Heidi Part 17: Bedtime Story

Good evening beautiful souls and welcome to tonight's reading of Heidi So as always Finding yourself arriving here now in this moment Allowing your body to relax and your mind to settle There is nowhere that you need to be and there is nothing that you need to do It is time for rest and rejuvenation Maybe taking a few moments to stretch out your body if you haven't already and Beginning to slow down the breath and when you are ready We will continue with our adventures with Heidi Parting to meet again A day before her visit the grandmama had sent a letter to announce her coming Peter brought it up with him next morning The grandfather was already before the hut with the children and his merry goats his face looked proud as He contemplated the rosy faces of the girls and the shining hair of his two goats Peter approaching neared the uncle slowly As soon as he had delivered the letter He sprang back shyly Looking about him as if he was afraid Then with a leap he started off I Should like to know why Peter behaves like the big Turk when he is afraid of the rod said Heidi watching his strange behavior Maybe Peter fears a rod that he deserves said the old man All the way Peter was tormented with fear He could not help thinking of the policeman who was coming from Frankfurt to fetch him to prison It was a busy morning for Heidi who put the hut in order for the expected visitor The time went by quickly and soon everything was ready to welcome the good grandmama the grandfather also returned from a walk on Which he had gathered a glorious bunch of deep blue gentians The children who were sitting on the bench exclaimed for joy when they saw the glowing flowers Heidi getting up from time to time to spy down the path Suddenly discovered grandmama sitting on a white horse and accompanied by two men One of them carried plenty of wraps For without those the lady did not dare to pay such a visit The party came nearer and nearer and soon reached the top What do I see?

Clara what is this?

Why are you not sitting in your chair?

How is this possible?

Cried the grandmama in alarm dismounting hastily Before she had quite reached the children.

She threw her arms up in great excitement Clara is that really you?

You have red round cheeks my child I hardly know you anymore Grandmama was going to rush at her grandchild when Heidi slipped from the bench and Clara Taking her arm They quietly took a little walk The grandmama was rooted to the spot from fear What was this?

Up right and firm Clara walked beside her friend When they came back their rosy faces beamed Rushing toward the children the grandmother hugged them over and over again Looking over to the bench.

She beheld the uncle who sat there smiling Taking Clara's arm in hers.

She walked over to him continually venting her delight When she reached the old man,

She took both his hands in hers and said My dear dear uncle What have we to thank you for?

This is your work your care and nursing But our Lord sunshine and mountain air interrupted the uncle smiling Then Clara called Yes,

And also Swanley's good delicious milk grandmama You ought to see how much goat milk I can drink now.

It is so good Indeed I can see that from your cheeks Said the grandmama smiling No,

I hardly recognize you anymore.

You have become broad and round.

I Never dreamt that you could get so stout and tall Oh Clara is it really true?

I Cannot look at you enough But now I must telegraph your father to come I Shant tell him anything about you for it will be the greatest joy of his life My dear uncle,

How are we going to manage it?

Have you sent the men away?

I Have I can easily send the goat herd So they decided that Peter should take the message The uncle immediately whistled so loud that it resounded from all sides Soon Peter arrived white with fear for he thought his doom had come But he only received a paper that was to be carried to the post office of the village Relieved for the moment Peter set out Now all the happy friends sat down around the table and grandmama was told how the miracle had happened Often the talk was interrupted by exclamations of surprise from grandma Who still believed it was all a dream?

How could this be her pale weak little Clara?

The children were in a constant state of joy to see how their surprise had worked Meanwhile,

Mr.

Seisman Having finished his business in Paris was also preparing a surprise Without writing his mother he traveled to regats on a sunny summer morning He had arrived on this very day some hours after his mother's departure and now Taking a carriage He drove to May and fell The long ascent to the Alp from there seemed very weary and far to the traveler When would he reach the goat herds hut?

There were many little roads branching off in several directions and Sometimes mr.

Seisman doubted if he had taken the right path But not a soul was near and no sound could be heard except the rustling of the wind and the hum of little insects a Merry little bird was singing on a large tree,

But nothing more Standing still and cooling his brow.

He saw a boy running down the hill at topmost speed Mr.

Seisman called to him but with no success for the boy kept at a shy distance Now my boy can't you tell me if I am on the right path to the hut where Heidi lives and the people from Frankfurt are staying a Dull sound of terror was the only reply Peter shot off and rushed head over heels down the mountainside Turning wild somersaults on his perilous way His course resembled the course his enemy had taken some days ago What a funny bashful mountaineer Mr.

Seisman remarked to himself Thinking that the appearance of a stranger had upset this simple son of the Alps After watching the downward course of the boy a little while He soon proceeded on his way In spite of the greatest effort Peter could not stop himself and kept rolling on But his fright and terror was still more terrible than his bumps and blows This stranger was the policeman.

That was a certain fact At last being thrown against a bush he clutched it wildly Good.

Here's another one a voice near Peter said I Wonder who is going to be pushed down tomorrow looking like a half open potato bag The village Baker was making fun of him For a little rest after his weary work,

He had quietly watched the boy Peter regained his feet and slunk away How did the Baker know the chair had been pushed?

He longed to go home to bed and hide for there alone he felt safe But he had to go up to the goats and The uncle had clearly told him to come back as quickly as he could Groaning he limped away up to the Alp How could he run now?

With his fear and all his poor sore limbs Mr.

Seisman had reached the hut soon after meeting Peter and felt reassured Climbing further with renewed courage He at last saw his goal before him But not without long and weary exertion He saw the arm hut above him and the swaying fir trees Mr.

Seisman eagerly hurried to encounter his beloved child They had seen him long ago from the hut and a treat was prepared for him that he never suspected as He made the last steps.

He saw two forms coming towards him a Tall girl with light hair and rosy face was leaning on Heidi Whose dark eyes sparkled with keen delight Mr.

Seisman stopped short staring at this vision Suddenly big tears rushed from his eyes For this shape before him recalled sweet memories Clara's mother had looked exactly like this fair maiden Mr.

Seisman at this moment did not know if he was awake or dreaming Papa Don't you know me anymore?

Clara called with beaming eyes Have I changed so much?

Mr.

Seisman rushed up to her folding her in his arms Yes,

You have changed How is it possible?

Is it really true?

Is it really you Clara?

As the overjoyed father Embracing her again and again And then gazing at her as she stood tall and firm by his side His mother joined them now For she wanted to see the happiness of her son What do you say to this my son?

Isn't our surprise finer than yours?

She greeted him But come over to our benefactor now.

I mean the uncle Yes,

Indeed,

I also must greet our little Heidi said the gentleman Shaking Heidi's hand Well Always fresh and happy on the mountain.

I Guess I don't need to ask For no alpine rose can look more blooming.

Oh Child what joy this is to me With beaming eyes the child looked at the kind gentleman who had always been so good to her Her heart throbbed in sympathy with his joy While the two men who had at last approached each other were conversing Grandmama walked over to the grove there under the fir trees another surprise awaited her a Beautiful bunch of wondrously blue Argentines stood as if they had grown there How exquisite How wonderful?

What a sight She exclaimed clapping her hands Heidi come here Have you brought me those?

They are beautiful The children had joined her Heidi assuring her that it was another person's deed.

Oh Grandmama up on the pasture.

It looks just like that Clara remarked Just guess who brought you the flowers At that moment a rustle was heard and they saw Peter Who was trying to sneak up behind the trees to avoid the hut Immediately the old lady called to him For she thought that Peter himself had picked the flowers for her He must be creeping away out of sheer modesty the kind lady thought To give him his reward she called Come here,

My boy.

Don't be afraid Petrified with fear Peter stood still What had gone before had robbed him of his courage He thought now that all was over with him With his hair standing up on end and his pale face Distorted by anguish he approached Come straight to me boy.

The old lady encouraged him Now tell me boy if you have done that In his anxiety Peter did not see the grandmama's finger that pointed to the flowers He only saw the uncle standing near the hut Looking at him penetratingly and Beside him the policeman the greatest horror for him in the world Trembling in every limb Peter answered Yes Well,

But what are you so frightened about?

Because Because it is broken and can never be mended again Peter said his knees tottering underneath him The grandmama now walked over to the hut My dear uncle she asked kindly Is this poor lad out of his mind?

Not at all was the reply Only the boy was the wind which blew away the wheelchair He is expecting the punishment he well deserves Grandmama was very much surprised For she vowed that peter looked far from wicked Why why would he have destroyed the chair?

The uncle told her that he had noticed many signs of anger in the boy Since clara's advent on the alp He assured her that he had suspected the boy from the beginning My dear uncle The old lady said with animation We must not punish him further We must be just It was very hard on him when clara robbed him of heidi Who is and was his greatest treasure When he had to sit alone day after day It roused him to a passion Which drove him to this wicked deed?

It was rather foolish But we all get so when we get angry The lady walked over to the boy again Who was still quivering with fear?

Sitting down on the bench she began Come peter I'll tell you something Stop trembling and listen You pushed the chair down to destroy it You knew very well that it was wicked and deserved punishment You tried very hard to conceal it.

Did you not?

But if somebody thinks that nobody knows about a wicked deed He is wrong For god always knows it As soon as he finds that a man is trying to conceal an evil he has done He wakens a little watchman in his heart Who keeps on pricking the person with a thorn till all his rest is gone He keeps on calling to the evildoer Now you'll be found out Now your punishment is near His joy has flown for fear and terror take its place Have you not just had such an experience peter?

Peter nodded He certainly had experienced this You have made a mistake the grandma continued By thinking that you would hurt clara by destroying her chair It has so happened that what you have done has been the greatest good for her She would probably never have tried to walk if her chair had been there If she should stay here She might even go up to the pasture every single day Do you see peter?

God can turn a misdeed to the good of the injured person And bring trouble on the offender Have you understood me peter?

Remember the little watchman when you long to do a wicked deed again Will you do that?

Yes,

I shall peter replied Still fearing the policeman Who had not left yet So now that matter is all settled Is all settled Said the old lady in conclusion Now tell me if you have a wish my boy For I am going to give you something By which to remember your friends from frankfurt What is it?

What would you like to have?

Peter lifting his head Stared at the grandmama with round astonished eyes He was confused by this sudden change of prospect Being again urged to utter a wish He saw at last That he was saved from the power of the terrible man He felt as if the most crushing gloat had fallen off him He knew now that it was better to confess at once When something had gone wrong So he said I have also lost the paper Reflecting a while the grandmama understood and said That is right Always confess what is wrong Then it can be settled and now What would you like to have?

So peter could choose everything in the world he wished His brain got dizzy He saw before him all the wonderful things in the fair in mainfield He had often stood there for hours Looking at the pretty red whistles and the little knives Unfortunately peter had never possessed more than half of what those objects cost He stood thinking Not able to decide When a bright thought struck him 10 pennies Said peter with decision That certainly is not too much the old lady said with a smile Taking out of her pocket a big round phaler on top of which she laid 20 pennies Now i'll explain this to you Here you have as many times 10 pennies as there are weeks in the year You'll be able to spend one every sunday through the year All my life Peter asked quite innocently The grand mama began to laugh so heartily at this That the two men came over to join her Laughing she said You shall have it my boy I will put it in my will And then you will do the same my son Listen Peter the goat herd shall have a 10 penny piece weekly as long as he lives Mr.

Seisman nodded Peter looking at his gift said solemnly God be thanked Jumping and bounding he ran away His heart was so light That he felt he could fly A little while later the whole party sat around the table holding a merry feast After dinner clara who was lively as never before said to her father Oh papa If only you knew all the things grandfather did for me It would take many days to tell you I shall never forget them all my life Oh,

If we could please him only half as much as what he did for me It is my greatest wish too dear child said her father I have been trying to think of something all the time We have to show our gratitude in some way Way Accordingly,

Mr.

Seisman walked over to the old man and began My dear friend May I say one word to you?

I am sure you believe me when I tell you that I have not known any real joy for years What was my wealth to me when I could not cure my child and make her happy?

With the help of the lord you have made her well You have given her a new life Please tell me how to show my gratitude to you I know I shall never be able to repay you But what is in my power I shall do Have you any requests to make?

Please let me know The uncle had listened quietly and had looked at the happy father Mr.

Seisman You can be sure that I am also repaid by the great joy I experience at the recovery of Clara I thank you for your kind offer.

Mr.

Seisman As long as I live I have enough for me and the child But I have one wish If this could be fulfilled my life would be free of care Speak my dear friend urged Clara's father I am old continued the uncle and shall not live many years When I die,

I cannot leave Heidi anything The child has no relations except one Who even might try to take advantage of her if she could?

If you would give me the assurance Mr.

Seisman That Heidi will never be obliged to go into the world and earn her bread You would amply repay me for what I was able to do for you and Clara My dear friend,

There is no question of that began Mr.

Seisman The child belongs to us I promise at once that we shall look after her So that there will not be any need for her ever earning her bread We all know that she is not fashioned for a life among strangers Nevertheless She has made some true friends And one of them will be here very shortly Dr.

Classen is just now completing his last business in Frankfurt He intends to take your advice and live here He has never felt so happy as with you and Heidi The child will have two protectors near her And I hope with God's will That they may be spared a long long time And may it be God's will added the grandma Who with Heidi had joined them?

Shaking the uncle tenderly by the hand Putting her arms around the child She said Heidi I want to know if you also have a wish Yes,

Indeed I have said Heidi pleased Tell me what it is child I should like to have my bed from Frankfurt with the three high pillows and the thick warm cover Then grandmother Will be able to keep warm And won't have to wear her shawl in bed Oh,

I'll be so happy When she won't have to lie with her head lower than her heels hardly able to breathe Heidi had said all this in one breath.

She was so eager Oh dear,

I had nearly forgotten what I meant to do.

I am so glad you have reminded me Heidi If God sends us happiness We must think of those who have many privations I shall telegraph immediately for the bed And if Miss Rottenmeier sends it off at once It can be here in two days I hope the poor blind grandmother will sleep better when it comes Heidi in her happiness Could hardly wait to bring the old woman the good news Soon,

It was resolved that everybody should visit the grandmother who had been left alone so long Before starting however,

Mr.

Seisman revealed his plans He proposed to travel through Switzerland with his mother and Clara He would spend the night in the village So as to fetch Clara from the arm next morning for the journey From there they would first go to Regats and then further The telegram was to be mailed that night Clara's feelings were divided For she was sorry to leave the Alp But the prospect of the trip delighted her When everything was settled they all went down The uncle carrying Clara who could not have risked the lengthy walk All the way down Heidi told the old lady of her friends in the hut The cold they had to bear in winter and the little food they had Brigida was just hanging up Peter's shirt to dry When the whole company arrived Rushing into the house She called to her mother Now they are all going away Uncle is going too Carrying the lame child Oh must it really be?

Sighed the grandmother Have you seen whether they took Heidi away?

Oh,

If only she could give me her hand once more I longed to hear her voice The same moment the door was flung open and Heidi held her tight Grandmother Just think My bed with the three pillows and the thick cover is coming from Frankfurt Grandmama has said that it will be here in two days Heidi thought that grandmother would be beside herself with joy But the old woman smiling sadly said Oh,

What a good lady she must be I know I ought to be glad she's taking you with her Heidi But I don't think I shall survive it long The grandmama who had overheard those words Grandmama who had overheard those words Said kindly It is out of the question Heidi will stay with you and make you happy To see Heidi again We will come up every year to the arm For we have many reasons to thank the lord there Immediately the face of the grandmother lighted up And she cried tears of joy Oh what wonderful things god is doing for me Said the grandmother deeply touched How good people are to trouble themselves about such a poor old woman as I Nothing in this world strengthens the belief in a good father in heaven More than this mercy and kindness shown to a poor useless little woman like me My dear grandmother Said mrs.

Seisman Before god in heaven We are all equally miserable and poor Woe to us if he should forget us But now we must say goodbye Next year,

We shall come to see you just as soon as we come up the alp We shall never forget you With that mrs.

Seisman shook her hand It was some time before she was allowed to leave.

However Because the grandmother thanked her over and over again And invoked all heaven's blessings on her and her house Mr.

Seisman and his mother went on down While clara was carried up to spend her last night in the hut Next morning clara shed hot tears at parting from the beloved place Where such gladness had been hers?

Heidi consoled her with plans for the coming summer That was to be even more happy than this one had been Mr.

Seisman then arrived And a few last parting words were exchanged Clara half crying suddenly said Please give my love to peter and the goats heidi and the goats heidi Please greet shalani especially from me For she has helped a great deal in making me well What could I give her You could send her salt clara You know how fond she is of that advised little heidi Oh,

I will surely do that clara assented I'll send her a hundred pounds of salt as a remembrance from me It was time to go now and clara was able to ride proudly beside her father Standing on the edge of the slope Heidi waved her hand Her eyes following clara Till she had disappeared The bed has arrived Grandmother sleeps so well every night now That before long She will be stronger than ever Grandmama has not forgotten the cold winter on the alp And has sent a great many warm covers and shawls to the goat herd's hut Grandmother can wrap herself up now and will not have to sit shivering in a corner In the village a large building is in progress The doctor has arrived And is living at present in his old quarters He has taken the uncle's advice And has bought the old ruins That sheltered heidi and her grandfather the winter before He is rebuilding for himself the portion with the fine apartment already mentioned The other side is being prepared for heidi and her grandfather The doctor knows that his friend is an independent man and likes to have his own dwelling Bali and shlani of course are not forgotten They will spend the winter in a good solid stable That is being built for them The doctor and the arm uncle become better friends every day When they overlook the progress of the building they generally come to speak of heidi They both look forward to the time When they will be able to move into the house with their merry charge They have agreed to share together the pleasure and responsibility that heidi brings them The uncle's heart is filled with gratitude too deep for any words When the doctor tells him that he will make ample provisions for the child Now her grandfather's heart is free of care For if he is called away Another father will take care of heidi And love her in his steed At the moment when our story closes Heidi and peter are sitting in grandmother's hut The little girl has so many interesting things to relate And peter is trying so hard not to miss anything That in their eagerness,

They are not aware that they are near the happy grandmother's chair All summer long They have hardly met And very many wonderful things have happened They are all glad at being together again And it is hard to tell who is the happiest of the group I think brigida's face is more radiant than any Than any For heidi has just told her the story of the perpetual ten penny piece Finally the grandmother says Heidi Please read me a song of thanksgiving and praise I feel that I must praise and thank the lord for the blessings he has brought to us all You