# Heidi by Johanna Spyri – Chapter 23

An episode of [Heidi by Johanna Spyri](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1896859638), 1 Jun 2026, 48 min.

Audio: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72283833/heidi_23.mp3



## Transcript

[0:02] Speaker 1: Chapter twenty three. Good Bye till we meet again, Grandmamma
[0:09] Speaker 1: wrote the day before her arrival to let the children
[0:12] Speaker 1: know that they might expect her without fail. Peter brought
[0:15] Speaker 1: up the letter early the following morning. Grandfather and the
[0:19] Speaker 1: children were already outside, and the goats were awaiting him,
[0:23] Speaker 1: shaking their heads frolicsomely in the fresh morning air, while
[0:27] Speaker 1: the children stroked them and wished them a pleasant journey
[0:30] Speaker 1: up the mountain. Uncle stood near, looking now at the
[0:34] Speaker 1: fresh faces of the children, now at his well kept goats,
[0:38] Speaker 1: with a smile on his face, evidently well pleased with
[0:42] Speaker 1: the sight of both. As Peter neared the group, his
[0:46] Speaker 1: step slackened, and the instant he had handed the letter
[0:49] Speaker 1: to Uncle, he turned quickly away, as if frightened, And
[0:53] Speaker 1: as he went he gave a hasty glance behind him,
[0:56] Speaker 1: as if the thing he feared was pursuing him, And
[0:59] Speaker 1: then he gave a leap and ran off up the mountain.
[1:03] Speaker 1: Grandfather said heide, who had been watching him with astonished eyes.
[1:09] Speaker 1: Why does Peter always behave now like the great Turk?
[1:12] Speaker 1: When he thinks somebody is after him with a stick,
[1:15] Speaker 1: he turns and shakes his head and goes off with
[1:17] Speaker 1: a bound just like that. Perhaps Peter fancies he sees
[1:22] Speaker 1: the stick which he so well deserves, coming after him,
[1:26] Speaker 1: answered Grandfather Peter ran up the first slope without a pause.
[1:32] Speaker 1: When he was well out of sight, however, he stood
[1:34] Speaker 1: still and looked suspiciously about him. Suddenly he gave a
[1:39] Speaker 1: jump and looked behind him with a terrified expression, as
[1:43] Speaker 1: if some one had caught hold of him by the
[1:45] Speaker 1: nape of the neck. For Peter expected every minute that
[1:48] Speaker 1: the police constable from Frankfort would leap out upon him
[1:52] Speaker 1: from behind some bush or hedge. The longer his suspense lasted,
[1:57] Speaker 1: the more frightened and miserable he became. He did not
[2:01] Speaker 1: know a moment's peace. Heide now set about tidying the hut,
[2:06] Speaker 1: as Grandmamma must find everything clean and in good order.
[2:10] Speaker 1: When she arrived, Clara looked on, amused and interested to
[2:15] Speaker 1: watch the busy Heidie at her work. So the morning
[2:19] Speaker 1: soon went by, and Grandmamma might now be expected at
[2:22] Speaker 1: any minute. The children ressed themselves and went and sat
[2:27] Speaker 1: together outside on the seat, ready to receive her. Grandfather
[2:32] Speaker 1: joined them that they might see the splendid bunch of
[2:34] Speaker 1: blue gentians which he had been up the mountain to gather,
[2:38] Speaker 1: and the children exclaimed with delight at the beauty of
[2:41] Speaker 1: the flowers as they shone in the morning sun. The
[2:45] Speaker 1: grandfather then carried them indoors. Heide jumped up from time
[2:49] Speaker 1: to time to see if there was any sign of
[2:51] Speaker 1: Grandmamma's approach. At last she saw the procession winding up
[2:56] Speaker 1: the mountain, just in the order she had expected. First
[3:00] Speaker 1: there was the guide, then the white horse with Grandmamma
[3:03] Speaker 1: mounted upon it, and last of all the porter with
[3:06] Speaker 1: a heavy bundle on his back, for Grandmamma would not
[3:09] Speaker 1: think of going up the mountain without a full supply
[3:12] Speaker 1: of wraps and rugs. Nearer and nearer wound the procession.
[3:18] Speaker 1: At last it reached the top, and Grandmamma was there,
[3:21] Speaker 1: looking down on the children from her horse. She no
[3:24] Speaker 1: sooner saw them, however, sitting side by side. Then she
[3:28] Speaker 1: began quickly dismounting, as she cried out in a shocked
[3:31] Speaker 1: tone of voice, why is this? Why are you not
[3:34] Speaker 1: lying in your chair, Clara? What are you all thinking about?
[3:38] Speaker 1: But even before she had got close to them, she
[3:41] Speaker 1: threw up her hands in astonishment, exclaiming further, is it
[3:46] Speaker 1: really you, dear child, why your cheeks have grown quite
[3:50] Speaker 1: round and rosy? I should hardly have known you again?
[3:54] Speaker 1: And she was hastening forward to embrace her, when Heide
[3:57] Speaker 1: slipped down from the seat, and Clara, leaning on her shoulder,
[4:01] Speaker 1: the two children began walking along quite coolly and naturally. Then, indeed,
[4:07] Speaker 1: Grandmamma was surprised, or rather alarmed, for she thought at
[4:12] Speaker 1: first that it must be some unheard of proceeding of
[4:14] Speaker 1: Heidee's devising. But no, Clara was actually walking steadily and
[4:21] Speaker 1: uprightly beside Heide And now the two children turned and
[4:25] Speaker 1: came towards her with beaming faces and rosy cheeks, laughing
[4:30] Speaker 1: and crying. She ran to them and embraced first Clara,
[4:33] Speaker 1: and then Heidi, and then Clara again, unable to speak
[4:38] Speaker 1: for joy. All at once she caught sight of Uncle
[4:42] Speaker 1: standing by the seat and looking on, smiling at the meeting.
[4:46] Speaker 1: She took Clara's arm in hers, and, with continual expressions
[4:50] Speaker 1: of delight at the fact that the child could now
[4:52] Speaker 1: really walk about with her, she went up to the
[4:55] Speaker 1: old man, and, then, letting go Clara's arm, she seized
[4:58] Speaker 1: his hands, My dear uncle, My dear uncle, how much
[5:04] Speaker 1: we have to thank you for It is all your doing.
[5:07] Speaker 1: It is your caring and nursing and God's good son
[5:12] Speaker 1: and mountain air, he interrupted her, smiling. Yes, and don't
[5:16] Speaker 1: forget the beautiful milk I have put in Clara, Grandmamma,
[5:20] Speaker 1: you can't think what a quantity of goat's milk I drink,
[5:23] Speaker 1: and how nice it is. I can see that by
[5:27] Speaker 1: your cheeks, child answered Grandmamma, I really should not have
[5:31] Speaker 1: known you. You have grown quite strong and plump, and
[5:34] Speaker 1: taller too. I never hoped or expected to see you
[5:38] Speaker 1: look like that. I cannot take my eyes off you,
[5:41] Speaker 1: for I can hardly yet believe it. But now I
[5:45] Speaker 1: must telegraph without delay to my son in Paris and
[5:48] Speaker 1: tell him he must come here at once. I shall
[5:51] Speaker 1: not say why. It will be the greatest happiness he
[5:54] Speaker 1: has ever known. My dear uncle, how can I send
[5:58] Speaker 1: a telegram? Have you disms the men yet? They have gone?
[6:03] Speaker 1: He answered, But if you are in a hurry, I
[6:05] Speaker 1: will fetch Peter and he can take it for you.
[6:09] Speaker 1: Grandmamma thanked him, for she was anxious that the good
[6:11] Speaker 1: news should not be kept from her son. A day
[6:14] Speaker 1: longer than was possible, So Uncle went aside a little
[6:18] Speaker 1: way and blew such a resounding whistle through his fingers
[6:22] Speaker 1: that he awoke a responsive echo among the rocks far overhead.
[6:27] Speaker 1: He had not to wait many minutes before Peter came
[6:29] Speaker 1: running down in answer, for he knew the sound of
[6:32] Speaker 1: Uncle's whistle. Peter arrived looking as white as a ghost,
[6:37] Speaker 1: for he quite thought Uncle was sending for him to
[6:39] Speaker 1: give him up, but as it was, he only had
[6:42] Speaker 1: to take a written paper given him, with instructions to
[6:45] Speaker 1: take it down at once to the post office at Dorfley.
[6:48] Speaker 1: Uncle would settle for the payment later, as it was
[6:51] Speaker 1: not safe to give Peter too much to look after.
[6:55] Speaker 1: Peter went off with the paper in his hand, feeling
[6:58] Speaker 1: some relief of mind for the present, for as Uncle
[7:01] Speaker 1: had not whistled for him in order to give him up,
[7:04] Speaker 1: it was evident that no policeman had yet arrived. So
[7:08] Speaker 1: now they could all sit down in peace to their
[7:10] Speaker 1: dinner round the table in front of the hut, and
[7:13] Speaker 1: Grandmamma was given a detailed account of all that had
[7:16] Speaker 1: taken place. How Grandfather had made Clara try first to
[7:20] Speaker 1: stand and then to move her feet a little every day,
[7:24] Speaker 1: and how they had settled for the day's excursion up
[7:27] Speaker 1: the mountain, and how the chair had been blown away,
[7:30] Speaker 1: how Clara's desire to see the flowers had induced her
[7:33] Speaker 1: to take the first walk, and so by degrees, one
[7:37] Speaker 1: thing had led to another. The recital took some time,
[7:41] Speaker 1: for Grandmamma continually interrupted it with fresh exclamations of surprise
[7:45] Speaker 1: and thankfulness. It hardly seems possible. I can scarcely believe
[7:50] Speaker 1: it is not all a dream. Are we really awake
[7:54] Speaker 1: and are all sitting here by the mountain hut? And
[7:57] Speaker 1: is that round faced, healthy looking child, my poor little white,
[8:01] Speaker 1: sickly Clara and Clara and Heidi could not get over
[8:06] Speaker 1: the delight at the success of the surprise they had
[8:08] Speaker 1: so carefully arranged for Grandmamma, and at the latter's continued astonishment. Meanwhile,
[8:16] Speaker 1: her Sesemon, who had finished his business in Paris, had
[8:20] Speaker 1: also been preparing a surprise. Without saying a word to
[8:24] Speaker 1: his mother, he got into the train one sunny morning
[8:28] Speaker 1: and traveled that day to Basel. The next morning he
[8:31] Speaker 1: continued his journey for a great longing had seized him
[8:34] Speaker 1: to see his little daughter, from whom he had been
[8:37] Speaker 1: separated the whole summer. He arrived at Ragat's a few
[8:42] Speaker 1: hours after his mother had left. When he heard that
[8:46] Speaker 1: she had that very day started for the mountain, he
[8:48] Speaker 1: immediately hired a carriage and drove off to Maienfeld. Here
[8:53] Speaker 1: he found that he could, if he liked, drive on
[8:55] Speaker 1: as far as Dorfley, which he did, as he thought
[8:58] Speaker 1: the walk up from that place would be as long
[9:00] Speaker 1: as he cared for. Hersesemon found he was right for
[9:05] Speaker 1: the climb up the mountain, as it was proved long
[9:09] Speaker 1: and fatiguing to him. He went on and on, but
[9:13] Speaker 1: still no hut came in sight, and yet he knew
[9:16] Speaker 1: there was one where Peter lived half way up, for
[9:19] Speaker 1: the path had been described to him over and over again.
[9:23] Speaker 1: There were traces of climbers to be seen on all sides.
[9:26] Speaker 1: The narrow footpaths seemed to run in every direction, and
[9:31] Speaker 1: her Sesemon began to wonder if he was on the
[9:33] Speaker 1: right one, and whether the hut lay perhaps on the
[9:36] Speaker 1: other side of the mountain. He looked round to see
[9:40] Speaker 1: if any one was in sight of whom he could
[9:42] Speaker 1: ask the way, but far and wide there was not
[9:45] Speaker 1: a soul to be seen, or a sound to be
[9:48] Speaker 1: heard only at moments the mountain wind whistled through the air,
[9:53] Speaker 1: and the insects hummed in the sunshine, or a happy
[9:57] Speaker 1: bird sang out from the branches of a solitary larch.
[10:02] Speaker 1: Herseesemon stood still for a while to let the cool
[10:05] Speaker 1: alpine wind blow on his hot face. But now some
[10:09] Speaker 1: one came running down the mountain side. It was Peter,
[10:12] Speaker 1: with the telegram in his hand. He ran straight down
[10:16] Speaker 1: the steep slope, not following the path on which Herseesemon
[10:20] Speaker 1: was standing. As soon as the latter caught sight of him,
[10:24] Speaker 1: he beckoned to him to come. Peter advanced towards him,
[10:28] Speaker 1: slowly and timidly, with a sort of sidelong movement, as
[10:32] Speaker 1: if he could only move one leg properly and had
[10:35] Speaker 1: to drag the other after him. Hurry up, lad called Herseesmon,
[10:41] Speaker 1: and when Peter was near enough, tell me, he said,
[10:45] Speaker 1: is this the way to the hut where the old
[10:48] Speaker 1: man and the child hide live and where the visitors
[10:51] Speaker 1: from Frankfort are staying. A low sound of fear was
[10:55] Speaker 1: the only answer he received, as Peter turned to run
[10:59] Speaker 1: away in such pricipitous haste that he fell head over
[11:02] Speaker 1: heels several times, and when rolling and bumping down the
[11:06] Speaker 1: slope in involuntary bounds, just in the same way as
[11:10] Speaker 1: the chair, only that Peter fortunately did not fall to
[11:13] Speaker 1: pieces as that had done. Only the telegram came to grief,
[11:18] Speaker 1: and that was torn into fragments and flew away. How
[11:23] Speaker 1: extraordinarily timid these mountain dwellers are, thought her Sesamond to himself,
[11:28] Speaker 1: for he quite believed that it was the sight of
[11:30] Speaker 1: a stranger that had made such an impression on this
[11:33] Speaker 1: unsophisticated child of the mountains. After watching Peter's violent descent
[11:41] Speaker 1: towards the valley for a few minutes, he continued his journey. Peter, meanwhile,
[11:47] Speaker 1: with all his efforts, could not stop himself, but went
[11:50] Speaker 1: rolling on and still tumbling ahead over heels at intervals,
[11:54] Speaker 1: in a most remarkable manner. But this was not the
[11:58] Speaker 1: most terrible part of his sufferings at the moment, for
[12:02] Speaker 1: far worse was the fear and horror that possessed him.
[12:05] Speaker 1: Feeling sure as he did now that the policeman had
[12:09] Speaker 1: really come over for him from Frankfort, he had no
[12:15] Speaker 1: doubt at all that the stranger who had asked him
[12:18] Speaker 1: the way was the very man himself. Just as he
[12:22] Speaker 1: had rolled to the edge of that last high slope
[12:25] Speaker 1: above Dorfley, he was caught in a bush, and at
[12:28] Speaker 1: last able to keep himself from falling any farther. He
[12:32] Speaker 1: lay still for a second or two to recover himself
[12:35] Speaker 1: and to think over matters well done. Another of you
[12:40] Speaker 1: come bumping along like this, said a voice close to Peter.
[12:45] Speaker 1: And which of you tomorrow is the wind going to
[12:47] Speaker 1: send rolling down like a badly sown sack of potatoes.
[12:52] Speaker 1: It was the baker who stood there laughing. He had
[12:55] Speaker 1: been strolling out to refresh himself after his hot day's work,
[12:59] Speaker 1: and had wat with amusement as he saw Peter come
[13:02] Speaker 1: rolling over and over in much the same way as
[13:05] Speaker 1: the chair. Peter was on his feet in a moment
[13:09] Speaker 1: he had received a fresh shock. Without once looking behind him,
[13:14] Speaker 1: he began hurrying up the slope again. He would have
[13:17] Speaker 1: liked best to go home and creep into bed so
[13:20] Speaker 1: as to hide himself, for he felt safest when there.
[13:25] Speaker 1: But he had left the goats up above, and Uncle
[13:27] Speaker 1: had given him strict injunctions to make haste back so
[13:31] Speaker 1: that they might not be left too long alone, And
[13:34] Speaker 1: he stood more in awe of Uncle than anyone, and
[13:37] Speaker 1: would not have dared to disobey him on any account.
[13:41] Speaker 1: There was no help for it. He had to go back,
[13:43] Speaker 1: and Peter went on, groaning and limping. He could run
[13:47] Speaker 1: no more, for the anguish of mind he had been
[13:50] Speaker 1: through and the bumping and shaking he had received were
[13:54] Speaker 1: beginning to tell upon him, and so with lagging steps
[13:58] Speaker 1: and groans, he slowly made his way up the mountain.
[14:03] Speaker 1: Shortly after meeting Peter, her Sesemon passed the first hut,
[14:08] Speaker 1: and so was satisfied that he was on the right path.
[14:11] Speaker 1: He continued his climb with renewed courage, and at last,
[14:15] Speaker 1: after a long and exhausting walk, he came in sight
[14:19] Speaker 1: of his goal. There, only a little distance farther up
[14:23] Speaker 1: stood the grandfather's home, with the dark tops of the
[14:27] Speaker 1: fir trees waving above its roof. Her Sesemon was delighted
[14:32] Speaker 1: to have come to the last steep bit of his journey.
[14:35] Speaker 1: In another minute or two he would be with his
[14:37] Speaker 1: little daughter, and he pleased himself with the thought of
[14:40] Speaker 1: her surprise. But the company above had seen his approaching
[14:45] Speaker 1: figure and recognized who it was, and they were preparing
[14:48] Speaker 1: something he little expected as a surprise on their part.
[14:53] Speaker 1: As he stepped on to the space in front of
[14:55] Speaker 1: the hut, two figures came towards him, one a tall
[15:00] Speaker 1: all girl with fair hair and pink cheeks, leaning on Heidi,
[15:04] Speaker 1: whose dark eyes were dancing with joy. Herseesemon suddenly stopped
[15:10] Speaker 1: staring at the two children, and all at once, the
[15:13] Speaker 1: tears started to his eyes. What memories arose in his heart?
[15:19] Speaker 1: Just so had Clara's mother looked the fair haired girl
[15:24] Speaker 1: with the delicate pink and white complexion. Her Sesemon did
[15:29] Speaker 1: not know if he was awake or dreaming. Don't you
[15:32] Speaker 1: know me? Papa? Called Clara to him, her face beaming
[15:36] Speaker 1: with happiness. Am I so altered since you saw me? Then?
[15:42] Speaker 1: Her Caesemon ran to his child and clasped her in
[15:45] Speaker 1: his arms. Yes, you are indeed altered. How is it possible?
[15:52] Speaker 1: Is it true? What I see? And the delighted father
[15:57] Speaker 1: stepped back to look full at her again and to
[16:00] Speaker 1: make sure that the picture would not vanish before his eyes.
[16:05] Speaker 1: Are you my little Clara? Really, my little Clara? He
[16:09] Speaker 1: kept on saying. Then he clasped her in his arms
[16:12] Speaker 1: again and again put her away from him. That he
[16:14] Speaker 1: might look and make sure it was she who stood
[16:17] Speaker 1: before him. And now Grandmamma came up, anxious for a
[16:22] Speaker 1: sight of her son's happy face. Well what do you
[16:26] Speaker 1: say now, dear son, she exclaimed, You have given us
[16:30] Speaker 1: a pleasant surprise, but it is nothing in comparison to
[16:33] Speaker 1: what we have prepared for you. You must confess, And
[16:37] Speaker 1: she gave her son an affectionate kiss as she spoke.
[16:41] Speaker 1: But now she went on, you must come and pay
[16:45] Speaker 1: your respects to uncle, who is our chief benefactor. Yes, indeed,
[16:51] Speaker 1: and with the little inmate of our own house, our
[16:53] Speaker 1: little Hidie too, said her Sesamond, shaking Haidee by the hand.
[16:59] Speaker 1: Well are you still well and happy in your mountain home?
[17:03] Speaker 1: But I need not ask. No alpine rose could look
[17:06] Speaker 1: more blooming. I am glad child. It is a pleasure
[17:10] Speaker 1: to me to see you so. And Heidi looked up
[17:14] Speaker 1: with equal pleasure into her Sesemon's kind face. How good
[17:19] Speaker 1: he had always been to her, and that he should
[17:22] Speaker 1: find such happiness awaiting him up here on the mountain
[17:25] Speaker 1: made her heart beat with gladness. Grandmamma now led her
[17:30] Speaker 1: son to introduce him to Uncle, and while the two
[17:34] Speaker 1: men were shaking hands and her Sesemon was expressing his
[17:37] Speaker 1: heart felt thanks and boundless astonishment to the old man.
[17:42] Speaker 1: Grandmamma wandered round to the back to see the old
[17:45] Speaker 1: fir trees again. Here another unexpected sight met her gaze.
[17:50] Speaker 1: For there under the trees, where the long branches had
[17:53] Speaker 1: left a clear space on the ground, stood a great
[17:56] Speaker 1: bush of the most wonderful dark blue gentians, as fresh
[18:00] Speaker 1: and shining as if they were growing on the spot.
[18:04] Speaker 1: She clasped her hands and raptured with their beauty. How exquisite,
[18:10] Speaker 1: What a lovely sight, she exclaimed, Heidy, dearest child, Come
[18:14] Speaker 1: here is it you who have prepared this pleasure for me?
[18:18] Speaker 1: It is perfectly wonderful. The children ran up. No, I
[18:24] Speaker 1: did not put them there, said Heidi. But I know
[18:27] Speaker 1: who did they grow just like that on the mountain, Grandmamma, only,
[18:32] Speaker 1: if anything, they look more beautiful still, Clara put in,
[18:37] Speaker 1: but guess who brought those down to day? And as
[18:40] Speaker 1: she spoke, she gave such a pleased smile that the
[18:42] Speaker 1: grandmother thought for a moment the child herself must have
[18:46] Speaker 1: gathered them, But that was hardly possible. At this moment.
[18:50] Speaker 1: A slight rustling was heard behind the fir trees. It
[18:54] Speaker 1: was Peter, who had just arrived. He had made a
[18:58] Speaker 1: long round, having seen from the distance who it was
[19:01] Speaker 1: standing beside Uncle in front of the hut, and he
[19:04] Speaker 1: was trying to slip by unobserved. But Grandmamma had seen
[19:08] Speaker 1: and recognized him, and suddenly the thought struck her that
[19:11] Speaker 1: it might be Peter who had brought the flowers, and
[19:14] Speaker 1: that he was now trying to get away unseen, feeling
[19:17] Speaker 1: shy about it. But she could not let him go
[19:19] Speaker 1: off like that. He must have some little reward. Come along, boy,
[19:24] Speaker 1: come here, Do not be afraid, she called to him.
[19:29] Speaker 1: Peter stood still, petrified with fear. After all he had
[19:34] Speaker 1: gone through that day, he felt he had no longer
[19:36] Speaker 1: any power of resistance left. All he could think was
[19:41] Speaker 1: it's all up with me now. Every hair of his
[19:45] Speaker 1: head stood on end, and he stepped forth from behind
[19:48] Speaker 1: the fir trees, his face pale and distorted with terror. Courage, boy,
[19:54] Speaker 1: said Grandmamma, in her effort to dispel his shyness, Tell
[19:59] Speaker 1: me now, straight out, without hesitation, was it you who
[20:03] Speaker 1: did it? Peter did not lift his eyes, and therefore
[20:08] Speaker 1: did not see at what Grandmamma was pointing, but he
[20:11] Speaker 1: knew that Uncle was standing at the corner of the hut,
[20:14] Speaker 1: fixing him with his gray eyes, while beside him stood
[20:18] Speaker 1: the most terrible person that Peter could conceive, the Police
[20:22] Speaker 1: Constable from Frankfort. Quaking in every limb and with trembling lips,
[20:28] Speaker 1: he muttered, alow, yes, well, and what is there dreadful
[20:34] Speaker 1: about that? Said Grandmamma, because because it is all broken
[20:40] Speaker 1: to pieces and no one can put it together again.
[20:44] Speaker 1: Peter brought out his words with difficulty, and his knees
[20:47] Speaker 1: knocked together so that he could hardly stand. Grandmamma went
[20:52] Speaker 1: up to Uncle. Is that poor boy a little out
[20:56] Speaker 1: of his mind? She asked, sympathizingly. Not in the least,
[21:01] Speaker 1: Uncle assured her. It is only that he was the
[21:04] Speaker 1: wind that sent the chair rolling down the slope, and
[21:07] Speaker 1: he is expecting his well deserved punishment. Grandmamma found this
[21:12] Speaker 1: hard to believe, for, in her opinion, Peter did not
[21:15] Speaker 1: look an entirely bad boy, nor could he have any
[21:19] Speaker 1: reason for destroying such a necessary thing as the chair.
[21:23] Speaker 1: But Uncle had only given expression to the suspicion that
[21:27] Speaker 1: he had from the moment the accident happened. The angry
[21:31] Speaker 1: looks which Peter had from the beginning cast at Clara,
[21:35] Speaker 1: and the other signs of his dislike to what had
[21:37] Speaker 1: been taking place on the mountain, had not escaped Uncle's eye.
[21:42] Speaker 1: Putting two and two together, he had come to the
[21:45] Speaker 1: right conclusion as to the cause of the disaster, and
[21:48] Speaker 1: he therefore spoke without hesitation when he accused Peter. The
[21:52] Speaker 1: lady broke into lively expostulations on hearing this. No, no,
[21:57] Speaker 1: dear uncle, we will not punish the poor boy any further.
[22:01] Speaker 1: One must be fair to him. Here are all these
[22:04] Speaker 1: strangers from Frankfort who come and carry away a heidie,
[22:07] Speaker 1: his one soul possession and a possession well worth having too,
[22:12] Speaker 1: And he is left to sit alone day after day
[22:15] Speaker 1: for weeks, with nothing to do but brood over his wrongs. No, no,
[22:20] Speaker 1: let us be fair to him. His anger got the
[22:22] Speaker 1: upper hand and drove him to an act of revenge,
[22:26] Speaker 1: a foolish one, I own. But then we all behave
[22:29] Speaker 1: foolishly when we are angry. And saying this, she went
[22:33] Speaker 1: back to Peter, who still stood frightened and trembling. She
[22:38] Speaker 1: sat down on the seat under the fir trees and
[22:40] Speaker 1: called him to her. Kindly, come here, boy, and stand
[22:44] Speaker 1: in front of me, for I have something to say
[22:46] Speaker 1: to you. Leave off shaking and trembling, for I want
[22:50] Speaker 1: you to listen to me. You sent the chair rolling
[22:53] Speaker 1: down the mountain so that it was broken to pieces.
[22:56] Speaker 1: That was a very wrong thing to do, as you
[22:59] Speaker 1: yourself knew very very well at the time, and you
[23:02] Speaker 1: also knew that you deserved to be punished for it.
[23:05] Speaker 1: And in order to escape this, you have been doing
[23:07] Speaker 1: all you can to hide the truth from everybody. But
[23:11] Speaker 1: be sure of this, Peter, that those who do wrong
[23:14] Speaker 1: make a mistake when they think no one knows anything
[23:17] Speaker 1: about it. For God sees and hears everything. And when
[23:21] Speaker 1: the wicked doer tries to hide what he has done,
[23:24] Speaker 1: then God wakes up a little watchman that he places
[23:27] Speaker 1: inside us all when we are born, and who sleeps
[23:30] Speaker 1: on quietly till we do something wrong. And the little
[23:34] Speaker 1: watchman has a small goad in his hand, And when
[23:37] Speaker 1: he wakes up, he keeps on pricking us with it,
[23:40] Speaker 1: so that we have not a moment's peace. And the
[23:44] Speaker 1: watchman torments us still further, for he keeps on calling out,
[23:48] Speaker 1: Now you will be found out now they will drag
[23:50] Speaker 1: you off to punishment. And so we pass our life
[23:54] Speaker 1: in fear and trouble, and never know a moment's happiness
[23:57] Speaker 1: or peace. Have you not felt something like that lately? Peter?
[24:02] Speaker 1: Peter gave a contrite nod of the head as one
[24:06] Speaker 1: who knew all about it. For Grandmamma had described his
[24:09] Speaker 1: own feelings exactly, and you calculated wrongly. Also in another way,
[24:15] Speaker 1: continued Grandmamma. For you see, the harm you intended has
[24:18] Speaker 1: turned out for the best for those you wished to hurt.
[24:22] Speaker 1: As Clara had no chair to go in, and yet
[24:25] Speaker 1: wanted so much to see the flowers, she made the
[24:28] Speaker 1: effort to walk, and every day since she has been
[24:32] Speaker 1: walking better and better, and if she remains up here,
[24:35] Speaker 1: she will in time be able to go up the
[24:37] Speaker 1: mountain every day, much oftener than she would have done
[24:40] Speaker 1: in her chair. So you see, Peter, God is able
[24:44] Speaker 1: to bring good out of evil for those whom you
[24:47] Speaker 1: meant to injure, and you, who did the evil, were
[24:50] Speaker 1: left to suffer the unhappy consequences of it. Do you
[24:54] Speaker 1: thoroughly understand all I have said to you, Peter? If so,
[24:58] Speaker 1: do not forget my words, and whenever you feel inclined
[25:01] Speaker 1: to do anything wrong, think of the little watchman inside you,
[25:04] Speaker 1: with his gold and his disagreeable voice. Will you remember
[25:08] Speaker 1: all this? Yes, I will, answered Peter, still very subdued,
[25:14] Speaker 1: for he did not yet know how the matter was
[25:17] Speaker 1: going to end, as the police constable was still standing
[25:20] Speaker 1: with the uncle. That's right, and now the thing is
[25:24] Speaker 1: over and done for, said Grandmamma. But I should like
[25:28] Speaker 1: you to have something for a pleasant reminder of the
[25:30] Speaker 1: visitors from Frankfort. Can you tell me anything that you
[25:34] Speaker 1: have wished very much to have? What would you like
[25:37] Speaker 1: best as a present? Peter lifted his head at this
[25:41] Speaker 1: and stared open eyed at Grandmamma. Up to the last
[25:44] Speaker 1: minute he had been expecting something dreadful to happen, and
[25:48] Speaker 1: now he might have anything that he wanted. His mind
[25:52] Speaker 1: seemed all of a quarrel. I mean what I say,
[25:56] Speaker 1: went on Grandmamma. You shall choose what you would like
[25:59] Speaker 1: to have as a remembrance from the Frankfort visitors and
[26:03] Speaker 1: as a token that they will not think any more
[26:05] Speaker 1: of the wrong thing you did. Now, do you understand me? Boy?
[26:10] Speaker 1: The fact began at last to dawn upon Peter's mind
[26:13] Speaker 1: that he had no further punishment to fear, and that
[26:16] Speaker 1: the kind lady sitting in front of him had delivered
[26:19] Speaker 1: him from the police constable. He suddenly felt as if
[26:23] Speaker 1: the weight of the mountain had fallen off him. He
[26:26] Speaker 1: had also by this time awakened to the further conviction
[26:30] Speaker 1: that it was better to make a full confession at
[26:32] Speaker 1: once of anything he had done wrong or had left undone.
[26:36] Speaker 1: And so he said, and I lost the paper too.
[26:40] Speaker 1: Grandmamma had to consider a moment what he meant, but
[26:43] Speaker 1: soon recalled his connection with her telegram and answered, kindly,
[26:48] Speaker 1: you are a good boy to tell me never conceal
[26:51] Speaker 1: anything you have done wrong, and then all will come
[26:54] Speaker 1: right again. And now what would you like me to
[26:57] Speaker 1: give you? Peter grew almost giddy with the thought that
[27:02] Speaker 1: he could have anything in the world that he wished for.
[27:05] Speaker 1: He had a vision of the yearly fare at Mayenfeld,
[27:08] Speaker 1: with the glittering stalls and all the lovely things that
[27:11] Speaker 1: he had stood gazing at for hours, without a hope
[27:14] Speaker 1: of ever possessing one of them. For Peter's purse never
[27:17] Speaker 1: held more than a halfpenny, and all these fascinating objects
[27:22] Speaker 1: cost double that amount. There were the pretty little red
[27:26] Speaker 1: whistles that he could use to call his goats, and
[27:29] Speaker 1: the splendid knives with rounded handles known as toad strikers,
[27:34] Speaker 1: with which one could do such famous work among the
[27:36] Speaker 1: hazel bushes. Peter remained pondering. He was trying to think
[27:41] Speaker 1: which of these two desirable objects he should best like
[27:45] Speaker 1: to have, and he found it difficult to decide. Then
[27:48] Speaker 1: a bright thought occurred to him. He would be able
[27:51] Speaker 1: to think over the matter between now and next year's fair.
[27:55] Speaker 1: A penny, answered Peter, who was no longer in doubt.
[28:00] Speaker 1: Grandmamma could not help laughing, that is not an extravagant request.
[28:06] Speaker 1: Come here, then, and she pulled out her purse and
[28:09] Speaker 1: put four bright round shillings in his hand, and then
[28:13] Speaker 1: laid some pennies on top of it. We will settle
[28:17] Speaker 1: our accounts at once, she continued, and I will explain
[28:20] Speaker 1: them to you. I have given you as many pennies
[28:23] Speaker 1: as there are weeks in the year, and so every
[28:26] Speaker 1: Sunday throughout the year you can take out a penny
[28:29] Speaker 1: to spend as long as I live, said Peter, quite innocently.
[28:36] Speaker 1: Grandmamma laughed still more at this, and the men hearing
[28:39] Speaker 1: her paused in their talk to listen to what was
[28:42] Speaker 1: going on. Yes, my boy, you shall have it all
[28:47] Speaker 1: your life. I will put it down in my will,
[28:49] Speaker 1: do you hear, my son, and you are to put
[28:51] Speaker 1: it down in yours as well. A penny a week
[28:54] Speaker 1: to Peter as long as he lives. Hair Sisamon nodded
[28:59] Speaker 1: his assent and joined in the laughter. Peter looked again
[29:04] Speaker 1: at the present in his hand to make sure he
[29:06] Speaker 1: was not dreaming, and then said, thank God. And he
[29:11] Speaker 1: went off running and leaping with more even than his
[29:14] Speaker 1: usual agility, and this time managed to keep his feet.
[29:18] Speaker 1: For it was not fear, but joy, such as he
[29:21] Speaker 1: had never known before in his life, that now sent
[29:24] Speaker 1: him flying up the mountain. All trouble and trembling had disappeared,
[29:29] Speaker 1: and he was to have a penny every week for life.
[29:34] Speaker 1: As Later, after dinner, the party were sitting together chatting,
[29:38] Speaker 1: Clara drew her father a little aside and said, with
[29:41] Speaker 1: an eagerness that had been unknown to the little tired invalid, Oh, Papa,
[29:47] Speaker 1: if you only knew all that grandfather has done for
[29:50] Speaker 1: me from day to day, I cannot reckon his kindnesses,
[29:53] Speaker 1: but I shall never forget them as long as I live,
[29:56] Speaker 1: and I keep on thinking what I could do for him,
[29:59] Speaker 1: or what present I could make him that would give
[30:01] Speaker 1: him half as much pleasure as he has given me.
[30:05] Speaker 1: That is just what I wish most myself. Clara replied
[30:08] Speaker 1: her father, whose face grew happier each time he looked
[30:12] Speaker 1: at his little daughter. I have been also thinking how
[30:16] Speaker 1: we can best show our gratitude to our good benefactor.
[30:21] Speaker 1: Herseesemon now went over to where Uncle and Grandmamma were
[30:24] Speaker 1: engaged in lively conversation. Uncle stood up as he approached,
[30:28] Speaker 1: and Herseesemon, taking him by the hand, said, dear friend,
[30:33] Speaker 1: let us exchange a few words with one another. You
[30:36] Speaker 1: will believe me when I tell you that I have
[30:38] Speaker 1: known no real happiness for years past. What worth to
[30:43] Speaker 1: me were money and property when they were unable to
[30:46] Speaker 1: make my poor child well and happy. With the help
[30:49] Speaker 1: of God, you have made her whole and strong, and
[30:52] Speaker 1: you have given new life, not only to her but
[30:55] Speaker 1: to me. Tell me now, in what way can I
[30:59] Speaker 1: show my gratitude to you. I can never repay all
[31:02] Speaker 1: you have done, but whatever is in my power to
[31:05] Speaker 1: do is at your service, Speak friend, and tell me
[31:09] Speaker 1: what can I do. Uncle had listened to him quietly,
[31:14] Speaker 1: with a smile of pleasure on his face as he
[31:16] Speaker 1: looked at the happy father her Sesemon. He replied, in
[31:21] Speaker 1: his dignified way, believe me that I too have my
[31:25] Speaker 1: share in the joy of your daughter's recovery, and my
[31:28] Speaker 1: trouble is well repaid by it. I thank you heartily
[31:32] Speaker 1: for all you have said, but I have need of nothing.
[31:35] Speaker 1: I have enough for myself and the child as long
[31:38] Speaker 1: as I live. One wish alone I have, and if
[31:42] Speaker 1: that could be satisfied, I should have no further care
[31:45] Speaker 1: in life. Speak, dear friend, and tell me what it is,
[31:50] Speaker 1: said her Sesemon entreatingly. I am growing old, uncle went on,
[31:56] Speaker 1: and shall not be here much longer. I have nothing
[31:59] Speaker 1: to leave them child when I die, and she has
[32:02] Speaker 1: no relations except one person who will always like to
[32:05] Speaker 1: make what profit out of her she can. If you
[32:08] Speaker 1: could promise me that HAIDI shall never have to go
[32:11] Speaker 1: and earn her living among strangers, then you would richly
[32:14] Speaker 1: reward me for all I have done for your child.
[32:18] Speaker 1: There could never be any question of such a thing
[32:20] Speaker 1: as that, my dear friend, said her Sesamon. Quickly, I
[32:25] Speaker 1: look upon the child as our own. Ask my mother,
[32:28] Speaker 1: my daughter. You may be sure that they will never
[32:31] Speaker 1: allow the child to be left in any one else's care.
[32:34] Speaker 1: But if it will make you happier, I give you
[32:36] Speaker 1: here my hand upon it. I promise you, HAIDI shall
[32:40] Speaker 1: never have to go and earn her living among strangers.
[32:44] Speaker 1: I will make provision against this, both during my life
[32:47] Speaker 1: and after. But now I have something else to say.
[32:52] Speaker 1: Independent of her circumstances, the child is totally unfitted to
[32:56] Speaker 1: live a life away from home. We found out that
[32:59] Speaker 1: when she was with us. But she has made friends,
[33:02] Speaker 1: and among them I know one who is at this
[33:05] Speaker 1: moment in Frankfort. He is winding up his affairs there
[33:09] Speaker 1: that he may be free to go where he likes
[33:11] Speaker 1: and take his rest. I am speaking of my friend,
[33:15] Speaker 1: the doctor, who came over here in the autumn, and who,
[33:18] Speaker 1: having well considered your advice, intends to settle in this neighborhood.
[33:23] Speaker 1: For he has never felt so well and happy anywhere
[33:26] Speaker 1: as in the company of you and Heide. So you see,
[33:30] Speaker 1: the child will henceforth have two protectors near her, and
[33:33] Speaker 1: may they both live long to share the task. God
[33:38] Speaker 1: grant it indeed may be so, added Grandmamma, shaking Uncle's
[33:42] Speaker 1: hand warmly as she spoke to show how sincerely she
[33:45] Speaker 1: echoed her son's wish. Then, putting her arm round Hidee,
[33:50] Speaker 1: who was standing near, she drew the child to her.
[33:54] Speaker 1: And I have a question to ask you, too, dear, Hide.
[33:58] Speaker 1: Tell me if there is anything you particule you larly
[34:00] Speaker 1: wish for. Yes, there is, answered Hide promptly, looking up
[34:06] Speaker 1: delightedly at Grandmamma. Then tell me at once, dear, what
[34:11] Speaker 1: it is I want to have the bed I slept
[34:14] Speaker 1: in at Frankfort, with the high pillows and the thick coverlet,
[34:18] Speaker 1: And then grandmother will not have to lie with her
[34:21] Speaker 1: head downhill and hardly able to breathe, and she will
[34:24] Speaker 1: be warm enough under the coverlet not to have to
[34:27] Speaker 1: wear her shawl in bed to prevent her freezing to death.
[34:31] Speaker 1: In her eagerness to obtain what she had set her
[34:34] Speaker 1: heart upon, Hidee hardly gave herself time to get out
[34:37] Speaker 1: all she had to say, and did not pause for
[34:40] Speaker 1: breath till she reached the end of her sentence. Dearest child,
[34:46] Speaker 1: answered Grandmamma, moved by Heide's speech, what is this you
[34:51] Speaker 1: tell me of Grandmother. You are right to remind me.
[34:55] Speaker 1: In the midst of our own happiness, we forget too
[34:58] Speaker 1: often that which we ought to remember before all things.
[35:02] Speaker 1: When God has shown us some special mercy, we should
[35:05] Speaker 1: think at once of those who are denied so many things.
[35:08] Speaker 1: I will telegraph to Frankfort at once, for Lain Rottenmeier
[35:12] Speaker 1: shall pack up the bed this very day, and it
[35:15] Speaker 1: will be here in two days time, god willing, Grandmother
[35:18] Speaker 1: shall soon be sleeping comfortably upon it. Heidee skipped round
[35:23] Speaker 1: Grandmamma in her glee, and then, stopping all of a sudden,
[35:26] Speaker 1: said quickly, I must make haste down and tell Grandmother,
[35:30] Speaker 1: and she will be in trouble to it my not
[35:32] Speaker 1: having been to see her for such a long time,
[35:36] Speaker 1: for she felt she could not wait another moment before
[35:38] Speaker 1: carrying the good news down to Grandmother. And moreover, the
[35:42] Speaker 1: recollection came to her of the distress the old woman
[35:45] Speaker 1: was in when she last saw her. No, no, heide
[35:50] Speaker 1: what can you be thinking of? Said her grandfather, reprovingly,
[35:53] Speaker 1: you can't be running backwards and forwards like that when
[35:56] Speaker 1: you have visitors. But Grandmamma interfered on Heide's behalf the
[36:03] Speaker 1: child is not so far wrong, uncle, she said, and
[36:06] Speaker 1: poor grandmother has too long been deprived of Heidi. For
[36:09] Speaker 1: our sakes, let us all go down to her together.
[36:13] Speaker 1: I believe my horse is waiting for me, and I
[36:15] Speaker 1: can ride down from there, and as soon as I
[36:17] Speaker 1: get to Dorfley, the message shall be sent off. What
[36:20] Speaker 1: do you think of my plan? Son? Herseesemon had not
[36:25] Speaker 1: yet had time to speak of his traveling plans, so
[36:28] Speaker 1: he begged his mother to wait a few moments that
[36:30] Speaker 1: he might tell her what he proposed doing. Herseesemon had
[36:35] Speaker 1: been arranging that he and his mother should make a
[36:37] Speaker 1: little tour in Switzerland, first ascertaining if Clara was in
[36:41] Speaker 1: a fit state to go some part of the way
[36:43] Speaker 1: with them. But now he would have the full enjoyment
[36:47] Speaker 1: of his daughter's company, and that being so, he did
[36:50] Speaker 1: not want to miss any of these beautiful days of
[36:52] Speaker 1: later summer, but to start at once on the journey
[36:55] Speaker 1: that he now looked forward to with such additional pleasure.
[37:00] Speaker 1: And so he proposed that they should spend the night
[37:03] Speaker 1: in Dorfley, and that next day he should come and
[37:05] Speaker 1: fetch Clara. Then they would all three go down to
[37:09] Speaker 1: Ragat's and make that their starting point. Clara was rather
[37:14] Speaker 1: upset at first at the thought of saying good bye
[37:17] Speaker 1: like this to the mountain. She could not help being pleased, however,
[37:20] Speaker 1: by the prospect of the journey, and no time was
[37:24] Speaker 1: allowed her to give way to lamentation. Grandmamma had already
[37:29] Speaker 1: taken heide by the hand preparatory to leading the way
[37:32] Speaker 1: when she suddenly turned. But what is to become of Clara,
[37:37] Speaker 1: she asked, remembering all at once that the child could
[37:40] Speaker 1: not yet take so long a walk. She gave a
[37:43] Speaker 1: nod of satisfaction as she saw that uncle had already
[37:46] Speaker 1: taken Clara up in his arms and was following her
[37:50] Speaker 1: with sturdy strides. Her Sesamon brought up the rear, and
[37:55] Speaker 1: so they all started down the mountain. Heidee kept jumping
[37:59] Speaker 1: for joy as she and Grandmamma walked along side by side,
[38:03] Speaker 1: and Grandmamma asked all about grandmother, how she lived and
[38:07] Speaker 1: what she did, especially in the winter when it was
[38:10] Speaker 1: so cold, and Heidi gave her a minute account of everything,
[38:15] Speaker 1: for she knew all that went on at grandmother's and
[38:18] Speaker 1: told her how grandmother sat crouching in the corner and
[38:21] Speaker 1: trembling with cold, she was able to give her exact
[38:25] Speaker 1: particulars of what Grandmother had and had not to eat.
[38:31] Speaker 1: Grandmamma listened with interest and sympathy until they came to
[38:34] Speaker 1: Grandmother's Brigitta was just hanging out Peter's second shirt in
[38:39] Speaker 1: the sun so that he might have it ready to
[38:41] Speaker 1: put on when he had worn the other long enough.
[38:44] Speaker 1: As soon as she saw the company approaching, she rushed indoors.
[38:48] Speaker 1: The whole party of them are just going past mother,
[38:51] Speaker 1: evidently all returning home again. She informed the old woman.
[38:56] Speaker 1: Uncle is with them carrying the sick child. Alas is
[39:01] Speaker 1: it really to be so? Then sighed the grandmother. And
[39:06] Speaker 1: you saw Hide with them, then they are taking her away.
[39:10] Speaker 1: If only she could come and put her hand in
[39:12] Speaker 1: mine again, if I could but hear her voice once more.
[39:17] Speaker 1: At this moment, the door flew open, and Hidee sprang
[39:20] Speaker 1: across to the corner and threw her arms round Grandmother, Grandmother, Grandmother.
[39:26] Speaker 1: My bed is to be sent from Frankfort with all
[39:28] Speaker 1: the three pillows and the thick coverlet. Grandmamma says, it
[39:33] Speaker 1: will be here in two days. Hide could not get
[39:36] Speaker 1: out her words quickly enough for she was impatient to
[39:39] Speaker 1: see grandmother's great joy at the news. The latter smiled
[39:44] Speaker 1: but said a little sadly. She must indeed be a
[39:48] Speaker 1: good kind lady. And I ought to be glad to
[39:50] Speaker 1: think she is taking you with her, But I shall
[39:53] Speaker 1: not outlive it long. What is this I hear? Who
[39:58] Speaker 1: has been telling my good grandmother such tales? Exclaimed a
[40:01] Speaker 1: kindly voice, and grandmother felt her hand taken and warmly
[40:05] Speaker 1: pressed for Grandmamma had followed Heidie in and heard all
[40:09] Speaker 1: that was said. No, no, there is no thought of
[40:13] Speaker 1: such a thing. Heidie is going to stay with you
[40:15] Speaker 1: and make you happy. We want to see her again,
[40:18] Speaker 1: but we shall come to her. We hope to pay
[40:21] Speaker 1: a visit to the alms every year, for we have
[40:24] Speaker 1: good cause to offer up especial thanks to God upon
[40:27] Speaker 1: this spot where so great a miracle has been wrought
[40:29] Speaker 1: upon our child. And now a grandmother's face was lighted
[40:34] Speaker 1: up with genuine happiness, and she pressed Frau Sesemon's hand
[40:39] Speaker 1: over and over again, unable to speak her thanks, while
[40:43] Speaker 1: two large tears of joy rolled down her aged cheeks.
[40:48] Speaker 1: And Heidi saw the glad change come over grandmother's face,
[40:51] Speaker 1: and she too, now was entirely happy. She clung to
[40:56] Speaker 1: the old woman, saying, hasn't it all come about? Grandmother?
[41:00] Speaker 1: Just like the hymn I read to you last time.
[41:03] Speaker 1: Isn't the bed from Frankfort sent to make you well? Yes? Heidee,
[41:08] Speaker 1: and many many other good things too, which God has
[41:11] Speaker 1: sent me, said the grandmother, deeply moved. I did not
[41:16] Speaker 1: think it possible that there were so many kind people
[41:20] Speaker 1: ready to trouble themselves about a poor old woman and
[41:23] Speaker 1: to do so much for her. Nothing strengthens our belief
[41:28] Speaker 1: in a kind, heavenly Father who never forgets even the
[41:31] Speaker 1: least of his creatures, so much as to know that
[41:33] Speaker 1: there are such people full of goodness and pity for
[41:37] Speaker 1: a poor, useless creature such as I am, my good grandmother,
[41:42] Speaker 1: said Frauseisemon, interrupting her. We are all equally poor and
[41:47] Speaker 1: helpless in the eyes of God, and all have equal
[41:51] Speaker 1: need that He should not forget us. But now we
[41:54] Speaker 1: must say good bye, but only till we meet again,
[41:57] Speaker 1: For when we pay our next year's visit to the all,
[42:00] Speaker 1: you will be the first person we shall come and see. Meanwhile,
[42:04] Speaker 1: we shall not forget you, and Frau Sesemon took grandmother's
[42:09] Speaker 1: hand again and shook it in farewell. But Grandmother would
[42:13] Speaker 1: not let her off even then without more words of gratitude,
[42:17] Speaker 1: and without calling down on her benefactress and all belonging
[42:21] Speaker 1: to her every blessing that God had to bestow. At last,
[42:26] Speaker 1: her Sesemon and his mother were able to continue their
[42:29] Speaker 1: journey downwards, while Uncle carried Clara back home, with Heidi
[42:33] Speaker 1: beside him, so full of joy of what was coming
[42:37] Speaker 1: for grandmother that every step was a jump. But there
[42:41] Speaker 1: were many tears shed the following morning by the departing Clara,
[42:45] Speaker 1: who wept to say good bye to the beautiful mountain
[42:48] Speaker 1: home where she had been happier than ever in her
[42:51] Speaker 1: life before. Heidi did her best to comfort her. Summer
[42:56] Speaker 1: will be here again in no time, she said, And
[42:59] Speaker 1: then you will come again, and it will be nicer still,
[43:02] Speaker 1: for you will be able to walk about from the beginning.
[43:05] Speaker 1: We can then go out every day with the goats
[43:08] Speaker 1: up to where the flowers grow, and enjoy ourselves from
[43:11] Speaker 1: the moment you arrive. Her ses Ammon had come as
[43:16] Speaker 1: arranged to fetch his little daughter away, and was just
[43:19] Speaker 1: now standing and talking with Uncle, for they had much
[43:22] Speaker 1: to say to one another. Clara felt somewhat consoled by
[43:27] Speaker 1: Heidee's words and wiped away her tears. Be sure you
[43:31] Speaker 1: say good bye for me to Peter and the goats,
[43:34] Speaker 1: and especially to Schwnley. I wish I could give Schwnley
[43:37] Speaker 1: a present, for she has helped so much to make
[43:40] Speaker 1: me strong. Well you can, if you like, replied heide
[43:45] Speaker 1: send her a little salt. You know how she likes
[43:48] Speaker 1: to lick some out of Grandfather's hand when she comes
[43:50] Speaker 1: home at night. Clara was delighted at this idea. Oh,
[43:56] Speaker 1: then I shall send a hundred pounds of salt from Frankfort,
[44:00] Speaker 1: for I want her to have something as a remembrance
[44:02] Speaker 1: of me. Hair Sesemon now beckoned to the children as
[44:07] Speaker 1: it was time to be off. Grandmamma's white horse had
[44:11] Speaker 1: been brought up for Clara, as she was no longer
[44:14] Speaker 1: obliged to be carried in a chair. Heidi ran to
[44:18] Speaker 1: the far edge of the slope and continued to wave
[44:21] Speaker 1: her hand to Clara until the last glimpse of horse
[44:24] Speaker 1: and rider had disappeared. And now the bed has arrived,
[44:29] Speaker 1: and grandmother is sleeping so soundly all night that she
[44:33] Speaker 1: is sure to grow stronger. Grandmamma moreover, has not forgotten
[44:38] Speaker 1: how cold the winter is on the mountain. She has
[44:42] Speaker 1: sent a large parcel of warm clothing of every description,
[44:45] Speaker 1: so that Grandmother can wrap herself round and round and
[44:49] Speaker 1: will certainly not tremble with cold. Now as she sits
[44:52] Speaker 1: in her corner, there is a great deal of building
[44:56] Speaker 1: going on at Dorfley. The doctor has arrived and for
[44:59] Speaker 1: the Press is occupying his old quarters. His friends have
[45:03] Speaker 1: advised him to buy the old house that Uncle and
[45:06] Speaker 1: Heidie live in during the winter, which had, evidently, judging
[45:10] Speaker 1: from the height of the rooms and the magnificent stove
[45:13] Speaker 1: with its artistically painted tiles, been a fine gentleman's place
[45:17] Speaker 1: at one time. The doctor is having this part of
[45:21] Speaker 1: the old house rebuilt for himself, and the other part
[45:24] Speaker 1: being repaired for Uncle and Heidie. For the Doctor is
[45:28] Speaker 1: aware that Uncle is a man of independent spirit who
[45:31] Speaker 1: likes to have a house to himself. Quite at the back,
[45:35] Speaker 1: a warm and well walled stall is being put up
[45:38] Speaker 1: for the two goats, and there they will pass their
[45:41] Speaker 1: winter in comfort. The Doctor and Uncle are becoming better
[45:45] Speaker 1: friends every day, and as they walk about the new
[45:48] Speaker 1: buildings to see how they are getting on their thoughts
[45:51] Speaker 1: continually turn to Heidie. For the chief pleasure to each
[45:55] Speaker 1: in connection with the house is that they will have
[45:57] Speaker 1: the light hearted little child with them there, dear friend,
[46:02] Speaker 1: said the doctor on one of these occasions, as they
[46:05] Speaker 1: were standing together, you will see this matter in the
[46:08] Speaker 1: same light as I do. I am sure I share
[46:11] Speaker 1: your happiness in the child, as if next to you
[46:14] Speaker 1: I was the one to whom she most closely belonged.
[46:18] Speaker 1: But I wish also to share all responsibilities concerning her,
[46:22] Speaker 1: and to do my best for the child. I shall
[46:26] Speaker 1: then feel I have my rights in her, and shall
[46:28] Speaker 1: look forward to her being with me and caring for
[46:31] Speaker 1: me in my old age, which is the one great
[46:34] Speaker 1: wish of my heart. She will have the same claims
[46:38] Speaker 1: upon me as if she were my own child, and
[46:41] Speaker 1: I shall provide for her as such, and so we
[46:43] Speaker 1: shall be able to leave her without anxiety when the
[46:46] Speaker 1: day comes that you and I must go. Uncle did
[46:50] Speaker 1: not speak, but he clasped the doctor's hand in his,
[46:54] Speaker 1: and his good friend could read in the old man's
[46:56] Speaker 1: eyes how greatly moved he was, and how glad and
[47:00] Speaker 1: grateful he felt. Heidi and Peter were at this moment,
[47:05] Speaker 1: sitting with Grandmother and the one had so much to
[47:08] Speaker 1: relate and the others to listen to that they all
[47:11] Speaker 1: three got closer and closer to one another, hardly able
[47:14] Speaker 1: to breathe in their eagerness not to miss a word,
[47:19] Speaker 1: and how much there was to tell of all the
[47:21] Speaker 1: events that had taken place that last summer, for they
[47:24] Speaker 1: had not had many opportunities of meeting since then, and
[47:29] Speaker 1: it was difficult to say which of the three looked
[47:32] Speaker 1: the happiest at being together again and at the recollection
[47:35] Speaker 1: of all the wonderful things that had happened. Mother Brigitta's
[47:40] Speaker 1: face was perhaps the happiest of all, as now, with
[47:43] Speaker 1: the help of explanation, she was able to understand for
[47:47] Speaker 1: the first time the history of Peter's weekly penny for life.
[47:53] Speaker 1: Then at last, the grandmother spoke, Heidi, read me one
[47:58] Speaker 1: of the hymns. I feel I can can do nothing
[48:00] Speaker 1: for the remainder of my life, but thank the Father
[48:03] Speaker 1: in Heaven for all the mercies he has shown us.
[48:09] Speaker 1: End of Chapter twenty three and the end of Haidi
[48:13] Speaker 1: by Johannespirie

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