Heidi - Johanna Spyri (red scrolls of magic .txt) 📗

class="calibre2">again, unable to speak her thanks, while two large tears of joy

rolled down her aged cheeks. And Heidi saw the glad change come

over grandmother’s face, and she too now was 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 bed from Frankfurt sent to make you well?”

 

“Yes, Heidi, and many, many other good things too, which God has

sent me,” said the grandmother, deeply moved. “I did not think

it possible that there were so many kind people, ready to trouble

themselves about a poor old woman and to do so much for her.

Nothing strengthens our belief in a kind heavenly Father who

never forgets even the least of His creatures so much as to know

that there are such people, full of goodness and pity for a poor

useless creature such as I am.”

 

“My good grandmother,” said Frau Sesemann, interrupting her, “we

are all equally poor and helpless in the eyes of God, and all

have equal need that He should not forget us. But now we must

say good-bye, but only till we meet again, for when we pay our

next year’s visit to the Alm you will be the first person we

shall come and see; meanwhile we shall not forget you.” And Frau

Sesemann took grandmother’s hand again and shook it in farewell.

 

But grandmother would not let her off even then without more

words of gratitude, and without calling down on her benefactress

and all belonging to her every blessing that God had to bestow.

 

At last Herr Sesemann and his mother were able to continue their

journey downwards, while Uncle carried Clara back home, with

Heidi beside him, so full of joy of what was coming for

grandmother that every step was a jump.

 

But there were many tears shed the following morning by the

departing Clara, who wept to say good-bye to the beautiful

mountain home where she had been happier than ever in her life

before. Heidi did her best to comfort her. “Summer will be here

again in no time,” she said, “and then you will come again, and

it will be nicer still, for you will be able to walk about from

the beginning. We can then go out every day with the goats up to

where the flowers grow, and enjoy ourselves from the moment you

arrive.”

 

Herr Sesemann had come as arranged to fetch his little daughter

away, and was just now standing and talking with Uncle, for they

had much to say to one another. Clara felt somewhat consoled by

Heidi’s words, and wiped away her tears.

 

“Be sure you say good-bye for me to Peter and the goats, and

especially to Little Swan. I wish I could give Little Swan a

present, for she has helped 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 she comes home at night.”

 

Clara was delighted at this idea. “Oh, then I shall send a

hundred pounds of salt from Frankfurt, for I want her to have

something as a remembrance of me.”

 

Herr 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 no longer obliged to be carried in a chair.

 

Heidi ran to the far edge of the slope and continued to wave her

hand to Clara until the last glimpse of horse and rider had

disappeared.

 

And now the bed has arrived, and grandmother is sleeping so

soundly all night that she is sure to grow stronger.

 

Grandmamma, moreover, has not forgotten how cold the winter is

on the mountain. She has sent a large parcel of warm clothing of

every description, so that grandmother can wrap herself round

and round, and will certainly not tremble with cold now as she

sits in her corner.

 

There is a great deal of building going on at Dorfli. The doctor

has arrived, and, for the present, is occupying his old

quarters. His friends have advised him to buy the old house that

Uncle and Heidi live in during the winter, which had evidently,

judging from the height of the rooms and the magnificent stove

with its artistically-painted tiles, been a fine gentleman’s

place at one time. The doctor is having this part of the old

house rebuilt for himself, the other part being repaired for

Uncle and Heidi, for the doctor is aware that Uncle is a man of

independent spirit, who likes to have a house to himself. Quite

at the back a warm and well-walled stall is being put up for the

two goats, and there they will pass their winter in comfort.

 

The doctor and Uncle are becoming better friends every day, and

as they walk about the new buildings to see how they are getting

on, their thoughts continually turn to Heidi, for the chief

pleasure to each in connection with the house is that they will

have the lighthearted little child with them there.

 

“Dear friend,” said the doctor on one of these occasions as they

were standing 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, I was the one to whom she most closely

belonged, but I wish also to share all responsibilities,

concerning her and to do my best for the child. I shall then feel

I have my rights in her, and shall look forward to her being with

me and caring for me in my old age, which is the one great wish

of my heart. She will have the same claims upon me as if she were

my own child, and I shall provide for her as such, and so we

shall be able to leave her without anxiety when the day comes

that you and I must go.”

 

Uncle did not speak, but he clasped the doctor’s hand in his,

and his good friend could read in the old man’s eyes how greatly

moved he was and how glad and grateful he felt.

 

Heidi and Peter were at this moment sitting with grandmother,

and the one had so much to relate, and the others to listen to,

that they all three got closer and closer to one another, hardly

able to breathe in their eagerness not to miss a word.

 

And how much there was to tell of all the events that had taken

place that last summer, for they had not had many opportunities

of meeting since then.

 

And it was difficult to say which of the three looked the

happiest at being together again, and at the recollection of all

the wonderful things that had happened. Mother Brigitta’s face

was perhaps the happiest of all, as now, with the help of

explanation she was able to understand for the first time the

history of Peter’s weekly penny for life.

 

Then at last the grandmother spoke, “Heidi, read me one of the

hymns! I can feel I can do nothing for the remainder of my life

but thank the Father in Heaven for all the mercies he has shown

us!”