Heidi Part 2: Bedtime Story

Good evening beautiful souls and welcome to tonight's reading which is part two of the story of Heidi.

So finding yourself in a comfortable position,

Taking any movement that you need,

Stretching out,

Arms above your head,

Legs spread wide,

Take a big big big old stretch.

It's time for us to rest now,

The day is done,

There's no more tasks to do,

There's nowhere else you need to go.

It's time now to allow yourself to relax and rest.

Let your body sink heavily into your mattress and take some big big yawns,

Opening your mouth wide,

Releasing,

Signaling to your body that it's time to rest and taking a few deep breaths in and out.

And when you are ready,

We will continue with our story of Heidi.

After Dieter had disappeared,

The uncle sat down again on the bench,

Blowing big clouds of smoke out of his pipe.

He did not speak but kept his eyes fastened on the ground.

In the meantime,

Heidi looked about her and discovering the goat shed,

Peeped in.

Nothing could be seen inside,

Searching for some more interesting thing.

She saw the three old fir trees behind the hut.

Here,

The wind was roaring through the branches and the treetops were swaying to and fro.

Heidi stood still to listen.

After the wind had seized somewhat,

She walked around the hut back to her grandfather,

She found him in exactly the same position and planting herself in front of the old man with arms folded behind her back.

She gazed at him,

The grandfather looking up,

Saw the child standing motionless before him.

What do you want to do now?

He asked her.

I want to see what's in the hut,

Replied Heidi.

Come then.

And with that,

The grandfather got up and entered the cottage.

Take your things along,

He commanded.

I do not want them anymore,

Answered Heidi.

The old man turning about,

Threw a penetrating glance at her.

The child's black eyes were sparkling in expectation of all the things to come.

She is not lacking in intelligence,

He muttered to himself.

Aloud,

He added,

Why don't you need them anymore?

I want to go about like the light-footed goats.

All right,

You can,

But fetch the things and we'll put them in the cupboard.

The child obeyed the command.

The old man now opened the door and Heidi followed him into a fairly spacious room,

Which took in the entire expanse of the hut.

In one corner stood a table and a chair and in another,

The grandfather's bed.

Across the room,

A large kettle was suspended over the hearth and opposite to it,

A large door was sunk into the wall.

This,

The grandfather opened.

It was the cupboard in which all his clothes were kept.

In one shelf were a few shirts,

Socks and towels.

On another,

A few plates,

Cups and glasses and on the top shelf,

Heidi could see a round loaf of bread,

Some bacon and cheese.

In this cupboard,

The grandfather kept everything that he needed.

When he opened it,

Heidi pushed her things as far behind the grandfather's clothes as she could reach.

She did not want them found again in a hurry.

After looking around attentively in the room,

She asked,

Where am I going to sleep,

Grandfather?

Wherever you want to,

He replied.

That suited Heidi exactly.

She peeped into all the corners of the room and looked at every little nut to find a cozy place to sleep.

Behind the old man's bed,

She saw a ladder.

Climbing up,

She arrived at a hayloft,

Which was filled with fresh and fragrant hay.

Through a tiny round window,

She could look far down into the valley.

I want to sleep up here,

Heidi called down.

Oh,

It is lovely here.

Please come up,

Grandfather,

And see it for yourself.

I know it,

Sounded from below.

I am making the bed now,

The little girl called out again,

While she ran busily to and fro.

Oh,

Do come up and bring a sheet,

Grandfather,

For every bed must have a sheet.

Is that so?

Said the old man.

After a while,

He opened the cupboard and rummaged around in it.

At last,

He pulled out a long,

Coarse cloth from under the shirts.

It somewhat resembled a sheet,

And with this,

He climbed up to the loft.

Here,

A neat little bed was already prepared.

On top,

The hay was heaped up so high that the head of the occupant would lie exactly opposite the window.

The grandfather was well pleased with the arrangement.

To prevent the hard floor from being felt,

He made the couch twice as thick.

Then he and Heidi together put the heavy sheet on,

Tucking the ends in well.

Heidi looked thoughtfully at her fresh,

New bed and said,

Grandfather,

We have forgotten something.

What?

He asked.

I have no cover.

When I go to bed,

I always creep in between the sheet and the cover.

What shall we do if we haven't any?

Asked the grandfather.

Never mind,

I'll just take some more hay to cover me.

Heidi reassured him,

And was just going to the heap of hay when the old man stopped her.

Just wait one minute,

He said,

And went down to his own bed.

From it,

He took a large,

Heavy linen bag and brought it to the child.

Isn't this better than hay?

He asked.

Heidi pulled the sack to and fro with all her might,

But she could not unfold it,

For it was too heavy for her little arms.

The grandfather put the thick cover on the bed while Heidi watched him.

After it was all done,

She said,

What a nice bed I have now,

And what a splendid cover.

I only wish the evening was here,

That I might go to sleep in it.

I think we might eat something first,

Said the grandfather.

Don't you think so?

Heidi had forgotten everything else in her interest for the bed,

But when she was reminded of her dinner,

She noticed how terribly hungry she really was.

She had had only a piece of bread and a cup of thin coffee very early in the morning,

Before her long journey.

Heidi said approvingly,

I think we might,

Grandfather.

Let's go down then,

If we agree,

Said the old man,

And followed close behind her.

Going up to the fireplace,

He pushed the big kettle aside and reached for a smaller one that was suspended on a chain,

Then sitting down on a three-legged stool,

He kindled a bright fire.

When the kettle was boiling,

The old man put a large piece of cheese on a long iron fork and held it over the fire,

Turning it to and fro,

Till it was golden brown on all sides.

Heidi watched him eagerly.

Suddenly,

She ran to the cupboard.

When her grandfather brought a pot and the toasted cheese to the table,

He found it already nicely set,

With two plates and two knives and the bread in the middle.

Heidi had seen the things in the cupboard and knew that they would be needed for the meal.

I am glad to see that you can think for yourself,

Said the grandfather,

While he put the cheese on top of the bread.

But something is missing yet.

Heidi saw the steaming pot and ran back to the cupboard in all haste.

A single little bowl was on the shelf.

That did not perplex Heidi though,

For she saw two glasses standing behind.

With those three things,

She returned to the table.

You certainly can help yourself.

Where shall you sit,

Though?

Asked the grandfather,

Who occupied the only chair himself.

Heidi flew to the hearth and bringing back the little stool,

Sat down on it.

Now you have a seat,

But it is much too low.

In fact,

You are too little to reach the table from my chair.

Now you shall have something to eat at last.

And with that,

The grandfather filled the little bowl with milk,

Putting it on his chair and pushed it as near to the stool as was possible.

And in that way,

Heidi had a table before her.

He commanded her to eat the large piece of bread and the slice of golden cheese.

He sat down himself on a corner of the table and started his own dinner.

Heidi drank without stopping,

For she drank without stopping,

For she felt exceedingly thirsty after her long journey.

Taking a long breath,

She put down her little bowl.

How do you like the milk?

The grandfather asked her.

I never tasted better,

Answered Heidi.

Then you shall have more.

And with that,

The grandfather filled the little bowl again.

The little girl ate and drank with the greatest enjoyment.

After she was through,

Both went out into the goat shed.

Here,

The old man busied himself.

And Heidi watched him attentively while he was sweeping and putting down fresh straw for the goats to sleep on.

Then he went to the little shop alongside and fashioned a high chair for Heidi,

To the little girl's greatest amazement.

What is this?

Asked the grandfather.

This is a chair for me.

I am sure of it,

Because it is so high.

How quickly it was made,

Said the child,

Full of admiration and wonder.

She knows what is what,

And has her eyes on the right place,

The grandfather said to himself.

While he walked around the hut,

Fastening a nail or a loose board here and there,

He wandered about with his hammer and nails,

Repairing whatever was in need of fixing.

Heidi followed him at every step and watched the performance with great enjoyment and attention.

At last,

The evening came.

The old fir trees were rustling,

And a mighty wind was roaring and howling through the treetops.

Those sounds thrilled Heidi's heart and filled it with happiness and joy.

She danced and jumped about under the trees,

For those sounds made her feel as if a wonderful thing had happened to her.

The grandfather stood under the door,

Watching her,

When suddenly a shrill whistle was heard.

Heidi stood still,

And the grandfather joined her outside.

Down from the heights came one goat after another.

With Peter in their midst,

Uttering a cry of joy,

Heidi ran into the middle of the flock,

Greeting her old friends.

When they had all reached the hut,

They stopped on their way,

And two beautiful,

Slender goats came out of the herd,

One of them white and the other brown.

They came up to the grandfather,

Who held out some salt in his hands to them,

As he did every night.

Heidi tenderly caressed first one and then the other,

Seeming beside herself with joy.

Are they ours,

Grandfather?

Do they both belong to us?

Are they going to the stable?

Are they going to the stable?

Are they going to stay with us?

Heidi kept on asking.

Her grandfather hardly could put in a yes,

Yes,

Surely,

Between her numerous questions.

When the goats had licked up all the salt,

The old man said,

Go in Heidi and fetch your bowl and the bread.

Heidi obeyed and returned instantly.

The grandfather milked a full bowl from the white goat,

Cut a piece of bread for the child and told her to eat.

Afterwards,

You can go to bed.

If you need some shirts and other linen,

You will find them in the bottom of the cupboard.

Aunt Dita has left a bundle for you.

Now,

Good night.

I have to look after the goats and lock them up for the night.

Good night,

Grandfather.

Oh,

Please tell me what their names are,

Called Heidi after him.

The white one's name is Schwanley and the brown one I call Barley was his answer.

Good night,

Schwanley.

Good night,

Barley,

The little girl called loudly,

For they were just disappearing in the shed.

Heidi now sat down on the bench and took her supper.

The strong wind nearly blew her from her seat,

So she hurried with her meal to be able to go inside and up to her bed.

She slept in it as well as a prince on his royal couch.

Very soon,

After Heidi had gone up,

Before it was quite dark,

The old man also sought his bed.

He was always up in the morning with the sun,

Which rose early over the mountainside in those summer days.

It was a wild,

Stormy night.

The hut was shaking in the gusts and all the boards were creaking.

The wind howled through the chimney and the old fir trees shook so strongly that many a dry branch came crashing down.

In the middle of the night,

The grandfather got up,

Saying to himself,

I am sure she is afraid.

Climbing up the ladder,

He went up to Heidi's bed.

The first moment everything lay in darkness,

When all of a sudden the moon came out behind the clouds and sent his brilliant light across Heidi's bed.

Her cheeks were burning red and she lay peacefully on her round and chubby arms.

She must have had a happy dream,

For she was smiling in her sleep.

The grandfather stood and watched her till a cloud flew over the moon and left everything in total darkness.

Then he went down to seek his bed again.

Heidi was awakened early next morning by a loud whistle.

Opening her eyes,

She saw her little bed and the hay beside her bathed in golden sunlight.

For a short while,

She did not know where she was,

But when she heard her grandfather's deep voice outside,

She recollected everything.

She remembered how she had come up the mountain the day before and left old Ursula,

Who was always shivering with cold and sat near the stove all day.

While Heidi lived with Ursula,

She had always been obliged to keep in the house,

Where the old woman could see her.

Being deaf,

Ursula was afraid to let Heidi go outdoors and the child had often threatened in the narrow room and had longed to run outside.

She was therefore delighted to find herself in her new home and hardly could wait to see the goats again.

Jumping out of bed,

She put on her few things and in a short time went down the ladder and ran outside.

Peter was already there with his flock,

Waiting for Schwanley and Barley,

Whom the grandfather was just bringing to join the other goats.

Do you want to go with him to the pasture?

Asked the grandfather.

Yes,

Cried Heidi,

Clapping her hands.

Go now and wash yourself first,

For the sun will laugh at you if he sees how dirty you are.

Everything is ready there for you,

He added,

Pointing to a large tub of water that stood in the sun.

Heidi did as she was told and washed and rubbed herself till her cheeks were glowing.

In the meanwhile,

The grandfather called to Peter to come into the hut and bring his bag along.

The boy followed the old man,

Who commanded him to open the bag in which he carried his scanty dinner.

The grandfather put into the bag a piece of bread and a slice of cheese that were easily twice as large as those the boy had in the bag himself.

The little bowl goes in too,

Said the uncle,

For the child does not know how to drink straight from the goat the way that you do.

She is going to stay with you all day,

Therefore milk two bowls full for her dinner.

Look out that she does not fall over the rocks,

Do you hear?

Just then Heidi came running in.

Grandfather,

Can the son still laugh at me?

She asked.

The child had rubbed herself so violently with the coarse towel which the grandfather had put beside the tub that her face,

Neck and arms were as red as a lobster.

With a smile,

The grandfather said,

No he can't laugh anymore now,

But when you come home tonight you must go into the tub like a fish.

When one goes about like the goats,

One gets dirty feet.

Now be off with you.