clara and she'll surely send me a whole lot more."
But Brigida remarked: "That is meant well, but they get hard so soon. If I
only had a few extra pennies, I could buy some from our baker. He makes
them too, but I am hardly able to pay for the black bread."
Heidi's face suddenly shone. "Oh, grandmother, I have an awful lot of
money," she cried. "Now I know what I'll do with it. Every day you must
have a fresh roll and two on Sundays. Peter can bring them up from the
village."

"No, no, child," the grandmother implored. "That must not be. You must
give it to grandfather and he'll tell you what to do with it."
But Heidi did not listen but jumped gaily about the little room, calling
over and over again: "Now grandmother can have a roll every day. She'll
get well and strong, and," she called with fresh delight, "maybe your eyes
will see again, too, when you are strong and well."
The grandmother remained silent, not to mar the happiness of the child.
Seeing the old hymn-book on the shelf, Heidi said:
"Grandmother, shall I read you a song from your book now? I can read
quite nicely!" she added after a pause.
"Oh yes, I wish you would, child. Can you really read?"
Heidi, climbing on a chair, took down the dusty book from a shelf. After
she had carefully wiped it off, she sat down on a stool.
"What shall I read, grandmother?"
"Whatever you want to," was the reply. Turning the pages, Heidi found a
song about the sun, and decided to read that aloud. More and more eagerly
she read, while the grandmother, with folded arms, sat in her chair. An
expression of indescribable happiness shone in her countenance, though
tears were rolling down her cheeks. When Heidi had repeated the end of the
song a number of times, the old woman exclaimed: "Oh, Heidi, everything
seems bright to me again and my heart is light. Thank you, child, you have
done me so much good."
Heidi looked enraptured at the grandmother's face, which had changed
from an old, sorrowful expression to a joyous one.
She seemed to look up gratefully, as if she could already behold the
lovely, celestial gardens told of in the hymn.
Soon the grandfather knocked on the window, for it was time to go. Heidi
followed quickly, assuring the grandmother that she would visit her every
day now; on the days she went up to the pasture with Peter, she would
return in the early afternoon, for she did not want to miss the chance to
make the grandmother's heart joyful and light. Brigida urged Heidi to take

her dress along, and with it on her arm the child joined the old man and
immediately told him what had happened.
On hearing of her plan to purchase rolls for the grandmother every day,
the grandfather reluctantly consented.
At this the child gave a bound, shouting: "Oh grandfather, now
grandmother won't ever have to eat hard, black bread any more. Oh,
everything is so wonderful now! If God Our Father had done immediately
what I prayed for, I should have come home at once and could not have
brought half as many rolls to grandmother. I should not have been able to
read either. Grandmama told me that God would make everything much
better than I could ever dream. I shall always pray from now on, the way
grandmama taught me. When God does not give me something I pray for, I
shall always remember how everything has worked out for the best this
time. We'll pray every day, grandfather, won't we, for otherwise God might
forget us."
"And if somebody should forget to do it?" murmured the old man.
"Oh, he'll get on badly, for God will forget him, too. If he is unhappy and
wretched, people don't pity him, for they will say: 'he went away from God,
and now the Lord, who alone can help him, has no pity on him'."
"Is that true, Heidi? Who told you so?"
"Grandmama explained it all to me."
After a pause the grandfather said: "Yes, but if it has happened, then there
is no help; nobody can come back to the Lord, when God has once
forgotten him."
"But grandfather, everybody can come back to Him; grandmama told me
that, and besides there is the beautiful story in my book. Oh, grandfather,
you don't know it yet, and I shall read it to you as soon as we get home."
The grandfather had brought a big basket with him, in which he carried
half the contents of Heidi's trunk; it had been too large to be conveyed up
the steep ascent. Arriving at the hut and setting down his load, he had to sit
beside Heidi, who was ready to begin the tale. With great animation Heidi
read the story of the prodigal son, who was happy at home with his father's

cows and sheep. The picture showed him leaning on his staff, watching the
sunset. "Suddenly he wanted to have his own inheritance, and be able to be
his own master. Demanding the money from his father, he went away and
squandered all. When he had nothing in the world left, he had to go as
servant to a peasant, who did not own fine cattle like his father, but only
swine; his clothes were rags, and for food he only got the husks on which
the pigs were fed. Often he would think what a good home he had left, and
when he remembered how good his father had been to him and his own
ungratefulness, he would cry from repentance and longing. Then he said to
himself: 'I shall go to my father and ask his forgiveness.' When he
approached his former home, his father came out to meet him—"
"What do you think will happen now?" Heidi asked. "You think that the
father is angry and will say: 'Didn't I tell you?' But just listen: 'And his
father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck. And the
son said: Father, I have sinned against Heaven and in Thy sight, and am no
more worthy to be called Thy son. But the father said to his servants: Bring
forth the best robe and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand and shoes
on his feet; and bring hither the fatted calf and kill it; and let us eat and be
merry: For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost, and is
found.' And they began to be merry."
"Isn't it a beautiful story, grandfather?" asked Heidi, when he sat silently
beside her.
"Yes, Heidi, it is," said the grandfather, but so seriously that Heidi quietly
looked at the pictures. "Look how happy he is," she said, pointing to it.
A few hours later, when Heidi was sleeping soundly, the old man climbed
up the ladder. Placing a little lamp beside the sleeping child, he watched her
a long, long time. Her little hands were folded and her rosy face looked
confident and peaceful. The old man now folded his hands and said in a low
voice, while big tears rolled down his cheeks: "Father, I have sinned against
Heaven and Thee, and am no more worthy to be Thy son!"
The next morning found the uncle standing before the door, looking
about him over valley and mountain. A few early bells sounded from below
and the birds sang their morning anthems.

Re-entering the house, he called: "Heidi, get up! The sun is shining! Put
on a pretty dress, for we are going to church!"
That was a new call, and Heidi obeyed quickly. When the child came
downstairs in her smart little frock, she opened her eyes wide. "Oh,
grandfather!" she exclaimed, "I have never seen you in your Sunday coat
with the silver buttons. Oh, how fine you look!"
The old man, turning to the child, said with a smile: "You look nice, too;
come now!" With Heidi's hand in his they wandered down together. The
nearer they came to the village, the louder and richer the bells resounded.
"Oh grandfather, do you hear it? It seems like a big, high feast," said Heidi.
When they entered the church, all the people were singing. Though they
sat down on the last bench behind, the people had noticed their presence
and whispered it from ear to ear. When the pastor began to preach, his
words were a loud thanksgiving that moved all his hearers. After the service
the old man and the child walked to the parsonage. The clergyman had
opened the door and received them with friendly words. "I have come to
ask your forgiveness for my harsh words," said the uncle. "I want to follow
your advice to spend the winter here among you. If the people look at me
askance, I can't expect any better. I am sure, Mr. Pastor, you will not do so."

WITH HEIDI'S HAND IN HIS THEY WANDERED DOWN TOGETHERToList

The pastor's friendly eyes sparkled, and with many a kind word he
commended the uncle for this change, and putting his hand on Heidi's curly
hair, ushered them out. Thus the people, who had been all talking together
about this great event, could see that their clergyman shook hands with the
old man. The door of the parsonage was hardly shut, when the whole
assembly came forward with outstretched hands and friendly greetings.
Great seemed to be their joy at the old man's resolution; some of the people
even accompanied him on his homeward way. When they had parted at last,

the uncle looked after them with his face shining as with an inward light.
Heidi looked up to him and said: "Grandfather, you have never looked so
beautiful!"
"Do you think so, child?" he said with a smile. "You see, Heidi, I am
more happy than I deserve; to be at peace with God and men makes one's
heart feel light. God has been good to me, to send you back."
When they arrived at Peter's hut, the grandfather opened the door and
entered. "How do you do, grandmother," he called out. "I think we must
start to mend again, before the fall wind comes."
"Oh my God, the uncle!" exclaimed the grandmother in joyous surprise.
"How happy I am to be able to thank you for what you have done, uncle!
Thank you, God bless you for it."
With trembling joy the grandmother shook hands with her old friend.
"There is something else I want to say to you, uncle," she continued. "If I
have ever hurt you in any way, do not punish me. Do not let Heidi go away
again before I die. I cannot tell you what Heidi means to me!" So saying,
she held the clinging child to her.
"No danger of that, grandmother, I hope we shall all stay together now
for many years to come."
Brigida now showed Heidi's feather hat to the old man and asked him to
take it back. But the uncle asked her to keep it, since Heidi had given it to
her.
"What blessings this child has brought from Frankfurt," Brigida said. "I
often wondered if I should not send our little Peter too. What do you think,
uncle?"
The uncle's eyes sparkled with fun, when he replied: "I am sure it would
not hurt Peter; nevertheless I should wait for a fitting occasion before I sent
him."
The next moment Peter himself arrived in great haste. He had a letter for
Heidi, which had been given to him in the village. What an event, a letter
for Heidi! They all sat down at the table while the child read it aloud. The
letter was from Clara Sesemann, who wrote that everything had got so dull

since Heidi left. She said that she could not stand it very long, and therefore
her father had promised to take her to Ragatz this coming fall. She
announced that Grandmama was coming too, for she wanted to see Heidi
and her grandfather. Grandmama, having heard about the rolls, was sending
some coffee, too, so that the grandmother would not have to eat them dry.
Grandmama also insisted on being taken to the grandmother herself when
she came on her visit.
Great was the delight caused by this news, and what with all the
questions and plans that followed, the grandfather himself forgot how late it
was. This happy day, which had united them all, caused the old woman to
say at parting: "The most beautiful thing of all, though, is to be able to
shake hands again with an old friend, as in days gone by; it is a great
comfort to find again, what we have treasured. I hope you'll come soon
again, uncle. I am counting on the child for tomorrow."
This promise was given. While Heidi and her grandfather were on their
homeward path, the peaceful sound of evening bells accompanied them. At
last they reached the cottage, which seemed to glow in the evening light.

Part II
Heidi Makes Use of Her Experience

XVToC
PREPARATIONS FOR A JOURNEY

he kind doctor who had sent Heidi home to her beloved
mountains was approaching the Sesemann residence on a
sunny day in September. Everything about him was bright
and cheerful, but the doctor did not even raise his eyes from
the pavement to the blue sky above. His face was sad and
his hair had turned very gray since spring. A few months
ago the doctor had lost his only daughter, who had lived with him since his
wife's early death. The blooming girl had been his only joy, and since she
had gone from him the ever-cheerful doctor was bowed down with grief.
When Sebastian opened the door to the physician he bowed very low, for
the doctor made friends wherever he went.
"I am glad you have come doctor," Mr. Sesemann called to his friend as
he entered. "Please let us talk over this trip to Switzerland again. Do you
still give the same advice, now that Clara is so much better?"
"What must I think of you, Sesemann?" replied the doctor, sitting down.
"I wish your mother was here. Everything is clear to her and things go
smoothly then. This is the third time to-day that you have called me, and
always for the same thing!"
"It is true, it must make you impatient," said Mr. Sesemann. Laying his
hand on his friend's shoulder, he continued: "I cannot say how hard it is for
me to refuse Clara this trip. Haven't I promised it to her and hasn't she
looked forward to it for months? She has borne all her suffering so
patiently, just because she had hoped to be able to visit her little friend on

the Alp. I hate to rob her of this pleasure. The poor child has so many trials
and so little change."
"But, Sesemann, you must do it," was the doctor's answer. When his
friend remained silent, he continued: "Just think what a hard summer Clara
has had! She never was more ill and we could not attempt this journey
without risking the worst consequences. Remember, we are in September
now, and though the weather may still be fine on the Alp, it is sure to be
very cool. The days are getting short, and she could only spend a few hours
up there, if she had to return for the night. It would take several hours to
have her carried up from Ragatz. You see yourself how impossible it is! I
shall come in with you, though, to talk to Clara, and you'll find her sensible.
I'll tell you of my plan for next May. First she can go to Ragatz to take the
baths. When it gets warm on the mountain, she can be carried up from time
to time. She'll be stronger then and much more able to enjoy those
excursions than she is now. If we hope for an improvement in her condition,
we must be extremely cautious and careful, remember that!"
Mr. Sesemann, who had been listening with the utmost submission, now
said anxiously: "Doctor, please tell me honestly if you still have hope left
for any change?"
With shrugging shoulders the doctor replied: "Not very much. But think
of me, Sesemann! Have you not a child, who loves you and always
welcomes you? You don't have to come back to a lonely house and sit down
alone at your table. Your child is well taken care of, and if she has many
privations, she also has many advantages. Sesemann, you do not need to be
pitied! Just think of my lonely home!"
Mr. Sesemann had gotten up and was walking round the room, as he
always did when something occupied his thoughts. Suddenly he stood
before his friend and said: "Doctor, I have an idea. I cannot see you sad any
longer. You must get away. You shall undertake this trip and visit Heidi in
our stead."
The doctor had been surprised by this proposal, and tried to object. But
Mr. Sesemann was so full of his new project that he pulled his friend with
him into his daughter's room, not leaving him time for any remonstrances.

Clara loved the doctor, who had always tried to cheer her up on his visits by
bright and funny tales. She was sorry for the change that had come over him
and would have given much to see him happy again. When he had shaken
hands with her, both men pulled up their chairs to Clara's bedside. Mr.
Sesemann began to speak of their journey and how sorry he was to give it
up. Then he quickly began to talk of his new plan.
Clara's eyes had filled with tears. But she knew that her father did not
like to see her cry, and besides she was sure that her papa would only forbid
her this pleasure because it was absolutely necessary to do so.
So she bravely fought her tears, and caressing the doctor's hand, said:
"Oh please, doctor, do go to Heidi; then you can tell me all about her, and
can describe her grandfather to me, and Peter, with his goats,—I seem to
know them all so well. Then you can take all the things to her that I had
planned to take myself. Oh, please doctor, go, and then I'll be good and take
as much cod-liver oil as ever you want me to."
Who can tell if this promise decided the doctor? At any rate he answered
with a smile: "Then I surely must go, Clara, for you will get fat and strong,
as we both want to see you. Have you settled yet when I must go?"
"Oh, you had better go tomorrow morning, doctor," Clara urged.
"She is right," the father assented; "the sun is shining and you must not
lose any more glorious days on the Alp."
The doctor had to laugh. "Why don't you chide me for being here still? I
shall go as quickly as I can, Sesemann."
Clara gave many messages to him for Heidi. She also told him to be sure
to observe everything closely, so that he would be able to tell her all about it
when he came back. The things for Heidi were to be sent to him later, for
Miss Rottenmeier, who had to pack them, was out on one of her lengthy
wanderings about town.
The doctor promised to comply with all Clara's wishes and to start the
following day.

Clara rang for the maid and said to her, when she arrived: "Please,
Tinette, pack a lot of fresh, soft coffee-cake in this box." A box had been
ready for this purpose many days. When the maid was leaving the room she
murmured: "That's a silly bother!"
Sebastian, who had happened to overhear some remarks, asked the
physician when he was leaving to take his regards to the little Miss, as he
called Heidi.
With a promise to deliver this message the doctor was just hastening out,
when he encountered an obstacle. Miss Rottenmeier, who had been obliged
to return from her walk on account of the strong wind, was just coming in.
She wore a large cape, which the wind was blowing about her like two full
sails. Both had retreated politely to give way to each other. Suddenly the
wind seemed to carry the housekeeper straight towards the doctor, who had
barely time to avoid her. This little incident, which had ruffled Miss
Rottenmeier's temper very much, gave the doctor occasion to soothe her, as
she liked to be soothed by this man, whom she respected more than
anybody in the world. Telling her of his intended visit, he entreated her to
pack the things for Heidi as only she knew how.
Clara had expected some resistance from Miss Rottenmeier about the
packing of her presents. What was her surprise when this lady showed
herself most obliging, and immediately, on being told, brought together all
the articles! First came a heavy coat for Heidi, with a hood, which Clara
meant her to use on visits to the grandmother in the winter. Then came a
thick warm shawl and a large box with coffee-cake for the grandmother. An
enormous sausage for Peter's mother followed, and a little sack of tobacco
for the grandfather. At last a lot of mysterious little parcels and boxes were
packed, things that Clara had gathered together for Heidi. When the tidy
pack lay ready on the ground, Clara's heart filled with pleasure at the
thought of her little friend's delight.
Sebastian now entered, and putting the pack on his shoulder, carried it to
the doctor's house without delay.

XVIToC
A GUEST ON THE ALP

he early dawn was tinging the mountains and a fresh
morning-breeze rocked the old fir-trees to and fro. Heidi
opened her eyes, for the rustling of the wind had awakened
her. These sounds always thrilled her heart, and now they
drew her out of bed. Rising hurriedly, she soon was neatly
dressed and combed.
Coming down the little ladder and finding the grandfather's bed empty,
she ran outside. The old man was looking up at the sky to see what the
weather was going to be like that day. Rosy clouds were passing overhead,
but gradually the sky grew more blue and deep, and soon a golden light
passed over the heights, for the sun was rising in all his glory.
"Oh, how lovely! Good-morning, grandfather," Heidi exclaimed.
"Are your eyes bright already?" the grandfather retorted, holding out his
hand.
Heidi then ran over to her beloved fir-trees and danced about, while the
wind was howling in the branches.
After the old man had washed and milked the goats, he brought them out
of the shed. When Heidi saw her friends again, she caressed them tenderly,
and they in their turn nearly crushed her between them. Sometimes when
Bärli got too wild, Heidi would say: "But Bärli, you push me like the Big
Turk," and that was enough to quiet the goat.
Soon Peter arrived with the whole herd, the jolly Thistlefinch ahead of all
the others. Heidi, being soon in the mist of them, was pushed about among
them. Peter was anxious to say a word to the little girl, so he gave a shrill

whistle, urging the goats to climb ahead. When he was near her he said
reproachfully: "You really might come with me to-day!"
"No, I can't, Peter," said Heidi. "They might come from Frankfurt any
time. I must be home when they come."
"How often you have said that," grumbled the boy.
"But I mean it," replied Heidi. "Do you really think I want to be away
when they come from Frankfurt? Do you really think that, Peter?"
"They could come to uncle," Peter growled.
Then the grandfather's strong voice was heard: "Why doesn't the army go
forward? Is it the field-marshal's fault, or the fault of the troop?"
Peter immediately turned about and led his goats up the mountain
without more ado.
Since Heidi had come home again to her grandfather she did many things
that had never occurred to her before. For instance, she would make her bed
every morning, and run about the hut, tidying and dusting. With an old rag
she would rub the chairs and table till they all shone, and the grandfather
would exclaim: "It is always Sunday with us now; Heidi has not been away
in vain."
On this day after breakfast, when Heidi began her self-imposed task, it
took her longer than usual, for the weather was too glorious to stay within.
Over and over again a bright sunbeam would tempt the busy child outside.
How could she stay indoors, when the glistening sunshine was pouring
down and all the mountains seemed to glow? She had to sit down on the
dry, hard ground and look down into the valley and all about her. Then,
suddenly remembering her little duties, she would hasten back. It was not
long, though, till the roaring fir-trees tempted her again. The grandfather
had been busy in his little shop, merely glancing over at the child from time
to time. Suddenly he heard her call: "Oh grandfather, come!"
He was frightened and came out quickly He saw her running down the
hill crying: "They are coming, they are coming. Oh, the doctor is coming
first."

THEY ARE COMING, OH, THE DOCTOR IS COMING FIRSTToList

When Heidi at last reached her old friend, he held out his hand, which
Heidi immediately seized. In the full joy of her heart, she exclaimed: "How
do you do, doctor? And I thank you a thousand times!"
"How are you, Heidi? But what are you thanking me for already?" the
doctor asked, with a smile.
"Because you let me come home again," the child explained.

The gentleman's face lit up like sunshine. He had certainly not counted
on such a reception on the Alp. On the contrary! Not even noticing all the
beauty around him, he had climbed up sadly, for he was sure that Heidi
probably would not know him any more. He thought that he would be far
from welcome, being obliged to cause her a great disappointment. Instead,
he beheld Heidi's bright eyes looking up at him in gratefulness and love.
She was still holding his arm, when he said: "Come now, Heidi, and take
me to your grandfather, for I want to see where you live."
Like a kind father he had taken her hand, but Heidi stood still and looked
down the mountain-side.
"But where are Clara and grandmama?" she asked.
"Child, I must tell you something now which will grieve you as much as
it grieves me," replied the doctor. "I had to come alone, for Clara has been
very ill and could not travel. Of course grandmama has not come either; but
the spring will soon be here, and when the days get long and warm, they
will surely visit you."
Heidi was perfectly amazed; she could not understand how all those
things that she had pictured to herself so clearly would not happen after all.
She was standing perfectly motionless, confused by the blow.
It was some time before Heidi remembered that, after all, she had come
down to meet the doctor. Looking up at her friend, she was struck by his sad
and cheerless face. How changed he was since she had seen him! She did
not like to see people unhappy, least of all the good, kind doctor. He must
be sad because Clara and grandmama had not come, and to console him she
said: "Oh, it won't last long till spring comes again; then they will come for
sure; they'll be able to stay much longer then, and that will please Clara.
Now we'll go to grandfather."
Hand in hand she climbed up with her old friend. All the way she tried to
cheer him up by telling him again and again of the coming summer days.
After they had reached the cottage, she called out to her grandfather quite
happily:
"They are not here yet, but it won't be very long before they are coming!"

The grandfather warmly welcomed his guest, who did not seem at all a
stranger, for had not Heidi told him many things about the doctor? They all
three sat down on the bench before the door, and the doctor told of the
object of his visit. He whispered to the child that something was coming up
the mountain very soon which would bring her more pleasure than his visit.
What could it be?
The uncle advised the doctor to spend the splendid days of autumn on the
Alp, if possible, and to take a little room in the village instead of in Ragatz;
then he could easily walk up every day to the hut, and from there the uncle
could take him all around the mountains. This plan was accepted.
The sun was in its zenith and the wind had ceased. Only a soft delicious
breeze fanned the cheeks of all.
The uncle now got up and went into the hut, returning soon with a table
and their dinner.
"Go in, Heidi, and set the table here. I hope you will excuse our simple
meal," he said, turning to his guest.
"I shall gladly accept this delightful invitation; I am sure that dinner will
taste good up here," said the guest, looking down over the sun-bathed
valley.
Heidi was running to and fro, for it gave her great joy to be able to wait
on her kind protector. Soon the uncle appeared with the steaming milk, the
toasted cheese, and the finely-sliced, rosy meat that had been dried in the
pure air. The doctor enjoyed his dinner better than any he had ever tasted.
"Yes, we must send Clara up here. How she could gather strength!" he
said; "If she would have an appetite like mine to-day, she couldn't help
getting nice and fat."
At this moment a man could be seen walking up with a large sack on his
shoulders. Arriving on top, he threw down his load, breathing in the pure,
fresh air.
Opening the cover, the doctor said: "This has come for you from
Frankfurt, Heidi. Come and look what is in it."

Heidi timidly watched the heap, and only when the gentleman opened the
box with the cakes for the grandmother she said joyfully: "Oh, now
grandmother can eat this lovely cake." She was taking the box and the
beautiful shawl on her arm and was going to race down to deliver the gifts,
when the men persuaded her to stay and unpack the rest. What was her
delight at finding the tobacco and all the other things. The men had been
talking together, when the child suddenly planted herself in front of them
and said: "These things have not given me as much pleasure as the dear
doctor's coming." Both men smiled.
When it was near sunset, the doctor rose to start on his way down. The
grandfather, carrying the box, the shawl and the sausage, and the guest
holding the little girl by the hand, they wandered down the mountain-side.
When they reached Peter's hut, Heidi was told to go inside and wait for her
grandfather there. At parting she asked: "Would you like to come with me
up to the pasture to-morrow, doctor?"
"With pleasure. Good-bye, Heidi," was the reply. The grandfather had
deposited all the presents before the door, and it took Heidi long to carry in
the huge box and the sausage. The shawl she put on the grandmother's knee.
Brigida had silently watched the proceedings, and could not open her
eyes wide enough when she saw the enormous sausage. Never in her life
had she seen the like, and now she really possessed it and could cut it
herself.
"Oh grandmother, don't the cakes please you awfully? Just look how soft
they are!" the child exclaimed. What was her amazement when she saw the
grandmother more pleased with the shawl, which would keep her warm in
winter.
"Grandmother, Clara has sent you that," Heidi said.
"Oh, what kind good people they are to think of a poor old woman like
me! I never thought I should ever own such a splendid wrap."
At this moment Peter came stumbling in.
"The uncle is coming up behind me, and Heidi must—" that was as far as
he got, for his eyes had fastened on the sausage. Heidi, however, had

already said good-bye, for she knew what he had meant. Though her uncle
never went by the hut any more without stepping in, she knew it was too
late to-day. "Heidi, come, you must get your sleep," he called through the
open door. Bidding them all good-night, he took Heidi by the hand and
under the glistening stars they wandered home to their peaceful cottage.

XVIIToC
RETALIATION

arly the next morning the doctor climbed up the mountain in
company with Peter and his goats. The friendly gentleman
made several attempts to start a conversation with the boy,
but as answer to his questions he got nothing more than
monosyllables. When they arrived on top, they found Heidi
already waiting, fresh and rosy as the early dawn.
"Are you coming?" asked Peter as usual.
"Of course I shall, if the doctor comes with us," replied the child.
The grandfather, coming out of the hut, greeted the newcomer with great
respect. Then he went up to Peter, and hung on his shoulder the sack, which
seemed to contain more than usual that day.
When they had started on their way, Heidi kept urging forward the goats,
which were crowding about her. When at last she was walking peacefully
by the doctor's side, she began to relate to him many things about the goats
and all their strange pranks, and about the flowers, rocks and birds they
saw. When they arrived at their destination, time seemed to have flown.
Peter all the time was sending many an angry glance at the unconscious
doctor, who never even noticed it.
Heidi now took the doctor to her favorite spot. From there they could
hear the peaceful-sounding bells of the grazing cattle below. The sky was
deep blue, and above their heads the eagle was circling with outstretched
wings. Everything was luminous and bright about them, but the doctor had
been silent. Suddenly looking up, he beheld Heidi's radiant eyes.

"Heidi, it is beautiful up here," he said. "But how can anybody with a
heavy heart enjoy the beauty? Tell me!"
"Oh," exclaimed Heidi, "one never has a sad heart here. One only gets
unhappy in Frankfurt."
A faint smile passed over the doctor's face. Then he began: "But if
somebody has brought his sorrow away with him, how would you comfort
him?"
"God in Heaven alone can help him."
"That is true, child," remarked the doctor. "But what can we do when
God Himself has sent us the affliction?"
After meditating a moment, Heidi replied: "One must wait patiently, for
God knows how to turn the saddest things to something happy in the end.
God will show us what He has meant to do for us. But He will only do so if
we pray to Him patiently."
"I hope you will always keep this beautiful belief, Heidi," said the doctor.
Then looking up at the mighty cliffs above, he continued: "Think how sad it
would make us not to be able to see all these beautiful things. Wouldn't that
make us doubly sad? Can you understand me, child?"
A great pain shot through Heidi's breast. She had to think of the poor
grandmother. Her blindness was always a great sorrow to the child, and she
had been struck with it anew. Seriously she replied:
"Oh yes, I can understand it. But then we can read grandmother's songs;
they make us happy and bright again."
"Which songs, Heidi?"
"Oh, those of the sun, and of the beautiful garden, and then the last verses
of the long one. Grandmother loves them so that I always have to read them
over three times," said Heidi.
"I wish you would say them to me, child, for I should like to hear them,"
said the doctor.
Heidi, folding her hands, began the consoling verses. She stopped
suddenly, however, for the doctor did not seem to listen. He was sitting

motionless, holding his hand before his eyes. Thinking that he had fallen
asleep, she remained silent. But the verses had recalled his childhood days;
he seemed to hear his mother and see her loving eyes, for when he was a
little boy she had sung this song to him. A long time he sat there, till he
discovered that Heidi was watching him.
"Heidi, your song was lovely," he said with a more joyful voice. "We
must come here another day and then you can recite it to me again."
During all this time Peter had been boiling with anger. Now that Heidi
had come again to the pasture with him, she did nothing but talk to the old
gentleman. It made him very cross that he was not even able to get near her.
Standing a little distance behind Heidi's friend, he shook his fist at him, and
soon afterwards both fists, finally raising them up to the sky, as Heidi and
the doctor remained together.
When the sun stood in its zenith and Peter knew that it was noon, he
called over to them with all his might: "Time to eat."
When Heidi was getting up to fetch their dinner, the doctor just asked for
a glass of milk, which was all he wanted. The child also decided to make
the milk her sole repast, running over to Peter and informing him of their
resolution.
When the boy found that the whole contents of the bag was his, he
hurried with his task as never in his life before. But he felt guilty on account
of his former anger at the kind gentleman. To show his repentance he held
his hands up flat to the sky, indicating by his action that his fists did not
mean anything any more. Only after that did he start with his feast.
Heidi and the doctor had wandered about the pasture till the gentleman
had found it time to go. He wanted Heidi to remain where she was, but she
insisted on accompanying him. All the way down she showed him many
places where the pretty mountain flowers grew, all of whose names she
could tell him. When they parted at last, Heidi waved to him. From time to
time he turned about, and seeing the child still standing there, he had to
think of his own little daughter who used to wave to him like that when he
went away from home.

The weather was warm and sunny that month. Every morning the doctor
came up to the Alp, spending his day very often with the old man. Many a
climb they had together that took them far up, to the bare cliffs near the
eagle's haunt. The uncle would show his guest all the herbs that grew on
hidden places and were strengthening and healing. He could tell many
strange things of the beasts that lived in holes in rock or earth, or in the high
tops of trees.
In the evening they would part, and the doctor would exclaim: "My dear
friend, I never leave you without having learned something."
But most of his days he spent with Heidi. Then the two would sit together
on the child's favorite spot, and Peter, quite subdued, behind them. Heidi
had to recite the verses, as she had done the first day, and entertain him with
all the things she knew.
At last the beautiful month of September was over. One morning the
doctor came up with a sadder face than usual. The time had come for him to
go back to Frankfurt, and great was the uncle's sadness at that news. Heidi
herself could hardly realize that her loving friend, whom she had been
seeing every day, was really leaving. The doctor himself was loath to go, for
the Alp had become as a home to him. But it was necessary for him to go,
and shaking hands with the grandfather, he said good-bye, Heidi going
along with him a little way.
Hand in hand they wandered down, till the doctor stood still. Then
caressing Heidi's curly hair, he said: "Now I must go, Heidi! I wish I could
take you along with me to Frankfurt; then I could keep you."
At those words, all the rows and rows of houses and streets, Miss
Rottenmeier and Tinette rose before Heidi's eyes. Hesitating a little, she
said: "I should like it better if you would come to see us again."
"I believe that will be better. Now farewell!" said the friendly gentleman.
When they shook hands his eyes filled with tears. Turning quickly he
hurried off.
Heidi, standing on the same spot, looked after him. What kind eyes he
had! But they had been full of tears. All of a sudden she began to cry

bitterly, and ran after her friend, calling with all her might, but interrupted
by her sobs:
"Oh doctor, doctor!"
Looking round he stood still and waited till the child had reached him.
Her tears came rolling down her cheeks while she sobbed: "I'll come with
you to Frankfurt and I'll stay as long as ever you want me to. But first I
must see grandfather."
"No, no, dear child," he said affectionately, "not at once. You must
remain here, I don't want you to get ill again. But if I should get sick and
lonely and ask you to come to me, would you come and stay with me? Can
I go away and think that somebody in this world still cares for me and loves
me?"
"Yes, I shall come to you the same day, for I really love you as much as
grandfather," Heidi assured him, crying all the time.
Shaking hands again, they parted. Heidi stayed on the same spot, waving
her hand and looking after her departing friend till he seemed no bigger
than a little dot. Then he looked back a last time at Heidi and the sunny Alp,
muttering to himself: "It is beautiful up there. Body and soul get
strengthened in that place and life seems worth living again."

XVIIIToC
WINTER IN THE VILLAGE

he snow lay so deep around the Alm-hut that the windows
seemed to stand level with the ground and the house-door
had entirely disappeared. Round Peter's hut it was the same.
When the boy went out to shovel the snow, he had to creep
through the window; then he would sink deep into the soft
snow and kick with arms and legs to get free. Taking a
broom, the boy would have to clear away the snow from the door to prevent
its falling into the hut.
The uncle had kept his word; when the first snow had fallen, he had
moved down to the village with Heidi and his goats. Near the church and
the parish house lay an old ruin that once had been a spacious building. A
brave soldier had lived there in days gone by; he had fought in the Spanish
war, and coming back with many riches, had built himself a splendid house.
But having lived too long in the noisy world to be able to stand the
monotonous life in the little town, he soon went away, never to come back.
After his death, many years later, though the house was already beginning
to decay, a distant relation of his took possession of it. The new proprietor
did not want to build it up again, so poor people moved in. They had to pay
little rent for the house, which was gradually crumbling and falling to
pieces. Years ago, when the uncle had come to the village with Tobias, he
had lived there. Most of the time it had been empty, for the winter lasted
long, and cold winds would blow through the chinks in the walls. When
poor people lived there, their candles would be blown out and they would
shiver with cold in the dark. But the uncle, had known how to help himself.
In the fall, as soon as he had resolved to live in the village, he came down
frequently, fitting up the place as best he could.

On approaching the house from the back, one entered an open room,
where nearly all the walls lay in ruins. On one side the remains of a chapel
could be seen, now covered with the thickest ivy. A large hall came next,
with a beautiful stone floor and grass growing in the crevices. Most of the
walls were gone and part of the ceiling also. If a few thick pillars had not
been left supporting the rest, it would undoubtedly have tumbled down. The
uncle had made a wooden partition here for the goats, and covered the floor
with straw. Several corridors, most of them half decayed, led finally to a
chamber with a heavy iron door. This room was still in good condition and
had dark wood panelling on the four firm walls. In one corner was an
enormous stove, which nearly reached up to the ceiling. On the white tiles
were painted blue pictures of old towers surrounded by high trees, and of
hunters with their hounds. There also was a scene with a quiet lake, where,
under shady oak-trees, a fisherman was sitting. Around the stove a bench
was placed. Heidi loved to sit there, and as soon as she had entered their
new abode, she began to examine the pictures. Arriving at the end of the
bench, she discovered a bed, which was placed between the wall and the
stove. "Oh grandfather, I have found my bed-room," exclaimed the little
girl. "Oh, how fine it is! Where are you going to sleep?"
"Your bed must be near the stove, to keep you warm," said the old man.
"Now come and look at mine."
With that the grandfather led her into his bed-room. From there a door
led into the hugest kitchen Heidi had ever seen. With a great deal of trouble
the grandfather had fitted up this place. Many boards were nailed across the
walls and the door had been fastened with heavy wires, for beyond, the
building lay in ruins. Thick underbrush was growing there, sheltering
thousands of insects and lizards. Heidi was delighted with her new home,
and when Peter arrived next day, she did not rest till he had seen every nook
and corner of the curious dwelling-place.
Heidi slept very well in her chimney corner, but it took her many days to
get accustomed to it. When she woke up in the morning and could not hear
the fir-trees roar, she would wonder where she was. Was the snow too heavy
on the branches? Was she away from home? But as soon as she heard her

grandfather's voice outside, she remembered everything and would jump
merrily out of bed.
After four days had gone by, Heidi said to her grandfather: "I must go to
grandmother now, she has been alone so many days."
But the grandfather shook his head and said: "You can't go yet, child. The
snow is fathoms deep up there and is still falling. Peter can hardly get
through. A little girl like you would be snowed up and lost in no time. Wait
a while till it freezes and then you can walk on top of the crust."
Heidi was very sorry, but she was so busy now that the days flew by.
Every morning and afternoon she went to school, eagerly learning whatever
was taught her. She hardly ever saw Peter there, for he did not come very
often. The mild teacher would only say from time to time: "It seems to me,
Peter is not here again! School would do him good, but I guess there is too
much snow for him to get through." But when Heidi came home towards
evening, Peter generally paid her a visit.
After a few days the sun came out for a short time at noon, and the next
morning the whole Alp glistened and shone like crystal. When Peter was
jumping as usual into the snow that morning, he fell against something
hard, and before he could stop himself he flew a little way down the
mountain. When he had gained his feet at last, he stamped upon the ground
with all his might. It really was frozen as hard as stone. Peter could hardly
believe it, and quickly running up and swallowing his milk, and putting his
bread in his pocket, he announced: "I must go to school to-day!"
"Yes, go and learn nicely," answered his mother.
Then, sitting down on his sled, the boy coasted down the mountain like a
shot. Not being able to stop his course when he reached the village, he
coasted down further and further, till he arrived in the plain, where the sled
stopped of itself. It was already late for school, so the boy took his time and
only arrived in the village when Heidi came home for dinner.
"We've got it!" announced the boy, on entering.
"What, general?" asked the uncle.
"The snow," Peter replied.

"Oh, now I can go up to grandmother!" Heidi rejoiced. "But Peter, why
didn't you come to school? You could coast down to-day," she continued
reproachfully.
"I went too far on my sled and then it was too late," Peter replied.
"I call that deserting!" said the uncle. "People who do that must have
their ears pulled; do you hear?"
The boy was frightened, for there was no one in the world whom he
respected more than the uncle.
"A general like you ought to be doubly ashamed to do so," the uncle went
on. "What would you do with the goats if they did not obey you any more?"
"Beat them," was the reply.
"If you knew of a boy that was behaving like a disobedient goat and had
to get spanked, what would you say?"
"Serves him right."
"So now you know it, goat-general: if you miss school again, when you
ought to be there, you can come to me and get your due."
Now at last Peter understood what the uncle had meant. More kindly, the
old man then turned to Peter and said, "Come to the table now and eat with
us. Then you can go up with Heidi, and when you bring her back at night,
you can get your supper here."
This unexpected change delighted Peter. Not losing any time, he soon
disposed of his full plate. Heidi, who had given the boy most of her dinner,
was already putting on Clara's new coat. Then together they climbed up,
Heidi chatting all the time. But Peter did not say a single word. He was
preoccupied and had not even listened to Heidi's tales. Before they entered
the hut, the boy said stubbornly: "I think I had rather go to school than get a
beating from the uncle." Heidi promptly confirmed him in his resolution.
When they went into the room, Peter's mother was alone at the table
mending. The grandmother was nowhere to be seen. Brigida now told Heidi
that the grandmother was obliged to stay in bed on those cold days, as she
did not feel very strong. That was something new for Heidi. Quickly

running to the old woman's chamber, she found her lying in a narrow bed,
wrapped up in her grey shawl and thin blanket.
"Thank Heaven!" the grandmother exclaimed when she heard her
darling's step. All autumn and winter long a secret fear had been gnawing at
her heart, that Heidi would be sent for by the strange gentleman of whom
Peter had told her so much. Heidi had approached the bed, asking
anxiously: "Are you very sick, grandmother?"
"No, no, child," the old woman reassured her, "the frost has just gone into
my limbs a little."
"Are you going to be well again as soon as the warm weather comes?"
inquired Heidi.
"Yes, yes, and if God wills, even sooner. I want to go back to my
spinning-wheel and I nearly tried it to-day. I'll get up to-morrow, though,"
the grandmother said confidently, for she had noticed how frightened Heidi
was.
The last speech made the child feel more happy. Then, looking
wonderingly at the grandmother, she said: "In Frankfurt people put on a
shawl when they go out. Why are you putting it on in bed, grandmother?"
"I put it on to keep me warm, Heidi. I am glad to have it, for my blanket
is very thin."
"But, grandmother, your bed is slanting down at your head, where it
ought to be high. No bed ought to be like that."
"I know, child, I can feel it well." So saying, the old woman tried to
change her position on the pillow that lay under her like a thin board. "My
pillow never was very thick, and sleeping on it all these years has made it
flat."
"Oh dear, if I had only asked Clara to give me the bed I had in
Frankfurt!" Heidi lamented. "It had three big pillows on it; I could hardly
sleep because I kept sliding down from them all the time. Could you sleep
with them, grandmother?"

"Of course, because that would keep me warm. I could breathe so much
easier, too," said the grandmother, trying to find a higher place to lie on.
"But I must not talk about it any more, for I have to be thankful for many
things. I get the lovely roll every day and have this beautiful warm shawl. I
also have you, my child! Heidi, wouldn't you like to read me something to-
day?"
Heidi immediately fetched the book and read one song after another. The
grandmother in the meantime was lying with folded hands; her face, which
had been so sad a short time ago, was lit up with a happy smile.
Suddenly Heidi stopped.
"Are you well again, grandmother?" she asked.
"I feel very much better, Heidi. Please finish the song, will you?"
The child obeyed, and when she came to the last words,

When mine eyes grow dim and sad,
Let Thy love more brightly burn,
That my soul, a wanderer glad,
Safely homeward may return.

"Safely homeward may return!" she exclaimed: "Oh, grandmother, I
know what it is like to come home." After a while she said: "It is getting
dark, grandmother, I must go home now. I am glad that you feel better
again."

THE TWO CHILDREN WERE ALREADY FLYING DOWN THE ALPToList

The grandmother, holding the child's hand in hers, said: "Yes, I am happy
again, though I have to stay in bed. Nobody knows how hard it is to lie here
alone, day after day. I do not hear a word from anybody and cannot see a
ray of sunlight. I have very sad thoughts sometimes, and often I feel as if I
could not bear it any longer. But when I can hear those blessed songs that
you have read to me, it makes me feel as if a light was shining into my
heart, giving me the purest joy."

Shaking hands, the child now said good-night, and pulling Peter with her,
ran outside. The brilliant moon was shining down on the white snow, light
as day. The two children were already flying down the Alp, like birds
soaring through the air.
After Heidi had gone to bed that night, she lay awake a little while,
thinking over everything the grandmother had said, especially about the joy
the songs had given her. If only poor grandmother could hear those
comforting words every day! Heidi knew that it might be a week or two
again before she could repeat her visit. The child became very sad when she
thought how uncomfortable and lonely the old woman would be. Was there
no way for help? Suddenly Heidi had an idea, and it thrilled her so that she
felt as if she could not wait till morning came to put her plan in execution.
But in her excitement she had forgotten her evening prayer, so sitting up in
bed, she prayed fervently to God. Then, falling back into the fragrant hay,
she soon slept peacefully and soundly still the bright morning came.

XIXToC
WINTER STILL CONTINUES

eter arrived punctually at school next day. He had brought
his lunch with him in a bag, for all the children that came
from far away ate in school, while the others went home. In
the evening Peter as usual paid his visit to Heidi.
The minute he opened the door she ran up to him, saying:
"Peter, I have to tell you something."
"Say it," he replied.
"You must learn to read now," said the child.
"I have done it already."
"Yes, yes, Peter, but I don't mean it that way," Heidi eagerly proceeded;
"you must learn so that you really know how afterwards."
"I can't," Peter remarked.
"Nobody believes you about that any more, and I won't either," Heidi
said resolutely. "When I was in Frankfurt, grandmama told me that it wasn't
true and that I shouldn't believe you."
Peter's astonishment was great.
"I'll teach you, for I know how; when you have learnt it, you must read
one or two songs to grandmother every day."
"I shan't!" grumbled the boy.
This obstinate refusal made Heidi very angry. With flaming eyes she
planted herself before the boy and said: "I'll tell you what will happen, if
you don't want to learn. Your mother has often said that she'll send you to

Frankfurt. Clara showed me the terrible, large boys' school there, where
you'll have to go. You must stay there till you are a man, Peter! You mustn't
think that there is only one teacher there, and such a kind one as we have
here. No, indeed! There are whole rows of them, and when they are out
walking they have high black hats on their heads. I saw them myself, when
I was out driving!"
Cold shivers ran down Peter's back.
"Yes, you'll have to go there, and when they find out that you can't read
or even spell, they'll laugh at you!"
"I'll do it," said Peter, half angry and half frightened.
"Oh, I am glad. Let us start right away!" said Heidi joyfully, pulling Peter
over to the table. Among the things that Clara had sent, Heidi had found a
little book with the A,B,C and some rhymes. She had chosen this for the
lessons. Peter, having to spell the first rhyme, found great difficulty, so
Heidi said, "I'll read it to you, and then you'll be able to do it better. Listen:

"If A, B, C you do not know,
Before the school board you must go."

"I won't go," said Peter stubbornly.
"Where?"
"Before the court."
"Hurry up and learn the three letters, then you won't have to!"
Peter, beginning again, repeated the three letters till Heidi said:
"Now you know them."
Having observed the good result of the first rhyme, she began to read
again:

D, E, F you then must read,
Or of misfortune take good heed!

If H,I,J,K are forgot,

Adversity is on the spot

Who over L and M doth stumble,
Must pay a penance and feel humble.

There's trouble coming; if you knew,
You'd quickly learn N, O, P, Q.

If still you halt on R, S, T,
You'll suffer for it speedily.
Heidi, stopping, looked at Peter, who was so frightened by all these
threats and mysterious horrors that he sat as still as a mouse. Heidi's tender
heart was touched, and she said comfortingly: "Don't be afraid, Peter; if you
come to me every day, you'll soon learn all the letters and then those things
won't happen. But come every day, even when it snows. Promise!"
Peter did so, and departed. Obeying Heidi's instructions, he came daily to
her for his lesson.
Sometimes the grandfather would sit in the room, smoking his pipe; often
the corners of his mouth would twitch as if he could hardly keep from
laughing.
He generally invited Peter to stay to supper afterwards, which liberally
rewarded the boy for all his great exertions.
Thus the days passed by. In all this time Peter had really made some
progress, though the rhymes still gave him difficulty.
When they had come to U, Heidi read:

Whoever mixes U and V,
Will go where he won't want to be!

and further,

If W you still ignore,
Look at the rod beside the door.

Often Peter would growl and object to those measures, but nevertheless
he kept on learning, and soon had but three letters left.
The next few days the following rhymes, with their threats, made Peter
more eager than ever.

If you the letter X forget
For you no supper will be set.

If you still hesitate with Y,
For shame you'll run away and cry.

When Heidi read the last,

And he who makes his Z with blots,
Must journey to the Hottentots,

Peter sneered: "Nobody even knows where they are!"
"I am sure grandfather does," Heidi retorted, jumping up. "Just wait one
minute and I shall ask him. He is over with the parson," and with that she
had opened the door.
"Wait!" shrieked Peter in great alarm, for he saw himself already
transported to those dreadful people. "What is the matter with you?" said
Heidi, standing still.
"Nothing, but stay here. I'll learn," he blubbered. But Heidi, wanting to
know something about the Hottentots herself, could only be kept back by
piteous screams from Peter. So at last they settled down again, and before it
was time to go, Peter knew the last letter, and had even begun to read
syllables. From this day on he progressed more quickly.
It was three weeks since Heidi had paid her last visit to the grandmother,
for much snow had fallen since. One evening, Peter, coming home, said
triumphantly:
"I can do it!"
"What is it you can do, Peter?" asked his mother, eagerly.

"Read."
"What, is it possible? Did you hear it, grandmother?" exclaimed Brigida.
The grandmother also was curious to learn how this had happened.
"I must read a song now; Heidi told me to," Peter continued. To the
women's amazement, Peter began. After every verse his mother would
exclaim, "Who would have ever thought it!" while the grandmother
remained silent.
One day later, when it happened that it was Peter's turn to read in school,
the teacher said:
"Peter, must I pass you by again, as usual? Or do you want to try—I shall
not say to read, but to stammer through a line?"
Peter began and read three lines without stopping.
In dumb astonishment, the teacher, putting down his book, looked at the
boy.
"What miracle has happened to you?" he exclaimed. "For a long time I
tried to teach you with all my patience, and you were not even able to grasp
the letters, but now that I had given you up as hopeless, you have not only
learnt how to spell, but even to read. How did this happen, Peter?"
"It was Heidi," the boy replied.
In great amazement, the teacher looked at the little girl. Then the kind
man continued:
"I have noticed a great change in you, Peter. You used to stay away from
school, sometimes more than a week, and lately you have not even missed a
day. Who has brought about this change?"
"The uncle."
Every evening now Peter on his return home read one song to his
grandmother, but never more. To the frequent praises of Brigida, the old
woman once replied: "I am glad he has learnt something, but nevertheless I
am longing for the spring to come. Then Heidi can visit me, for when she

reads, the verses sound so different. I cannot always follow Peter, and the
songs don't thrill me the way they do when Heidi says them!"
And no wonder! For Peter would often leave out long and difficult
words,—what did three or four words matter! So it happened sometimes
that there were hardly any nouns left in the hymns that Peter read.

XXToC
NEWS FROM DISTANT FRIENDS

ay had come. Warm sunshine was bathing the whole Alp in
glorious light, and having melted the last snow, had brought
the first spring flowers to the surface. A merry spring wind
was blowing, drying up the damp places in the shadow.
High above in the azure heaven the eagle floated peacefully.
Heidi and her grandfather were back on the Alp. The child was so happy
to be home again that she jumped about among the beloved objects. Here
she discovered a new spring bud, and there she watched the gay little gnats
and beetles that were swarming in the sun.
The grandfather was busy in his little shop, and a sound of hammering
and sawing could be heard. Heidi had to go and see what the grandfather
was making. There before the door stood a neat new chair, while the old
man was busy making a second.
"Oh, I know what they are for," said Heidi gaily. "You are making them
for Clara and grandmama. Oh, but we need a third—or do you think that
Miss Rottenmeier won't come, perhaps?"
"I really don't know," said grandfather: "but it is safer to have a chair for
her, if she should come."
Heidi, thoughtfully looking at the backless chairs, remarked:
"Grandfather, I don't think she would sit down on those."
"Then we must invite her to sit down on the beautiful green lounge of
grass," quietly answered the old man.

While Heidi was still wondering what the grandfather had meant, Peter
arrived, whistling and calling. As usual, Heidi was soon surrounded by the
goats, who also seemed happy to be back on the Alp. Peter, angrily pushing
the goats aside, marched up to Heidi, thrusting a letter into her hand.
"Did you get a letter for me on the pasture?" Heidi said, astonished.
"No."
"Where did it come from?"
"From my bag."
The letter had been given to Peter the previous evening; putting it in his
lunch-bag, the boy had forgotten it there till he opened the bag for his
dinner. Heidi immediately recognized Clara's handwriting, and bounding
over to her grandfather, exclaimed: "A letter has come from Clara. Wouldn't
you like me to read it to you, grandfather?"
Heidi immediately read to her two listeners, as follows:—
Dear Heidi:—
We are all packed up and shall travel in two or three days. Papa is
leaving, too, but not with us, for he has to go to Paris first. The dear doctor
visits us now every day, and as soon as he opens the door, he calls, 'Away to
the Alp!' for he can hardly wait for us to go. If you only knew how he
enjoyed being with you last fall! He came nearly every day this winter to
tell us all about you and the grandfather and the mountains and the flowers
he saw. He said that it was so quiet in the pure, delicious air, away from
towns and streets, that everybody has to get well there. He is much better
himself since his visit, and seems younger and happier. Oh, how I look
forward to it all! The doctor's advice is, that I shall go to Ragatz first for
about six weeks, then I can go to live in the village, and from there I shall
come to see you every fine day. Grandmama, who is coming with me, is
looking forward to the trip too. But just think, Miss Rottenmeier does not
want to go. When grandmama urges her, she always declines politely. I
think Sebastian must have given her such a terrible description of the high
rocks and fearful abysses, that she is afraid. I think he told her that it was
not safe for anybody, and that only goats could climb such dreadful heights.

She used to be so eager to go to Switzerland, but now neither Tinette nor
she wants to take the risk. I can hardly wait to see you again!
Good-bye, dear Heidi, with much love from grandmama,
I am your true friend,
Clara.
When Peter heard this, he swung his rod to right and left. Furiously
driving the goats before him, he bounded down the hill.
Heidi visited the grandmother next day, for she had to tell her the good
news. Sitting up in her corner, the old woman was spinning as usual. Her
face looked sad, for Peter had already announced the near visit of Heidi's
friends, and she dreaded the result.
After having poured out her full heart, Heidi looked at the old woman.
"What is it, grandmother?" said the child. "Are you not glad?"
"Oh yes, Heidi, I am glad, because you are happy."
"But, grandmother, you seem so anxious. Do you still think Miss
Rottenmeier is coming?"
"Oh no, it is nothing. Give me your hand, for I want to be sure that you
are still here. I suppose it will be for the best, even if I shall not live to see
the day!"
"Oh, but then I would not care about this coming," said the child.
The grandmother had hardly slept all night for thinking of Clara's
coming. Would they take Heidi away from her, now that she was well and
strong? But for the sake of the child she resolved to be brave.
"Heidi," she said, "please read me the song that begins with 'God will see
to it.'"
Heidi immediately did as she was told; she knew nearly all the
grandmother's favorite hymns by now and always found them quickly.
"That does me good, child," the old woman said. Already the expression
of her face seemed happier and less troubled. "Please read it a few times
over, child," she entreated.

Thus evening came, and when Heidi wandered homewards, one
twinkling star after another appeared in the sky. Heidi stood still every few
minutes, looking up to the firmament in wonder. When she arrived home,
her grandfather also was looking up to the stars, murmuring to himself:
"What a wonderful month!—one day clearer than the other. The herbs will
be fine and strong this year."
The blossom month had passed, and June, with the long, long days, had
come. Quantities of flowers were blooming everywhere, filling the air with
perfume. The month was nearing its end, when one morning Heidi came
running out of the hut, where she had already completed her duties.
Suddenly she screamed so loud that the grandfather hurriedly came out to
see what had happened.
"Grandfather! Come here! Look, look!"
A strange procession was winding up the Alm. First marched two men,
carrying an open sedan chair with a young girl in it, wrapped up in many
shawls. Then came a stately lady on horseback, who, talking with a young
guide beside her, looked eagerly right and left. Then an empty rolling-chair,
carried by a young fellow, was followed by a porter who had so many
covers, shawls and furs piled up on his basket that they towered high above
his head.
"They are coming! they are coming!" cried Heidi in her joy, and soon the
party had arrived at the top. Great was the happiness of the children at
seeing each other again. When grandmama had descended from her horse,
she tenderly greeted Heidi first, and then turned to the uncle, who had
approached the group. The two met like two old friends, they had heard so
much about each other.
After the first words were exchanged, the grandmother exclaimed: "My
dear uncle, what a wonderful residence you have. Who would have ever
thought it! Kings could envy you here! Oh, how well my Heidi is looking,
just like a little rose!" she continued, drawing the child closely to her side
and patting her cheeks. "What glory everywhere! Clara, what do you say to
it all?"

Clara, looking about her rapturously, cried: "Oh, how wonderful, how
glorious! I have never dreamt it could be as beautiful as that. Oh
grandmama, I wish I could stay here!"
The uncle had busied himself in the meantime with getting Clara's
rolling-chair for her. Then, going up to the girl, he gently lifted her into her
seat. Putting some covers over her knees, he tucked her feet in warmly. It
seemed as if the grandfather had done nothing else all his life than nurse
lame people.
"My dear uncle," said the grandmama, surprised, "please tell me where
you learned that, for I shall send all the nurses I know here immediately."
The uncle smiled faintly, while he replied: "It comes more from care than
study."
His face became sad. Before his eyes had risen bygone times. For that
was the way he used to care for his poor wounded captain, whom he had
found in Sicily after a violent battle. He alone had been allowed to nurse
him till his death, and now he would take just as good care of poor, lame
Clara.
When Clara had looked a long time at the cloudless sky above and all the
rocky crags, she said longingly: "I wish I could walk round the hut to the
fir-trees. If I only could see all the things you told me so much about!"
Heidi pushed with all her might, and behold! the chair rolled easily over
the dry grass. When they had come into the little grove, Clara could not see
her fill of those splendid trees that must have stood there so many, many
years. Although the people had changed and vanished, they had remained
the same, ever looking down into the valley.
When they passed the empty goat-shed, Clara said pitifully: "Oh
grandmama, if I could only wait up here for Schwänli and Bärli! I am afraid
I shan't see Peter and his goats, if we have to go away so soon again."
"Dear child, enjoy now what you can," said the grandmama, who had
followed.
"Oh, what wonderful flowers!" exclaimed Clara again; "whole bushes of
exquisite, red blossoms. Oh, if I could only pick some of those bluebells!"

Heidi, immediately gathering a large bunch, put them in Clara's lap.
"Clara, this is really nothing in comparison with the many flowers in the
pasture. You must come up once and see them. There are so many that the
ground seems golden with them. If you ever sit down among them, you will
feel as if you could never get up any more, it is so beautiful."
"Oh, grandmama, do you think I can ever go up there?" Clara asked with
a wild longing in her eyes. "If I could only walk with you, Heidi, and climb
round everywhere!"
"I'll push you!" Heidi said for comfort. To show how easy it was, she
pushed the chair at such a rate that it would have tumbled down the
mountain, if the grandfather had not stopped it at the last moment.
It was time for dinner now. The table was spread near the bench, and
soon everybody sat down. The grandmother was so overcome by the view
and the delicious wind that fanned her cheek that she remarked: "What a
wondrous place this is! I have never seen its like! But what do I see?" she
continued. "I think you are actually eating your second piece of cheese,
Clara?"
"Oh grandmama, it tastes better than all the things we get in Ragatz,"
replied the child, eagerly eating the savory dish.
"Don't stop, our mountain wind helps along where the cooking is faulty!"
contentedly said the old man.
During the meal the uncle and the grandmama had soon got into a lively
conversation. They seemed to agree on many things, and understood each
other like old friends. A little later the grandmama looked over to the west.
"We must soon start, Clara, for the sun is already low; our guides will be
here shortly."
Clara's face had become sad, and she entreated: "Oh, please let us stay
here another hour or so. We haven't even seen the hut yet. I wish the day
were twice as long."
The grandmama assented to Clara's wish to go inside. When the rolling-
chair was found too broad for the door, the uncle quietly lifted Clara in his

strong arms and carried her in. Grandmama was eagerly looking about her,
glad to see everything so neat. Then going up the little ladder to the hay-
loft, she discovered Heidi's bed. "Is that your bed, Heidi? What a delicious
perfume! It must be a healthy place to sleep," she said, looking out through
the window. The grandfather, with Clara, was coming up, too, with Heidi
following.
Clara was perfectly entranced. "What a lovely place to sleep! Oh, Heidi,
you can look right up to the sky from your bed. What a good smell! You can
hear the fir-trees roar here, can't you? Oh, I never saw a more delightful
bed-room!"
The uncle, looking at the old lady, said now: "I have an idea that it would
give Clara new strength to stay up here with us a little while. Of course, I
only mean if you did not object. You have brought so many wraps that we
can easily make a soft bed for Clara here. My dear lady, you can easily
leave the care to me. I'll undertake it gladly."
The children screamed for joy, and grandmama's face was beaming.
"What a fine man you are!" she burst out. "I was just thinking myself that
a stay here would strengthen the child, but then I thought of the care and
trouble for you. And now you have offered to do it, as if it was nothing at
all. How can I thank you enough, uncle?"
After shaking hands many times, the two prepared Clara's bed, which,
thanks to the old lady's precautions, was soon so soft that the hay could not
be felt through at all.
The uncle had carried his new patient back to her rolling-chair, and there
they found her sitting, with Heidi beside her. They were eagerly talking of
their plans for the coming weeks. When they were told that Clara might stay
for a month or so, their faces beamed more than ever.
The guide, with the horse, and the carriers of the chair, now appeared, but
the last two were not needed any more and could be sent away.
When the grandmother got ready to leave, Clara called gaily to her: "Oh
grandmama, it won't be long, for you must often come and see us."

While the uncle was leading the horse down the steep incline, the
grandmama told him that she would go back to Ragatz, for the Dörfli was
too lonely for her. She also promised to come back from time to time.
Before the grandfather had returned, Peter came racing down to the hut
with all his goats. Seeing Heidi, they ran up to her in haste, and so Clara
made the acquaintance of Schwänli and Bärli and all the others.
Peter, however, kept away, only sending furious looks at the two girls.
When they bade him good-night, he only ran away, beating the air with his
stick.
The end of the joyous day had come. The two children were both lying in
their beds.
"Oh, Heidi!" Clara exclaimed, "I can see so many glittering stars, and I
feel as if we were driving in a high carriage straight into the sky."
"Yes, and do you know why the stars twinkle so merrily?" inquired
Heidi.
"No, but tell me."
"Because they know that God in heaven looks after us mortals and we
never need to fear. See, they twinkle and show us how to be merry, too. But
Clara, we must not forget to pray to God and ask Him to think of us and
keep us safe."
Sitting up in bed, they then said their evening prayer. As soon as Heidi
lay down, she fell asleep. But Clara could not sleep quite yet, it was too
wonderful to see the stars from her bed.
In truth she had never seen them before, because in Frankfurt all the
blinds were always down long before the stars came out, and at night she
had never been outside the house. She could hardly keep her eyes shut, and
had to open them again and again to watch the twinkling, glistening stars,
till her eyes closed at last and she saw two big, glittering stars in her dream.

XXIToC
OF FURTHER EVENTS ON THE ALP

he sun was just rising, and the Alm-Uncle was watching
how mountain and dale awoke to the new day, and the
clouds above grew brighter.
Next, the old man turned to go back into the hut, and
softly climbed the ladder. Clara, having just a moment ago
opened her eyes, looked about her in amazement. Bright sunbeams danced
on her bed. Where was she? But soon she discovered her sleeping friend,
and heard the grandfather's cheery voice:
"How did you sleep? Not tired?"
Clara, feeling fresh and rested, said that she had never slept better in all
her life. Heidi was soon awake, too, and lost no time in coming down to
join Clara, who was already sitting in the sun.
A cool morning breeze fanned their cheeks, and the spicy fragrance from
the fir-trees filled their lungs with every breath. Clara had never
experienced such well-being in all her life. She had never breathed such
pure, cool morning air and never felt such warm, delicious sunshine on her
feet and hands. It surpassed all her expectations.
"Oh, Heidi, I wish I could always stay up here with you!" she said.
"Now you can see that everything is as beautiful as I told you," Heidi
replied triumphantly. "Up on the Alp with grandfather is the loveliest spot in
all the world."
The grandfather was just coming out of the shed with two full bowls of
steaming, snow-white milk. Handing one to each of the children, he said to

Clara: "This will do you good, little girl. It comes from Schwänli and will
give you strength. To your health! Just drink it!" he said encouragingly, for
Clara had hesitated a little. But when she saw that Heidi's bowl was nearly
empty already, she also drank without even stopping. Oh, how good it was!
It tasted like cinnamon and sugar.
"We'll take two tomorrow," said the grandfather.
After their breakfast, Peter arrived. While the goats were rushing up to
Heidi, bleating loudly, the grandfather took the boy aside.
"Just listen, and do what I tell you," he said. "From now on you must let
Schwänli go wherever she likes. She knows where to get the richest herbs,
and you must follow her, even if she should go higher up than usual. It
won't do you any harm to climb a little more, and will do all the others
good. I want the goats to give me splendid milk, remember. What are you
looking at so furiously?"
Peter was silent, and without more ado started off, still angrily looking
back now and then. As Heidi had followed a little way, Peter called to her:
"You must come along, Heidi, Schwänli has to be followed everywhere."
"No, but I can't," Heidi called back: "I won't be able to come as long as
Clara is with me. Grandfather has promised, though, to let us come up with
you once."
With those words Heidi returned to Clara, while the goatherd was
hurrying onward, angrily shaking his fists.
The children had promised to write a letter to grandmama every day, so
they immediately started on their task. Heidi brought out her own little
three-legged stool, her school-books and her papers, and with these on
Clara's lap they began to write. Clara stopped after nearly every sentence,
for she had to look around. Oh, how peaceful it was with the little gnats
dancing in the sun and the rustling of the trees! From time to time they
could hear the shouting of a shepherd re-echoed from many rocks.
The morning had passed, they knew not how, and dinner was ready. They
again ate outside, for Clara had to be in the open air all day, if possible. The
afternoon was spent in the cool shadow of the fir-trees. Clara had many

things to relate of Frankfurt and all the people that Heidi knew. It was not
long before Peter arrived with his flock, but without even answering the
girls' friendly greeting, he disappeared with a grim scowl.
While Schwänli was being milked in the shed, Clara said:
"Oh, Heidi, I feel as if I could not wait for my milk. Isn't it funny? All my
life I have only eaten because I had to. Everything always tasted to me like
cod-liver oil, and I have often wished that I should never have to eat. And
now I am so hungry!"
"Oh yes, I know," Heidi replied. She had to think of the days in Frankfurt
when her food seemed to stick in her throat.
When at last the full bowls were brought by the old man, Clara, seizing
hers, eagerly drank the contents in one draught and even finished before
Heidi.
"Please, may I have a little more?" she asked, holding out the bowl.
Nodding, much pleased, the grandfather soon refilled it. This time he also
brought with him a slice of bread and butter for the children. He had gone
to Maiensass that afternoon to get the butter, and his trouble was well
rewarded: they enjoyed it as if it had been the rarest dish.
This evening Clara fell asleep the moment she lay down. Two or three
days passed in this pleasant way. The next brought a surprise. Two strong
porters came up the Alp, each carrying on his back a fresh, white bed. They
also brought a letter from grandmama, in which she thanked the children for
their faithful writing, and told them that the beds were meant for them.
When they went to sleep that night, they found their new beds in exactly the
same position as their former ones had been.
Clara's rapture in her new life grew greater every day, and she could not
write enough of the grandfather's kindly care and of Heidi's entertaining
stories. She told her grandmama that her first thought in the morning always
was: "Thank God, I am still in the Alm-hut."
Grandmama was highly pleased at those reports, and put her projected
visit off a little while, for she had found the ride pretty tiring.

The grandfather took excellent care of his little patient, and no day
passed on which he did not climb around to find the most savory herbs for
Schwänli. The little goat thrived so that everybody could see it in the way
her eyes were flashing.
It was the third week of Clara's stay. Every morning after the grandfather
had carried her down, he said to her: "Would my Clara try to stand a little?"
Clara always sighed, "Oh, it hurts me so!" but though she would cling to
him, he made her stand a little longer every day.
This summer was the finest that had been for years. Day after day the sun
shone on a cloudless sky, and at night it would pour its purple, rosy light
down on the rocks and snow-fields till everything seemed to glow like fire.
Heidi had told Clara over and over again of all the flowers on the pasture,
of the masses of golden roses and the blue-flowers that covered the ground.
She had just been telling it again, when a longing seized her, and jumping
up she ran over to her grandfather, who was busy carving in the shop.
"Oh, grandfather," she cried from afar, "won't you come with us to the
pasture tomorrow? Oh, it's so beautiful up there now."
"All right, I will," he replied; "but tell Clara that she must do something
to please me; she must try to stand longer this evening for me."
Heidi merrily came running with her message. Of course, Clara
promised, for was it not her greatest wish to go up with Heidi to the
pasture! When Peter returned this evening, he heard of the plan for the
morrow. But for answer Peter only growled, nearly hitting poor Thistlefinch
in his anger.
The children had just resolved to stay awake all night to talk about the
coming day, when their conversation suddenly ceased and they were both
peacefully slumbering. In her dreams Clara saw before her a field that was
thickly strewn with light-blue flowers, while Heidi heard the eagle scream
to her from above, "Come, come, come!"

XXIIToC
SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENS

he next day dawned cloudless and fair. The grandfather was
still with the children, when Peter came climbing up; his
goats kept at a good distance from him, to evade the rod,
which was striking right and left. The truth was that the boy
was terribly embittered and angry by the changes that had
come. When he passed the hut in the morning, Heidi was
always busy with the strange child, and in the evening it was the same. All
summer long Heidi had not been up with him a single time; it was too
much! And to-day she was coming at last, but again in company with this
hateful stranger.
It was then that Peter noticed the rolling-chair standing near the hut. After
carefully glancing about him, he rushed at the hated object and pushed it
down the incline. The chair fairly flew away and had soon disappeared.
Peter's conscience smote him now, and he raced up the Alp, not daring to
pause till he had reached a blackberry bush. There he could hide, when the
uncle might appear. Looking down, he watched his fallen enemy tumbling
downwards, downwards.
Sometimes it was thrown high up into the air, to crash down again the
next moment harder than ever. Pieces were falling from it right and left, and
were blown about. Now the stranger would have to travel home and Heidi
would be his again! But Peter had forgotten that a bad deed always brings a
punishment.

HE WATCHED HIS FALLEN ENEMY TUMBLING DOWNWARDS, DOWNWARDSToList

Heidi just now came out of the hut. The grandfather, with Clara,
followed. Heidi at first stood still, and then, running right and left, she
returned to the old man.
"What does this mean? Have you rolled the chair away Heidi?" he asked.
"I am just looking for it everywhere, grandfather. You said it was beside
the shop door," said the child, still hunting for the missing object. A strong
wind was blowing, which at this moment violently closed the shop-door.

"Grandfather, the wind has done it," exclaimed Heidi eagerly. "Oh dear!
if it has rolled all the way down to the village, it will be too late to go to-
day. It will take us a long time to fetch it."
"If it has rolled down there, we shall never get it any more, for it will be
smashed to pieces," said the old man, looking down and measuring the
distance from the corner of the hut.
"I don't see how it happened," he remarked.
"What a shame! now I'll never be able to go up to the pasture," lamented
Clara. "I am afraid I'll have to go home now. What a pity, what a pity!"
"You can find a way for her to stay, grandfather, can't you?"
"We'll go up to the pasture to-day, as we have planned. Then we shall see
what further happens."
The children were delighted, and the grandfather lost no time in getting
ready. First he fetched a pile of covers, and seating Clara on a sunny spot on
the dry ground, he got their breakfast.
"I wonder why Peter is so late to-day," he said, leading his goats out of
the shed. Then, lifting Clara up on one strong arm, he carried the covers on
the other.
"Now, march!" he cried. "The goats come with us."
That suited Heidi, and with one arm round Schwänli and the other round
Bärli, she wandered up. Her little companions were so pleased at having her
with them again that they nearly crushed her with affection.
What was their astonishment when, arriving on top, they saw Peter
already lying on the ground, with his peaceful flock about him.
"What did you mean by going by us like that? I'll teach you!" called the
uncle to him.
Peter was frightened, for he knew the voice.
"Nobody was up yet," the boy retorted.
"Have you seen the chair?" asked the uncle again.

"Which?" Peter growled.
The uncle said no more. Unfolding the covers, he put Clara down on the
dry grass. Then, when he had been assured of Clara's comfort, he got ready
to go home. The three were to stay there till his return in the evening. When
dinner time had come, Heidi was to prepare the meal and see that Clara got
Schwänli's milk.
The sky was a deep blue, and the snow on the peaks was glistening. The
eagle was floating above the rocky crags. The children felt wonderfully
happy. Now and then one of the goats would come and lie down near them.
Tender little Snowhopper came oftener than any and would rub her head
against their shoulders.
They had been sitting quietly for a few hours, drinking in the beauty
about them, when Heidi suddenly began to long for the spot where so many
flowers grew. In the evening it would be too late to see them, for they
always shut their little eyes by then.
"Oh, Clara," she said hesitatingly, "would you be angry if I went away
from you a minute and left you alone? I want to see the flowers; But wait!
—" Jumping away, she brought Clara some bunches of fragrant herbs and
put them in her lap. Soon after she returned with little Snowhopper.
"So, now you don't need to be alone," said Heidi. When Clara had
assured her that it would give her pleasure to be left alone with the goats,
Heidi started on her walk. Clara slowly handed one leaf after another to the
little creature; it became more and more confiding, and cuddling close to
the child, ate the herbs out of her hand. It was easy to see how happy it was
to be away from the boisterous big goats, which often annoyed it. Clara felt
a sensation of contentment such as she had never before experienced. She
loved to sit there on the mountain-side with the confiding little goat by her.
A great desire rose in her heart that hour. She longed to be her own master
and be able to help others instead of being helped by them. Many other
thoughts and ideas rushed through her mind. How would it be to live up
here in continual sunshine? The world seemed so joyous and wonderful all
of a sudden. Premonitions of future undreamt-of happiness made her heart

beat. Suddenly she threw both arms about the little goat and said: "Oh, little
Snowhopper how beautiful it is up here! If I could always stay with you!"
Heidi in the meantime had reached the spot, where, as she had expected,
the whole ground was covered with yellow rock-roses. Near together in
patches the bluebells were nodding gently in the breeze. But all the perfume
that filled the air came from the modest little brown flowers that hid their
heads between the golden flower-cups. Heidi stood enraptured, drawing in
the perfumed air.
Suddenly she turned and ran back to Clara, shouting to her from far: "Oh,
you must come, Clara, it is so lovely there. In the evening it won't be so fine
any more. Don't you think I could carry you?"
"But Heidi," Clara said, "of course you can't; you are much smaller than I
am. Oh, I wish I could walk!"
Heidi meditated a little. Peter was still lying on the ground. He had been
staring down for hours, unable to believe what he saw before him. He had
destroyed the chair to get rid of the stranger, and there she was again, sitting
right beside his playmate.
Heidi now called to him to come down, but as reply he only grumbled:
"Shan't come."
"But you must; come quickly, for I want you to help me. Quickly!" urged
the child.
"Don't want to," sounded the reply.
Heidi hurried up the mountain now and shouted angrily to the boy:
"Peter, if you don't come this minute, I shall do something that you won't
like."
Those words scared Peter, for his conscience was not clear. His deed had
rejoiced him till this moment, when Heidi seemed to talk as if she knew it
all. What if the grandfather should hear about it! Trembling with fear, Peter
obeyed.
"I shall only come if you promise not to do what you said," insisted the
boy.

"No, no, I won't. Don't be afraid," said Heidi compassionately: "Just
come along; it isn't so hard."
Peter, on approaching Clara, was told to help raise the lame child from
the ground on one side, while Heidi helped on the other. This went easily
enough, but difficulties soon followed. Clara was not able to stand alone,
and how could they get any further?
"You must take me round the neck," said Heidi, who had seen what poor
guides they made.
The boy, who had never offered his arm to anybody in his life, had to be
shown how first, before further efforts could be made. But it was too hard.
Clara tried to set her feet forward, but got discouraged.
"Press your feet on the ground more and I am sure it will hurt you less,"
suggested Heidi.
"Do you think so?" said Clara, timidly.
But, obeying, she ventured a firmer step and soon another, uttering a little
cry as she went.
"Oh, it really has hurt me less," she said joyfully.
"Try it again," Heidi urged her. Clara did, and took another step, and then
another, and another still. Suddenly she cried aloud: "Oh, Heidi, I can do it.
Oh, I really can. Just look! I can take steps, one after another."
Heidi rapturously exclaimed: "Oh, Clara, can you really? Can you walk?
Oh, can you take steps now? Oh, if only grandfather would come! Now you
can walk, Clara, now you can walk," she kept on saying joyfully.
Clara held on tight to the children, but with every new step she became
more firm.
"Now you can come up here every day," cried Heidi. "Now we can walk
wherever we want to and you don't have to be pushed in a chair any more.
Now you'll be able to walk all your life. Oh, what joy!"
Clara's greatest wish, to be able to be well like other people, had been
fulfilled at last. It was not very far to the flowering field. Soon they reached
it and sat down among the wealth of bloom. It was the first time that Clara

had ever rested on the dry, warm earth. All about them the flowers nodded
and exhaled their perfume. It was a scene of exquisite beauty.
The two children could hardly grasp this happiness that had come to
them. It filled their hearts brimming full and made them silent. Peter also
lay motionless, for he had gone to sleep.
Thus the hours flew, and the day was long past noon. Suddenly all the
goats arrived, for they had been seeking the children. They did not like to
graze in the flowers, and were glad when Peter awoke with their loud
bleating. The poor boy was mightily bewildered, for he had dreamt that the
rolling-chair with the red cushions stood again before his eyes. On awaking,
he had still seen the golden nails; but soon he discovered that they were
nothing but flowers. Remembering his deed, he obeyed Heidi's instructions
willingly.
When they came back to their former place, Heidi lost no time in setting
out the dinner. The bag was very full to-day, and Heidi hurried to fulfill her
promise to Peter, who with bad conscience had understood her threat
differently. She made three heaps of the good things, and when Clara and
she were through, there was still a lot left for the boy. It was too bad that all
this treat did not give him the usual satisfaction, for something seemed to
stick in his throat.
Soon after their belated dinner, the grandfather was seen climbing up the
Alp. Heidi ran to meet him, confusedly telling him of the great event. The
old man's face shone at this news. Going over to Clara, he said: "So you
have risked it? Now we have won."
Then picking her up, he put one arm around her waist, and the other one
he stretched out as support, and with his help she marched more firmly than
ever. Heidi jumped and bounded gaily by their side. In all this excitement
the grandfather did not lose his judgment, and before long lifted Clara on
his arm to carry her home. He knew that too much exertion would be
dangerous, and rest was needed for the tired girl.
Peter, arriving in the village late that day, saw a large disputing crowd.
They were all standing about an interesting object, and everybody pushed
and fought for a chance to get nearest. It was no other than the chair.

"I saw it when they carried it up," Peter heard the baker say. "I bet it was
worth at least five hundred francs. I should just like to know how it has
happened."
"The wind might have blown it down," remarked Barbara, who was
staring open-mouthed at the beautiful velvet cushions. "The uncle said so
himself."
"It is a good thing if nobody else has done it," continued the baker.
"When the gentleman from Frankfurt hears what has happened, he'll surely
find out all about it, and I should pity the culprit. I am glad I haven't been
up on the Alm for so long, else they might suspect me, as they would
anybody who happened to be up there at the time."
Many more opinions were uttered, but Peter had heard enough. He
quietly slipped away and went home. What if they should find out he had
done it? A policeman might arrive any time now and they might take him
away to prison. Peter's hair stood up on end at this alarming thought.
He was so troubled when he came home that he did not answer any
questions and even refused his dish of potatoes. Hurriedly creeping into
bed, he groaned.
"I am sure Peter has eaten sorrel again, and that makes him groan so,"
said his mother.
"You must give him a little more bread in the morning, Brigida. Take a
piece of mine," said the compassionate grandmother.
When Clara and Heidi were lying in their beds that night, glancing up at
the shining stars, Heidi remarked: "Didn't you think to-day, Clara, that it is
fortunate God does not always give us what we pray for fervently, because
He knows of something better?"
"What do you mean, Heidi?" asked Clara.
"You see, when I was in Frankfurt I prayed and prayed to come home
again, and when I couldn't, I thought He had forgotten me. But if I had gone
away so soon you would never have come here and would never have got
well."

Clara, becoming thoughtful, said: "But, Heidi, then we could not pray for
anything any more, because we would feel that He always knows of
something better."
"But, Clara, we must pray to God every day to show we don't forget that
all gifts come from Him. Grandmama has told me that God forgets us if we
forget Him. But if some wish remains unfulfilled we must show our
confidence in Him, for he knows best."
"How did you ever think of that?" asked Clara.
"Grandmama told me, but I know that it is so. We must thank God to-day
that He has made you able to walk, Clara."
"I am glad that you have reminded me, Heidi, for I have nearly forgotten
it in my excitement."
The children both prayed and sent their thanks up to heaven for the
restoration of the invalid.
Next morning a letter was written to grandmama, inviting her to come up
to the Alp within a week's time, for the children had planned to take her by
surprise. Clara hoped then to be able to walk alone, with Heidi for her
guide.
The following days were happier still for Clara. Every morning she
awoke with her heart singing over and over again, "Now I am well! Now I
can walk like other people!"
She progressed, and took longer walks every day. Her appetite grew
amazingly, and the grandfather had to make larger slices of the bread and
butter that, to his delight, disappeared so rapidly. He had to fill bowl after
bowl of the foaming milk for the hungry children. In that way they reached
the end of the week that was to bring the grandmama.

XXIIIToC
PARTING TO MEET AGAIN

day before her visit the grandmama had sent a letter to
announce her coming. Peter brought it up with him next
morning. The grandfather was already before the hut with
the children and his merry goats. His face looked proud, as
he contemplated the rosy faces of the girls and the shining
hair of his two goats.
Peter, approaching, neared the uncle slowly. As soon as he had delivered
the letter, he sprang back shyly, looking about him as if he was afraid. Then
with a leap he started off.
"I should like to know why Peter behaves like the Big Turk when he is
afraid of the rod," said Heidi, watching his strange behavior.
"Maybe Peter fears a rod that he deserves," said the old man.
All the way Peter was tormented with fear. He could not help thinking of
the policeman who was coming from Frankfurt to fetch him to prison.
It was a busy morning for Heidi, who put the hut in order for the
expected visitor. The time went by quickly, and soon everything was ready
to welcome the good grandmama.
The grandfather also returned from a walk, on which he had gathered a
glorious bunch of deep-blue gentians. The children, who were sitting on the
bench, exclaimed for joy when they saw the glowing flowers.
Heidi, getting up from time to time to spy down the path, suddenly
discovered grandmama, sitting on a white horse and accompanied by two

men. One of them carried plenty of wraps, for without those the lady did
not dare to pay such a visit.
The party came nearer and nearer, and soon reached the top.
"What do I see? Clara, what is this? Why are you not sitting in your
chair? How is this possible?" cried the grandmama in alarm, dismounting
hastily. Before she had quite reached the children she threw her arms up in
great excitement:
"Clara, is that really you? You have red, round cheeks, my child! I hardly
know you any more!" Grandmama was going to rush at her grandchild,
when Heidi slipped from the bench, and Clara, taking her arm, they quietly
took a little walk. The grandmama was rooted to the spot from fear. What
was this? Upright and firm, Clara walked beside her friend. When they
came back their rosy faces beamed. Rushing toward the children, the
grandmother hugged them over and over again.
Looking over to the bench, she beheld the uncle, who sat there smiling.
Taking Clara's arm in hers, she walked over to him, continually venting her
delight. When she reached the old man, she took both his hands in hers and
said:
"My dear, dear uncle! What have we to thank you for! This is your work,
your care and nursing—"
"But our Lord's sunshine and mountain air," interrupted the uncle,
smiling.
Then Clara called, "Yes, and also Schwänli's good, delicious milk.
Grandmama, you ought to see how much goat-milk I can drink now; oh, it
is so good!"
"Indeed I can see that from your cheeks," said the grandmama, smiling.
"No, I hardly recognize you any more. You have become broad and round! I
never dreamt that you could get so stout and tall! Oh, Clara, is it really true?
I cannot look at you enough. But now I must telegraph your father to come.
I shan't tell him anything about you, for it will be the greatest joy of all his
life. My dear uncle, how are we going to manage it? Have you sent the men
away?"

"I have, but I can easily send the goatherd."
So they decided that Peter should take the message. The uncle
immediately whistled so loud that it resounded from all sides. Soon Peter
arrived, white with fear, for he thought his doom had come. But he only
received a paper that was to be carried to the post-office of the village.
Relieved for the moment, Peter set out. Now all the happy friends sat
down round the table, and grandmama was told how the miracle had
happened. Often the talk was interrupted by exclamations of surprise from
grandmama, who still believed it was all a dream. How could this be her
pale, weak little Clara? The children were in a constant state of joy, to see
how their surprise had worked.
Meanwhile Mr. Sesemann, having finished his business in Paris, was also
preparing a surprise. Without writing his mother he traveled to Ragatz on a
sunny summer morning. He had arrived on this very day, some hours after
his mother's departure, and now, taking a carriage, he drove to Mayenfeld.
The long ascent to the Alp from there seemed very weary and far to the
traveller. When would he reach the goat-herd's hut? There were many little
roads branching off in several directions, and sometimes Mr. Sesemann
doubted if he had taken the right path. But not a soul was near, and no
sound could be heard except the rustling of the wind and the hum of little
insects. A merry little bird was singing on a larch-tree, but nothing more.
Standing still and cooling his brow, he saw a boy running down the hill at
topmost speed. Mr. Sesemann called to him, but with no success, for the
boy kept at a shy distance.
"Now, my boy, can't you tell me if I am on the right path to the hut where
Heidi lives and the people from Frankfurt are staying?"
A dull sound of terror was the only reply. Peter shot off and rushed head
over heels down the mountain-side, turning wild somersaults on his perilous
way. His course resembled the course his enemy had taken some days ago.

PETER SHOT OFF AND RUSHED DOWN THE MOUNTAIN-SIDE, TURNING WILD
SOMERSAULTS ON HIS PERILOUS WAYToList

"What a funny, bashful mountaineer!" Mr. Sesemann remarked to
himself, thinking that the appearance of a stranger had upset this simple son
of the Alps. After watching the downward course of the boy a little while,
he soon proceeded on his way.
In spite of the greatest effort, Peter could not stop himself, and kept
rolling on. But his fright and terror were still more terrible than his bumps

and blows. This stranger was the policeman, that was a certain fact! At last,
being thrown against a bush, he clutched it wildly.
"Good, here's another one!" a voice near Peter said. "I wonder who is
going to be pushed down tomorrow, looking like a half-open potato-bag?"
The village baker was making fun of him. For a little rest after his weary
work, he had quietly watched the boy.
Peter regained his feet and slunk away. How did the baker know the chair
had been pushed? He longed to go home to bed and hide, for there alone he
felt safe. But he had to go up to the goats, and the uncle had clearly told him
to come back as quickly as he could. Groaning, he limped away up to the
Alp. How could he run now, with his fear and all his poor, sore limbs?
Mr. Sesemann had reached the hut soon after meeting Peter, and felt
reassured. Climbing further, with renewed courage, he at last saw his goal
before him, but not without long and weary exertion. He saw the Alm-hut
above him, and the swaying fir-trees. Mr. Sesemann eagerly hurried to
encounter his beloved child. They had seen him long ago from the hut, and
a treat was prepared for him that he never suspected.
As he made the last steps, he saw two forms coming towards him. A tall
girl, with light hair and rosy face, was leaning on Heidi, whose dark eyes
sparkled with keen delight. Mr. Sesemann stopped short, staring at this
vision. Suddenly big tears rushed from his eyes, for this shape before him
recalled sweet memories. Clara's mother had looked exactly like this fair
maiden. Mr. Sesemann at this moment did not know if he was awake or
dreaming.
"Papa, don't you know me any more?" Clara called with beaming eyes.
"Have I changed so much?"
Mr. Sesemann rushed up to her, folding her in his arms. "Yes, you have
changed. How is it possible? Is it really true? Is it really you, Clara?" asked
the over-joyed father, embracing her again and again, and then gazing at
her, as she stood tall and firm by his side.
His mother joined them now, for she wanted to see the happiness of her
son.

"What do you say to this, my son? Isn't our surprise finer than yours?"
she greeted him. "But come over to our benefactor now,—I mean the
uncle."
"Yes, indeed, I also must greet our little Heidi," said the gentleman,
shaking Heidi's hand. "Well? Always fresh and happy on the mountain? I
guess I don't need to ask, for no Alpine rose can look more blooming. Ah,
child, what joy this is to me!"
With beaming eyes the child looked at the kind gentleman who had
always been so good to her. Her heart throbbed in sympathy with his joy.
While the two men, who had at last approached each other, were
conversing, grandmama walked over to the grove. There, under the fir-trees,
another surprise awaited her. A beautiful bunch of wondrously blue gentians
stood as if they had grown there.
"How exquisite, how wonderful! What a sight!" she exclaimed, clapping
her hands. "Heidi, come here! Have you brought me those? Oh, they are
beautiful!"
The children had joined her, Heidi assuring her that it was another
person's deed.
"Oh grandmama, up on the pasture it looks just like that," Clara
remarked. "Just guess who brought you the flowers?"
At that moment a rustle was heard, and they saw Peter, who was trying to
sneak up behind the trees to avoid the hut. Immediately the old lady called
to him, for she thought that Peter himself had picked the flowers for her. He
must be creeping away out of sheer modesty, the kind lady thought. To give
him his reward, she called:
"Come here, my boy! don't be afraid."
Petrified with fear, Peter stood still. What had gone before had robbed
him of his courage. He thought now that all was over with him. With his
hair standing up on end and his pale face distorted by anguish, he
approached.
"Come straight to me, boy," the old lady encouraged him. "Now tell me,
boy, if you have done that."

In his anxiety, Peter did not see the grandmama's finger that pointed to
the flowers. He only saw the uncle standing near the hut, looking at him
penetratingly, and beside him the policeman, the greatest horror for him in
the world. Trembling in every limb, Peter answered, "Yes!"
"Well, but what are you so frightened about?"
"Because—because it is broken and can never be mended again," Peter
said, his knees tottering under him.
The grandmama now walked over to the hut: "My dear uncle," she asked
kindly, "is this poor lad out of his mind?"
"Not at all," was the reply; "only the boy was the wind which blew away
the wheel-chair. He is expecting the punishment he well deserves."
Grandmama was very much surprised, for she vowed that Peter looked
far from wicked. Why should he have destroyed the chair? The uncle told
her that he had noticed many signs of anger in the boy since Clara's advent
on the Alp. He assured her that he had suspected the boy from the
beginning.
"My dear uncle," the old lady said with animation, "we must not punish
him further. We must be just. It was very hard on him when Clara robbed
him of Heidi, who is and was his greatest treasure. When he had to sit alone
day after day, it roused him to a passion which drove him to this wicked
deed. It was rather foolish, but we all get so when we get angry."
The lady walked over to the boy again, who was still quivering with fear.
Sitting down on the bench, she began:
"Come, Peter, I'll tell you something. Stop trembling and listen. You
pushed the chair down, to destroy it. You knew very well that it was wicked
and deserved punishment. You tried very hard to conceal it, did you not?
But if somebody thinks that nobody knows about a wicked deed, he is
wrong; God always knows it. As soon as He finds that a man is trying to
conceal an evil he has done, He wakens a little watchman in his heart, who
keeps on pricking the person with a thorn till all his rest is gone. He keeps
on calling to the evildoer: 'Now you'll be found out! Now your punishment

is near!'—His joy has flown, for fear and terror take its place. Have you not
just had such an experience, Peter?"
Peter nodded, all contrite. He certainly had experienced this.
"You have made a mistake," the grandmama continued, "by thinking that
you would hurt Clara by destroying her chair. It has so happened that what
you have done has been the greatest good for her. She would probably
never have tried to walk, if her chair had been there. If she should stay here,
she might even go up to the pasture every single day. Do you see, Peter?
God can turn a misdeed to the good of the injured person and bring trouble
on the offender. Have you understood me, Peter? Remember the little
watchman when you long to do a wicked deed again. Will you do that?"
"Yes, I shall," Peter replied, still fearing the policeman, who had not left
yet.
"So now that matter is all settled," said the old lady in conclusion. "Now
tell me if you have a wish, my boy, for I am going to give you something by
which to remember your friends from Frankfurt. What is it? What would
you like to have?"
Peter, lifting his head, stared at the grandmama with round, astonished
eyes. He was confused by this sudden change of prospect.
Being again urged to utter a wish, he saw at last that he was saved from
the power of the terrible man. He felt as if the most crushing load had fallen
off him. He knew now that it was better to confess at once, when something
had gone wrong, so he said: "I have also lost the paper."
Reflecting a while, the grandmama understood and said: "That is right.
Always confess what is wrong, then it can be settled. And now, what would
you like to have?"
So Peter could choose everything in the world he wished. His brain got
dizzy. He saw before him all the wonderful things in the fair in Mayenfeld.
He had often stood there for hours, looking at the pretty red whistles and the
little knives; unfortunately Peter had never possessed more than half what
those objects cost.
He stood thinking, not able to decide, when a bright thought struck him.

"Ten pennies," said Peter with decision.
"That certainly is not too much," the old lady said with a smile, taking
out of her pocket a big, round thaler, on top of which she laid twenty
pennies. "Now I'll explain this to you. Here you have as many times ten
pennies as there are weeks in the year. You'll be able to spend one every
Sunday through the year."
"All my life?" Peter asked quite innocently.
The grandmama began to laugh so heartily at this that the two men came
over to join her.
Laughingly she said: "You shall have it my boy; I will put it in my will
and then you will do the same, my son. Listen! Peter the goatherd shall
have a ten-penny piece weekly as long as he lives."
Mr. Sesemann nodded.
Peter, looking at his gift, said solemnly: "God be thanked!" Jumping and
bounding, he ran away. His heart was so light that he felt he could fly.
A little later the whole party sat round the table holding a merry feast.
After dinner, Clara, who was lively as never before, said to her father:
"Oh, Papa, if you only knew all the things grandfather did for me. It
would take many days to tell you; I shall never forget them all my life. Oh,
if we could please him only half as much as what he did for me."
"It is my greatest wish, too, dear child," said her father; "I have been
trying to think of something all the time. We have to show our gratitude in
some way."
Accordingly Mr. Sesemann walked over to the old man, and began: "My
dear friend, may I say one word to you. I am sure you believe me when I
tell you that I have not known any real joy for years. What was my wealth
to me when I could not cure my child and make her happy! With the help of
the Lord you have made her well. You have given her a new life. Please tell
me how to show my gratitude to you. I know I shall never be able to repay
you, but what is in my power I shall do. Have you any request to make?
Please let me know."

The uncle had listened quietly and had looked at the happy father.
"Mr. Sesemann, you can be sure that I also am repaid by the great joy I
experience at the recovery of Clara," said the uncle firmly. "I thank you for
your kind offer, Mr. Sesemann. As long as I live I have enough for me and
the child. But I have one wish. If this could be fulfilled, my life would be
free of care."
"Speak, my dear friend," urged Clara's father.
"I am old," continued the uncle, "and shall not live many years. When I
die I cannot leave Heidi anything. The child has no relations except one,
who even might try to take advantage of her if she could. If you would give
me the assurance, Mr. Sesemann, that Heidi will never be obliged to go into
the world and earn her bread, you would amply repay me for what I was
able to do for you and Clara."
"My dear friend, there is no question of that," began Mr. Sesemann; "the
child belongs to us! I promise at once that we shall look after her so that
there will not be any need of her ever earning her bread. We all know that
she is not fashioned for a life among strangers. Nevertheless, she has made
some true friends, and one of them will be here very shortly. Dr. Classen is
just now completing his last business in Frankfurt. He intends to take your
advice and live here. He has never felt so happy as with you and Heidi. The
child will have two protectors near her, and I hope with God's will, that they
may be spared a long, long time."
"And may it be God's will!" added the grandmama, who with Heidi had
joined them, shaking the uncle tenderly by the hand. Putting her arms
around the child, she said: "Heidi, I want to know if you also have a wish?"
"Yes indeed, I have," said Heidi, pleased.
"Tell me what it is, child!"
"I should like to have my bed from Frankfurt with the three high pillows
and the thick, warm cover. Then grandmother will be able to keep warm
and won't have to wear her shawl in bed. Oh, I'll be so happy when she
won't have to lie with her head lower than her heels, hardly able to
breathe!"

Heidi had said all this in one breath, she was so eager.
"Oh dear, I had nearly forgotten what I meant to do. I am so glad you
have reminded me, Heidi. If God sends us happiness we must think of those
who have many privations. I shall telegraph immediately for the bed, and if
Miss Rottenmeier sends it off at once, it can be here in two days. I hope the
poor blind grandmother will sleep better when it comes."
Heidi, in her happiness, could hardly wait to bring the old woman the
good news. Soon it was resolved that everybody should visit the
grandmother, who had been left alone so long. Before starting, however,
Mr. Sesemann revealed his plans. He proposed to travel through
Switzerland with his mother and Clara. He would spend the night in the
village, so as to fetch Clara from the Alm next morning for the journey.
From there they would go first to Ragatz and then further. The telegram was
to be mailed that night.
Clara's feelings were divided, for she was sorry to leave the Alp, but the
prospect of the trip delighted her.
When everything was settled, they all went down, the uncle carrying
Clara, who could not have risked the lengthy walk. All the way down Heidi
told the old lady of her friends in the hut; the cold they had to bear in winter
and the little food they had.
Brigida was just hanging up Peter's shirt to dry, when the whole company
arrived. Rushing into the house, she called to her mother: "Now they are all
going away. Uncle is going, too, carrying the lame child."
"Oh, must it really be?" sighed the grandmother. "Have you seen whether
they took Heidi away? Oh, if she only could give me her hand once more!
Oh, I long to hear her voice once more!"
The same moment the door was flung open and Heidi held her tight.
"Grandmother, just think. My bed with the three pillows and the thick
cover is coming from Frankfurt. Grandmama has said that it will be here in
two days."
Heidi thought that grandmother would be beside herself with joy, but the
old woman, smiling sadly, said:

"Oh, what a good lady she must be! I know I ought to be glad she is
taking you with her, Heidi, but I don't think I shall survive it long."
"But nobody has said so," the grandmama, who had overheard those
words, said kindly. Pressing the old woman's hand, she continued: "It is out
of the question. Heidi will stay with you and make you happy. To see Heidi
again, we will come up every year to the Alm, for we have many reasons to
thank the Lord there."
Immediately the face of the grandmother lighted up, and she cried tears
of joy.
"Oh, what wonderful things God is doing for me!" said the grandmother,
deeply touched. "How good people are to trouble themselves about such a
poor old woman as I. Nothing in this world strengthens the belief in a good
Father in Heaven more than this mercy and kindness shown to a poor,
useless little woman, like me."
"My dear grandmother," said Mrs. Sesemann, "before God in Heaven we
are all equally miserable and poor; woe to us, if He should forget us!—But
now we must say good-bye; next year we shall come to see you just as soon
as we come up the Alp. We shall never forget you!" With that, Mrs.
Sesemann shook her hand. It was some time before she was allowed to
leave, however, because the grandmother thanked her over and over again,
and invoked all Heaven's blessings on her and her house.
Mr. Sesemann and his mother went on down, while Clara was carried up
to spend her last night in the hut.
Next morning, Clara shed hot tears at parting from the beloved place,
where such gladness had been hers. Heidi consoled her with plans for the
coming summer, that was to be even more happy than this one had been.
Mr. Sesemann then arrived, and a few last parting words were exchanged.
Clara, half crying, suddenly said: "Please give my love to Peter and the
goats, Heidi! Please greet Schwänli especially from me, for she has helped
a great deal in making me well. What could I give her?"
"You can send her salt, Clara. You know how fond she is of that," advised
little Heidi.

"Oh, I will surely do that," Clara assented. "I'll send her a hundred
pounds of salt as a remembrance from me."
It was time to go now, and Clara was able to ride proudly beside her
father. Standing on the edge of the slope, Heidi waved her hand, her eyes
following Clara till she had disappeared.

The bed has arrived. Grandmother sleeps so well every night now, that
before long she will be stronger than ever. Grandmama has not forgotten the
cold winter on the Alp and has sent a great many warm covers and shawls
to the goatherd's hut. Grandmother can wrap herself up now and will not
have to sit shivering in a corner.
In the village a large building is in progress. The doctor has arrived and is
living at present in his old quarters. He has taken the uncle's advice and has
bought the old ruins that sheltered Heidi and her grandfather the winter
before. He is rebuilding for himself the portion with the fine apartment
already mentioned. The other side is being prepared for Heidi and her
grandfather. The doctor knows that his friend is an independent man and
likes to have his own dwelling. Bärli and Schwänli, of course, are not
forgotten; they will spend the winter in a good solid stable that is being built
for them.
The doctor and the Alm-Uncle become better friends every day. When
they overlook the progress of the building, they generally come to speak of
Heidi. They both look forward to the time when they will be able to move
into the house with their merry charge. They have agreed to share together
the pleasure and responsibility that Heidi brings them. The uncle's heart is
filled with gratitude too deep for any words when the doctor tells him that
he will make ample provision for the child. Now her grandfather's heart is
free of care, for if he is called away, another father will take care of Heidi
and love her in his stead.

At the moment when our story closes, Heidi and Peter are sitting in
grandmother's hut. The little girl has so many interesting things to relate and
Peter is trying so hard not to miss anything, that in their eagerness they are
not aware that they are near the happy grandmother's chair. All summer
long they have hardly met, and very many wonderful things have happened.
They are all glad at being together again, and it is hard to tell who is the
happiest of the group. I think Brigida's face is more radiant than any, for
Heidi has just told her the story of the perpetual ten-penny piece. Finally the
grandmother says: "Heidi, please read me a song of thanksgiving and
praise. I feel that I must praise and thank the Lord for the blessings He has
brought to us all!"

The End.

Typographical errors corrected in text:

Page 227: freindly replaced with friendly
Page 251: tham replaced with than
In this edition, the poem on page 246, is missing the lines for G, H, I, J, and K.

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