For children - big and small ...

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

a classic children Story

Chapter I

Up the mountain to Alm-Uncle

On a clear, sunny morning in June, a strong looking girl

and a small child climbed up the narrow mountain

path from the village of Mayenfield in the Swiss Alps.

After an hour, they came to the little hamlet of Dorfli,

halfway up the mountains, where the girl had once lived.

"Are you tired, Heidi?" asked the girl

"No, but I'm hot," answered the child.

This was not surprising since she was wearing several layers of clothing.

They were passing the last of the houses when a woman came out of a door.

Her name was Barbel. "Wait, Dete," she said to the girl.

"I'll come with you."

And she joined the other two.

"Is this your sister's child?" she asked.

"Yes," replied Dete. "I'm taking her to stay with Uncle."

"Stay with Alm-Uncle!" cried Barbel. "He'll soon send you packing."

"He's her grandfather and it's his duty," said Dete.

"I've looked after Heidi since my sister died,

but now I've the chance of a good job with a family in Frankfurt."

"The old man has nothing to do with anybody," said Barbel

"When he comes to the village, everybody stays out of his way."

Dete looked around, but the child had wandered off. "Where is she?"

"She's climbing up the slope with Peter, the goat-herd,"

said Barbel  pointing away from the footpath.

"She'll be all right. Tell me about Alm-Uncle. Was he ever a rich man?"

"He once owned a large farm," replied Dete. "

but he drank and gambled away the whole of his property.

His parents died of broken hearts when they found out."

"Goodness!" said Barbel

"He went to Naples as a soldier and nothing was heard

of him for twelve or fifteen years." Dete went on.

"Then he came to live in Dorfli with his little boy.

The boy's name was Tobias and everybody liked him.

Tobias grew up and got work as a carpenter.

Then he married a girl from the village - my sister Adelaide.

They had a little girl - Heidi."

"What happened to Tobias?" asked Barbel.

"There was an accident," said Dete.

"A wooden beam fell on him when he was working.

He was killed on the spot. Adelaide never got over the shock.

She developed a fever and died just two months later.

People said it was punishment for Uncle's godless way of life

and some told him!

After that he wouldn't speak to anybody and he went to

live up the Alm mountain.

Heidi came to live with me. I found work - sewing and knitting -

but now a family I work for has asked me to go to Frankfurt with them.

It's a good chance for me, but I can't take a child who is five years old."

They had come to a small, ramshackle cottage where Peter,

the goat-herd lived with his mother and grandmother.

Peter was eleven. Every day he took his goats up the mountain where

they grazed on the delicious mountain plants until evening,

when he brought them down again.

"I'll leave you here," Barbel told Dete.

"I want to have a word with Peter's grandmother.

Goodbye, Dete, and good luck!"

Dete walked on, looking for Heidi and Peter and the goats.

Peter often led the flock away from the path.

Heidi was struggling after him, hot under her layers of clothes.

She looked enviously at Peter, who was wearing just his short trousers.

All at once, Heidi sat down and pulled off her shoes and stockings,

threw off her hot red shawl and undid her frock.

It was off in a second, but there was another one under it.

(Dete had put Heidi's Sunday frock over her everyday one to save carrying it).

Heidi took off the Sunday frock and wearing just her petticoat,

stretched out her bare arms with glee.

She left her little heap of clothes and bounded happily after Peter.

Some minutes later Dete caught up with them.

"Heidi!" she cried. "Where are all your clothes?"

Heidi pointed to the heap, further down the mountain.

"You naughty girl!" said Dete. "Peter. go and fetch them for me."

Peter ran down and was back in a minute, carrying the clothes.

"You can carry them up to Uncle's for me." said Dete.

After forty minutes they reached Alm-Uncle's hut.

It stood on a rock above the valley.

Behind it were three fir trees and beyond those rose another mountain.

The lower part was covered with beautiful grass and plants.

The old man sat on a bench seat outside the hut, smoking his pipe.

He looked up as the children, the goats, and Dete climbed into view.

Heidi ran straight up to him. "Good day Grandfather," she said.

The old man scowled. "What's the meaning of this?" he said.

"Good day, Uncle", said Dete. "I've brought you Tobias's and Adelaide's child.

You'll hardly recognise her, as you've not seen her since she was a year old.

"And what's she to do with me?" said the old man.

Then he called out to Peter.

"You! Be off with your goats and take mine with you."

Peter quickly obeyed.

"The child is to stay with you," Dete told the old man.

"I've done my duty these last four years.

Now it's time for you to do yours."

"What if the child is unhappy and cries for you?" said the old man.

"That's your affair," said Dete.

"You'll be responsible if any harm comes to her.

I'd have thought you already had enough on your conscience."

"Go back to where you came from!" he shouted.

"And don't let me see your face again!"

Dete did not wait to be told twice. "Goodbye, Heidi,"

she called, and she hurried off down the mountain.

Chapter 2

At home with Grandfather

When Dete was gone, the old man sat and stared at the ground,

thick curls of smoke floating up from his pipe.

Heidi explored her new surroundings.

She found a shed where the goats were kept.

It was empty now.

She listened to the breeze blowing and whispering through the branches of the fir trees,

then she went back to where her grandfather was sitting.

"What do you want?" he said.

"I want to see what you have inside the house," said Heidi.

"Come on then, and bring your bundle of clothes with you," he said.

"I won't need them anymore," said Heidi.

"Well, bring them in. We must put them in the cupboard."

There was one room on the ground floor of the hut.

It had a table and a chair in the center and Grandfather's bed in one corner.

In another corner was the hearth with a kettle hanging above it.

On the other side of the room was a large wall cupboard.

Grandfather opened it. Inside were his clothes, some plates, cups, and glasses.

On a higher shelf was a round loaf, some smoked meat and some cheese.

Heidi put her clothes in the cupboard. "Where do I sleep?"

"Wherever you like," Grandfather answered.

Heidi climbed a short ladder against the wall near her grandfather's bed.

She found herself in the hay-loft.

There was a heap of sweet-smelling hay and a little round window

where she could see the valley.

"I'll sleep here, Grandfather." she said.

And she made a little bed for herself with hay.

Grandfather brought her up a long piece of coarse brown stuff for a sheet,

and she put down an extra layer of hay for a pillow.

"We need a cover now," she said.

So the old man climbed back down the ladder,

fetched a large, thick sack, then he helped her spread it over the bed.

"It's a lovely bed!" said Heidi, delighted.

Grandfather sat down on a three-legged stool

and toasted a large piece of cheese over the fire. While he did this,

Heidi put the round loaf, two plates and two knifes on the table.

"I'm glad you can think for yourself," said Grandfather,

putting the toasted cheese and a jug of milk on the table.

"What will you sit on?"

Heidi ran and got the three-legged stool.

"It's too low, but it will do for the moment," said the old man.

Heidi fetched a bowl and a glass from the cupboard and grandfather

filled the bowl with milk from the jug.  

Heidi was thirsty after her journey and she drank without stopping.

"Was that nice?" asked grandfather.

"Yes," said Heidi and filled her bowl again.

When they had finished their meal,

Grandfather went outside to the goat-shed.

He found some long sticks and a flat, round board, in which he made some holes.

Next he stuck the sticks into them - and there was a three-legged stool,

just like his own, but higher!

"It's a stool for me!" said Heidi, surprised and delighted.

When evening came, the goats came down from the mountain with Peter.

Heidi ran to meet them. Two of the goats - one white and one brown -

ran to the old man, for he was holding some salt

which he had always ready for them when they returned home.

Peter went on with the rest of his flock while Heidi stroked the two goats in turn.

Grandfather told her to fetch her bowl and some bread.

When she came back, he milked the white goat and filled her bowl.

"Now eat your supper," he said, breaking off a piece of bread.

"I must go and shut up the goats."

"What are their names, Grandfather?" asked Heidi.

"The white one is Little Swan and the brown one is Little Bear."

Heidi called goodnight to the goats,

then finished her supper and went inside.

She put on her nightdress and climbed up the ladder to her bed of hay.

Within minutes she was fast asleep.

Chapter 3

Out with the goats

Heidi was awakened next morning by a loud whistle.

It was Peter with his flock of goats.

She quickly jumped out of bed, put on her clothes and ran outside.

Grandfather was bringing out Little Swan and Little Bear.

"Do you want to go with them up the mountain?" he asked Heidi.

"Yes, please!" she cried excitedly.

"Then you must wash and make yourself tidy."

He pointed to a large tub of water beside the door and

Heidi ran across and began splashing and rubbing.

Grandfather took Peter inside the hut and gave him a large piece of bread,

some cheese and a little bowl.

"Milk two bowl fuls from the goats for her dinner," he told the boy.

"She can come back with you this evening, but take care of her."

The children began their climb a few minutes later.

The sun shone down on the green slopes

and Heidi picked handfuls of little flowers.

Peter was busy with the goats, who ran in all directions.

He whistled and swung his stick to gather them together again.

They climbed to the place where Peter always stopped to let his goats graze.

It was at the foot of the high rocks.

The valley lay far below, bathed in the morning sun.

Heidi sat and stared at everything.

There was great stillness, only broken by light puffs of wind.

She drank in the sunlight,

the fresh air, and the sweet smell of the flowers.

She wished that she could stay there forever.

After a while she got up and began to run among the goats,

getting to know each of them.

Peter took the bread and cheese from his bag and put them on the ground.

Then he took the bowl and milked the white goat.

"Time for dinner!" he called to Heidi and she skipped across to him.

"Is the milk for me?" she said.

"Yes", replied Peter, "and the two large pieces of bread and cheese are yours.

And when you've drunk that milk,

you're to have another bowlful from the white goat."

"Which goat do you get your milk from?" she asked.

"From my own goat," he said.

Heidi drank the milk, then broke off a piece of her bread.

She held out the remainder, together with a slice of cheese.

"You can have that, Peter. I have plenty."

Peter was astonished at such generosity. "Thank you," he said.

"The prettiest goats are Little Swan and Little Bear," said Heidi.

"I know," said Peter. "Alm-Uncle brushes and washes them

and gives them salt, and he has a nice shed for them."

Suddenly he jumped up.

One of the young goats had got too close to the edge of the rocks

and was about to fall over.

Peter grabbed one of the hind legs just in time!

The animal struggled to get loose, still dangerously close to the edge.

Heidi quickly saw the danger.

She snatched some sweet-smelling leaves

and held them under the goat's nose.

The young animal began to eat from Heidi's hand

and was coaxed away from the edge.

Peter could stand up and take hold of her collar.

He led the animal to a safe place on the mountain.

The afternoon passed, and the sun was about to drop out of sight

behind the mountains.

Heidi suddenly noticed how the rocks above were beginning to shine and glow.

She sprung to her feet.

"Peter," she cried. "Everything is on fire!

The rocks, the great snow mountain and the sky."

"It's always like that," said Peter. "But it's not really on fire."

"How beautiful!" said Heidi. "Oh, but now all the color is dying away!

It's all gone, Peter!"

"It will come again tomorrow," he told her.

"But we must go home." And he whistled his goats together.

Chapter 4

Peter's Grandmother

Each morning during that summer, Heidi went up the mountain

with Peter and the goats.

She became strong, healthy and brown from the sun.

Then the warm, bright sun disappeared and it got much colder.

One night there was a heavy fall of snow, which covered everything

and there was no Peter the next day.

Heidi watched as the thick snowflakes fell and the snow piled so high

that they couldn't open the door.

Then it stopped and grandfather shoveled it away from the house.

One afternoon, a week later, Peter came.

"Well, Peter," said the old man. "How is school going?"

He turned to Heidi and explained.

"Peter goes to school in the winter to learn how to read and write.

It's a bit hard, isn't it, Peter?"

"Yes, it is," agreed Peter.

Heidi asked lots of questions about school.

Then they all had supper before it was time for Peter to go home.

"Grandmother said she would like to see you," he told Heidi.

Heidi liked the idea of visiting,

but it was another four days before Grandfather thought

it was safe enough to go.

By then the snow was as hard as ice and the ground crackled underfoot.

Grandfather got a large sledge from the shed.

There was a seat inside it and a pole at the side to guide the vehicle.

He wrapped Heidi up in a warm sack and sat her on his lap.

He grasped the pole with his right hand and pushed

the sledge forward with his feet.

It shot down the mountain so fast that Heidi thought they were flying!

She shouted with delight.

They came to a standstill outside Peter's home and

Grandfather lifted Heidi out.

"You can go in," he said, "but come home when it begins to get dark."

And he set off up the mountain, pulling the sledge behind him.

Heidi opened the door and found herself in a tiny, dark kitchen.

She went through into another small room.

This was not a hut like her Grandfather's with one large room and hay loft.

Instead it was an old cottage.

Peter's mother was sitting at a table, mending a waistcoat.

In the corner, an old woman sat spinning.

Heidi went across and put out her hand.

"Good-day Grandmother," she said.

The old woman lifted her head and felt for the hand that the child held out to her.

"Are you Heidi?" she said.

"Yes," said Heidi. "I came down on the sledge with Grandfather."

"Is it possible? Did Alm-Uncle really bring you down?

Perhaps what Peter has been telling us about him is true.

What is the child like, Brigitta?" she asked Peter's mother.

"She is like Adelaide. Her eyes are dark and her hair is curly,

like her father's and the old man's," said Brigitta.

Heidi looked around the room.

"Look Grandmother, one of your window shutters is

flapping backwards and forwards."

"Ah child, I can't see it," said the old woman.

"But everything in the cottage rattles and creaks

when the wind is blowing.

The house is falling to pieces and there's no one to mend it. Peter can't do it.

Some nights I lie awake waiting for it to fall down around us."

"Why can't you see the shutter, Grandmother?"

said Heidi. "Perhaps if you went outside in the

white snow where there is more light - "

"It's always dark for me, child, whether there is snow or sun."

"Can't you see the mountains catch fire when the sun goes down?"

"No child. I'll never see the mountains on fire again,"

said the old woman sadly.

Heidi began to cry. "Can no one make it light for you?" she sobbed.

The old woman tried to comfort Heidi.

"Come here, my dear, and tell me about your Grandfather.

I knew him very well in the old days."

So Heidi talked of her life with Grandfather -

how he had made her a stool and a new milk bowl and spoon out of wood.

And she told of the days she had spent on the mountain with Peter

and the goats.

The old woman listened with great interest.

"Do you hear this, Brigitta?" she said. "Alm-Uncle is kind to the child."

The conversation was interrupted by Peter marching in.

"Back from school already?" said his grandmother.

"How's the reading getting in, Peter?"

"Just the same," said Peter.

The old woman sighed.

"I was hoping he'd have learned to read that book,"

she told Heidi, pointing to a book on a shelf.

"It's an old prayer-book with beautiful songs,

but I can't remember them any more."

The afternoon had grown darker and Heidi realized it was time for her to leave.

"I must go home now, Grandmother, she said.

"Wait", said the old woman.

"Peter must go with you. Do you have something warm to put on?"

But Heidi was already outside.

Her Grandfather had come to meet her.

He wrapped her up in the sack and lifted her into his arms.

Then he strode off up the mountain.

Brigitta and Peter watched them, then ran inside to tell the old woman.

As soon as they were home, Heidi told Grandfather about Peter's cottage.

"It rattles and shakes in the wind." she said.

"We must go back tomorrow with a hammer and some nails and mend it."

"We must, must we?" he said. "Who told you that?"

"Nobody told me." said Heidi.

"But Peter's grandmother lies awake at night,

afraid that it's going to fall down on them. We must help her."

Grandfather looked at her for some time without speaking.

Then he said, "Yes, Heidi, we must do something. We'll go tomorrow."

And the following morning, they went down to Peter's cottage.

While Heidi talked to Peter's grandmother,

Grandfather mended the windows and the roof.

Peter's mother tried to thank him for his kindness, but he stopped her.

"I know what you all think of me without telling me," he said.

And so the winter went by.

But Peter's blind grandmother had found someone to make her happy.

Each fine winter's day Heidi came down on Grandfather's sledge

and he often brought a hammer and nails with him.

The cottage no longer groaned and rattled and

Peter's grandmother was able to sleep in peace.

She said she would never forget what Alm-Uncle had done for her.

Chapter 5

Two Visitors

A year passed quickly , and soon another.

Winter was almost over.

Heidi was now eight years old.

Little Swan and Little Bear followed her everywhere and gave a

bleat of pleasure when they heard her voice.

Twice during the winter Peter brought a message from the school

at Dorfli, telling Grandfather to send Heidi there.

But each time, Grandfather replied that he did not intend to send

Heidi to school.

Then one March morning, when the snows had melted and Heidi

was running around outside, an old gentleman dressed in black

arrived at the hut.

"You must be Heidi," he said. "Where is your grandfather?"

He was the old village pastor from Dorfli.

He had once been a neighbor of Grandfather's when the old man

had lived in the village.

"Grandfather's inside," said Heidi.

The pastor went inside the hut.

"Good morning," he said to Grandfather.

 " It's a long time since I've seen you, neighbor."

Grandfather looked surprised but pushed a chair towards the other man.

"Sit down," he said.

"I expect you know why I'm here," said the pastor.

He nodded towards the window where they could see Heidi outside.

"The child ought to have been at school a year ago."

"I'm not sending her to school." said Grandfather.

"I'm going to let her grow up and be happy among the goats and birds.

She's safe with them and will learn nothing evil."

"But the child is not a goat or a bird! This is the last winter she must be

allowed to run wild. Next winter she must come to school!"

"No!" replied Grandfather. "I'll not send her down the mountain on ice-cold

mornings, nor let her return at night when the wind is raging."

"Then why not do what you ought to have done long ago?" said the pastor.

"Come and live in the village. What sort of life is this?

If anything were to happen to you, who could help you?"

"I know you mean well," said Grandfather, "but I'll not send the child to school.

Nor will I come and live in the village."

"Then God help you," said the pastor. And he turned sadly away and

went down the mountain.

Grandfather was silent for the rest of that day and the following morning.

But soon after dinner, another visitor arrived.

It was Dete.

She wore a fine feathered hat and long trailing skirt.

"I've come to take Heidi," she told Grandfather.

"Some rich friends of the lady I work for have a daughter who has to go

about in a wheelchair. Her father wants a companion for her and the

lady-housekeeper has described the sort of child they want -

simple, unspoiled and not like city children.

I thought at once of Heidi and I've agreed to take her there.

It's a wonderful opportunity. The people are very rich.

And who can tell? If they like Heidi, they may - "

"Have you nearly finished?" interrupted Grandfather.

"Because I'll have nothing to do with it."

Dete became angry. "Listen? The child is eight years old and knows

nothing. You won't send her to church or school. She's my sister's child

and I'm responsible for her. I'm not going to give in and I have

everybody in Dorfli on my side. And I advise you to think carefully

before fighting this in court. There are things that could be brought up

against you that you wouldn't wish to have raked up again."

"Silence!" thundered the old man. "Go! And never let me see you or your

feathered hats again!" And with that he strode out of the hut.

"You've made Grandfather angry," said Heidi, scowling at Dete.

"He'll soon get over it. Show me where your clothes are."

"I'm not coming," said Heidi.

"Don't be stupid! Didn't you hear your Grandfather?

He doesn't want to see us again.

He wants you to come with me, not make him angrier still.

It's nice in Frankfurt, and if you don't like it, you can come back

when he's in better temper."

"Can I come back this evening?" said Heidi.

"I've told you that you can come back when you like," said Dete.

She bundled Heidi's clothes together and hurried the child out of the hut

and down the mountain before Grandfather came back.

As they passed Peter's cottage, they saw the boy working outside.

"Where are you going Heidi?" he called.

"To Frankfurt," said Heidi. She turned to Dete. "I must say goodbye to

Grandmother."

"There's no time for that," said Dete, pulling her past the cottage.

"You can go and see her when you come back."

Peter ran into the cottage with the news that Dete was taking Heidi to

Frankfurt. His grandmother was very upset. She opened the window

and shouted, "Dete! Dete! Don't take the child away from us."

But although Dete heard her, she didn't stop.

Chapter 6

Frankfurt and Clara

In her home in Frankfurt, Clara, the little daughter of Herr Sesemann,

was lying on the couch in the study. Her face was thin and pale.

"Isn't it time yet. Fraulein Rottenmeier" she asked.

Fraulein Rottenmeier sat at her work-table, busy with her embroidery.

She was the housekeeper and was in charge of the servants

whenever Herr Sesemann was away.

But before she could reply, a coach arrived at the front door and

Dete and Heidi stepped out. A few minutes later, Sebastian,

one of the servants, brought them into the study.

Fraulein Rottenmeier rose slowly and walked over to them.

"What is your name, child?" she asked Heidi.

"Heidi" came the answer.

"That's no name for a child!" said Fraulein Rottenmeier.

"What name were you given?"

"I don't remember," said Heidi.

"Her name is Adelaide," Dete said quickly. "She was named after

her mother, my sister."

"What age is she?" said Fraulein Rottenmeier. "I didn't expect to see

so young a child. Clara is twelve and I wanted a companion of similar

age to share her lessons."

"I - I'm not certain how old she is now," said Dete. "Perhaps ten -"

"Grandfather says I'm eight," said Heidi.

"Only eight!" said Fraulein Rottenmeier. "What books do you have for

your lessons?"

"None," said Heidi. "I can't read."

"Can't read!" said Fraulein Rottenmeier. She turned to Dete

"Young woman, this is not the sort of child you led me to expect!"

"Excuse me," said Dete, "but the child is exactly what I thought you

required. A simple girl, unlike other children. But I must go now,

my mistress will be waiting for me." And before the other woman

could reply, Dete ran from the room.

For a moment, Fraulein Rottenmeier was too taken aback to move,

but then she hurried after Dete, leaving Heidi in the room.

Clara had been watching and listening, but now she beckoned

to Heidi. "Come here," she said. "Would you rather be called

Adelaide or Heidi?"

"I'm never called anything but Heidi," said Heidi.

"Then that's what I'll call you," said Clara. "Are you pleased to come

to Frankfurt?"

"No," said Heidi. "But I'll go home again tomorrow and take

Grandmother a white loaf."

"You are a funny child!" laughed Clara. "You were meant to share

my lessons, but you can't even read. There will be some fun with

my tutor when he comes!"

Fraulein Rottenmeier came back into the room. She had not been

able to catch Dete and was annoyed. Now it was time for dinner

and Sebastian came to push Clara's chair into the dining room.

Heidi went with them.

There were three places laid at the table, and beside Heidi's plate

was a nice white roll. "Can I have this?" she whispered to

Sebastian, who nodded. Heidi immediately seized the roll and

put it into her pocket.

Fraulein Rottenmeier had not noticed. She began to tell Heidi all

the things she must do and how she must behave

if she was going to stay with them.

But it had been a long day for Heidi and the little girl was asleep long

before Fraulein Rottenmeier had finished.

Chapter 7

Seven kittens

When Heidi opened her eyes on her first morning in Frankfurt,

she could not think where she was.

She was in a high, white bed in a very large room.

There was a washstand in the corner, and near the window

were two large chairs and a sofa, both with flower-patterned covers.

Heidi jumped out of bed and ran to the windows. She wanted

to see the sky and the country, but the window was too high to

look out of properly. She could see nothing but the walls and

windows of other buildings.

Clara was already at breakfast by the time Heidi came down.

After the meal, Heidi followed Sebastian as he wheeled Clara

to the study. Fraulein Rottenmeier saw the tutor first and

explained that Heidi did not know her ABC and could not read.

As they walked to the study they heard a loud crash.

Fraulein Rottenmeier rushed in to see a heap of exercise books,

an ink-stand and a tablecloth, on the floor. A stream of ink

was running into the carpet. "Whatever -!" she began.

Clara was giggling. "Heidi did it. Several carriages were passing

by the house and she jumped up to run and see what the sound

was. By accident she dragged the tablecloth with her as she got up."

Fraulein Rottenmeier ran from the room to the top of the stairs. There

standing in the open doorway at the bottom, was Heidi, looking]

into the street with amazement.

"What are you doing?" Fraulein Rottenmeier called down to her.

"I thought I heard the sound of fir trees blowing in the wind,"

said Heidi, "but I can't hear them any more."

"It was the sound of carriages passing, you stupid girl!" said Fraulein

Rottenmeier. "Fir trees! What a ridiculous idea! Come back upstairs

and see the mess you've made."

Heidi was surprised. She had been in such a hurry to investigate

the fir-tree sound that she hadn't noticed what she had done.

"You must sit still during your lessons," Fraulein Rottenmeier

told her, "or I'll tie you to the chair. Do you understand?"

"Yes," replied Heidi.

But there was little opportunity for lessons that morning by the

time Sebastian had cleared up the mess in the study. In the

afternoon, Clara went to rest on her bed.

Heidi spoke to Sebastian. "There's nothing outside but stony streets,"

she said. "Where can I go to see over the whole valley?"

"You'd have to climb to the top of a church tower, like that one

there," he said, pointing out of the window at a church.

A few moments later, Heidi went out of the door and into

the street. But the tower was not as near as it had looked from

the window. She went down the street and round several corners,

but she was still no closer to it.

There were people passing by, but they all seemed in such a hurry

that Heidi did not like to ask them the way to go.

Then she came to a corner where a boy was standing.

He carried a hand-organ and there was a monkey on his shoulder.

"How can I get to the church with the tall tower?"

she asked him. "What will you give me if I take you?"

he said. "Money?" - "I haven't got any," said Heidi, "but Clara has

and I'm sure she'll give you some. How much do you want?"

"Twopence," he said. "Come along then," said Heidi.

The boy took her through the streets to the church and an old

man answered the church door when they knocked.

"What do you want?" said the old man crossly.

"I want to go up the tower," said Heidi. "Please."

The old man saw how anxious she was. "Well, if you really want to

go up, I'll take you," he said.

The boy sat down to wait outside and Heidi took the old man's hand

as he led her up to the tower. It was a long climb.

When they reached the top, the man lifted Heidi up so that she

could look out of the open window.

There, beneath them, was a sea of roofs, towers and chimney pots.

"It's not what I expected," said Heidi, disappointed.

They began to go back down again and passed the tower-keeper's

room. Inside was a large cat and a basket of seven kittens.

Heidi ran to look at them. "Oh, the sweet little things!"

"Would you like them?" said the man.

Heidi almost jumped for joy. There would be plenty of room

for them in the large house and what a lovely surprise it

would be for Clara. "But how can I carry them?" asked Heidi.

"I'll bring them to you," he said. "Where do you live?"

"Herr Sesemann's house," said Heidi. "I know it," said the man.

"I'll bring them later." The boy took Heidi back to the house

and Sebastian opened the door. "Hurry, Miss!" said Sebastian, pulling

Heidi inside and slamming the door in the boy's face.

"Fraulein Rottenmeier has been looking for you."

Suddenly, the front door bell began to ring loudly. Sebastian

opened the door and saw the boy with the monkey. At the

same moment, Fraulein Rottenmeier came to see what

the noise was about.  "I want to see Clara!" the boy said.

"I want my twopence!"

"Go away you rascal!" said Sebastian. "Who told you to come here?"

"She did," said the boy, pointing at Heidi. Eventually all was

explained. Clara gave the boy twopence, but not before hearing

some of the sweet music from his hand-organ.

Then soon after, there was another surprise for her.

The old man from the church arrived with the basket of kittens.

"For me?" said Clara, delighted. And the kittens jumped out

of the basket and began running around the sitting room.

Fraulein Rottenmeier was horrified, and climbed up on a chair

out of the way. Sebastian quickly gathered up the animals

and out them back in their basket, while Clara and Heidi

laughed and laughed.

Chapter 8

Herr Sesemann

Heidi went to her lessons each day, but she did not learn to

read. It was as difficult as Peter had said it was, she decided.

And she was so homesick for Grandfather and the hut on

the mountain that one day she made up her mind to go back.

After all, Dete had told her she could go home whenever she liked.

So she gathered up all the white rolls she had saved for

Peter's grandmother and tied them into a shawl. Then she put

on her straw hat and went downstairs.

"Where do you think you're going?" Fraulein Rottenmeier

asked when she

saw Heidi going down the steps outside the house.

"I'm going home," said Heidi, frightened by the fierce woman.

"And what would Herr Sesemann say if he knew you were

running away?" said Fraulein Rottenmeier.

"You ungrateful little thing! Have you ever been so well off

and comfortable in your life?"

"But I can't see the sun say goodnight to the

mountains here," said Heidi.

"And Peter's grandmother needs her white bread, and ..."

"Have mercy on us," cried Fraulein Rottenmeier.

"The child's lost her mind! Sebastian, bring her back in at once."

Sebastian did as he was told and took Heidi back to her room,

trying to comfort her. "Don't let her make you unhappy,"

he said. "Keep your spirits up!

We'll go and see the kittens later, shall we?"

Then a day or two later, Fraulein Rottenmeier discovered

the heap of white rolls in Heidi's wardrobe.

"What are these!" she cried.

"They're for Peter's Grandmother," said Heidi.

"Please leave them!"

But Fraulein Rottenmeier ordered Sebastian to throw the

rolls away and poor Heidi ran down to Clara, sobbing.

"Now all Grandmother's bread has gone!" she cried.

Clara was upset to see Heidi like this.

"Don't cry," she said. "You can have as many rolls as you want

when you go home. Yours would have been hard and

stale by then. Please don't cry Heidi.

Tell me more stories about Grandfather's hut

and about Peter and the goats."

And, at last, Heidi did stop crying.

But she did not stop wishing that she could go home.

A few days after this, Herr Sesemann returned home from Paris.

It was late afternoon and he hurried in to see

his daughter before doing anything else.

Heidi was sitting beside her.

Father and daughter greeted each other warmly.

Then Herr Sesemann said, "So, this is our little Swiss girl."

"yes, this is Heidi," said Clara.

"Are you both good friends, or do you quarrel?"

asked her father.

"Clara is always kind to me," said Heidi.

"And Heidi has never tried to quarrel," said Clara.

"I'm glad to hear it," said Herr Sesemann.

Fraulein Rottenmeier was waiting for him in the dining room

and quickly told him how unhappy she was about Heidi.

"If you only knew the things the girl has done,

the kind of people and animals she has brought to the house,

Herr Sesemann. Her behaviour is most peculiar.

At times, it seems as if she's not in her right mind."

After dinner, Herr Sesemann went to talk to his daughter again.

"Tell me about Heidi," he said to her,

"and about the animals, and why Fraulein Rottenmeier thinks

Heidi's not in the right mind sometimes."

Clara laughed and she told him about the bread rolls,

about the kittens and about the boy with the hand-organ

and the monkey. The father laughed with her when he heard all this.

"So you don't want me to send the child home again?"

he said.

"Oh no," said Clara. "It used to be so dull,

but something fresh happens every day now and

she tells me stories about the mountain."

That evening, Herr Sesemann informed

Fraulein Rottenmeier that Heidi was to stay.

"The child must be treated kindly," he said,

"and her peculiarities must not be looked upon as crimes.

My mother is coming to stay shortly and she'll help.

She can get along with anybody."

Chapter 9

An unhappy time

Herr Sesemann went back to Paris after two weeks, but Clara's

grandmother arrived a few days later.

She had beautiful white hair and was an alert old lady,

with all her wits about her. She knew what was happening in the

house as soon as she entered it.

One afternoon when Clara was asleep on the couch,

Frau Sesemann asked Fraulein Rottenmeier to bring

Heidi to her room. "She's bored and lonely,"

she told the housekeeper.

"I've some books I'd like to give her.

"She can't read" said Fraulein Rottenmeier.

"The tutor's tried to teach her, but she seems to find it impossible."

"How strange," said the old lady.

"But she can look at the pictures."

When Heidi came, she gazed in delight at the beautiful

pictures in the books. But as she stared at one page,

tears came into her eyes.

The picture showed young animals grazing in a field,

and the sun sinking below the horizon.

Frau Sesemann put a hand on Heidi's shoulder.

"Don't cry," she said in a kindly voice.

"I expect the picture has reminded you of something,

but there's a beautiful story with it

which I'll read to you later.

Now, how are you getting on with your lessons?

Have you learned a lot?"

"Oh no," replied Heidi. "But I knew I wouldn't learn to read.

Peter told me it was too difficult because he had tried."

"You must not always go by what Peter says,

whoever he is. You must try for yourself.

I'm certain you didn't give all your attention to the tutor,

but now you'll try and you'll soon learn to read.

And when you do, you can have that book to keep."

"Oh!" said Heidi. "If I could read now!"

In spite of the kindness shown to her,

Heidi still wanted to go home.

But she didn't want to seem ungrateful to Herr Sesemann,

or to upset Clara and her grandmother,

so she said nothing to anyone.

But often at night she lay awake thinking of

Grandfather and the mountain.

Her dreams were filled with snow-fields turning crimson

in the evening light.

And when she awoke, she would cry quietly into her pillow.

Her unhappiness did not escape Frau Sesemann.

She noticed that the child ate very little and

was becoming thin and pale.

"What's the matter, Heidi?" she asked."Are you in trouble?"

"I can't tell you," replied Heidi. "Can you tell Clara?"

"Oh no! I can't tell anyone," said Heidi.

"Then this is what you must do," said Frau Sesemann.

"Whenever we're in great trouble and can't speak

to anyone about it, we must turn to God and pray for help.

He can give the help that no one else can give."

"Can I tell Him everything?" said Heidi. "Everything."

So Heidi ran to her room, put her hands together and told

God about everything that was making her sad.

She begged Him to let her go home to Grandfather

and the mountain.

It was about a week after this that the tutor

came to see Frau Sesemann.

"A most surprising thing has happened," he told her.

"Has Heidi learned to read?" said Frau Sesemann.

"Yes! How did you know?"

"Many unlikely things happen in this life," said Frau Sesemann,

with a twinkle in her eye.

After the tutor had gone, Frau Sesemann went downstairs

and found Heidi sitting beside Clara, reading aloud to her.

And that evening, Heidi found the large book with the

beautiful pictures lying beside her place at dinner.

She looked up at Frau Sesemann.

"Is it really mine now?" she asked.

Frau Sesemann smiled. "Yes, it is yours now."

"For always?" Even when I go home?"

"Yours for ever. Tomorrow we'll begin to read it."

Every afternoon when Clara was asleep,

Frau Sesemann called Heidi to her room.

She taught the child how to sew and make beautiful

doll's clothes and she listened as Heidi read aloud.  

But she noticed that the child never looked really happy.

"Are you still troubled, Heidi?" said Frau Sesemann.

It was the last week of her visit and

Heidi had just finished reading to her.

Heidi nodded. "Have you told God about it?"

"Yes, but I've stopped praying," said Heidi.

"God doesn't listen. I've prayed every day for weeks,

but God hasn't done what I asked."

"God knows better than we do what is good for us,"

said frau Sesemann.

"If we ask Him for something, that isn't good for us,

He doesn't give it, but He gives something better.

You must go on praying and trusting in Him."

Frau Sesemann's words went straight to Heidi's heart.

"I'll ask God to forgive me," said Heidi,

"and I'll never forget Him again."

The house seemed silent and empty after

Frau Sesemann went.

Heidi began to read to Clara from her book,

but she had hardly began a story about a dying grandmother

before she cried out, "Oh, perhaps Peter's grandmother is dead!"

and she burst into tears.

Clara tried to explain that the story was about a

quite different grandmother. But although Heidi knew this,

she wept even more loudly because it came to her

that Peter's grandmother and even her grandfather

might die before she could get home to see them again.

Fraulein Rottenmeier came into the room and

Clara explained what had happened.

"Now, stop crying!" Fraulein Rottenmeier told Heidi.

"If there are any more scenes like this

I'll take the book away from you."

Heidi turned white with fear.

The book was her one great treasure. She quickly dried her tears

and never cried again when she was reading.

But she lost her appetite and became pale and thin again.

At night she would remember her home and

would weep into her pillow.

Chapter 10

The Midnight Ghost

One morning, Sebastian came down and found the front door wide open.

And on the following two mornings, either Sebastian

or one of the other servants found it wide open for no apparent reason.

At first they thought a thief had got in,

but nothing was missing from the house.

Finally, after a great deal of persuasion from Fraulein Rottenmeier,

Sebastian and John, another of the servants,

agreed to sit up one night and see what happened.

But both of them fell asleep before midnight.

Then, as the clock struck midnight, Sebastian roused himself.

Everything was still and there was no sound from the streets outside.

Sebastian was too nervous to go to sleep again

and he shook John gently to wake him up.

John stood up and sounding braver than he felt, said

," We must go outside and see what's going on.

Don't be afraid, Sebastian, just follow me."

He opened the hall door - and a gust of wind blew out the light in his hand.

John was already pushing Sebastian back into the other room.

"What's the matter"? said Sebastian. " What did you see"?

"The door partly open," gasped John,

"and a white figure standing at the top of the steps."

Sebastian felt his blood run cold.

The two sat down close to one another and did not move again

until it was light and the streets were bustling with people and traffic.

When Fraulein Rottenmeier heard about this ghostly experience,

she wrote to Herr Sesemann, telling him that he must come home

because of the mysterious happenings in his house

and because Clara might be in danger.

Herr Sesemann was very surprised to receive such a letter but,

concerned for his daughter, he immediately returned to Frankfurt.

"Have you or any of the other servants been

playing tricks, Sebastian?" he asked his servant.

"No Sir!" said Sebastian. "On our honour!"

"Then you must take a message to my old friend the doctor.

Give him my kind regards and ask him to come tonight at nine o'clock.

Tell him to be prepared to spend the night here."

The doctor was a silver-haired man with kindly eyes and an

anxious expression on his face.

"Is someone ill?" he asked when he arrived that evening.

"Much worse than that, doctor," said Herr Sesemann.

"There's a ghost in the house. My house is haunted."

The doctor laughed loudly, but Herr Sesemann told him

how the front door of the house was mysteriously opened each night.

Then he gave him a loaded revolver and kept one himself

so that they were prepared for anything that happened.

The two men waited in the same room where Sebastian and John

had kept watch. A bottle of wine was also on the table

and the two revolvers lay beside it. Two good-sized lamps

had also been lit, for Herr Sesemann was determined

not to wait for any ghosts in half-darkness.

One o'clock struck and everything was quiet.

Suddenly the doctor lifted a finger.

"Sesemann, do you hear something?" he whispered.

They both listened - and heard a key being turned

and a door being opened.

Herr Sesemann put out his hand for his revolver

and picked up one of the lights.

The doctor did the same and the two men crept into the hall.

Moonlight streamed through the open front door

and fell on a white figure standing motionless in the doorway.

"Who's there?" thundered the doctor, in a voice that echoed through the hall.

The figure turned and gave a cry.

There, in her little white nightgown, stood Heidi.

She was staring wild-eyed at the lights and revolvers and trembling all over.

"It's you little Swiss girl, Sesemann!" said the doctor.

"Child, what does this mean," said Herr Sesemann.

"Why did you come down here/"

White with terror and hardly able to speak,

Heidi answered ,"I - I don't know."

But now the doctor stepped forward.

"This is a matter for me, Sesemann." he said.

And he carried Heidi up to her bedroom and laid her in her bed.

Gradually she became calmer and stopped trembling.

The doctor held her hand. "Now tell me where you wanted to go?"

he said. "Had you been dreaming?"

"Yes" said Heidi. "I dream the same dream every night.

I'm back with Grandfather and I hear the sound of the fir trees outside

and I see the stars shining.

Then I open the door quickly and run out

and it's all so beautiful. But when I wake up, I'm still in Frankfurt."

"Are you happy here in Frankfurt?" asked the doctor.

"Yes," came the quiet reply, but it sounded more like "No."

"And where did you live with your Grandfather?"

"Up on the mountain," answered Heidi.

"Wasn't that rather dull at times?"

"No, no it was beautiful!" said Heidi.

And she began to cry as she remembered all the things she was missing.

The doctor stood up "There, there, go to sleep now.

Tomorrow everything will be all right, you'll see."

He went downstairs and spoke with Herr Sesemann.

"The child is walking in her sleep because she's unhappy,"

he said "She's so homesick that she's making herself ill.

You must send her home, Sesemann. She must go tomorrow."

Chapter 11

On The Mountain Again

Clara was upset when her father told her Heidi was going home.

She made all sorts of suggestions for keeping Heidi with her,

but her father was firm.

He promised to take her to Switzerland the next summer

if she made no further fuss.

So Clara gave in, but asked if she could put some things in a box for Heidi.

The servants had been told what was happening,

and Fraulein Rottenmeier was at first astonished

and then a little disappointed, when Herr Sesemann

said nothing about ghostly visitors in the night.

Dete was sent for and was asked if she would take Heidi back to the mountain.

Dete remembered Uncle's last words

- that he never wished to set eyes on her again -

and excused herself by saying that it was quite impossible for her

to get time off from her work to take the child.

Herr Sesemann quickly understood that she was unwilling

to take Heidi at all and he sent her away.

He sent for Sebastian and told the young man

that he was to travel with Heidi, then he wrote a letter for Heidi's grandfather.

A little later, when Heidi came to the dining room,

Herr Sesemann said "Well, what do you say to this, little one?"

Heidi gave him a puzzled look.

"I see you know nothing about it," he laughed. "You're going home today."

"Home?" Heidi turned pale and found it difficult to breathe.

"Don't you want to go?" "Oh yes, yes!" she cried.

Heidi was too excited to eat her breakfast,

so Herr Sesemann instructed Sebastian to pack some food to take with them.

Then he told Heidi to go and see Clara in her room.

Clara showed her the things she had put in a box

- dresses, aprons, and handkerchiefs. "And look here,"

said Clara, holding up a basket.

Heidi peeped in and jumped for joy.

Inside were twelve white rolls for Peter's grandmother!

Then someone called, "The carriage is here!"

Heidi ran to her room to fetch her precious book, which was under her pillow,

and put it in the basket with the rolls.

 Then she said her goodbyes to Clara and Herr Sesemann

and climbed into the carriage with Sebastian.

"Say goodbye and thank you to the doctor for me,"

she called back as the carriage pulled away.

They then took the train to Basel and stayed overnight in a hotel.

The nest day they took another train to Mayenfield

and were going to walk to Dorfli from there.

Sebastian was not looking forward to the climb to Dorfli.

He was not used to mountains and was a little afraid of them.

Outside the station was a man with a horse and cart.

He was loading heavy sacks which had arrived on the train.

"Which is the safest way to Dorfli?" Sebastian asked him.

"All roads here are safe," came the reply.

"I'm going to Dorfli myself. Do you want me to take that box?"

After some discussion, it was finally agreed that the man

should take both Heidi and the box on his cart to Dorfli,

which was a great relief to Sebastian.

He gave Heidi the letter for her grandfather and a parcel

which he said was a present from Herr Sesemann.

Then he went back to the station platform to await a return train.

Heidi went as far as Dorfli in the cart,

then began her walk up the mountain.

"Grandfather will come for the box," she told the man on the cart.

Heidi climbed the steep path as quickly as she could.

One thought filled her mind" was Peter's grandmother still alive?

Then she caught sight of the cottage in the hollow of the mountain

and her heart began to beat faster.

She ran to the doorway, unable to make a sound.

"Dear God," came a voice from inside.

"That is how Heidi used to run in.

If only I could have her with me once again! Who is there?"

"It's me. Grandmother!" cried Heidi, and she ran and

threw her arms around the old woman,

unable to speak for joy.

The old woman put a hand on Heidi's head and said,

" Yes, yes, that's her hair and her voice. God has answered my prayers."

"I've brought you some white rolls," said Heidi,

taking them from the basket and piling them in the old woman's lap.

"Oh, what a blessing!" said Peter's grandmother.

"But you're the greatest blessing of all, Heidi!

Tell me everything you've been doing."

Heidi told her how unhappy she had been and

how she had been afraid she would never see Grandmother

and the mountains again.

"But now I must go home to see Grandfather," she said eventually.

"I'll come back again tomorrow. Goodnight, Grandmother."

"Yes, please come again tomorrow," said the old woman.

Heidi continued her way up the mountain, her basket on her arm.

All around were the steep, green slopes, bright in the evening sun.

Suddenly a warm,. red glow fell on everything

and she saw the two mountain peaks above her,

like two great flames.

Tears of happiness came into Heidi's eyes and she thanked God for being home.

Now she ran until the little hut came into view.

And there was grandfather, sitting on the bench seat as always,

smoking his pipe.

"Grandfather! Grandfather!" she cried, and threw her arms around his neck.

The old man could not speak for some minutes.

For the first time in many years his eyes were wet.

Then he sat Heidi on his knee and said, "So, you've come back to me.

Did they send you away?"

"Oh no, Grandfather," said Heidi, "You mustn't think that.

They were all so kind - Clara and her father and Frau Rottenmeier.

But all I wanted was to come home to you,

although I said nothing because it would have seemed ungrateful.

Oh, and I have a letter and a parcel for you from Herr Sesemann.

Grandfather read the letter.

There was some money - a lot of money - in the parcel.

"That belongs to you," he told Heidi.

"Now you can buy a bed and bedclothes and dresses."

"I'm sure I don't want it," said Heidi. "I've got a bed already,

and Clara has put such a lot of clothes in my box,

I'll never need any more."

"Take it and put it in the cupboard. You'll want it some day."

Heidi skipped into the hut after her Grandfather.

She was delighted to see everything again.

"But  where is my bed?" she said.

"We can soon make it up again," said Grandfather.

"Now come and have your milk."

She was drinking her milk when she heard a shrill whistle outside.

It was Peter with the goats. Heidi ran out to them.

"Good evening, Peter," she said

"Little Swan! Little Bear! Do you know me again?"

And the animals immediately began rubbing their heads against her,

bleating with pleasure.

"So, you're back," said Peter when he had gotten over his surprise. "I'm glad."

And the two children smiled broadly at one another.

It was with a happy heart that Heidi lay down on her hay-bed that night,

and she slept more soundly than she had for a year.

Chapter 12

A beautiful story for Grandfather

The next day was Saturday and Grandfather came down with Heidi to Peter's cottage.

He left her there and went on down to Dorfli to fetch her box.

Peter's grandmother was pleased to see Heidi

and told her how much she had enjoyed the first of the white rolls.

And Peter's mother said that she was sure Grandmother would be stronger

and healthier if she could always have white rolls like that.

"The baker in Dorfli makes them, but they are much more

expensive than the black bread," she said.

Heidi had an idea. "I've got lots of money," she said.

"You shall have fresh white rolls every day and two on Sundays.

Peter can bring them up from Dorfli."

"No, no child," said the old Lady.

"I can't let you spend your money like that.

You must give it to your grandfather and

he'll tell you how you can spend it."

But Heidi would not be put off and was determined that

Peter's grandmother should have her white rolls.

Then she caught sight of the old song book and had another idea.

"Grandmother, I can read now," she said.

"Shall I read you one of the hymns from your book?"

"Oh yes! Can you really read, child?"

So Heidi read a song from the book and the old woman beamed with happiness.

"Ah Heidi," she said. "What comfort you have brought me."

Soon after, there was a knock at the window and

Heidi saw Grandfather beckoning her to come home.

"I have to go now," she said, "but I'll come again tomorrow."

She told Grandfather about her plans to buy rolls.

"But wouldn't it be nice for you to have a proper bed?" he said.

"There would still be money to buy the bread.

However, the money is yours, Heidi, so you can do what you like with it.

You'll be able to buy bread for Peter's grandmother for years to come."

Heidi was very happy. "I'm so glad God didn't let me have my way at once,"

she said. "If I'd come home when I first wanted to,

I should not have been able to read, and it's such a comfort for Grandmother.

God arranges things so much better than us, doesn't he Grandfather?"

"Where did you learn about God, Heidi?" said Grandfather.

"From Clara's grandmother," said Heidi.

"She said that God never forgets us, even if we forget Him."

"Is that right?" said Grandfather, a serious look on his face.

"Can we really go back to God?"

"Oh yes," said Heidi. "There is a beautiful story in my book

about a son who goes away from his father

and wastes all his money and everything he had.

When he has nothing left, he hires himself out to a man who keeps pigs.

The son has to watch the pigs.

He has only a few rags to wear and the pig's food to eat.

He thinks about his kind father and longs to go home.

And when he does go home, his father doesn't turn him away

or blame him for his foolishness.

Instead he welcomes him with open arms and they have a feast.

Isn't that a beautiful story, Grandfather? I'll read it to you later."

"Yes, Heidi," Grandfather replied softly. "It's a beautiful story."

And after Heidi is asleep that night,

Grandfather bowed his head and said a small prayer

and two large tears rolled down his cheeks.

The nest day was Sunday.

Heidi heard the sound of church bells drifting up from the valley.

"Put on your best frock, Heidi," said Grandfather.

"We're going to church together."

He was wearing his best coat and trousers.

"Oh Grandfather!" said Heidi. "You do look nice."

The church service had begun when Heidi and Grandfather

went in through the door of the building.

The people were singing a hymn,

but soon everyone was nudging each other and whispering,

" Did you see? Alm-Uncle is in church!"

And when the service was over,

everyone saw how friendly he looked and how

kindly he behaved towards the child.

Grandfather went to speak to the pastor.

"You were right and I was wrong,"

he said. "I'll find a house in Dorfli for the winter months

and Heidi shall go to school."

Chapter 13

The doctor comes to stay

Clara had not been well that summer.

In September the doctor told Herr Sesemann it would be most unwise t

o take her to Switzerland that year.

The doctor himself was a very unhappy man,

for both his wife and his only daughter had died from illnesses in the last year.

He had grown old and tired-looking during the months since then.

Herr Sesemann felt as sorry for him as he did for his own daughter,

whom he was going to have to disappoint about the journey to the mountains,

"Doctor, I have an idea," said Herr Sesemann.

"Why not make the journey and visit Heidi yourself?

The mountain air would do you good, don't you think?"

And that was how the doctor came to be Heidi's first visitor from Frankfurt,

and not Clara - who would have to wait until the following

Spring, when she was stronger.

He found a place to stay in Dorfli, but climbed up the mountain to the little hut

at the first opportunity.

Heidi welcomed her old friend with a hug.

Grandfather also greeted his guest warmly and offered to guide

the doctor to any part of the mountains that he would like to see.

Later, after they had eaten golden-brown, toasted cheese

and drunk steaming milk from a jug, the doctor said,

" Clara must certainly come up here. It would do her a great deal of good."

"Would you like to come out with the goats tomorrow morning?"

Heidi asked him.

"Yes, please!" replied the doctor.

So the next morning the doctor came up from Dorfli

with Peter and the goats. He tried to talk to the boy,

but Peter hardly spoke until they reached the hut

where Heidi was waiting for them.

"Are you coming today?" Peter asked her.

"Of course I am," said Heidi.

Grandfather gave Peter the dinner bag,

which was heavier than usual, for he had added some meat for the doctor's lunch.

Peter grinned when he realized this.

Heidi talked happily about the oats, the flowers, the rocks

and the birds as she and the doctor clambered up the slope.

Peter sent several unfriendly glances to the doctor,

but the doctor did not notice them.

They reached Heidi's favorite spot and the doctor sat beside her on the warm grass.

The snowfield sparkled in the Autumn sunlight

and the rocky peaks stood high against the dark sky.

The doctor sat silently, looking around him.

A peaceful feeling came over him as he breathed the fresh air

and felt the soft breeze on his face. Everything was so beautiful!

Peter, meanwhile, was feeling cross.

It had been several days since Heidi had come up the mountain with him,

and now here she sat the whole time beside the old gentleman.

Peter could not get a word out of her.

"It's dinner time," he said after a while.

But the doctor and Heidi only wanted milk to drink,

so Peter had all the meat and cheese to himself.

This made him feel much more kindly towards the doctor.

It was a bright, sunny Autumn month and the doctor

came up the mountain every day.

Sometimes grandfather went with him to the higher slopes

and the two enjoyed each other's company enormously.

Then September came to an end and it was time for the doctor

to return to Frankfurt.

He was very sad because the mountain had begun to feel like home to him.

"I've learned how to be happy once more," he told Heidi and her grandfather.

That winter, Grandfather kept his promise.

As soon as the first snow began to fall,

he shut up the little hut and went down to Dorfli with Heidi and the goats.

He rented an old house near the church which had been empty

for a long time. It was badly in need of repair

and Grandfather spent most of his time that Winter making it warm and dry.

Heidi went to school in Dorfli every morning and afternoon.

She was eager to learn all that was taught her.

And when the snow became hard,

she was able to go up to Peter's cottage and see his grandmother.

The old lady was not very well and had to stay in bed.

"It's only because the frost has gotten into my bones,"

she told Heidi. She was wearing a shawl to keep her warm

and Heidi noticed that her bedclothes were not very thick.

"Your bed isn't right," said Heidi.

"Your feet are higher than your head."

"I know", Peter's grandmother moved her thin pillow

to make herself more comfortable.

"If only I'd had asked Clara to let me take away my Frankfurt bed,"

said Heidi. "I had three large pillows there."

"Never mind. I'm luckier than many sick people and I should be grateful.

Will you read me something today, Heidi?"

So Heidi read some hymns and saw how happy it made the old lady.

"Peter." she said next day. "you must learn to read."

"I can't," said Peter.

"I'll soon teach you.

Then you can read one or two hymns to Grandmother every day."

Teaching Peter to read was hard work.

He didn't want to learn and Heidi had to threaten him with all sorts of things.

She even told him he would be sent away to a school in

Frankfurt if he didn't try to learn.

"Your mother has often spoken to me about the school,"

she said. "And I used to see the boys going there, all dressed in black."

Peter shuddered at the thought of being sent to a place

where you had to wear black clothes and where they forced you to learn things.

He tried harder and eventually learned how to read.

One evening he came into the cottage and said, "I can do it now."

"Do what, Peter?" said his mother.

"Read" he answered.

"Did you hear that, Grandmother?"

Peter fetched the book of hymns and read to his grandmother,

who followed the words closely.

"Who would have thought it possible?" said Peter's mother.

At school the next day, when Peter read from this book

without the slightest hesitation, the teacher stared at him in astonishment.

"How has this miracle come about?" he said.

"It was Heidi," said Peter.

Every evening Peter read to his grandmother,

and although she was grateful, she secretly longed for Spring to arrive

when Heidi would come and read to her again.

For whenever Peter came to a difficult word, he left it out!

Chapter 14

Clara again

It was the month of May and clear, warm sunshine lay upon the mountain.

The last of the snows had gone and already many of the flowers

were springing up through the grass.

Heidi was so pleased to be back that she ran round and round

Grandfather's hut singing

"On the mountain! On the mountain!"

Then a letter came to tell her that Frau Sesemann was bringing

Clara to see her soon! Heidi was delighted,

but the prospect of yet another visitor from Frankfurt did not please Peter.

One morning at the end of June, Heidi saw a strange procession

making its way up the mountain.

In front were two men carrying a sedan chair with a young girl sitting in it. Then there was a horse carrying a stately looking lady who was talking to the guide behind her. After this came a wheelchair, pushed by another man. and then a porter carrying a bundle of cloaks, shawls and furs.

"Here they come!" shouted Heidi, jumping with joy.

As the figures came nearer, Heidi rushed forward

and the the children hugged each other,

whilst Frau Sesemann was welcomed by Grandfather.

Then the men and the horse went back down the mountain.

"Isn't it lovely, Clara?" said Frau Sesemann.

Clara had never seen anything so beautiful.

"I'd like to stay here forever!" she said.

"Oh Heidi, if I could only walk with you!"

"I'll push you in your chair," said Heidi. "I'm sure I can."

So Clara was put into her wheelchair and

Heidi pushed her round the back of th hut to look at the fir trees.

Then she showed her the goat shed,

although the goats were with Peter up on the higher slopes.

"I wish I could see Peter and all the goats,"

sighed Clara, "but we'll have to leave before then."

"Just enjoy all the beautiful things we can see,"

said her grandmother as she followed the wheelchair

which Heidi was pushing further on up the slope.

"Oh, look at those bushes of red flowers," said Clara.

"If you could come up higher to where the goats are feeding,

you would see ever so many more," said Heidi.

"And everything looks and smells so lovely up there."

"Grandmother, do you think I could get up there?" said Clara.

"I'm sure I could push the chair up," said Heidi.

Meanwhile, Grandfather had put the table and some extra chairs outside,

so that they could eat their dinner in the fresh air.

The milk and cheese were soon ready

and they sat down for their mid-day meal. Clara ate heartily,

much to her grandmother's surprise and pleasure.

"It's the mountain air that gives you an appetite," said Grandfather.

The afternoon went on and Frau Sesemann and Grandfather

talked together like old friends.

Then she looked towards the west and said,

"We must soon get ready to go, Clara .

The sun is a good way down

and the men will be back with the horse and the sedan."

"Oh, just another hour, Grandmother," begged Clara.

"We haven't seen inside the hut yet."

The wheelchair was too wide for the door of the hut,

so Grandfather carried Clara inside.

She thought Heidi's bedroom in the hay-loft was delightful.

"If you'd agree to it," Grandfather said to Frau Sesemann,

"your granddaughter could stay with us.

I'm sure she would grow stronger."

Clara and Heidi were so overjoyed by this suggestion

that Frau Sesemann agreed with a smile,

and it was decided that Clara should stay for a month.

Later, after Frau Sesemann had gone,

Peter came back down the mountain with the goats.

The animals quickly flocked around Heidi,

who introduced Clara to them.

Peter stood sulkily to one side and did not answer

when the two girls called out,

"Good evening, Peter."

Instead, he swung his stick in the air and marched down the mountain again.

That night, as the girls sat in their hay-loft beds,

Clara looked out of the round open window

at the clusters of stars in the sky.

She hardly ever saw a star in Frankfurt

because the curtains were always closed before they came out.

Now, Clara stared up at them until her eyes closed and she fell asleep.

Clara had never tasted goat's milk before.

When she saw Heidi drinking hers up at breakfast

the next morning, she did the same - and found it delicious!

"Tomorrow you can drink two bowls," said Grandfather, smiling.

Peter came with the goats and Grandfather took him to one side.

"Let Little Swan go where she likes," he said.

"She knows where to find the best food.

A little more climbing won't hurt her

and I want her to give the finest milk possible.."

Peter nodded and started off with the goats.

"Are you coming?" he called to Heidi.

"I can't," she said. "I have to stay here while Clara is with me.

But Grandfather has promised to take us both up the mountain one day."

Peter just scowled at Clara and walked on.

The girls ate their meals outside again.

As they sat under the fir trees, they exchanged news

of all that had happened to them since Heidi had left Frankfurt.

The day passed quickly and all at once it was evening.

Peter came back with the goats.

"Good night peter," they called to him, but he did not answer.

Each day, Clara sat in the sun, ate all her food and drank her milk,

each night she stared at the stars

and slept more soundly than ever before.

She was growing stronger and healthier all the time.

one day, Grandfather said to her,

" Won't you try and stand for a minute or two?"

And Clara made the effort to please him,

although her feet hurt when they touched the ground.

But each day following this, she tried to stand a little longer.

There was the same cloudless sky each morning

and the sun shone brilliantly every day of that Summer.

And when evening came the crimson light

fell on the mountain peaks and on the great snowfield,

until the sun sank in a sea of golden flame.

"Grandfather, will you take us out with the goats tomorrow?"

Heidi asked one evening. "It's so lovely up there now."

"Very well," he answered.

"But Clara must do her best to stand on her feet again this evening."

Heidi told Peter when he came back with the goats later.

"We're all coming with you tomorrow," she said.

But Peter just grumbled some reply and swung his stick angrily in the air.

Chapter 15

Peter and the wheelchair

Grandfather went out early the next morning

to see what sort of day it was going to be.

There was a light breeze,

but the sun was on its way.

He wheeled the chair out of the shed,

ready for the journey, then went in to call the children.

Peter arrived at that moment.

He was in a bad mood and even the goats seemed to sense this

and were keeping away from him.

For weeks now he had not had Heidi all to himself as he used to,

for each morning she was with the invalid child.

He glared at the wheelchair as if it was an enemy,

then looked around.

There was no sound anywhere and no one to see him.

He sprang forward like a wild animal,

caught hold of the chair and gave it a violent push.

The chair ran forward and disappeared over the edge of the slope.

Down it went, faster and faster, turning head over heels several times,

until finally it was smashed to pieces on the rocks.

Peter laughed and jumped for joy!

Now Heidi's friend would have to go away

because she had no means of getting about.

And when she was gone he would have Heidi to himself.

Soon after, Heidi came running out of the hut

and went round the shed. Grandfather was behind

with Clara in his arms. Heidi looked in the shed for the chair.

"Where's the wheelchair, Heidi?" asked Grandfather.

"I can't find it," said Heidi.

"I thought you said it was standing outside."

just then the wind blew the door shut.

"The wind must have blown it away!

Oh, if it's blown all the way to Dorfli, we'll never get it back in time

to go up the mountain!"

"If it's rolled that far, it will be in a hundred pieces by now,"

said Grandfather. "But it's a strange thing to have happened."

Clara was very upset. "I'll have to go home if I have no chair."

Grandfather tried to calm her. "I'll carry you up the mountain,"

he said. "Later on, we'll see what can be done."

When they reached the spot where the goats usually pastured,

Peter was already there.

"Have you seen anything of the wheelchair?" Grandfather asked him.

"What wheelchair?" said Peter.

Grandfather said no more.

He spread some shawls on the grass and put Clara down on them.

"Oh this is lovely! Lovely!" she cried, looking around.

Grandfather said he would come and

fetch them that evening, and he went off down the mountain again.

The sky was dark blue and there was not a cloud to be seen.

The great snowfield overhead sparkled

as if set with thousands and thousands of gold and silver stars.

The goats had become used to Clara

and several of them came across to rub their heads against her shoulder.

Heidi left her with them for a short while and wandered higher,

where the flowers were thick under her feet

and where they smelled sweetest.

She breathed in the delicious scent then ran back to Clara.

"You must come!" she said. "It's more beautiful than you can imagine.

I'm sure I could carry you."

"But Heidi, you're smaller than I am!" said Clara. "Oh if only I could walk!"

Then Heidi had an idea. "Peter!" she called. "Come here!"

"No!" shouted Peter.

"If you don't, I'll do something you don't like," Heidi told him.

Peter was suddenly afraid,

that Heidi might know something about the wheelchair

and was threatening to tell her grandfather.

He went down to the two girls.

Heidi told him to take hold of Clara under her arms

and the she did the same the other side.

Together they lifted her.

Then Clara put one arm around Heidi's shoulder

and the other through Peter's arm.

"Put your foot down firmly,"

Heidi told Clara. "I'm sure it won't hurt so much after that."

And she was right. Slowly, Clara put one foot in front of the other

and moved across the grass.

"I can do it!" she cried. "Look, Heidi I can make proper steps."

"Yes," shouted Heidi. "You're walking,Clara. You're walking!"

After a while, they reached the field of flowers and sat down.

The flowers waved to and fro in the soft breeze and

their sweet scent filled the air.

Clara was almost overcome with happiness.

Peter lay back on the ground and fell asleep,

but his dreams were full of wheelchairs!

He woke up sweating.

And when it was time to take Clara back

to where Grandfather would meet them,

he didn't complain once.

All three were hungry, but only Heidi and Clara ate their dinners

and drank their milk with enjoyment.

Peter's appetite was spoiled by the worry of what

was going to happen about the wheelchair.

When Grandfather came to fetch them,

Heidi rushed to tell him the good news about Clara.

"So we made the effort and won the day!" he said to Clara, smiling.

Then he lifted her up and put a strong arm around her

and she walked even more confidently then before.

When Peter got to Dorfli that evening,

people were talking about the wheelchair.

They were standing in a group around the broken object.

"It must be worth a lot of money," said one man.

"I can't think how such an accident could have happened."

"Alm-Uncle said the wind might have done it." said a woman.

"No doubt the gentleman from Frankfurt

will want to know what happened,"

said the man.

"He's bound to be suspicious of anyone

who was up the mountain at that time."

Peter crept away and then ran home as fast as he could.

He was certain that any day a policeman

would come from Frankfurt and he would be put in prison.

Chapter 16

Surprises!

The following days were some of the happiest that Clara

had spent on the mountain.

She awake each morning thinking,

"I am well now! I can walk by myself like other people!"

Because after several days of trying,

she could walk on her own

and every day she was able to walk a little further.

Then came the time for her grandmother's second visit.

The day before, Peter brought a letter from Frau Sesemann,

saying that she would arrive as expected.

Peter handed the letter to Grandfather and then turned away quickly

and ran off up the mountain with the goats.

"Why does Peter act as if somebody was after him with  big stick?"

said Heidi.

"Perhaps because he thinks the stick

which he so well deserves is coming after him,"

said Grandfather thoughtfully.

They began to prepare for Frau Sesemann's arrival.

Heidi tidied the hut, then the two girls dressed themselves

and went to sit on the seat outside to wait for her.

Grandfather joined them, holding some blue flowers

which he had gathered from the mountain side.

At last, Frau Sesemann's procession came up the slope.

First came the guide, then the white horse with the lady herself

and last of all the porter, with a bundle of wraps and rugs on his back.

Frau Sesemann had no sooner got off the horse,

when she said, " Clara! Why aren't you in your chair?"

She looked more closely.

"Is it really you? Your cheeks have grown quite round and rosy.

I should hardly have known you."

She was walking towards them when both

Heidi and Clara stood up.

Then Clara put a hand on Heidi's shoulder and the two girls

began walking along quite easily and naturally.

Frau Sesemann could hardly believe it!

Laughing and crying at the same time, she hurried forward and hugged both of them in turn. Then she turned to Grandfather, who was smiling.

"How much we have to thank you for!" she said to him warmly. "It's all your care and nursing - "

"And God's good sun and mountain air," he said.

"And the delicious milk I've been drinking," said Clara.

"My son must come here at once," said Frau Sesemann.

"I must send a telegram to Paris without delay.

I won't say why. It will be a wonderful surprise for him.

Now, how can I send a telegram?

The guide and the porter have gone already."

"I'll fetch Peter," said Grandfather. "He can take it for you."

He went to one side and blew a loud whistle

which echoed in the rocks overhead.

After a few minutes, Peter came running down.

He looked as white as a ghost,

expecting to see a policeman waiting for him.

But Grandfather gave him a piece of paper

and told him to take it to the post office in Dorfli.

Meanwhile, Herr Sesemann,

who had finished his business in Paris,

had also been preparing a surprise.

Without saying a word to his mother,

he got on the train one sunny morning and went to Basel.

Next day, he went on to Mayenfield

and then by carriage to Dorfli.

And at the very moment Peter was coming down the mountain

with the telegram message,

Herr Sesemann was climbing up the mountain to see his daughter.

"Is this the way to the hut where the old man and Heidi live,

and where the visitors from Frankfurt are staying?" he asked the boy.

But Peter just ran on with a frightened cry

and fell head over heels, rolling and bumping down the slope.

The telegram message was torn to pieces and blew away.

"How strange these mountain people are,"

thought Herr Sesemann as he climbed on towards the hut.

Peter rolled on down, so afraid that he barely noticed the

bumps and bruises to his body.

He was sure that the stranger who had asked the way

was the policeman from Frankfurt.

At last he came to a halt, caught up in a bush,

and he lay still for several seconds, catching his breath.

He would have liked to go home and creep into bed,

but he had left the goats on the mountain

and Alm-Uncle had told him to hurry back to them.

So he pulled himself to his feet and began to climb.

Herr Sesemann was almost there.

He could see the hut ahead of him and in another minute or two

he would be surprising his little daughter with his arrival.

But the people above had seen him coming

and they were preparing their own surprise for him.

As he came closer to the hut, two figures came towards him.

One of them was a tall girl with fair hair and pink cheeks.

She was leaning on Heidi, whose eyes were dancing with joy.

Herr Sesemann stopped and stared at the two children.

Suddenly there were tears in his eyes.

The fair-haired girl looked so like Clara's mother

that he did not know whether he was awake or dreaming.

"Don't you know me, Papa?" Clara called to him.

Then Herr Sesemann ran to his child and took her in his arms

. "How is this possible? Is it true what I see?

Are you really my little Clara?"

Frau Sesemann came forward.

"What do you say now, dear son?" she said.

"You have given us a pleasant surprise,

but we have given you an even bigger one.

But you must come and pay your respects to Heidi's grandfather,

who has been such a help to Clara."

"Yes, indeed," said Herr Sesemann.

"And here is dear little Heidi! It's a pleasure to see you."

A minute later, he and Grandfather were shaking hands

and Herr Sesemann was expressing his heartfelt thanks to the old man.

There was a slight rustling in the bushes as Peter arrived.

He had tried to slip by without being seen,

but Frau Sesemann called him across.

Heidi had not told her who had picked the blue flowers for her

and she wondered if Peter had.

She wanted to thank him, but he seemed reluctant to come over.

"Come along, boy," she said.

"Don't be afraid. Tell me, was it you who did it?"

Peter was looking at the ground and did not see

Frau Sesemann pointing at the bunch of blue flowers.

He knew that Grandfather was now watching

him closely, with the stranger from Frankfurt

- the policeman - by his side.

Shaking all over, Peter said "Yes," very quietly.

"Well, what is so dreadful about that?" said Frau Sesemann.

"B-because it's broken to pieces and

nobody can put it back together again," said Peter.

"Is the boy a little out of his mind?" she asked Grandfather.

"No," said Grandfather, who had suspected the

true reason for the accident with the wheelchair from the beginning.

"He was the 'wind' that sent the wheelchair

down the slope and he's waiting for his punishment."

"Oh!" said Frau Sesemann

. "We won't punish the poor boy any more. Let's be fair.

He was angry when we all came here and began to

take Heidi away from him - or that was how he saw it.

We all do foolish things when we're angry."

She went across to Peter. "Now stop shaking and listen!"

she said to him. "What you did was very wrong, as you now know.

But things have turned out for the best.

When Clara had no chair to ride in, she made the effort to walk

and every day since then she's been walking better and better.

Now it's over and done with and I'd like you to have something

as a pleasant reminder of the visitors from Frankfurt.

What would you like as a present?"

Peter was astonished.

He had expected something dreadful to happen to him

and now he was being offered a present!

What should he have?

Then he remembered the yearly fair at Mayenfield

where there were lots of stalls,

packed with pretty things to buy.

There were little red whistles that he could use to call his goats

and splendid knives with round handles.

If he had a penny, he could choose.

"A penny," he said.

Frau Sesemann could not help laughing.

"Come here then,"

And she put a pile of pennies into his hand.

"I've given you as many pennies as there are weeks in the year,"

she explained. Every Sunday you can take a penny out to spend."

Peter looked at the money and said,

"Thank you!" Then he ran off up the mountain, jumping for joy.

Herr Sesemann turned to Grandfather.

"I'm a rich man, but money couldn't buy the thing I wanted most

- my daughters' health.

But you've made her strong.

I can never really repay you for that,

but I want to give you something. Tell me, what can I give you?"

"I have enough for the child and myself for as long as I live,"

said Grandfather.

"But I'm growing old and shan't be here much longer.

The child has no relations,

except for one person who will always try to make a profit out of her.

If you could promise me that Heidi

will never want for anything, or have to earn her living among strangers,

that will richly reward me for what I've done for Clara."

"I look upon Heidi as if she were my own daughter,"

Herr Sesemann told him.

"And I promise to protect her always."

He turned to Heidi. "Now tell me is there anything you wish for?"

"Yes, there is," said Heidi.

I'd like the bed I slept in at Frankfurt,

with the high pillows and the thick cover,

then Peter's grandmother won't have to lie with her head lower

than her feet and hardly be able to breathe.

She'll be warm and comfortable in it."

"I'll send a telegram to Fraulein Rottenmeier,"

said Herr Sesemann, looking surprised.

"The bed will be here the day after tomorrow!"

Heidi skipped around with glee.

"How wonderful! I must go and tell Grandmother.

She'll be so pleased."

Frau Sesemann laughed. "Let's all go and tell her!" she said.

And minutes later,

a very happy party of people set off down the mountain.

But Heidi was the happiest of them all.

THE END

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