Heidi Part 16: Bedtime Story

Good evening,

Beautiful souls,

And welcome to tonight's reading of Heidi.

So,

As always,

Finding yourself arriving into the space,

Feeling the mattress below you,

The pillow gently holding your head,

And the duvet or the blanket weighted on top of you.

And when you are ready,

Just reaching your arms above and stretching out through your arms and your legs,

Pointing and flexing the toes.

And maybe you take a yawn here,

And then allowing everything to sink down into the mattress.

And when you are ready,

We will begin.

Of further events on the Alp,

The sun was just rising,

And the arm uncle was watching how mounting and dale awoke to the new day,

And the clouds above grew brighter.

Next,

The old man turned to go back to the hut,

And softly climbed the ladder.

Clara,

Having just a moment ago opened her eyes,

Looked about her in amazement.

Bright sunbeams danced on her bed.

Where was she?

But soon,

She discovered her sleeping friend,

And heard the grandfather's cheery voice.

How did you sleep,

Clara?

Not tired?

Clara,

Feeling fresh and rested,

Said that she had never slept better in all her life.

Heidi was soon awake too,

And lost no time in coming down to join Clara,

Who was already sitting in the sun.

A cool morning breeze fanned their cheeks,

And the spicy fragrance from the fir trees filled their lungs with every breath.

Clara had never experienced such well-being in all her life.

She had never breathed such pure,

Cool morning air,

And never felt such warm,

Delicious sunshine on her feet and her hands.

It all surpassed her expectations.

Oh Heidi,

I wish I could always stay up here with you,

She said.

Now you can see that everything is as beautiful as I told you,

Heidi replied triumphantly.

Up on the alp,

With grandfather,

Is the loveliest spot in all the world.

The grandfather was just coming out of the shed,

With two full bowls of steaming,

Snow-white milk.

Handing one to each of the children,

He said to Clara,

This will do you good,

Little girl.

It comes from Xuanli,

And will give you strength.

To your health.

Just drink it,

He said encouragingly.

For Clara had hesitated a little.

But when she saw that Heidi's bowl was nearly empty already,

She also drank without even stopping.

Oh how good it was.

It tasted like cinnamon and sugar.

We'll take two tomorrow,

Said the grandfather.

After their breakfast,

Peter arrived.

While the goats were rushing up to Heidi,

Bleating loudly,

The grandfather took the boy aside.

Just listen and do what I tell you.

From now on,

You must let Xuanli go wherever she likes.

She knows where to get the richest herbs,

And you must follow her.

Even if she should go higher up than usual.

It won't do you any harm to climb a little more,

And will do all the others good.

I want the goats to give me splendid milk.

What are you looking at so furiously,

Peter?

Peter was silent,

And without more ado started off,

Still angrily looking back now and then.

As Heidi had followed a little way,

Peter called to her.

You must come along,

Heidi.

Xuanli has to be followed everywhere.

Oh but I can't,

Heidi called back.

I won't be able to come as long as Clara is with me.

Grandfather has promised,

Though,

To let us come up with you once.

With those words,

Heidi returned to Clara,

While the goat herd was hurrying onward,

Angrily shaking his fists.

The children had promised to write a letter to Grandmama every day,

So they immediately started on their task.

Heidi brought out her own little three-legged stool,

Her schoolbooks and her papers,

And with these on Clara's lap,

They began to write.

Clara stopped after nearly every sentence,

For she had to look around.

Oh,

How peaceful it was with the little gnats dancing in the sun,

And the rustling of the trees.

From time to time,

They could hear the shouting of a shepherd re-echoed from many rocks.

The morning had passed,

They knew not how,

And dinner was ready.

They again ate outside,

For Clara had to be in the open air all day if possible.

The afternoon was spent in the cool shadow of the fir trees.

Clara had many things to relate of Frankfurt,

And all the people that Heidi knew.

It was not long before Peter arrived with his flock,

But without even answering the girls' friendly greeting,

He disappeared with a grim scowl.

While Swanley was being milked in the shed,

Clara said,

Oh Heidi,

I feel as if I could not wait for my milk.

Isn't it funny?

All my life,

I have only eaten because I had to.

Everything always tasted like cod liver oil,

And I have often wished that I should never have to eat.

And now,

I am so hungry.

Oh yes,

I know,

Heidi replied.

She had to think of the days in Frankfurt when her food seemed to stick in her throat.

When at last the full bowls were brought by the old man,

Clara,

Seizing hers,

Eagerly drank the contents in one go,

And even finished before Heidi.

Please,

May I have one more?

She asked,

Holding out the bowl.

Nodding,

Much pleased,

The grandfather soon refilled it.

This time he also brought with him a slice of bread and butter for the children.

He had gone to Mainz-Sass that afternoon to get the butter,

And his trouble was well rewarded.

They enjoyed it as if it had been the rarest dish.

This evening Clara fell asleep the moment she lay down.

Two or three days passed in this pleasant way,

And the next brought a surprise.

Two strong porters came up the Alp,

Each carrying on his back a fresh white bed.

They also brought a letter from Grandmama,

In which she thanked the children for their faithful writing,

And told them that the beds were meant for them.

When they went to sleep that night,

They found their new beds in exactly the same position as their former ones had been.

Clara's rapture in her new life grew greater every day,

And she could not write enough of the grandfather's kindly care and of Heidi's entertaining stories.

She told her Grandmama that at first thought in the morning always was,

Thank God I am still in the arm hut.

Grandmama was highly pleased at those reports,

And put her projected visit off a little while,

For she had found the ride pretty tiring.

The grandfather took excellent care of his little patient,

And no day passed on which he did not climb around to find the most savoury herbs for shawarmi.

The little goat thrived so,

That everybody could see it in the way her eyes were flashing.

It was the third week of Clara's stay.

Every morning after the grandfather had carried her down,

He said to her,

Would my Clara try to stand a little?

Clara always sighed,

Oh it hurts me so.

But though she would cling to him,

He made her stand a little longer every day.

This summer was the finest one that had been for years.

Day after day the sun shone on a cloudless sky,

And at night it would pour its purple rosy light down on the rocks and snow fields,

Till everything seemed to glow like fire.

Heidi had told Clara over and over again,

Of all the flowers on the pasture,

Of the masses of golden roses,

With the blue flowers that covered the ground.

She had just been telling it again,

When a longing seized her,

And jumping up she ran over to her grandfather,

Who was busy carving in the shop.

Oh grandfather,

She cried from afar,

Won't you come up with us to the pasture tomorrow?

It's so beautiful up there now.

All right,

I will,

He replied.

But tell Clara that she must do something to please me.

She must try to stand longer this evening for me.

Heidi merrily came running with her message.

Of course,

Clara promised,

For was it not her greatest wish to go up with Heidi to the pasture?

When Peter returned this evening,

He heard of the plan for the morrow,

But for answer Peter only growled,

Nearly hitting poor Thistle Finch in his anger.

The children had just resolved to stay awake all night to talk about the coming day,

When their conversation suddenly ceased,

And they were both peacefully slumbering.

In her dreams,

Clara saw before her a field that was thickly strewn with light blue flowers,

While Heidi heard the eagle scream to her from above,

Come,

Come,

Come,

Something unexpected happens.

The next day dawned cloudless and fair.

The grandfather was still with the children when Peter came climbing up.

His goats kept at a good distance from him to evade the rod,

Which was striking right and left.

The truth was that the boy was terribly embittered and angry by the changes that had come.

When he passed the hut in the morning,

Heidi was always busy with the strange child,

And in the evening it was the same.

All summer long Heidi had not been up with him a single time,

And it was too much.

And today she was coming at last,

But again in company with this hateful stranger.

It was then that Peter noticed the rolling chair standing near the hut.

After carefully glancing about him,

He rushed at the hated object and pushed it down the incline.

The chair flew away and had soon disappeared.

Peter's conscience smote him now,

And he raced up the alp,

Not daring to pause till he had reached a blackberry bush.

There he could hide when the uncle might appear.

Looking down,

He watched his fallen enemy tumbling downwards,

Downwards.

Sometimes it was thrown high up into the air to crash down again the next moment harder than ever.

Pieces were falling from it right and left and were blown about.

Now the stranger would have to travel home and Heidi would be his again.

But Peter had forgotten that a bad deed always brings a punishment.

Heidi just now came out of the hut.

The grandfather,

With Clara,

Followed.

Heidi at first stood still,

And then,

Running right and left,

She returned to the old man.

What does this mean?

Have you rolled the chair away,

Heidi?

I am just looking for it everywhere,

Grandfather.

You said it was beside the shop door,

Said the child,

Still hunting for the missing object.

A strong wind was blowing,

Which at this moment violently closed the shop door.

Grandfather,

The wind has done it,

Exclaimed Heidi eagerly.

Oh dear.

If it has rolled all the way down to the village,

It will be too late to go today.

It will take us a long time to fetch it.

If it has rolled down there,

Heidi,

We shall never get it anymore,

For it will be smashed to pieces,

Said the old man,

Looking down and measuring the distance from the corner of the hut.

I don't see how it happened,

He remarked.

What a shame.

Now I'll never be able to get up to the pasture,

Lamented Clara.

I am afraid I'll have to go home now.

What a pity.

You can find a way for her to stay,

Grandfather,

Can't you?

We'll go up to the pasture today,

As we have planned.

Then we shall see what further happens.

The children were delighted,

And the grandfather lost no time in getting ready.

First he fetched a pile of covers,

And seating Clara on a sunny spot on the dry ground,

He got their breakfast.

I wonder why Peter is so late today,

He said,

Leading his goats out of the shed.

Then,

Lifting Clara up on one strong arm,

He carried the covers on the other.

Now,

March,

He cried.

The goats come with us.

That suited Heidi,

And with one arm around Schwanley,

And the other around Barley,

She wandered up.

Her little companions were so pleased at having her with them again,

That they nearly crushed her with affection.

What was their astonishment when,

Arriving on top,

They saw Peter already lying on the ground,

With his peaceful flock about him.

What did you mean by going by us like that?

I'll teach you,

Called the uncle to him.

Peter was frightened,

For he knew the voice.

Nobody was up yet,

The boy retorted.

Have you seen the chair?

Asked the uncle again.

Which chair?

Peter growled.

The uncle said no more.

Unfolding the covers,

He put Clara down on the dry grass.

Then,

When he had been assured of Clara's comfort,

He got ready to go home.

The three were to stay there till his return in the evening.

When dinner time had come,

Heidi was to prepare the meal,

And see that Clara got Schwanley's milk.

The sky was a deep blue,

And the snow on the peaks was glistening.

The eagle was floating above the rocky crags,

And the children felt wonderfully happy.

Now and then,

One of the goats would come and lie down near them.

Tender little snowhopper,

Came oftener than any,

And would rub her head against their shoulders.

They had been sitting quietly for a few hours,

Thinking in the beauty about them,

When Heidi suddenly began to long for the spot where so many flowers grew.

In the evening,

It would be too late to see them,

For they always shut their little eyes by then.

Oh Clara,

She said hesitatingly.

Would you be angry if I went away from you a minute and left you alone?

I want to see the flowers.

But wait!

Jumping away,

She brought Clara some bunches of fragrant herbs,

And put them in her lap.

Soon after,

She returned with little snowhopper.

So,

Now you don't need to be alone,

Said Heidi.

When Clara had assured her that it would give her pleasure to be left alone with the goats,

Heidi started on her walk.

Clara slowly handed one leaf after another to the little creature.

It became more and more confiding,

And cuddling close to the child,

Ate the herbs out of her hand.

It was easy to see how happy it was to be away from the boisterous big goats,

Which often annoyed it.

Clara felt a sensation of contentment such as she had never before experienced.

She loved to sit there on the mountainside with the confiding little goat by her.

A great desire rose in her heart that hour.

She longed to be her own master and be able to help others instead of being helped by them.

Many other thoughts and ideas rushed through her mind.

How would it be to live up here in continual sunshine?

The world seemed so joyous and wonderful all of a sudden.

Premonitions of future undreamt of happiness made her heart beat.

Suddenly,

She threw both arms about the little goat and said,

Oh,

Little snowhopper,

How beautiful it is up here,

If I could always stay with you.

Heidi,

In the meantime,

Had reached the spot where,

As she had expected,

The whole ground was covered with yellow rock roses.

Near together,

In patches,

The bluebells were nodding gently in the breeze.

But all the perfume that filled the air came from the modest little brown flowers that hid their heads between the golden flower cups.

Heidi stood enraptured,

Drawing in the perfumed air.

Suddenly,

She turned and ran back to Clara,

Shouting to her from afar,

Oh,

You must come,

Clara.

It is so lovely there.

In the evening,

It won't be so fine anymore.

Don't you think I could carry you?

But Heidi,

Clara said,

Of course you can't.

You are much smaller than I am.

Oh,

I wish I could walk.

Heidi meditated a little.

Peter was still lying on the ground.

He had been staring down for hours,

Unable to believe what he saw before him.

He had destroyed the chair to get rid of the stranger,

And there she was again,

Sitting right beside his playmate.

Heidi now called to him to come down.

But as reply,

He only grumbled,

I shan't come.

But you must.

Come quickly,

Peter,

For I want you to help me.

Quickly,

Urged the child.

I don't want to,

Sounded his reply.

Heidi hurried up the mountain now and shouted angrily to the boy.

Peter,

If you don't come this minute,

I shall do something that you won't like.

Those words scared Peter,

For his conscience was not clear.

His deed had rejoiced him till this moment,

When Heidi seemed to talk as if she knew it all.

What if the grandfather should hear about it?

Trembling with fear,

Peter obeyed.

I shall only come if you promise not to do what you said.

No,

No,

I won't.

Don't be afraid,

Said Heidi,

Compassionately.

Just come along,

It isn't hard.

Peter,

On approaching Clara,

Was told to help raise the lame child from the ground on one side.

While Heidi helped on the other.

This went easily enough.

But difficulties soon followed.

Clara was not able to stand alone.

And how could they get any further?

You must take me round the neck,

Said Heidi,

Who had seen what poor guides they made.

The boy,

Who had never offered his arm to anybody in his life,

Had to be shown how,

First,

Before further efforts could be made.

But it was too hard.

Clara tried to set her feet forward,

But got discouraged.

Press your feet on the ground more,

And I am sure it will hurt you less,

Suggested Heidi.

Do you think so,

Said Clara,

Timidly.

But obeying,

She ventured a firmer step,

And soon another,

Uttering a little cry as she went.

Oh,

It really has hurt me less,

She said,

Joyfully.

Try it again,

Heidi urged her.

Clara did,

And took another step,

And then another,

And another still.

Suddenly,

She cried aloud,

Oh,

Heidi,

I can do it.

Oh,

I really can,

Just look.

I can take steps,

One after another.

Heidi rapturously exclaimed,

Oh,

Clara,

Can you really?

Can you walk?

Can you take steps now?

Oh,

If only Grandfather would come.

Now you can walk,

Clara.

Now you can walk.

Clara held on tight to the children,

But with every new step,

She became more firm.

Now you can come up here every day,

Cried Heidi.

Now we can walk wherever we want to,

And you don't have to be pushed in a chair anymore.

You'll be able to walk all your life.

Oh,

What joy.

Clara's greatest wish,

To be able to be well like other people,

Had been fulfilled at last.

It was not very far to the flowering field.

Soon,

They reached it,

And sat down among the wealth of bloom.

It was the first time that Clara had ever rested on the dry,

Warm earth.

All about them,

The flowers nodded,

And exhaled their perfume.

It was a scene of exquisite beauty.

The two children could hardly grasp this happiness that had come to them.

It filled their hearts brimming full,

And made them silent.

Peter also lay motionless,

For he had gone to sleep.

Thus the hours flew,

And the day was long past noon.

Suddenly,

All the goats arrived,

For they had been seeking the children.

They did not like to graze in the flowers,

And were glad when Peter awoke with their loud bleating.

The poor boy was mightily bewildered,

For he had dreamt that the rolling chair with the red cushions stood again before his eyes.

On awaking,

He had seen still the golden nails,

But soon he discovered that they were nothing but flowers.

Remembering his deed,

He obeyed Heidi's instructions willingly.

When they came back to their former place,

Heidi lost no time in setting out the dinner.

The bag was very full today,

And Heidi hurried to fulfill her promise to Peter,

Who with bad conscience had understood her threat differently.

She made three heaps of the good things,

And when Clara and she were through,

There was still a lot left for the boy.

It was too bad that all this treat did not give him the usual satisfaction,

For something seemed to stick in his throat.

Soon after their belated dinner,

The grandfather was seen climbing up the alp.

Heidi ran to meet him,

Confusedly telling him of the great event.

The old man's face shone at this news.

Going over to Clara,

He said,

So,

You have risked it,

And now we have won.

Then,

Picking her up,

He put one arm around her waist,

And the other one he stretched out as support,

And with his help,

She marched more firmly than ever.

Heidi jumped and bounded gaily by their side.

In all this excitement,

The grandfather did not lose his judgment,

And before long,

Lifted Clara on his arm to carry her home.

He knew that too much exertion would be dangerous,

And rest was needed for the tired girl.

Peter,

Arriving in the village late that day,

Saw a large,

Disputing crowd.

They were all standing about an interesting object,

And everybody pushed and fought for a chance to get nearest.

It was no other than the chair.

I saw it when they carried it up,

Peter heard the baker say.

I bet it was worth at least five hundred francs.

I should just like to know how it has happened.

The wind might have blown it down,

Remarked Barbara,

Who was staring open-mouthed at the beautiful velvet cushions.

The uncle said so himself.

It is a good thing if nobody else has done it,

Continued the baker.

When the gentleman from Frankfurt hears what has happened,

He'll surely find out all about it,

And I should pity the culprit.

I am glad I haven't been up on the arm for so long,

Else they might suspect me,

As they would anybody who happened to be up there at the time.

Many more opinions were uttered,

But Peter had heard enough.

He quietly slipped away and went home.

What if they should find out he had done it?

A policeman might arrive any time now,

And they might take him away to prison.

Peter's hair stood up on end at this alarming thought.

He was so troubled when he came home that he did not answer any questions,

And he even refused his dish of potatoes.

Hurriedly creeping into bed,

He groaned.

I am sure Peter has eaten soul again,

And that makes him grown so,

Said his mother.

We must give him a little more bread in the morning,

Brigida.

Take a piece of mine,

Said the compassionate grandmother.

When Clara and Heidi were lying in their beds that night,

Glancing up at the shining stars,

Heidi remarked,

Didn't you think today,

Clara,

That it is fortunate God does not always give us what we pray for,

Because He knows of something better?

What do you mean,

Heidi?

Asked Clara.

You see,

When I was in Frankfurt,

I prayed and prayed to come home again,

And when I couldn't,

I thought He had forgotten me.

But if I had gone away so soon,

You would never have come here,

And would never have got well,

Clara,

Becoming thoughtful,

Said.

But Heidi,

Then we could not pray for anything anymore,

Because we would feel that He always knows of something better.

But Clara,

We must pray to God every day,

To show we don't forget that all gifts come from Him.

Grandmama has told me that God forgets us if we forget Him.

But if some wish remains unfulfilled,

We must show our confidence in Him,

For He knows best.

How did you ever think of that?

Asked Clara.

Grandmama told me,

But I know that it is so.

We must thank God today that He has made you able to walk,

Clara.

I am glad that you have reminded me,

Heidi,

For I have nearly forgotten in my excitement.

The children both prayed and sent their thanks up to heaven for the restoration of the invalid.

Next morning a letter was written to Grandmama,

Inviting her to come to the Alp within a week's time,

For the children had planned to take her by surprise.

Clara hoped then to be able to walk alone,

With Heidi for her guide.

The following days were happiest still for Clara.

Every morning she awoke with her heart singing over and over again.

Now I am well.

Now I can walk like other people.

She progressed and took longer walks every day.

Her appetite grew amazingly,

And the grandfather had to make larger slices of the bread and butter that,

To his delight,

Disappeared so rapidly.

He had to fill bowl after bowl of the foaming milk for the hungry children.

In that way they reached the end of the week that was to bring the Grandmama.