CHAPTER XXII
WICKED PETER AND THE UNLUCKY CHAIR
Uncle went out early the next morning to see what kind of a day it wasgoing to be. There was a reddish gold light over the higher peaks; alight breeze was springing up and the branches of the fir trees movedgently to and fro--the sun was on its way.
He wheeled the chair out of the shed ready for the coming journey, andthen went in to call the children and tell them what a lovely sunriseit was.
Peter came up the mountain at this moment. The goats did not gatherround him so trustfully as usual, but seemed to avoid him timidly, forhe had reached a high pitch of anger and bitterness, and was usinghis stick very unnecessarily, and where it fell the blow was no lightone. For weeks now he had not had Heidi all to himself as formerly.When he came up in the morning the invalid child was always alreadyin her chair and Heidi fully occupied with her. And it was the samething over again when he came down in the evening. She had not comeout with the goats once this summer, and today she was only coming incompany with her friend and the chair, and would stick by the latter'sside the whole time. It was the thought of this which was making himparticularly cross this morning. There stood the chair on its highwheels. Peter glared at it as at an enemy that had done him harm andwas likely to do him still more today. He glanced round--there wasno sound anywhere, no one to see him. He sprang forward like a wildcreature, caught hold of the chair, and gave it a violent and angrypush in the direction of the slope. It rolled swiftly forward and inanother minute had disappeared.
Peter now sped up the mountain as if on wings, not pausing till he waswell hidden behind a large blackberry bush, for he had no wish to beseen by Uncle. But he was anxious to see what had become of the chair,so he looked, and there he saw his enemy running faster and faster downhill, then it turned head over heels several times, and finally, afterone great bound, rolled over and over to its complete destruction.The pieces flew in every direction--feet, arms, and torn fragments ofthe padded seat and bolster--and Peter experienced a feeling of suchunbounded delight at the sight that he leapt in the air, laughing aloudand stamping for joy. He could see only good results for himself inthe disaster to his enemy. Now Heidi's friend would be obliged togo away, for she would have no means of going about, and when Heidiwas alone again she would come out with him as in the old days, andeverything would go on in the proper way. But Peter did not consider,or did not know, that when we do a wrong thing trouble is sure tofollow.
Heidi now came running out of the hut and round the shed. Grandfatherwas behind with Clara in his arms. The shed stood wide open, the twoloose planks having been taken down, and it was quite light inside.Heidi looked into every corner and ran from one end to the other, andthen stood still wondering what could have happened to the chair.Grandfather now came up.
"How is this, have you wheeled the chair away, Heidi?"
"I have been looking everywhere for it, Grandfather; you said it wasstanding ready outside," and she again searched each corner of the shedwith her eyes.
At that moment the wind, which had risen suddenly, blew open the sheddoor and sent it banging back against the wall.
"It must have been the wind, Grandfather," exclaimed Heidi, and hereyes grew anxious at this sudden discovery. "Oh! if it has blown thechair all the way down to Doerfli we shall not get it back in time, andshall not be able to go."
"If it has rolled as far as that it will never come back, for it is ina hundred pieces by now," said the grandfather, going round the cornerand looking down. "But it's a curious thing to have happened!" he addedas he thought over the matter, for the chair would have had to turn acorner before starting down hill.
"Oh, I am sorry," lamented Clara, "for we shall not be able to gotoday, or perhaps any other day. I shall have to go home, I suppose, ifI have no chair. Oh, I am so sorry, I am so sorry!"
But Heidi looked towards her grandfather with her usual expression ofconfidence.
"Grandfather, you will be able to do something, won't you, so that itneed not be as Clara says, and so that she is not obliged to go home."
"Well, for the present we will go up the mountain as we had arranged,and then later on we will see what can be done," he answered, much tothe children's delight.
He went indoors, carried out a pile of shawls, and laying them on thesunniest spot he could find set Clara down upon them. Then he broughtthe children's morning milk and led out his two goats.
"Why is Peter not here yet," thought Uncle to himself, for Peter'swhistle had not been sounded that morning. The grandfather then tookClara up on one arm, and the shawls on the other.
"Now then we will start," he said, "the goats can come with us."
Heidi was pleased at this and walked on after her grandfather with anarm over either of the goats' necks, and the animals were so overjoyedto have her again that they nearly squeezed her flat between them outof sheer affection. When they reached the spot where the goats usuallypastured they were surprised to find them already feeding there,climbing about the rocks, and Peter with them, lying his full length onthe ground.
"I'll teach you another time to go by like that, you lazy rascal! Whatdo you mean by it?" Uncle called to him.
Peter, recognizing the voice, jumped up like a shot. "No one was up,"he answered.
"Have you seen anything of the chair?" asked the grandfather.
"Of what chair?" called Peter back in answer in a morose tone of voice.
Uncle said no more. He spread the shawls on the sunny slope, andsetting Clara upon them asked if she was comfortable.
"As comfortable as in my chair," she said, thanking him, "and thisseems the most beautiful spot. O Heidi, it is lovely, it is lovely!"she cried, looking round her with delight.
The grandfather prepared to leave them. They would now be safe andhappy together he said, and when it was time for dinner Heidi was to goand bring the bag from the shady hollow where he had put it; Peter wasto get them as much milk as they wanted, but Heidi was to see that itwas Little Swan's milk. He would come for them towards evening; he mustnow be off to see after the chair and find out what had become of it.
The sky was dark blue, and not a single cloud was to be seen from onehorizon to the other. The great snowfield overhead sparkled as if setwith thousands and thousands of gold and silver stars. Now and againa young goat came and lay down beside them; Snowflake came oftenest,putting her little head down near Heidi, and only moving becauseanother goat came and drove her away. And the goats had also grownfamiliar with Clara and would rub their heads against her shoulder,which was always a sign of acquaintanceship and goodwill.
Some hours went by, and Heidi began to think that she might just goover to the spot where all the flowers grew to see if they were fullyblown and looking as lovely as the year before. Clara could not gountil grandfather came back that evening, when the flowers probablywould be already closed. The longing to go became stronger andstronger, till Heidi felt she could not resist it.
"Would you think me unkind, Clara," she said rather hesitatingly, "ifI left you for a few minutes? I could run there and back very quickly.I want so to see how the flowers are looking--but wait--" for an ideahad come into Heidi's head. She ran and picked a bunch or two of greenleaves, and then took hold of Snowflake and led her up to Clara.
"There, now you will not be alone," said Heidi, giving the goat alittle push to show her she was to lie down near Clara, which theanimal quite understood. Heidi threw the leaves into Clara's lap,and the latter told her friend to go at once to look at the flowersas she was quite happy to be left with the goat; she liked this newexperience. Heidi ran off, and Clara began to hold out the leaves oneby one to Snowflake, who snuggled up to her new friend in a confidingmanner and slowly ate the leaves from her hand. She found a strangenew pleasure in sitting all alone like this on the mountain side, heronly companion a little goat that looked to her for protection. Shesuddenly felt a great desire to be her own mistress and to be able tohelp others, instead of herself being always dep
endent as she was now.Many thoughts, unknown to her before, came crowding into her mind, anda longing to go on living in the sunshine, and to be doing somethingthat would bring happiness to another, as now she was helping to makethe goat happy. An unaccustomed feeling of joy took possession of her,as if everything she had ever known or felt became all at once morebeautiful, and she seemed to see all things in a new light, and sostrong was the sense of this new beauty and happiness that she threwher arms round the little goat's neck, and exclaimed, "O Snowflake, howdelightful it is up here! if only I could stay on for ever with youbeside me!"
Heidi had meanwhile reached her field of flowers, and as she caughtsight of it she uttered a cry of joy. The whole ground in front of herwas a mass of shimmering gold, where the cistus flowers spread theiryellow blossoms. Above them waved whole bushes of the deep blue-bellflowers. Heidi stood and gazed and drew in the delicious air. Suddenlyshe turned round and reached Clara's side out of breath with runningand excitement. "Oh, you must come," she called out as soon as she camein sight, "it is more beautiful than you can imagine, and perhaps thisevening it may not be so lovely. I believe I could carry you, don't youthink I could?"
Clara looked at her and shook her head. "Why, Heidi, what can you bethinking of! you are smaller than I am. Oh, if only I could walk!"
Heidi looked round as if in search of something, some new idea hadevidently come into her head. Peter was sitting up above looking downon the two children. He had been sitting and staring before him inthe same way for hours, as if he could not make out what he saw. Hehad destroyed the chair so that the friend might not be able to moveanywhere and that her visit might come to an end, and then a littlewhile after she had appeared right up here under his very nose withHeidi beside her. He thought his eyes must deceive him, and yet thereshe was and no mistake about it.
Heidi looked up to where he was sitting and called out in a commandingvoice, "Peter, come down here!"
"I don't wish to come," he called in reply.
"But you must; I cannot do it alone, and you must come here and helpme; make haste and come down," she called again in an urgent voice.
"I shall do nothing of the kind," was the answer.
Heidi ran some way up the slope towards him, and then pausing calledagain, her eyes ablaze with anger, "If you don't come at once, Peter, Iwill do something to you that you won't like; I mean what I say."
Peter felt an inward throe at these words, and a great fear seized him.He had done something wicked which he wanted no one to know about,and so far he had thought himself safe. But now Heidi spoke exactlyas if she knew everything, and whatever she did know she would tellher grandfather, and there was no one he feared so much as this latterperson. Supposing he were to suspect what had happened about the chair!Peter's anguish of mind grew more acute. He stood up and went down towhere Heidi was awaiting him.
"I am coming, and you won't do what you said."
Peter appeared now so submissive with fear that Heidi felt quite sorryfor him and answered assuringly, "No, no, of course not; come alongwith me, there is nothing to be afraid of in what I want you to do."
As soon as they got to Clara, Heidi gave her orders: Peter was totake hold of her under the arms on one side and she on the other, andtogether they were to lift her up. This first movement was successfullycarried through, but then came the difficulty. As Clara could not evenstand, how were they to support her and get her along? Heidi was toosmall for her arm to serve Clara to lean upon.
"You must put one arm well round my neck--so, and put the other throughPeter's and lean firmly upon it, then we shall be able to carry you."
Peter, however, had never given his arm to any one in his life. Claraput hers in his, but he kept his own hanging down straight beside himlike a stick.
"That's not the way, Peter," said Heidi in an authoritative voice. "Youmust put your arm out in the shape of a ring, and Clara must put hersthrough it and lean her weight upon you, and whatever you do, don't letyour arm give way; like that I am sure we shall be able to manage."
Peter did as he was told, but still they did not get on very well.Clara was not such a light weight, and the team did not match very wellin size; it was up one side and down the other, so that the supportswere rather wabbly.
Clara tried to use her own feet a little, but each time drew themquickly back.
"Put your foot down firmly once," suggested Heidi, "I am sure it willhurt you less after that."
"Do you think so," said Clara hesitatingly, but she followed Heidi'sadvice and ventured one firm step on the ground and then another; shecalled out a little as she did it; then she lifted her foot again andwent on, "Oh, that was less painful already," she exclaimed joyfully.
THE LITTLE INVALID FINDS THAT SHE IS ABLE TO WALK]
"Try again," said Heidi encouragingly.
And Clara went on putting one foot out after another until all at onceshe called out, "I can do it, Heidi! look! look! I can make propersteps!"
And Heidi cried out with even greater delight, "Can you really makesteps, can you really walk? really walk by yourself? Oh, if onlygrandfather were here!" and she continued gleefully to exclaim, "Youcan walk now, Clara, you can walk!"
Clara still held on firmly to her supports, but with every step shefelt safer on her feet, as all three became aware, and Heidi was besideherself with joy.
"Now we shall be able to come up here together every day, and just gowhere we like; and you will be able to walk about as I do, and not haveto be pushed in a chair, and will get quite strong and well. It is thegreatest happiness we could have had!"
And Clara heartily agreed, for she could think of no greater joy in theworld than to be strong and able to go about like other people, and nolonger to have to lie from day to day in her invalid chair.
They had not far to go to reach the field of flowers, and could alreadycatch sight of the cistus flowers' glowing gold in the sun. As theycame to the bushes of the blue-bell flowers, with sunny, invitingpatches of warm ground between them, Clara said, "Can't we sit downhere for a while?"
This was just what Heidi enjoyed, and so the children sat down inthe midst of the flowers, Clara for the first time on the dry, warmmountain grass, and she found it indescribably delightful. Everythingwas so lovely! so lovely! And Heidi, who was beside her, thought shehad never seen it so perfectly beautiful up here before. Then shesuddenly remembered that Clara was cured; that was the crowningdelight of all that made life so delightful in the midst of all thissurrounding beauty. Clara sat silent, overcome with the enchantmentof all that her eye rested upon, and with the anticipation of all thehappiness that was now before her. There seemed hardly room in herheart for all her joyful emotions.
Peter also lay among the flowers without moving or speaking, for hewas fast asleep. The breeze came blowing softly and caressingly frombehind the sheltering rocks, and passed whisperingly through the bushesoverhead. Heidi got up now and then to run about, for the flowerswaving in the warm wind seemed to smell sweeter and to grow morethickly whichever way she went. So the hours went by.
It was long past noon when a small troop of goats advanced solemnlytowards the plain of flowers. It was not a feeding place of theirs,for they did not care to graze on flowers. They looked like an embassyarriving, with Greenfinch as their leader. They had evidently come insearch of their companions who had left them in the lurch, and whohad remained away so long, for the goats could tell the time withoutmistake. As soon as Greenfinch caught sight of the three missingfriends amid the flowers she set up an extra loud bleat, whereupon allthe others joined in a chorus of bleats, and the whole company cametrotting towards the children. Peter woke up, rubbing his eyes, for hehad been dreaming that he saw the chair again with its beautiful redpadding standing whole and uninjured before the grandfather's door.He experienced again the dreadful fear of mind that he had lost inthis dream of the uninjured chair. Even though Heidi had promised notto do anything, there still remained the lively dread that his deedmight be found out in so
me other way. He allowed Heidi to do what sheliked with him, for he was reduced to such a state of low spirits andmeekness that he was ready to give his help to Clara without murmur orresistance.
When all three had got back to their old quarters Heidi ran and broughtforward the bag, and proceeded to fulfill her promise, for her threatof the morning had been concerned with Peter's dinner. She had seen hergrandfather putting in all sorts of good things, and had been pleasedto think of Peter having a large share of them, and she had meanthim to understand when he refused at first to help her that he wouldget nothing for his dinner, but Peter's conscience had put anotherinterpretation upon her words. Heidi took the food out of the bag anddivided it into three portions, and each was of such a goodly size thatshe thought to herself, "There will be plenty of ours left for him tohave more still."
She gave the other two their dinners and sat down with her own besideClara, and they all three ate with a good appetite after their greatexertions.
Peter ate up every bit of food to the last crumb, but there wassomething wanting to his usual enjoyment of a good dinner, for everymouthful he swallowed seemed to choke him, and he felt somethinggnawing inside him.
They were so late at their dinner that they had not long to waitafter they had finished before grandfather came up to get them. Heidirushed forward to meet him as soon as he appeared, as she wanted tobe the first to tell him the good news. She was so excited that shecould hardly get her words out when she did get up to him, but he soonunderstood, and a look of extreme pleasure came into his face. Hehastened up to where Clara was sitting and said with a cheerful smile,"So, we've made the effort, have we, and won the day!"
"WE MUST NOT OVERDO IT," HE SAID, TAKING CLARA IN HISARMS]
Then he lifted her up, and putting his left arm behind her and givingher his right to lean upon, made her walk a little way, which she didwith less trembling and hesitation than before, now that she had such astrong arm round her.
Heidi skipped along beside her in glee, and the grandfather looked tooas if some happiness had befallen him. "We must not overdo it," hesaid taking Clara up in his arms. "It is high time we went home," andhe started off down the mountain path, for he was anxious to get herindoors that she might rest after her unusual fatigue.
When Peter got to Doerfli that evening he found a large group of peoplecollected round a certain spot, pushing one another and looking overeach other's shoulders in their eagerness to catch sight of somethinglying on the ground. Peter thought he should like to see too, and pokedand elbowed till he made his way through.
There it lay, the thing he had wanted to see. Scattered about the grasswere the remains of Clara's chair; part of the back and the middlebit, and enough of the red padding and the bright nails to show howmagnificent the chair had been when it was entire.
"I was here when the men passed carrying it up," said the baker, whowas standing near Peter. "I'll bet any one that it was worth 125dollars at least. I cannot think how such an accident could havehappened."
"Uncle said the wind might perhaps have done it," remarked one of thewomen.
"It's a good job that no one but the wind did it," said the bakeragain, "or he might smart for it! No doubt the gentleman in Frankfurtwhen he hears what has happened will make inquiries about it. I am gladfor myself that I have not been seen up the mountain for a good twoyears, as suspicion is likely to fall on any one who was up there atthe time."
Many more opinions were passed on the matter, but Peter had heardenough. He crept quietly away out of the crowd and then took to hisheels and ran up home as fast as he could, as if he thought someone was after him. The baker's words had filled him with fear andtrembling. He was sure now that any day a constable might come overfrom Frankfurt and inquire about the destruction of the chair, and theneverything would come out, and he would be seized and carried off toFrankfurt and there put in prison.
He reached home in this disturbed state of mind. He would not open hismouth in reply to anything that was said to him; he would not eat hispotatoes; all he did was to creep off to bed as quickly as possible andhide under the bedclothes and groan.
"Peter has been eating sorrel again, and is evidently in pain by theway he is groaning," said his mother.
"You must give him a little more bread to take with him; give him a bitof mine tomorrow," said the grandmother sympathizingly.
As the children lay that night in bed looking out at the stars Heidisaid, "I have been thinking all day what a happy thing it is that Goddoes not give us what we ask for, even when we pray and pray and pray,if He knows there is something better for us; have you felt like that?"
"Why do you ask me that tonight all of a sudden?" asked Clara.
"Because I prayed so hard when I was in Frankfurt that I might go homeat once, and because I was not allowed to I thought God had forgottenme. And now you see, if I had come away at first when I wanted to, youwould never have come here, and would never have got well."
Clara had in her turn become thoughtful. "But, Heidi," she began again,"in that case we ought never to pray for anything, as God alwaysintends something better for us than we know or wish for."
"You must not think it is like that, Clara," replied Heidi eagerly."We must go on praying for everything, so that God may know we do notforget that it all comes from Him. If we forget God, then He lets us goour own way and we get into trouble."
"How did you learn all that?" asked Clara.
"Grandmamma explained it to me first of all, and then when it allhappened just as she said, I knew it myself, and I think, Clara," shewent on, as she sat up in bed, "we ought certainly to thank God tonightthat you can walk now, and that He has made us so happy."
"Yes, Heidi, I am sure you are right, and I am glad you reminded me; Ialmost forgot my prayers for very joy."
Both children said their prayers, and each thanked God in her own wayfor the blessing He had bestowed on Clara, who had for so long lainweak and ill.
The next morning the grandfather suggested that they should now writeto the grandmamma and ask her if she would not come and pay them avisit, as they had something new to show her. But the children hadanother plan in their heads, for they wanted to prepare a greatsurprise for grandmamma. Clara was first to have more practice inwalking so that she might be able to go a little way by herself; aboveall things grandmamma was not to have a hint of it. They asked thegrandfather how long he thought this would take, and when he told themabout a week or less, they immediately sat down and wrote a pressinginvitation to grandmamma, asking her to come soon, but no word was saidabout there being anything new to see.
The following days were some of the most joyous that Clara had spenton the mountain. She awoke each morning with a happy voice within hercrying, "I am well now! I am well now! I shan't have to go about in achair, I can walk by myself like other people."
Then came the walking, and every day she found it easier and was ableto go a longer distance. The movement gave her such an appetite thatthe grandfather cut his bread and butter a little thicker each day,and was well pleased to see it disappear. He brought out the foamingmilk in a larger jug so he could fill the little bowls over and overagain. And so another week went by and the day came which was to bringgrandmamma up the mountain for her second visit.
CHAPTER XXIII
GOOD-BYE TO THE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN
Grandmamma wrote the day before her arrival to let the childrenknow that they might expect her without fail. Peter brought up theletter early the following morning. As he neared the group his stepsslackened, and the instant he had handed the letter to Uncle he turnedquickly away as if frightened and ran off up the mountain.
"Grandfather," said Heidi, who had been watching him with astonishedeyes, "why does Peter always behave now like the Great Turk when hethinks somebody is after him with a stick; he turns and shakes his headand goes off with a bound just like that?"
"Perhaps Peter fancies he sees the stick which he so well deservescoming after him," answered grandfathe
r.
Heidi set about tidying the hut, as grandmamma must find everythingclean and in good order when she arrived.
Clara looked on amused and interested to watch the busy Heidi at herwork.
Then the children dressed up and went and sat together outside on theseat ready to receive her.
At last they saw the procession winding up the mountain just in theorder they had expected. First there was the guide, then the whitehorse with grandmamma mounted upon it, and last of all the porter witha heavy bundle on his back, for grandmamma would not think of going upthe mountain without a full supply of wraps and rugs.
Nearer and nearer wound the procession; at last it reached the topand grandmamma was there looking down on the children from her horse.She no sooner saw them, however, sitting side by side, than she beganquickly dismounting, as she cried out in a shocked tone of voice, "Whyis this? why are you not lying in your chair, Clara? What are you allthinking about?" But even before she had got close to them she threwup her hands in astonishment, exclaiming further, "Is it really you,dear child? Why, your cheeks have grown quite round and rosy! I shouldhardly have known you again!" And she was hastening forward to embraceher, when Heidi slipped down from the seat, and with Clara leaning onher shoulder, began walking along quite coolly and naturally. Thenindeed grandmamma was surprised, or rather alarmed, for she thought atfirst that it must be some unheard-of proceeding of Heidi's.
But no--Clara was actually walking steadily and uprightly beside Heidi.Laughing and crying she ran to them and embraced first Clara and thenHeidi, and then Clara again, unable to speak for joy. All at once shecaught sight of Uncle standing by the seat and looking on smiling atthe meeting. She went up to the old man and seized his hands.
"My dear Uncle! my dear Uncle! how much we have to thank you for! It isall your doing! it is your care and nursing--"
"And God's good sun and mountain air," he interrupted her smiling.
"Yes, and don't forget the beautiful milk I have," put in Clara."Grandmamma, you can't think what a quantity of goat's milk I drink,and how nice it is!"
"I can see that by your cheeks, child," answered grandmamma. "I reallyshould not have known you; you have grown quite strong and plump, andtaller too; I never hoped or expected to see you look like that. Icannot take my eyes off you, for I can hardly yet believe it. But nowI must telegraph without delay to my son in Paris, and tell him hemust come here at once. I shall not say why; it will be the greatesthappiness he has ever known. My dear Uncle, how can I send a telegram;have you dismissed the men yet?"
"They have gone," he answered, "but if you are in a hurry I will getPeter, and he can take it for you."
Grandmamma thanked him, for she was anxious that the good news shouldnot be kept from her son a day longer than was possible.
So Uncle went aside a little way and blew such a resounding whistlethrough his fingers that he awoke a responsive echo among the rocksfar overhead. He did not have to wait many minutes before Peter camerunning down in answer, for he knew the sound of Uncle's whistle.Peter looked as white as a ghost, for he thought Uncle was sending forhim to give him up. But instead he only gave him a written paper withinstructions to take it down at once to the post-office at Doerfli;Uncle would settle for the payment later, as it was not safe to givePeter too much to look after.
Peter went off with the paper in his hand, feeling some relief of mindfor the present, for as Uncle had not whistled for him in order to givehim up it was evident that no policeman had yet arrived.
So now they all sat down in peace to their dinner round the table infront of the hut, and grandmamma was given a detailed account of allthat had taken place. How grandfather had made Clara try first to standand then to move her feet a little every day, and how they had settledfor the day's excursion up the mountain and the chair had been blownaway. How Clara's desire to see the flowers had induced her to take thefirst walk, and so by degrees one thing had led to another. The recitaltook some time, for grandmamma continually interrupted it with freshexclamations of surprise and thankfulness: "It hardly seems possible!I can scarcely believe it is not all a dream! Are we really awake, andare we all sitting here by the mountain hut, and is that round-faced,healthy-looking child my poor little, white, sickly Clara?"
And Clara and Heidi could not get over their delight at the success ofthe surprise they had so carefully arranged for grandmamma and at thelatter's continued astonishment.
Meanwhile Mr. Sesemann, who had finished his business in Paris, hadalso been preparing a surprise. Without saying a word to his mother hegot into the train one sunny morning and travelled that day to Basle;the next morning he continued his journey, for a great longing hadseized him to see his little daughter from whom he had been separatedthe whole summer. He arrived at Ragatz a few hours after his motherhad left. When he heard that she had that very day started for themountain, he immediately hired a carriage and drove as far as Doerfli,and then started to climb the mountain. He went on and on, but still nohut came in sight, and yet he knew there was one where Peter lived halfway up, for the path had been described to him over and over again.
He began to wonder if he was on the right path, and whether the hutlay perhaps on the other side of the mountain. He looked round to seeif any one was in sight of whom he could ask the way; but far andwide there was not a soul to be seen nor a sound to be heard. Only atmoments the mountain wind whistled through the air, and the insectshummed in the sunshine, or a happy bird sang out from the branches ofa solitary larch tree. Mr. Sesemann stood still for a while to let thecool Alpine wind blow on his hot face. But now some one came runningdown the mountainside--it was Peter with the telegram in his hand. Heran straight down the steep slope, not following the path on which Mr.Sesemann was standing. As soon as the latter caught sight of him hebeckoned to him to come. Peter advanced towards him slowly and timidly,with a sort of sidelong movement, as if he could only move one legproperly and had to drag the other after him.
"Hurry up, lad," he called, and when Peter was near enough, "Tell me,"he said, "is this the way to the hut where the old man and the childHeidi live, and where the visitors from Frankfurt are staying?"
A low sound of fear was the only answer he received, as Peter turned torun away in such precipitous haste that he fell head over heels severaltimes, and went rolling and bumping down the slope in involuntarybounds, just in the same way as the chair, only that Peter fortunatelydid not fall to pieces as that had done. Only the telegram came togrief, and that was torn into fragments and flew away.
"How extraordinarily timid these mountain dwellers are!" thought Mr.Sesemann to himself, for he quite believed that it was the sight of astranger that had made such an impression on this unsophisticated childof the mountains.
After watching Peter's violent descent towards the valley for a fewminutes he continued his journey.
Peter, meanwhile, with all his efforts, could not stop himself, butwent rolling on, and still tumbling head over heels at intervals in amost remarkable manner.
PETER WENT ROLLING AND BUMPING DOWN THE SLOPE]
But this was not the most terrible part of his sufferings at themoment, for far worse was the fear and horror that possessed him,feeling sure, as he did now, that the policeman had really come overfor him from Frankfurt. He had no doubt at all that the stranger whohad asked him the way was the very man himself. Just as he had rolledto the edge of the last high slope above Doerfli he was caught in abush, and at last able to keep himself from falling any farther. Helay still for a second or two to recover himself, and to think overmatters.
"Well done! another of you come bumping along like this!" said a voiceclose to Peter, "and which of you tomorrow is the wind going to sendrolling down like a badly-sewn sack of potatoes?" It was the baker,who stood there laughing. He had been strolling out to refresh himselfafter his hot day's work, and had watched with amusement as he sawPeter come rolling over and over in much the same way as the chair.
Peter was on his feet in a moment. H
e had received a fresh shock.Without once looking behind him he began hurrying up the slope again.He would have liked best to go home and creep into bed, so as to hidehimself, for he felt safest when there. But he had left the goats upabove, and Uncle had given him strict injunctions to make haste back sothat they might not be left too long alone. And he stood more in aweof Uncle than any one, and would not have dared to disobey him on anyaccount. There was no help for it, he had to go back, and Peter wenton groaning and limping. He could run no more, for the anguish of mindhe had been through, and the bumping and shaking he had received, werebeginning to tell upon him. And so with lagging steps and groans heslowly made his way up the mountain.
Shortly after meeting Peter, Mr. Sesemann passed the first hut, and sowas satisfied that he was on the right path. He continued his climbwith renewed courage, and at last, after a long and exhausting walk,he came in sight of his goal. There, only a little distance fartherup, stood the grandfather's home, with the dark tops of the fir treeswaving above its roof.
Mr. Sesemann was delighted to have come to the last steep bit ofhis journey, in another minute or two he would be with his littledaughter, and he pleased himself with the thought of her surprise. Butthe company above had seen his approaching figure and recognized who itwas, and they were preparing something he little expected as a surpriseon their part.
As he stepped on to the space in front of the hut two figures cametowards him. One a tall girl with fair hair and pink cheeks, leaningon Heidi, whose dark eyes were dancing with joy. Mr. Sesemann suddenlystopped, staring at the two children, and all at once the tears startedto his eyes. What memories arose in his heart! Just so had Clara'smother looked, the fair-haired girl with the delicate pink-and-whitecomplexion. He did not know if he was awake or dreaming.
"Don't you know me, Papa?" called Clara to him, her face beaming withhappiness. "Am I so altered since you saw me?"
Then the father ran to his child and clasped her in his arms.
"Yes, you are indeed altered! How is it possible? Is it true what Isee?" And the delighted man stepped back to look full at her again, andto make sure that the picture would not vanish before his eyes.
"Are you my little Clara, really my little Clara?" he kept on saying,then he clasped her in his arms again, and again put her away from himthat he might look and make sure it was she who stood before him.
Then grandmamma came up, anxious for a sight of her son's happy face.
"Well, what do you say now, dear son?" she exclaimed. "You have givenus a pleasant surprise, but it is nothing in comparison to what wehave prepared for you, you must confess," and she gave her son anaffectionate kiss as she spoke. "But now," she went on, "you must comeand pay your respects to Uncle, who is our chief benefactor."
"Yes, indeed, and our little Heidi, too," said Mr. Sesemann, shakingHeidi by the hand. "Well? are you quite well and happy in your mountainhome? but I need not ask, no Alpine rose could look more blooming. I amglad, child, it is a pleasure to me to see you so."
And Heidi looked up with equal pleasure into his kind face. How good hehad always been to her! And that he should find such happiness awaitinghim up here on the mountain made her heart beat with gladness.
Grandmamma introduced him to Uncle, and while the two men were shakinghands and Mr. Sesemann was expressing his heartfelt thanks andboundless astonishment to the old man, grandmamma wandered round to theback to see the old fir trees again.
Here another unexpected sight met her gaze, for there, under the treesstood a great bush of the most wonderful dark blue gentians, as freshand shining as if they were growing on the spot.
"How exquisite! what a lovely sight!" she exclaimed. "Heidi, dearestchild, come here! Is it you who have prepared this pleasure for me? Itis perfectly wonderful!"
The children ran up.
"No, no, I did not put them there," said Heidi, "but I know who did."
"They grow just like that on the mountain, Grandmamma, only if anythingthey look more beautiful still," Clara put in; "but guess who broughtthose down today," and as she spoke she gave such a pleased smilethat the grandmother thought for a moment the child herself must havegathered them. But that was hardly possible.
At this moment a slight rustling was heard behind the fir trees. Itwas Peter, who had just arrived. He had made a long round, trying toslip by unobserved. But grandmamma had seen and recognized him, andsuddenly the thought struck her that it might be Peter who had broughtthe flowers and that he was now trying to get away unseen, feeling shyabout it; but she could not let him go off like that, he must have somelittle reward.
"Come along, boy; come here, do not be afraid," she called to him.
Peter stood still, petrified with fear. After all he had gone throughthat day he felt he had no longer any power of resistance left. Allhe could think was, "It's all up with me now." Every hair of his headstood on end, and he stepped forth from behind the fir trees, his facepale.
"Courage, boy," said grandmamma in her effort to dispel his shyness,"tell me now straight out without hesitation, was it you who did it?"
Peter did not lift his eyes and therefore did not see at whatgrandmamma was pointing. But he knew that Uncle was standing atthe corner of the hut, fixing him with his grey eyes, while besidehim stood the most terrible person that Peter could conceive--thepolice-constable from Frankfurt. Quaking in every limb, and withtrembling lips he muttered a low "Yes."
"Well, and what is there dreadful about that?" said grandmamma.
"Because--because--it is all broken to pieces and no one can put ittogether again." Peter brought out his words with difficulty, and hisknees knocked together so that he could hardly stand.
Grandmamma went up to Uncle. "Is that poor boy a little out of hismind?" she asked sympathizingly.
"Not in the least," Uncle assured her, "it is only that he was the windthat sent the chair rolling down the slope, and he is expecting hiswell-deserved punishment."
Grandmamma found this hard to believe, for in her opinion Peter didnot look an entirely bad boy, nor could he have had any reason fordestroying such a necessary thing as the chair. But Uncle had onlygiven expression to the suspicion that he had had from the moment theaccident happened. The angry looks which Peter had from the beginningcast at Clara, and the other signs of his dislike to what had beentaking place on the mountain, had not escaped Uncle's eye. Putting twoand two together he had come to the right conclusion as to the cause ofthe disaster, and he therefore spoke without hesitation when he accusedPeter. The lady broke out into lively expostulations on hearing this.
"No, no, dear Uncle, we will not punish the poor boy any further. Onemust be fair to him. Here are all these strangers from Frankfurt whocome and carry away Heidi, his one sole possession, and a possessionwell worth having too, and he is left to sit alone day after day forweeks, with nothing to do but brood over his wrongs. No, no, let us befair to him; his anger got the upper hand and drove him to an act ofrevenge--a foolish one, I own, but then we all behave foolishly whenwe are angry." And saying this she went back to Peter, who still stoodfrightened and trembling. She sat down on the seat under the fir treesand called him to her kindly,--
"Come here, boy, and stand in front of me, for I have something tosay to you. Leave off shaking and trembling, for I want you to listento me. You sent the chair rolling down the mountain so that it wasbroken to pieces. That was a very wrong thing to do, as you yourselfknew very well at the time, and you also knew that you deserved to bepunished for it. But be sure of this, Peter: that those who do wrongmake a mistake when they think no one knows anything about it. ForGod sees and hears everything, and when the wicked doer tries to hidewhat he has done, then God wakes up the little watchman that He placesinside us all when we are born and who sleeps on quietly till we dosomething wrong. And the little watchman has a small goad in his hand,and when he wakes up he keeps on pricking us with it, so that we havenot a moment's peace. And the watchman torments us still further, forhe keeps on calling out, 'Now you will b
e found out! Now they will dragyou off to punishment!' And so we pass our life in fear and trouble,and never know a moment's happiness or peace. Have you not feltsomething like that lately, Peter?"
Peter gave a contrite nod of the head, as one who knew all about it,for grandmamma had described his own feelings exactly.
"And you calculated wrongly also in another way," continued grandmamma,"for you see the harm you intended has turned out for the best forthose you wished to hurt. As Clara had no chair to go in and yet wantedso much to see the flowers, she made the effort to walk, and every daysince she has been walking better and better. Do not forget my words,and whenever you feel inclined to do anything wrong, think of thelittle watchman inside you with his goad and his disagreeable voice.Will you remember all this?"
"Yes, I will," answered Peter, still very subdued, for he did not yetknow how the matter was going to end, as the police-constable was stillstanding with the Uncle.
"That's right, and now the thing is over and done for," saidgrandmamma. "But I should like you to have something for a pleasantreminder of the visitors from Frankfurt. Can you tell me anythingthat you have wished very much to have? What would you like best as apresent?"
Peter lifted his head at this, and stared open-eyed at grandmamma. Upto the last minute he had been expecting something dreadful to happen,and now he might have anything that he wanted. His mind seemed all of awhirl.
"I mean what I say," went on grandmamma. "You shall choose what youwould like to have as a remembrance from the Frankfurt visitors, and asa token that they will not think any more of the wrong thing you did.Now do you understand me, boy?"
The fact began at last to dawn upon Peter's mind that he had no furtherpunishment to fear, and that the kind lady sitting in front of himhad delivered him from the police-constable. He suddenly felt as ifthe weight of a mountain had fallen off him. He had also by this timeawakened to the further conviction that it was better to make a fullconfession at once of anything he had done wrong or had left undone,and so he said, "And I lost the paper, too."
Grandmamma had to consider a moment what he meant, but soon recalledhis connection with her telegram, and answered kindly,--
"You are a good boy to tell me! Never conceal anything you have donewrong, and then all will come right again. And now what would you likeme to give you?"
Peter grew almost giddy with the thought that he could have anythingin the world that he wished for. He had a vision of the yearly fair atMayenfeld with the glittering booths and all the lovely things thathe had stood gazing at for hours, without a hope of ever possessingone of them, for Peter's purse never held more than five cents, andall these fascinating objects cost double that amount. There were thepretty little red whistles that he could use to call his goats, andthe splendid knives with rounded handles, known as toad-strikers, withwhich one could do such fine whittling.
Peter remained pondering; he was trying to think which of thesetwo desirable objects he should best like to have, and he found itdifficult to decide. Then a bright thought occurred to him; he wouldthen be able to think over the matter between now and next year's fair.
"A dime," answered Peter, who was no longer in doubt.
Grandmamma could not help laughing. "That is not an extravagantrequest. Come here then!" and she pulled out her purse and put fourbright silver dollars in his hand and then laid some dimes on the topof them. "We will settle our accounts at once," she continued, "and Iwill explain them to you. I have given you as many dimes as there areweeks in the year, and so every Sunday throughout the year you can takeout a dime to spend."
"As long as I live?" said Peter quite innocently.
Grandmamma laughed more still at this, and the men hearing her, pausedin their talk to listen to what was going on.
"Yes, boy, you shall have it all your life--I will put it down in mywill. Do you hear, my son? and you are to put it down in yours as well:a dime a week to Peter as long as he lives."
Mr. Sesemann nodded his assent and joined in the laughter.
Peter looked again at the present in his hand to make sure he was notdreaming, and then said, "Thank God!"
And he went off running and leaping with more even than his usualagility, and this time managed to keep his feet, for it was not fear,but joy such as he had never known before in his life, that now senthim flying up the mountain. All trouble and trembling had disappeared,and he was to have a dime every week for life.
Later, after dinner, when the party were sitting together chatting,Clara drew her father a little aside, and said with an eagerness thathad been unknown to the little, tired invalid,--
"O papa, if you only knew all that grandfather has done for me from dayto day! I cannot reckon his kindnesses, but I shall never forget themas long as I live! And I keep on thinking what I could do for him, orwhat present I could make him that would give him half as much pleasureas he has given me."
"That is just what I wish most myself, Clara," replied her father,whose face grew happier each time he looked at his little daughter. "Ihave been also thinking how we can best show our gratitude to our goodbenefactor."
Mr. Sesemann went over to Uncle and taking him by the hand said,--
"Dear friend, you will believe me when I tell you that I have known noreal happiness for years past. What good were money and property to mewhen they were unable to make my poor child well and happy? With thehelp of God you have made her whole and strong, and you have given newlife not only to her but to me. Tell me now, in what way can I show mygratitude to you? I can never repay all you have done, but whatever isin my power to do is at your service. Speak, friend, and tell me what Ican do?"
Uncle had listened to him quietly, with a smile of pleasure on his faceas he looked at the happy father.
"Mr. Sesemann," he replied in his dignified way, "I too have my sharein the joy of your daughter's recovery, and my trouble is well repaidby it. I thank you heartily for all you have said, but I have need ofnothing; I have enough for myself and the child as long as I live. Ofcourse, I am growing old, and shall not be here much longer. I havenothing to leave the child when I die. If you could promise me thatHeidi will never have to earn her living among strangers, then youwould richly reward me for all I have done for your child."
"There could never be any question of such a thing as that, my dearfriend," said Mr. Sesemann quickly. "I look upon the child as my own.Ask my mother, my daughter; you may be sure that they will never allowthe child to be left in any one else's care! But if it will make youhappier I give you here my hand upon it. I promise you: Heidi shallnever have to go and earn her living among strangers; I will makeprovision against this both during my life and after. But now I havesomething else to say. Independent of her circumstances, the childis totally unfitted to live a life away from home; we found that outwhen she was with us. But she has made friends, and among them I knowone who is at this moment in Frankfurt; he is winding up his affairsthere, that he may be free to go where he likes and take his rest. Iam speaking of my friend, the doctor, who came over here in the autumnand who, having well considered your advice, intends to settle in thisneighborhood, for he has never felt so well and happy anywhere as inthe company of you and Heidi. So you see the child will henceforth havetwo protectors near her--and may they both live long to share the task!"
"ARE YOU REALLY MY LITTLE CLARA?"]
"God grant indeed it may be so!" added grandmamma, shaking Uncle's handwarmly as she spoke, to show how sincerely she echoed her son's wish.Then putting her arm round Heidi, who was standing near, she drew thechild to her.
"And I have a question to ask you too, dear Heidi. Tell me if there isanything you particularly wish for?"
"Yes, there is," answered Heidi promptly, looking up delightedly atgrandmamma.
"Then tell me at once, dear, what it is."
"I want to have the bed I slept in at Frankfurt with the high pillowsand thick coverlid, and then grandmother will not have to lie with herhead down hill and hardly able to breathe,
and she will be warm enoughunder the coverlid not to have to wear her shawl in bed to prevent herfreezing to death."
In her eagerness to obtain what she had set her heart upon Heidi hardlygave herself time to get out all she had to say, and did not pause forbreath till she reached the end of her sentence.
"Dearest child," answered grandmamma, moved by Heidi's speech, "whatis this you tell me of grandmother! You are right to remind me. In themidst of our own happiness we forget too often that which we ought toremember before all things. When God has shown us some special mercywe should think at once of those who are denied so many things. I willtelegraph to Frankfurt at once! Miss Rottermeyer shall pack up the bedthis very day, and it will be here in two days' time. God willing,grandmother shall soon be sleeping comfortably upon it."
Heidi skipped round grandmamma in her glee, and then stopping all of asudden, said quickly, "I must make haste down and tell her."
"No, no, Heidi, what can you be thinking of," said her grandfatherreprovingly. "You can't be running backwards and forwards like thatwhen you have visitors."
But grandmamma interfered on Heidi's behalf. "The child is not sofar wrong, Uncle," she said, "and poor grandmother has too long beendeprived of Heidi for our sakes. Let us all go down to her together. Ibelieve my horse is waiting for me and I can ride down from there, andas soon as I get to Doerfli the message shall be sent off. What do youthink of my plan, son?"
Mr. Sesemann had not yet had time to speak of his travelling plans, sohe begged his mother to wait a few moments that he might tell her whathe proposed doing.
Mr. Sesemann had been arranging that he and his mother should make alittle tour in Switzerland, first ascertaining if Clara was in a fitstate to go some part of the way with them. But now he would have thefull enjoyment of his daughter's company, and that being so he didnot want to miss any of these beautiful days of later summer, but tostart at once on the journey that he now looked forward to with suchadditional pleasure. And so he proposed that they should spend thenight in Doerfli and that next day he should come and get Clara, thenthey would all three go down to Ragatz and make that their startingpoint.
Clara was rather upset at first at the thought of saying good-bye likethis to the mountain; she could not help being pleased, however, at theprospect of another journey, and no time was allowed her to give way tolamentation.
Grandmamma had already taken Heidi by the hand, preparatory to leadingthe way, when she suddenly turned. "But what is to become of Clara?"she asked, remembering all at once that the child could not yet take solong a walk. She gave a nod of satisfaction as she saw that Uncle hadalready taken Clara up in his arms and was following her with sturdystrides. Mr. Sesemann brought up the rear, and so they all started downthe mountain.
Heidi kept jumping for joy as she and Mrs. Sesemann walked along sideby side, and grandmamma asked all about Peter's grandmother, how shelived, and what she did, especially in the winter when it was so cold.And Heidi gave her a minute account of everything, for she knew allthat went on at grandmother's, and told her how the old woman satcrouching in her corner and trembling with cold. She was able alsoto give her exact particulars of what grandmother had and had not toeat. Grandmamma listened with interest and sympathy until they cameto grandmother's. Brigitta was just hanging out Peter's second shirtin the sun, so that he might have it ready to put on when he had wornthe other long enough. As soon as she saw the company approaching sherushed indoors.
"The whole party of them are just going past, mother, evidently allreturning home again," she informed the old woman. "Uncle is with them,carrying the sick child."
"Alas, it is really to be so then?" sighed the grandmother. "And yousaw Heidi with them? Then they are taking her away. If only she couldcome and put her hand in mine again! If I could but hear her voice oncemore!"
At this moment the door flew open and Heidi sprang across to the cornerand threw her arms round grandmother.
"Grandmother! Grandmother! my bed is to be sent from Frankfurt with allthe three pillows and the thick coverlid; grandmamma says it will behere in two days." Heidi could not get out her words quickly enough,for she was impatient to see grandmother's great joy at the news. Thelatter smiled, but said a little sadly,--
"She must indeed be a good, kind lady, and I ought to be glad to thinkshe is taking you with her, but I shall not outlive it long."
"What is this I hear? Who has been telling my good grandmother suchtales?" exclaimed a kindly voice, and grandmother felt her hand takenand warmly pressed, for grandmamma had followed Heidi in and heard allthat was said. "No, no, there is no thought of such a thing! Heidi isgoing to stay with you and make you happy. We want to see her again,but we shall come to her. We hope to pay a visit to the Alm every year,for we have good cause to offer up especial thanks to God upon thisspot where so great a miracle has been wrought upon our child."
Then grandmother's face was lighted up with genuine happiness, and shepressed Mrs. Sesemann's hand over and over again, unable to speak herthanks, while two large tears of joy rolled down her aged cheeks. AndHeidi saw the glad change come over grandmother's face, and she too nowwas entirely happy.
She clung to the old woman saying, "Hasn't it all come about,grandmother, just like the hymn I read to you last time? Isn't the bedfrom Frankfurt sent to make you well?"
"Yes, Heidi, and many, many other good things too, which God has sentme," said the grandmother, deeply moved. "I did not think it possiblethat there were so many kind people, ready to trouble themselves abouta poor old woman and to do so much for her. Nothing strengthens ourbelief in a kind heavenly Father who never forgets even the least ofHis creatures so much as to know that there are such people, full ofgoodness and pity for a poor, useless creature such as I am."
"My good grandmother," said Mrs. Sesemann, interrupting her, "we areall equally poor and helpless in the eyes of God, and all have equalneed that He should not forget us. But now we must say good-bye, butonly till we meet again, for when we pay our next year's visit to theAlm you will be the first person we shall come and see; meanwhile weshall not forget you." And Mrs. Sesemann took grandmother's hand againand shook it in farewell.
But grandmother would not let her off even then without more wordsof gratitude, and without calling down on her benefactress and allbelonging to her every blessing that God had to bestow.
At last Mr. Sesemann and his mother were able to continue their journeydownwards, while Uncle carried Clara back home, with Heidi beside him,so full of joy of what was coming for grandmother that every step was ajump.
But there were many tears shed the following morning by the departingClara, who wept to say good-bye to the beautiful mountain home whereshe had been happier than ever before in her life. Heidi did her bestto comfort her. "Summer will be here again in no time," she said, "andthen you will come again, and it will be nicer still, for you will beable to walk about from the beginning. We can then go out every daywith the goats up to where the flowers grow, and enjoy ourselves fromthe moment you arrive."
Mr. Sesemann had come as arranged to take his little daughter away,and was just now standing and talking with Uncle, for they had much tosay to one another. Clara felt somewhat consoled by Heidi's words, andwiped away her tears.
"Be sure you say good-bye for me to Peter and the goats, and especiallyto Little Swan. I wish I could give Little Swan a present, for she hashelped so much to make me strong."
"Well, you can if you like," replied Heidi, "send her a little salt;you know how she likes to lick some out of grandfather's hand when shecomes home at night."
Clara was delighted at this idea. "Oh, then I shall send a hundredpounds of salt from Frankfurt, for I want her to have something as aremembrance of me."
Mr. Sesemann now beckoned to the children as it was time to be off.Grandmamma's white horse had been brought up for Clara, as she was nolonger obliged to be carried in a chair.
Heidi ran to the far edge of the slope and continued to wave her handto Clara until t
he last glimpse of horse and rider had disappeared.
* * * * *
And now the bed has arrived, and grandmother is sleeping so soundly allnight that she is sure to grow stronger.
Grandmamma Sesemann, moreover, has not forgotten how cold the winter ison the mountain. She has sent a large parcel of warm clothing of everydescription, so that the blind grandmother can wrap herself round andround, and will certainly not tremble with cold now as she sits in hercorner.
There is a great deal of building going on at Doerfli. The doctor hasarrived, and, for the present, is occupying his old quarters. Hisfriends have advised him to buy the old house that Uncle and Heidilive in during the winter. The doctor is having this part of the oldhouse rebuilt for himself, the other part being repaired for Uncleand Heidi, for the doctor is aware that Uncle is a man of independentspirit, who likes to have a house to himself. Quite at the back a warmand well-walled stall is being put up for the two goats, and there theywill pass their winter in comfort.
The two men are becoming better friends every day, and as they walkabout the new buildings to see how they are getting on, their thoughtscontinually turn to Heidi, for the chief pleasure to each in connectionwith the house is that they will have the light-hearted little childwith them there.
"Dear friend," said the doctor on one of these occasions as they werestanding together, "you will see this matter in the same light as I do,I am sure. I share your happiness in the child as if, next to you, Iwas the one to whom she most closely belonged, but I wish also to shareall responsibilities concerning her and to do my best for the child. Ishall then feel I have my rights in her, and shall look forward to herbeing with me and caring for me in my old age, which is the one greatwish of my heart. She will have the same claims upon me as if she weremy own child, and I shall provide for her as such, and so we shall beable to leave her without anxiety when the day comes that you and Imust go."
Uncle did not speak, but he clasped the doctor's hand in his, and hisgood friend could read in the old man's eyes how greatly moved he wasand how glad and grateful he felt.
Heidi and Peter were at this moment sitting with grandmother, and theone had so much to relate, and the others to listen to, that they allthree got closer and closer to one another, hardly able to breathe intheir eagerness not to miss a word.
And how much there was to tell of all the events that had taken placethat last summer, for they had not had many opportunities of meetingsince then.
And it was difficult to say which of the three looked the happiest atbeing together again, and at the recollection of all the wonderfulthings that had happened. Mother Brigitta's face was perhaps thehappiest of all, as now, with the help of Heidi's explanation, she wasable to understand for the first time the history of Peter's weeklydime for life.
Then at last the grandmother spoke, "Heidi read me one of the hymns! Ifeel I can do nothing for the remainder of my life but thank the Fatherin Heaven for all the mercies He has shown us!"
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:
Obvious printer errors have been corrected. Otherwise, the author'soriginal spelling, punctuation and hyphenation have been left intact.
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