Heidi Part 4: Bedtime Story

Good evening beautiful souls and welcome to the next installment of Heidi.

So finding yourself comfortable in your bed,

Taking a few moments to truly arrive here in this space,

In this moment.

Taking your arms up above your head and stretching them up,

Up above your head and stretching out your legs,

Pointing and flexing the toes,

Really taking up space in your bed,

Stretching out the muscles and then allowing everything to relax and sink down,

Down,

Down into your bed.

And taking a few longer,

Slower breaths in and out,

Noticing any sounds around you,

Any tastes in your mouth,

Noticing where the body is making contact with the bed and the covers above you and just arriving fully here.

And when you're ready,

We will continue our story of Heidi.

In the grandmother's hut.

The next morning Peter came again with his goats and Heidi went up to the pasture with them.

This happened day after day and in this healthy life,

Heidi grew stronger and more sunburns every day.

Soon the autumn came and when the wind was blowing across the mountainside,

The grandfather would say,

You must stay home today Heidi,

For the wind can blow such a little thing as you down into the valley with just a single gust.

It always made Peter unhappy when Heidi did not come along,

For he saw nothing but misfortunes ahead of him.

He hardly knew how to pass his time.

And besides,

He was deprived of his abundant dinner.

The goats were so accustomed to Heidi by this time,

That they did not follow Peter when she was not with him.

Heidi herself did not mind staying at home.

For she loved nothing better than to watch her grandfather with his saw and hammer.

Sometimes the grandfather would make small round cheeses on those days.

And there was no greater pleasure for Heidi than to see him stir the butter with his bare arms.

When the wind would howl through the fir trees on those stormy days,

Heidi would run out to the grove,

Thrilled and happy by the wondrous roaring in the branches.

The sun had lost its vigor,

And the child had to put on her shoes and stockings and her little dress.

The weather got colder and colder.

And when Peter came up in the morning,

He would blow into his hands.

He was so frozen.

At last,

Even Peter could not come anymore.

For a deep snow had fallen overnight.

Heidi stood at the window,

Watching the snow falling down.

It kept on snowing till it reached the windows.

And still it did not stop.

Soon the windows could not be opened.

And they were all shut in.

When it had lasted for several days,

Heidi thought that it would soon cover up the cottage.

It finally stopped.

And the grandfather went out to shovel the snow away from the door and the windows,

Piling it up high here and there.

In the afternoon,

The two were sitting near the fire,

When noisy steps were heard outside,

And the door was pushed open.

It was Peter who had come up to see Heidi.

Muttering good evening,

He went up to the fire.

His face was beaming,

And Heidi had to laugh when she saw little waterfalls trickling down from his person.

For all the ice and snow had melted in the great heat.

The grandfather now asked Peter how he got along in school.

Heidi was so interested that she asked him a hundred questions.

Poor Peter,

Who was not an easy talker,

Found himself in great difficulty answering the little girl's inquiries.

But at least it gave him leisure to dry his clothes.

During this conversation,

The grandfather's eyes had been twinkling.

And at last,

He said to the boy,

Now that you have been under fire,

General,

You need some strengthening.

Come and join us at supper.

With that,

The old man prepared a meal,

Which amply satisfied Peter's appetite.

It had begun to get dark,

And Peter knew that it was time to go.

He had said goodbye and thank you.

When turning to Heidi,

He remarked,

I'll come next Sunday,

If I may.

By the way,

Heidi,

Grandmother asked me to tell you that she would love to see you.

Heidi immediately approved of this idea.

And her first word next morning was,

Grandfather,

I must go down to grandmother.

She is expecting me.

Four days later,

The sun was shining,

And the tight packed frozen snow was crackling under every step.

Heidi was sitting at the dinner table,

Imploring the old man to let her make the visit.

Then when he got up,

And fetching down a heavy cover,

Told her to follow him.

They went out into the glistening snow.

No sound was heard.

And the snow laden fir trees shone and glittered in the sun.

Heidi,

In her transport,

Was running to and fro.

Grandfather,

Come out.

Oh,

Grandfather,

Come look at the trees.

They are all covered with silver and gold.

She called to her grandfather,

Who had just come out of his workshop with a wide sled.

Wrapping the child up in her cover,

He put her on the sled,

Holding her fast.

Off they started at such a pace that Heidi shouted for joy,

For she seemed to be flying like a bird.

The sled had stopped in front of Peter's hut,

And grandfather said,

Go in.

When it gets dark,

Start on your way home.

When he had unwrapped her,

He turned homewards with his sled.

Opening the door,

Heidi found herself in a tiny dark kitchen.

And going through another door,

She entered a narrow chamber.

Near a table,

A woman was seated,

Busy with mending Peter's coat,

Which Heidi had recognized immediately.

A bent old woman was sitting in a corner.

And Heidi,

Approaching her at once,

Said,

How do you do,

Grandmother?

I have come now,

And I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long.

Lifting her head,

The grandmother sought for Heidi's hand.

Feeling it thoughtfully,

She said,

Are you the little girl who lives up with the uncle?

Is your name Heidi?

Yes,

Heidi replied.

The grandfather just brought me down in the sled.

How is it possible?

Your hands are as warm as toast.

Brigida,

Did the uncle really come down with the child?

Brigida,

Peter's mother,

Had gotten up to look at the child.

She said,

I don't know if he did,

But I don't think so.

She probably doesn't know.

Heidi,

Looking up,

Said quite decidedly,

I know that grandfather wrapped me up in a cover when we coasted down together.

Peter was right,

After all,

Said the grandmother.

We never thought the child would live more than three weeks with him.

Brigida,

Tell me what she looks like.

She has idle hides,

Fine limbs and black eyes and curly hair like Tobias and the old man.

I think she looks like both of them.

While the women were talking,

Heidi had been taking in everything.

Then she said,

Grandmother,

Look at the shutter over there.

It is hanging loose.

If grandfather were here,

He would fasten it.

It will break the window pane.

Just look at it.

What a sweet child you are,

Said the grandmother tenderly.

I can hear it,

But I cannot see it,

Child.

This cottage rattles and creaks and when the wind blows,

It comes in through every chink.

Someday,

The whole house will break to pieces and fall on top of us.

If only Peter knew how to mend it.

We have no one else.

Why,

Grandmother,

Can't you see the shutter?

Asked Heidi.

Child,

I cannot see anything,

Lamented the old woman.

Can you see it when I open the shutter to let in the light?

No,

No,

Not even then.

Nobody can ever show me the light again.

But you can see when you go out into the snow where everything is bright.

Come with me,

Grandmother.

I'll show you.

And Heidi,

Taking the old woman by the hand,

Tried to lead her out.

Heidi was frightened and got more anxious all the time.

Just let me stay here,

Child.

Everything is dark for me and my poor eyes can neither see the snow nor the light.

But grandmother,

Does it not get light in the summer when the sun shines down on the mountains to say goodnight,

Setting them all aflame?

No,

Child,

I can never see the fiery mountains anymore.

I have to live in darkness,

Always.

Heidi burst out crying now and sobbed aloud.

Can nobody make it light for you?

Is there nobody who can do it,

Grandmother,

Nobody?

The grandmother tried all possible means to comfort the child.

It wrung her heart to see her terribly distressed.

It was awfully hard for Heidi to stop crying when she had once begun,

For she cried so seldom.

The grandmother said,

Heidi,

Let me tell you something.

People who cannot see love to listen to friendly words.

Sit down beside me,

Heidi,

And tell me all about yourself.

Talk to me about your grandfather,

For it has been long since I have heard anything about him.

I used to know him very well.

Heidi suddenly wiped away her tears,

For she had had a cheering thought.

Grandmother,

I shall tell grandfather about it,

And I am sure he can make it light for you.

He can mend your little house and stop the rattling.

The old woman remained silent,

And Heidi,

With the greatest vivacity,

Began to describe her life with the grandfather.

Listening attentively,

The two women would say to each other sometimes,

Do you hear what she says about the uncle?

Did you listen?

Heidi's tale was interrupted suddenly by a great thumping on the door.

And who should come in but Peter?

No sooner had he seen Heidi than he smiled,

Opening his round eyes as wide as possible.

Heidi called,

Good evening,

Peter.

Is it really time for him to come home?

Exclaimed Peter's grandmother.

How quickly the time has flown.

Good evening,

Little Peter.

How is your reading going?

Just the same,

The boy replied.

Oh dear,

I was hoping for a change at last.

You are nearly twelve years old,

My boy.

Why should there be a change?

Inquired Heidi,

With greatest interest.

I am afraid he'll never learn it after all.

On the shelf over there is an old prayer book with beautiful songs.

I have forgotten them all,

For I do not hear them anymore.

I longed that Peter should read them to me someday,

But he will never be able to.

Peter's mother got up from her work now,

Saying,

I must make a light.

The afternoon has passed,

And now it's getting dark.

When Heidi heard those words,

She started,

And holding out her hand to all,

She said,

Good night,

I have to go,

For it is getting dark.

But the anxious grandmother called out,

Wait,

Child,

Don't go up alone.

Go with her,

Peter,

And take care that she does not fall.

Don't let her get cold,

Do you hear?

Has Heidi assured?

I haven't,

But I won't be cold,

Heidi called back,

For she had already escaped through the door.

She ran so fast that Peter could hardly follow her.

The old woman frettingly called out,

Brigida,

Run after her,

Get a warm shawl,

She'll freeze in this cold night.

Hurry up.

Brigida obeyed.

The children had hardly climbed any distance when they saw the old man coming,

And with a few vigorous steps,

He stood beside them.

I am glad you kept your word,

Heidi,

He said,

And packing her into her cover,

He started up the hill,

Carrying the child in his arms.

Brigida had come in time to see it,

And she told the grandmother what she had witnessed.

Oh,

Thank God,

Thank God,

The old woman said.

I hope she'll come again.

She has done me so much good.

What a soft heart she has,

The darling,

And how nicely she can talk.

All evening,

The grandmother said to herself,

If only he lets her come again.

I have something to look forward to in this world now.

Thank God.

Heidi could hardly wait before they reached the cottage.

She had tried to talk on the way,

But no sound could be heard through the heavy cover.

As soon as they were inside the hut,

She began.

Grandfather,

We must take some nails and a hammer down tomorrow.

A shutter is loose in grandmother's house,

And many other places shake.

Everything rattles in her house.

Is that so?

And who says that we must?

Nobody told me,

But I know,

Heidi replied.

Everything is loose in the house,

And poor grandmother told me she was afraid that the house might tumble down.

And grandfather,

She cannot see the light.

Can you help her and make it light for her?

How terrible it must be to be afraid in the dark and nobody there to help you.

Oh,

Please,

Grandfather,

Do something to help her.

I know you can.

Heidi had been clinging to her grandfather and looking up to him with trusting eyes.

At last,

He said,

Glancing down.

All right,

Child,

We'll see that it won't rattle anymore.

We can do it tomorrow.

Heidi was so overjoyed at these words that she danced and danced around the room,

Shouting,

We'll do it tomorrow.

We can do it tomorrow.