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    Heidi: Illustrated
    Heidi: Illustrated
    Heidi: Illustrated
    Ebook381 pages6 hours

    Heidi: Illustrated

    By Johanna Spyri

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    Heidi (1922), is a novel about the events in the life of a young girl in her grandfather's care, in the Swiss Alps, written by Johanna Spyri (1880), and illustrated by Jessie Willcox Smith. "Heidi" is a delightful story for children of life in the Alps, one of many tales written by the Swiss authoress, Johanna Spyri.

    She had been well known to the younger readers of her own country since 1880, when she published her story, Heimathlos, which ran into three or more editions, and which, like her other books, as she states on the title page, was written for those who love children, as well as for the youngsters themselves. Her own sympathy with the instincts and longings of the child's heart is shown in her picture of Heidi.

    The record of the early life of this Swiss child amid the beauties of her passionately loved mountain-home and during her exile in the great town has been for many years a favorite book of younger readers in Germany and America.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJohanna Spyri
    Release dateJul 10, 2014
    ISBN9786050312232
    Author

    Johanna Spyri

    Johanna Spyri (1827-1901), a lifelong resident of Switzerland, began to write stories to earn money for refugees from the Franco-Prussian War. Heidi, her first novel, was also her most successful, though she wrote many other children's books. Spyri's firm belief in the natural innocence of children and their ability to grow up into decent, caring adults if left to their own devices was remarkably similar to that of her Danish contemporary, Hans Christian Andersen.

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    Reviews for Heidi

    4/5

    12 ratings54 reviews

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    • 5/5
      My mother read Heidi to me when I was 5, and I reread it every year until I went to college.
    • 4/5
      Reread this as background reading for a trip to Switzerland. Yes, it's rather sickly sweet, and a bit heavy with God making all right, but I still enjoyed this tale of the irrepressibly good Heidi
    • 4/5
      I loved this book as a child, but now... Heidi is a little bit over the top in her 'high on life in the mountains' approach. Also, there is the strange scene where Peter must learn to read and is 'encouraged' by rhymes that tell him he'll be beaten or shipped off to the Hottentots if he doesn't succeed! Still worth reading, but... just the tiniest bit psycho, IMHO.
    • 4/5
      I liked this when I was a child. Now I'd find it a little to simple and wholesome.
    • 4/5
      That was pleasant. I had a mind to read Heidi ever since I saw the 1993 Disney film with Noley Thornton as Heidi and Jason Robards as her grandfather. Wonderful movie I watched several times (much better than the 1937 version, I'd say), but I never got around to reading the book in childhood. I recently figured it wasn't too late, so I got my hands on a copy. Glad I did (though there's not much accurate about the long-haired girl standing next to a pond or lake or something, on the cover of my copy. Should be a short-haired curly top on a mountain!)I found I liked the overall pacing of the 1993 movie better than the book, which seemed to have a lag in the middle, but then I learned that the book was originally published as two works. Knowing the second half of the story was originally a sequel explains the pacing, and I was surprised and buoyed by the God-lessons present in the book. Reading it answered some questions I had as a child when I watched the film, namely: "What's supposed to happen to Heidi in a few years though, since her grandfather is old?" The book did have an end or two that could be described as loose, and though the next volume of Heidi's story was not written by Spyri, and I wouldn't call myself the hugest fan of writers writing continuations to other people's stories, I'm tempted to check out the next book to see what's what in it, since it seems to be a pretty accepted sequel.Again I say, pleasant reading. Definitely a book I'd recommend for children--and maybe even other adults who didn't get around to reading it earlier, like me.
    • 5/5
      Heartwarming tale lived up to my memories. Narrator Marnie MacAdams did a good job except for the voice of Frau Rottenmeier, which I didn't like.
    • 4/5
      Heidi lives with her grandpa in his little wooden house, high up in the mountaines of Switzerland.One day her aunt comes and takes her to Frankfult. And then, Haidi met Clara,who has lost the use of her legs.This story is very famous in Japan. so, I watched many times on the TV when i was little.no matter i know this story well, i would enjoy this warm story.
    • 4/5
      This was my first chapter book, which my dad read to me nightly as a seven year old because I could never get past the first chapter on my own. I remember liking it, but had no recollection of the plot beyond the fact that Heidi is a little Swiss girl. As it turns out, there's not much more to it.Rereading as an adult, I still enjoy the book, but it lacks the weight of great literature that accompanies some other children's classics. It is a simple moral tale and does a marvelous job of presenting the world through a child's eyes. Heidi seems to warm the heart of everyone she meets, and points to God as one who will do good to the faithful in His perfect timing. The message is saccharine but not cloying, and helped by the refreshing respite of descriptive detail provided about Heidi's Alpine home (and if you've ever visited Switzerland, you'll know that it is just as rejuvenating a place as Spyri claims). The characters at times could have been better fleshed out; you never find out why, for example, Heidi's grandfather has turned his back on the town, and though the heroine is equal parts ornery and adorable, she lacks the spunk of an Anne Shirley or a Jo March. However, this is a nice book to introduce children to rich descriptive language about places and not just about plot details or characterisation, and an adequate precursor to those beloved novels. Think of it as a fine Christmas dessert, to be enjoyed, in moderation, at a specific time in life, but not to be feasted on regularly, and you and your children will probably have as much fun with it as I did as a seven year old.
    • 5/5
      I checked this book out from the library numerous times in my elementary school years. Something about the warm-hearted and spirited mountain girl Heidi always kept me running back to this book, though it was perhaps the beautiful descriptions of the mountains and the goats that most fascinated me - I had no trouble reading and then re-reading some of the best passages for hours on end. Finally bought my own copy a couple of years ago when walking through a used books store contemplating purchasing possibilities: I passed the children's section and Heidi jumped to mind, and, luckily, it was in stock. I read it again and found it every bit as enjoyable as I did when younger, though I find myself even more drawn to the outdoors imagery as opposed to the people than I did before. If the book has any fault, it is that its innocent-girl-changes-all-the-bitter-people-around-her story is a little too sweet, sometimes bordering on the preachy, and is, at times, almost laughable. But it's difficult to really hold this against the work, as it is rather a moral story for children. In that light it succeeds brilliantly. Any child that doesn't get to experience the simple joy that is Heidi is missing out on a treasure among books.
    • 4/5
      I read this when I was a child and reread it recently. I hadn't realized the Christian sensibility; it turns out many of the books I read as a child had this perspective. But Spyri excels at describing the mountain and the natural settings, exquisitely.
    • 4/5
      I was actually surprised at how much the kids really enjoyed this book. This story has a very simple charm although for me I will have to say the charm was tainted a little when I read that it was supposedly autobiographical. It just seems wrong to paint yourself as a saint. But as a fictional character Heidi is the epitome of sweetness, light and charity. Even the antagonists in the story are very mild. Everything about this story was a little saccharine but apparently the kids enjoy that because they begged for more. Oh and the goats, we loved the German names of the goats!
    • 3/5
      The best part of the books was that the grandfather opened his heart.
    • 3/5
      Normally I have a very high tolerance for old-fashioned stories featuring unrealistically saccharine children; I'm very fond of A Little Princess, The Five Little Peppers, and the like. I have to say, though, Heidi exceeded my limits. Part of it is that I have a distinct dislike for preachy characters; Heidi gets religion partway through the book (for no reason other than that someone tells her to do so), and for the rest of the story is prone to breaking out in lectures about how good God is and how one must never forget to pray. It isn't so frequent that I couldn't have overlooked it, but I didn't find the rest of the story charming enough to make up for it. There's far too much telling rather than showing in the narration; aside from one cute interlude in the schoolroom, we are generally only informed that Heidi shakes up the Sesemann household and makes it more interesting and cheerful. Mostly what we are shown is Heidi moping around and bursting into tears because she's homesick for the Alps, and it's not terribly clear why most of the household seems to find her such a treasure. When she's in the Alps, she tends to be a bit of a broken record about how beautiful everything is or how she wants to do X to help Y/is going to do X to help Y/is so happy she got to do X to help Y; it gets extremely repetitive, even for a children's book. The other characters weren't any more interesting; Heidi's friend Peter is a sullen little thing who rarely does anything aside from get violently jealous whenever Heidi pays attention to someone else (to the point that it's vaguely disturbing), and the grandmother apparently exists only to be an object of pity. Heidi's grandfather is supposed to be a grouchy old man melted by the sheer force of Heidi's charisma, but seeing as this transformation takes place more or less five minutes after they're introduced, it's not terribly convincing; even the infamous Little Lord Fauntleroy pulled it off more gracefully. The Sesemanns don't get enough dialogue to be very interesting as individuals, aside from Fraulein Rottenmeier, who is intended to be unlikeable. I did like Sebastian the butler, but then I also kept accidentally replacing him with Sebastian from Black Butler in my mind's eye - which was a terribly entertaining thought, of course, but had little to do with the story as written. The plot is fairly meandering, and not enough really happens to compensate for the weak characters. (It did make me laugh once, though, when Heidi's Aunt Dete comes to the grandfather's hut in her floor-length, sweeping skirts and the narration points out that there are things on the floor of a goatherd's hut that do not belong in a dress.) The descriptions of the Alps were lovely, of course, and if all you're interested in is the scenery, go ahead. Otherwise, there are plenty of books about adorable, cheerful little girls spreading sweetness and light in their wake, and I'd choose a different one.
    • 5/5
      You can taste this novel. You can breathe it. You can feel the embraces of the grandfather and Peter's mother. Your own legs tingle as Clara's come to life and she begins to walk. Heidi may be just a shade on the corny side (and the movies are even worse), but Spyri's classic is uniquely alive, incredibly sensuous. You are genuinely thrilled when Heidi gets back to the mountains, genuinely moved when Clara walks and the reclusive grandfather is brought back into his community. A beauty.
    • 4/5
      This book is famous story. Main character's name is Heidi.But true name is not Heidi, but Adelheid.She lives with her grandfather in his little wooden house. Miraculously,people often change when they meet little Heidi!!This story made me feel happy and moved me.Especially, when you are not fine, I want you to read this book!!
    • 5/5
      Beautiful- a classic, a simple story of a little girl growing up in the mountains.
    • 5/5
      My copy of Heidi is actually a hardback with beautiful illustrations. I loved this book. Probably very unrealistic, with an overly idyllic picture of the setting -- but lovely all the same.
    • 4/5
      So, okay, Heidi's one of those characters that're excessively perfect, but the story is captivating nonetheless. Heidi's creative, and her fun in the Alps was fun to read about. What I remember perhaps the most about this book was that she learned to read after she discovered the value of reading- that the letters held words and stories.
    • 5/5
      A wonderfully written children's book that this "boomer" still loves to read.
    • 5/5
      I first read this when I was 8, and have read it to/with my own daughters. This is a firm favourite and even now, it's part of my "comfort reading". I most recently read it again just before xmas after a bout of flu. Better than chicken soup!
    • 4/5
      This story is that a little Swiss girl Heidi goes to live with her grandfather (ancle Alp) His home is a little house on a mountain . He loves Heidi and he sometimes angry and feels sad .I think that almost of the people know this story and I have been looked anime on TV when I was a junior high scholl student . I like a cirtai scene that Clara was able to walk herself !! This is a wonderful surprise . If my best friend asks me help , I will work hard for my friend .
    • 4/5
      I loved this book in a way I could never love Little Women or Anne of Green Gables, and I have no idea why. I think something about it just appealed to me. However, the sequel is actually BETTER.
    • 3/5
      I have mixed views about this book. On one hand, it is sickeningly twee, with a heavy dose of religion thrown in. On the other hand, it was written over 130 years ago in God-fearing times, when people respected the upper classes. Still, Heidi's endless selflessness and do-gooding is rather nauseating.
    • 4/5
      "Heidi". Can you believe I'm reading freakin' "Heidi"? Is that desperation, or what? Actually, I have to confess that lack of reading material doesn't figure into this. "Heidi" is on the list of books that my younger daughter has to read/have read to her for school. To be a good teacher, I figure I should read the literature the curriculum is foisting upon my kids. But whatever the motivation, I have perused "Heidi" and have to admit that I enjoyed it. I didn't think I was going to. I mean, I think that repeated exposure to "The Brady Bunch" in my formative years has permanently prejudiced me to "nice" stories and characters. So I was expecting "Heidi" to be a drag. It didn't start out so great. This book was originally written in German and the characters speak and act a bit off from what I'm used to. And the lead character was, as expected, a sweet, innocent little girl who spreads sunshine wherever she goes. But for some reason, that didn't annoy me so much. Maybe it was her way of innocently challenging the status quo, be it by tossing her fancy clothes aside when she got hot or by tweaking the ever restrictive Fraulein Rottenmeier. (love that name...) Or maybe it's that Heidi didn't manage to totally redeem the world--some sadness remained and some people resisted the child's charm. Whatever it was, by the end I was willingly reading the novel, wondering how it would all end. I even have to recommend that you check it out. You can always go watch "The Simpsons" later.--J.
    • 4/5
      The descriptions in this book allow the reader to feel the mountains around her. Heidi is an honest, caring, open child--almost a cross between a present day Junie B. Jones and Amelia Bedilia. She finds herself in trouble due to her absolute purity and innocense, but she is loved deeply by those she encounters. The story begins as she trudges up the mountain to meet her grumpy old grandfather, but it doesn't take him long to experience joy in Heidi's presence. Peter, the goatheard, finds great friendship with Heidi, and his grandmother loves her voice, especially when she learns to read. She spends time in Frankfurt as a companion to Clara, a disabled girl, but she returns to her grandfather on the mountain as she becomes horribly homesick. Clara comes to visit Heidi on the mountain, and Peter becomes very jealous leading to a transformation in Clara.
    • 5/5
      This book would be good to use to show another culture. Students will like this book because of how Heidi thinks of things that are out of the ordinary.
    • 4/5
      Sweet story. Rather religious without crossing the line into preachy. Love her idyllic existence with her grandfather; that's probably my favorite part of the book.
    • 5/5
      Little girl's classics. Read around same time as Little Women.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book. I liked how not only Heidi grew but her grandfather grew as well. I was very pleased that in the end they were able to stay together.
    • 4/5
      "Heidi" Maby everyone know her name and this story is very famouse in Japan. Heidi is pure and charming girl. Sometimes there are some troubles, but She overcome and live happy in great nature. This book warmed me especialy for the sake of the character of Heidi. As you know, she is very cute girl. If you read this book, you like her more and more.

    Book preview

    Heidi - Johanna Spyri

    Heidi

    Illustrated

    by Johanna Spyri

    Illustrated By Jessie Willcox Smith

    David McKay Co., Philadelphia

    (1922)

    CONTENTS

    I. Up the Mountain to Alm-Uncle

    II. At Home with Grandfather

    III. Out with the Goats

    IV. The Visit to Grandmother

    V. Two Visits and What Came of Them

    VI. A New Chapter about New Things

    VII. Fraulein Rottenmeier Spends an Uncomfortable Day

    VIII. There is Great Commotion in the Large House

    IX. Herr Sesemann Hears of Things that are New to Him

    X. Another Grandmother

    XI. Heidi Gains in One Way and Loses in Another

    XII. A Ghost in the House

    XIII. A Summer Evening on the Mountain

    XIV. Sunday Bells

    XV. Preparations for a journey

    XVI. A Visitor

    XVII. A Compensation

    XVIII. Winter in Dorfli

    XIX. The Winter Continues

    XX, News from Distant Friends

    XXI, How Life went on at Grandfather's

    XXII, Something Unexpected Happens

    XXIII, Good-bye Till We Meet Again

    HEIDI

    CHAPTER I. UP THE MOUNTAIN TO ALM-UNCLE

    From the old and pleasantly situated village of Mayenfeld, afootpath winds through green and shady meadows to the foot of themountains, which on this side look down from their stern andlofty heights upon the valley below. The land grows graduallywilder as the path ascends, and the climber has not gone farbefore he begins to inhale the fragrance of the short grass andsturdy mountain-plants, for the way is steep and leads directlyup to the summits above.

    On a clear sunny morning in June two figures might be seenclimbing the narrow mountain path; one, a tall strong-lookinggirl, the other a child whom she was leading by the hand, andwhose little checks were so aglow with heat that the crimsoncolor could be seen even through the dark, sunburnt skin. Andthis was hardly to be wondered at, for in spite of the hot Junesun the child was clothed as if to keep off the bitterest frost.She did not look more than five years old, if as much, but whather natural figure was like, it would have been hard to say, forshe had apparently two, if not three dresses, one above theother, and over these a thick red woollen shawl wound round abouther, so that the little body presented a shapeless appearance,as, with its small feet shod in thick, nailed mountain-shoes, itslowly and laboriously plodded its way up in the heat. The twomust have left the valley a good hour's walk behind them, whenthey came to the hamlet known as Dorfli, which is situatedhalf-way up the mountain. Here the wayfarers met with greetingsfrom all sides, some calling to them from windows, some from opendoors, others from outside, for the elder girl was now in her oldhome. She did not, however, pause in her walk to respond to herfriends' welcoming cries and questions, but passed on withoutstopping for a moment until she reached the last of the scatteredhouses of the hamlet. Here a voice called to her from the door:Wait a moment, Dete; if you are going up higher, I will comewith you.

    The girl thus addressed stood still, and the child immediatelylet go her hand and seated herself on the ground.

    Are you tired, Heidi? asked her companion.

    No, I am hot, answered the child.

    We shall soon get to the top now. - You must walk bravely on alittle longer, and take good long steps, and in another hour weshall be there, said Dete in an encouraging voice.

    They were now joined by a stout, good-natured-looking woman, whowalked on ahead with her old acquaintance, the two breaking forthat once into lively conversation about everybody and everythingin Dorfli and its surroundings, while the child wandered behindthem.

    And where are you off to with the child? asked the one who hadjust joined the party. I suppose it is the child your sisterleft?

    Yes, answered Dete. I am taking her up to Uncle, where shemust stay.

    The child stay up there with Alm-Uncle! You must be out of yoursenses, Dete! How can you think of such a thing! The old man,however, will soon send you and your proposal packing off homeagain!

    He cannot very well do that, seeing that he is her grandfather.He must do something for her. I have had the charge of the childtill now, and I can tell you, Barbel, I am not going to give upthe chance which has just fallen to me of getting a good place,for her sake. It is for the grandfather now to do his duty byher.

    That would be all very well if he were like other people,asseverated stout Barbel warmly, but you know what he is. Andwhat can he do with a child, especially with one so young! Thechild cannot possibly live with him. But where are you thinkingof going yourself?

    To Frankfurt, where an extra good place awaits me, answeredDete. The people I am going to were down at the Baths lastsummer, and it was part of my duty to attend upon their rooms.They would have liked then to take me away with them, but I couldnot leave. Now they are there again and have repeated theiroffer, and I intend to go with them, you may make up your mind tothat!

    I am glad I am not the child! exclaimed Barbel, with a gestureof horrified pity. Not a creature knows anything about the oldman up there! He will have nothing to do with anybody, and neversets his foot inside a church from one year's end to another.When he does come down once in a while, everybody clears out ofthe way of him and his big stick. The mere sight of him, with hisbushy grey eyebrows and his immense beard, is alarming enough. Helooks like any old heathen or Indian, and few would care to meethim alone.

    Well, and what of that? said Dete, in a defiant voice, he isthe grandfather all the same, and must look after the child. Heis not likely to do her any harm, and if he does, he will beanswerable for it, not I.

    I should very much like to know, continued Barbel, in aninquiring tone of voice, what the old man has on his consciencethat he looks as he does, and lives up there on the mountain likea hermit, hardly ever allowing himself to be seen. All kinds ofthings are said about him. You, Dete, however, must certainlyhave learnt a good deal concerning him from your sister--am I notright?

    You are right, I did, but I am not going to repeat what I heard;if it should come to his ears I should get into trouble aboutit.

    Now Barbel had for long past been most anxious to ascertainparticulars about Alm-Uncle, as she could not understand why heseemed to feel such hatred towards his fellow-creatures, andinsisted on living all alone, or why people spoke about him halfin whispers, as if afraid to say anything against him, and yetunwilling to take his Part. Moreover, Barbel was in ignorance asto why all the people in Dorfli called him Alm-Uncle, for hecould not possibly be uncle to everybody living there. As,however, it was the custom, she did like the rest and called theold man Uncle. Barbel had only lived in Dorfli since hermarriage, which had taken place not long before. Previous to thather home had been below in Prattigau, so that she was not wellacquainted with all the events that had ever taken place, andwith all the people who had ever lived in Dorfli and itsneighborhood. Dete, on the contrary, had been born in Dorfli, andhad lived there with her mother until the death of the latter theyear before, and had then gone over to the Baths at Ragatz andtaken service in the large hotel there as chambermaid. On themorning of this day she had come all the way from Ragatz with thechild, a friend having given them a lift in a hay-cart as far asMayenfeld. Barbel was therefore determined not to lose this goodopportunity of satisfying her curiosity. She put her arm throughDete's in a confidential sort of way, and said: I know I canfind out the real truth from you, and the meaning of all thesetales that are afloat about him. I believe you know the wholestory. Now do just tell me what is wrong with the old man, and ifhe was always shunned as he is now, and was always such amisanthrope.

    How can I possibly tell you whether he was always the same,seeing I am only six-and-twenty and he at least seventy years ofage; so you can hardly expect me to know much about his youth. IfI was sure, however, that what I tell you would not go the wholeround of Prattigau, I could relate all kinds of things about him;my mother came from Domleschg, and so did he.

    Nonsense, Dete, what do you mean? replied Barbel, somewhatoffended, gossip has not reached such a dreadful pitch inPrattigau as all that, and I am also quite capable of holding mytongue when it is necessary.

    Very well then, I will tell you--but just wait a moment, saidDete in a warning voice, and she looked back to make sure thatthe child was not near enough to hear all she was going torelate; but the child was nowhere to be seen, and must haveturned aside from following her companions some time before,while these were too eagerly occupied with their conversation tonotice it. Dete stood still and looked around her in alldirections. The footpath wound a little here and there, but couldnevertheless be seen along its whole length nearly to Dorfli; noone, however, was visible upon it at this moment.

    I see where she is, exclaimed Barbel, look over there! andshe pointed to a spot far away from the footpath. She isclimbing up the slope yonder with the goatherd and his goats. Iwonder why he is so late to-day bringing them up. It happenswell, however, for us, for he can now see after the child, andyou can the better tell me your tale.

    Oh, as to the looking after, remarked Dete, the boy need notput himself out about that; she is not by any means stupid forher five years, and knows how to use her eyes. She notices allthat is going on, as I have often had occasion to remark, andthis will stand her in good stead some day, for the old man hasnothing beyond his two goats and his hut.

    Did he ever have more? asked Barbel.

    He? I should think so indeed, replied Dete with animation; hewas owner once of one of the largest farms in Domleschg. He wasthe elder of two brothers; the younger was a quiet, orderly man,but nothing would please the other but to play the grandgentleman and go driving about the country and mixing with badcompany, strangers that nobody knew. He drank and gambled awaythe whole of his property, and when this became known to hismother and father they died, one shortly after the other, ofsorrow. The younger brother, who was also reduced to beggary,went off in his anger, no one knew whither, while Uncle himself,having nothing now left to him but his, bad name, alsodisappeared. For some time his whereabouts were unknown, thensome one found out that he had gone to Naples as a soldier; afterthat nothing more was heard of him for twelve or fifteen years.At the end of that time he reappeared in Domleschg, bringing withhim a young child, whom he tried to place with some of hiskinspeople. Every door, however, was shut in his face, for no onewished to have any more to do with him. Embittered by thistreatment, he vowed never to set foot in Domleschg again, and hethen came to Dorfli, where he continued to live with his littleboy. His wife was probably a native of the Grisons, whom he hadmet down there, and who died soon after their marriage. He couldnot have been entirely without money, for he apprenticed his son,Tobias, to a carpenter. He was a steady lad, and kindly receivedby every one in Dorfli. The old man was, however, still lookedupon with suspicion, and it was even rumoured that he had beenforced to make his escape from Naples, or it might have gonebadly with him, for that he had killed a man, not in fair fight,you understand, but in some brawl. We, however, did not refuse toacknowledge our relationship with him, my great-grandmother on mymother's side having been sister to his grandmother. So we calledhim Uncle, and as through my father we are also related to nearlyevery family in Dorfli, he became known all over the place asUncle, and since he went to live on the mountain side he has goneeverywhere by the name of Alm-Uncle.

    And what happened to Tobias? asked Barbel, who was listeningwith deep interest.

    Wait a moment, I am coming to that, but I cannot tell youeverything at once, replied Dete. Tobias was taught his tradein Mels, and when he had served. his apprenticeship he came backto Dorfli and married my sister Adelaide. They had always beenfond of one another, and they got on very well together afterthey were married. But their happiness did not last long. Herhusband met with his death only two years after their marriage, abeam falling upon him as he was working, and killing him on thespot. They carried him home, and when Adelaide saw the poordisfigured body of her husband she was so overcome with horrorand grief that she fell into a fever from which she neverrecovered. She had always been rather delicate and subject tocurious attacks, during which no one knew whether she was awakeor sleeping. And so two months after Tobias had been carried tothe grave, his wife followed him. Their sad fate was the talk ofeverybody far and near, and both in private and public thegeneral opinion was expressed that it was a punishment whichUncle had deserved for the godless life he had led. Some went sofar even as to tell him so to his face. Our minister endeavoredto awaken his conscience and exhorted him to repentance, but theold man grew only more wrathful and obdurate and would not speakto a soul, and every one did their best to keep out of his way.All at once we heard that he had gone to live up the Alm and didnot intend ever to come down again, and since then he has led hissolitary life on the mountain side at enmity with God and man.Mother and I took Adelaide's little one, then only a year old,into our care. When mother died last year, and I went down to theBaths to earn some money, I paid old Ursel, who lives in thevillage just above, to keep and look after the child. I stayed onat the Baths through the winter, for as I could sew and knit Ihad no difficulty in finding plenty of work, and early in thespring the same family I had waited on before returned fromFrankfurt, and again asked me to go back with them. And so weleave the day after to-morrow, and I can assure you, it is anexcellent place for me.

    And you are going to give the child over to the old man upthere? It surprises me beyond words that you can think of doingsuch a thing, Dete, said Barbel, in a voice full of reproach.

    What do you mean? retorted Dete. "I have done my duty by thechild, and what would you have me do with it now? I cannotcertainly take a child of five years old with me to Frankfurt.But where are you going to yourself, Barbel; we are now half wayup the Alm?

    We have just reached the place I wanted, answered Barbel. Ihad something to say to the goatherd's wife, who does somespinning for me in the winter. So good-bye, Dete, and good luckto you!

    Dete shook hands with her friend and remained standing whileBarbel went towards a small, dark brown hut, which stood a fewsteps away from the path in a hollow that afforded it someprotection from the mountain wind. The hut was situated half wayup the Alm, reckoning from Dorfli, and it was well that it wasprovided with some shelter, for it was so broken-down anddilapidated that even then it must have been very unsafe as ahabitation, for when the stormy south wind came sweeping over themountain, everything inside it, doors and windows, shook andrattled, and all the rotten old beams creaked and trembled. Onsuch days as this, had the goatherd's dwelling been standingabove on the exposed mountain side, it could not have escapedbeing blown straight down into the valley without a moment'swarning.

    Here lived Peter, the eleven-year-old boy, who every morning wentdown to Dorfli to fetch his goats and drive them up on to themountain, where they were free to browse till evening on thedelicious mountain plants.

    Then Peter, with his light-footed animals, would go running andleaping down the mountain again till he reached Dorfli, and therehe would give a shrill whistle through his fingers, whereupon allthe owners of the goats would come out to fetch home the animalsthat belonged to them. It was generally the small boys and girlswho ran in answer to Peter's whistle, for they were none of themafraid of the gentle goats, and this was the only hour of the daythrough all the summer months that Peter had any opportunity ofseeing his young friends, since the rest of his time was spentalone with the goats. He had a mother and a blind grandmother athome, it is true, but he was always obliged to start off veryearly in the morning, and only got home late in the evening fromDorfli, for he always stayed as long as he could talking andplaying with the other children; and so he had just time enoughat home, and that was all, to swallow down his bread and milk inthe morning, and again in the evening to get through a similarmeal, lie down in bed and go to sleep. His father, who had beenknown also as the goatherd, having earned his living as such whenyounger, had been accidentally killed while cutting wood someyears before. His mother, whose real name was Brigitta, wasalways called the goatherd's wife, for the sake of oldassociation, while the blind grandmother was just grandmotherto all the old and young in the neighborhood.

    Dete had been standing for a good ten minutes looking about herin every direction for some sign of the children and the goats.Not a glimpse of them, however, was to be seen, so she climbed toa higher spot, whence she could get a fuller view of the mountainas it sloped beneath her to the valley, while, withever-increasing anxiety on her face and in her movements, shecontinued to scan the surrounding slopes. Meanwhile the childrenwere climbing up by a far and roundabout way, for Peter knew manyspots where all kinds of good food, in the shape of shrubs andplants, grew for his goats, and he was in the habit of leadinghis flock aside from the beaten track. The child, exhausted withthe heat and weight of her thick armor of clothes, panted andstruggled after him at first with some difficulty. She saidnothing, but her little eyes kept watching first Peter, as hesprang nimbly hither and thither on his bare feet, clad only inhis short light breeches, and then the slim-legged goats thatwent leaping over rocks and shrubs and up the steep ascents witheven greater ease. All at once she sat herself down on theground, and as fast as her little fingers could move, beganpulling off her shoes and stockings. This done she rose, unwoundthe hot red shawl and threw it away, and then proceeded to undoher frock. It was off in a second, but there was still another tounfasten, for Dete had put the Sunday frock on over the everydayone, to save the trouble of carrying it. Quick as lightning theeveryday frock followed the other, and now the child stood up,clad only in her light short-sleeved under garment, stretchingout her little bare arms with glee. She put all her clothestogether in a tidy little heap, and then went jumping andclimbing up after Peter and the goats as nimbly as any one of theparty. Peter had taken no heed of what the child was about whenshe stayed behind, but when she ran up to him in her new attire,his face broke into a grin, which grew broader still as he lookedback and saw the small heap of clothes lying on the ground, untilhis mouth stretched almost from ear to ear; he said nothing,however. The child, able now to move at her ease, began to enterinto conversation with Peter, who had many questions to answer,for his companion wanted to know how many goats he had, where hewas going to with them, and what he had to do when he arrivedthere. At last, after some time, they and the goats approachedthe hut and came within view of Cousin Dete. Hardly had thelatter caught sight of the little company climbing up towards herwhen she shrieked out: Heidi, what have you been doing! What asight you have made of yourself! And where are your two frocksand the red wrapper? And the new shoes I bought, and the newstockings I knitted for you--everything gone! not a thing left!What can you have been thinking of, Heidi; where are all yourclothes?

    The child quietly pointed to a spot below on the mountain sideand answered, Down there. Dete followed the direction of herfinger; she could just distinguish something lying on the ground,with a spot of red on the top of it which she had no doubt wasthe woollen wrapper.

    You good-for-nothing little thing! exclaimed Dete angrily,what could have put it into your head to do like that? What madeyou undress yourself? What do you mean by it?

    I don't want any clothes, said the child, not showing any signof repentance for her past deed.

    You wretched, thoughtless child! have you no sense in you atall? continued Dete, scolding and lamenting. Who is going allthat way down to fetch them; it's a good half-hour's walk! Peter,you go off and fetch them for me as quickly as you can, and don'tstand there gaping at me, as if you were rooted to the ground!

    I am already past my time, answered Peter slowly, withoutmoving from the spot where he had been standing with his hands inhis pockets, listening to Dete's outburst of dismay and anger.

    Well, you won't get far if you only keep on standing there withyour eyes staring out of your head, was Dete's cross reply; butsee, you shall have something nice, and she held out a brightnew piece of money to him that sparkled in the sun. Peter wasimmediately up and off down the steep mountain side, taking theshortest cut, and in an incredibly short space of time hadreached the little heap of clothes, which he gathered up underhis arm, and was back again so quickly that even Dete was obligedto give him a word of praise as she handed him the promisedmoney. Peter promptly thrust it into his pocket and his facebeamed with delight, for it was not often that he was the happypossessor of such riches.

    You can carry the things up for me as far as Uncle's, as you aregoing the same way," went on Dete, who was preparing to continueher climb up the mountain side, which rose in a steep ascentimmediately behind the goatherd's hut. Peter willingly undertookto do this, and followed after her on his bare feet, with hisleft arm round the bundle and the right swinging his goatherd'sstick, while Heidi and the goats went skipping and jumpingjoyfully beside him. After a climb of more than three-quarters ofan hour they reached the top of the Alm mountain. Uncle's hutstood on a projection of the rock, exposed indeed to the winds,but where every ray of sun could rest upon it, and a full viewcould be had of the valley beneath. Behind the hut stood threeold fir trees, with long, thick, unlopped branches. Beyond theserose a further wall of mountain, the lower heights stillovergrown with beautiful grass and plants, above which werestonier slopes, covered only with scrub, that led gradually up tothe steep, bare rocky summits.

    Against the hut, on the side looking towards the valley, Unclehad put up a seat. Here he was sitting, his pipe in his mouth andhis hands on his knees, quietly looking out, when the children,the goats and Cousin Dete suddenly clambered into view. Heidi wasat the top first. She went straight up to the old man, put outher hand, and said, Good-evening, Grandfather.

    So, so, what is the meaning of this? he asked gruffly, as hegave the child an abrupt shake of the hand, and gazed long andscrutinisingly at her from under his bushy eyebrows. Heidi staredsteadily back at him in return with unflinching gaze, for thegrandfather, with his long beard and thick grey eyebrows thatgrew together over his nose and looked just like a bush, was sucha remarkable appearance, that Heidi was unable to take her eyesoff him. Meanwhile Dete had come up, with Peter after her, andthe latter now stood still a while to watch what was going on.

    I wish you good-day, Uncle, said Dete, as she walked towardshim, and I have brought you Tobias and Adelaide's child. Youwill hardly recognise her, as you have never seen her since shewas a year old.

    And what has the child to do with me up here? asked the old mancurtly. You there, he then called out to Peter, be off withyour goats, you are none too early as it is, and take mine withyou.

    Peter obeyed on the instant and quickly disappeared, for the oldman had given him a look that made him feel that he did not wantto stay any longer.

    The child is here to remain with you, Dete made answer. Ihave, I think, done my duty by her for these four years, and nowit is time for you to do yours.

    That's it, is it? said the old man, as he looked at her with aflash in his eye. And when the child begins to fret and whineafter you, as is the way with these unreasonable little beings,what am I to do with her then?

    That's your affair, retorted Dete. I know I had to put up withher without complaint when she was left on my hands as an infant,and with enough to do as it was for my mother and self. Now Ihave to go and look after my own earnings, and you are the nextof kin to the child. If you cannot arrange to keep her, do withher as you like. You will be answerable for the result if harmhappens to her, though you have hardly need, I should think, toadd to the burden already on your conscience.

    Now Dete was not quite easy in her own conscience about what shewas doing, and consequently was feeling hot and irritable, andsaid more than she had intended. As she uttered her last words,Uncle rose from his seat. He looked at her in a way that made herdraw back a step or two, then flinging out his arm, he said toher in a commanding voice: Be off with you this instant, and getback as quickly as you can to the place whence you came, and donot let me see your face again in a hurry.

    Dete did not wait to be told twice. Good-bye to you then, and toyou too, Heidi, she called, as she turned quickly away andstarted to descend the mountain at a running pace, which she didnot slacken till she found herself safely again at Dorfli, forsome inward agitation drove her forwards as if a steam-engine wasat work inside her. Again questions came raining down upon herfrom all sides, for every one knew Dete, as well as allparticulars of the birth and

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