Heidi, Johanna Spyri [reading e books .TXT] 📗

>table so that all the things for Heidi could be spread out upon

it and packed under Clara’s own eyes. It was no light job, for

the presents were of all shapes and sizes. First there was the

little warm cloak with a hood, which had been designed by Clara

herself, in order that Heidi during the coming winter might be

able to go and see grandmother when she liked, and not have to

wait till her grandfather could take her wrapped up in a sack to

keep her from freezing. Then came a thick warm shawl for the

grandmother, in which she could wrap herself well up and not feel

the cold when the wind came sweeping in such terrible gusts round

the house. The next object was the large box full of cakes; these

were also for the grandmother, that she might have something to

eat with her coffee besides bread. An immense sausage was the

next article; this had been originally intended for Peter, who

never had anything but bread and cheese, but Clara had altered

her mind, fearing that in his delight he might eat it all up at

once and make himself ill. So she arranged to send it to

Brigitta, who could take some for herself and the grandmother and

give Peter his portion out by degrees. A packet of tobacco was a

present for grandfather, who was fond of his pipe as he sat

resting in the evening. Finally there was a whole lot of

mysterious little bags, and parcels, and boxes, which Clara had

had especial pleasure in collecting, as each was to be a joyful

surprise for Heidi as she opened it. The work came to an end at

last, and an imposing-looking package lay on the floor ready for

transport. Fraulein Rottenmeier looked at it with satisfaction,

lost in the consideration of the art of packing. Clara eyed it

too with pleasure, picturing Heidi’s exclamations and jumps of

joy and surprise when the huge parcel arrived at the hut.

 

And now Sebastian came in, and lifting the package on to his

shoulder, carried it off to be forwarded at once to the doctor’s

house.

 

CHAPTER XVI. A VISITOR

 

The early light of morning lay rosy red upon the mountains, and

a fresh breeze rustled through the fir trees and set their

ancient branches waving to and fro. The sound awoke Heidi and she

opened her eyes. The roaring in the trees always stirred a strong

emotion within her and seemed to drew her irresistibly to them.

So she jumped out of bed and dressed herself as quickly as she

could, but it took her some time even then, for she was careful

now to be always clean and tidy.

 

When she went down her ladder she found her grandfather had

already left the hut. He was standing outside looking at the sky

and examining the landscape as he did every morning, to see what

sort of weather it was going to be.

 

Little pink clouds were floating over the sky, that was growing

brighter and bluer with every minute, while the heights and the

meadow lands were turning gold under the rising sun, which was

just appearing above the topmost peaks.

 

“O how beautiful! how beautiful! Good-morning, grandfather!”

cried Heidi, running out.

 

“What, you are awake already, are you?” he answered, giving her

a morning greeting.

 

Then Heidi ran round to the fir trees to enjoy the sound she

loved so well, and with every fresh gust of wind which came

roaring through their branches she gave a fresh jump and cry of

delight.

 

Meanwhile the grandfather had gone to milk the goats; this done

he brushed and washed them, ready for their mountain excursion,

and brought them out of their shed. As soon as Heidi caught

sight of her two friends she ran and embraced them, and they

bleated in return, while they vied with each other in showing

their affection by poking their heads against her and trying

which could get nearest her, so that she was almost crushed

between them. But Heidi was not afraid of them, and when the

lively Little Bear gave rather too violent a thrust, she only

said, “No, Little Bear, you are pushing like the Great Turk,” and

Little Bear immediately drew back his head and left off his rough

attentions, while Little Swan lifted her head and put on an

expression as much as to say, “No one shall ever accuse me of

behaving like the Great Turk.” For White Swan was a rather more

distinguished person than Brown Bear.

 

And now Peter’s whistle was heard and all the goats came along,

leaping and springing, and Heidi soon found herself surrounded

by the whole flock, pushed this way and that by their

obstreperous greetings, but at last she managed to get through

them to where Snowflake was standing, for the young goat had in

vain striven to reach her.

 

Peter now gave a last tremendous whistle, in order to startle

the goats and drive them off, for he wanted to get near himself

to say something to Heidi. The goats sprang aside and he came up

to her.

 

“Can you come out with me to-day?” he asked, evidently unwilling

to hear her refuse.

 

“I am afraid I cannot, Peter,” she answered. “I am expecting

them every minute from Frankfurt, and I must be at home when they

come.”

 

“You have said the same thing for days now,” grumbled Peter.

 

“I must continue to say it till they come,” replied Heidi. “How

can you think, Peter, that I would be away when they came? As if

I could do such a thing?”

 

“They would find Uncle at home,” he answered with a snarling

voice.

 

But at this moment the grandfather’s stentorian voice was heard.

“Why is the army not marching forward? Is it the field-marshal

who is missing or some of the troops?”

 

Whereupon Peter turned and went off, swinging his stick round so

that it whistled through the air, and the goats, who understood

the signal, started at full trot for their mountain pasture,

Peter following in their wake.

 

Since Heidi had been back with her grandfather things came now

and then into her mind of which she had never thought in former

days. So now, with great exertion, she put her bed in order

every morning, patting and stroking it till she had got it

perfectly smooth and flat. Then she went about the room

downstairs, put each chair back in its place, and if she found

anything lying about she put it in the cupboard. After that she

fetched a duster, climbed on a chair, and rubbed the table till

it shone again. When the grandfather came in later he would look

round well pleased and say to himself, “We look like Sunday every

day now; Heidi did not go abroad for nothing.”

 

After Peter had departed and she and her grandfather had

breakfasted, Heidi began her daily work as usual, but she did

not get on with it very fast. It was so lovely out of doors today, and every minute something happened to interrupt her in her

work. Now it was a bright beam of sun shining cheerfully through

the open window, and seeming to say, “Come out, Heidi, come out!”

Heidi felt she could not stay indoors, and she ran out in answer

to the call. The sunlight lay sparkling on everything around the

hut and on all the mountains and far away along the valley, and

the grass slope looked so golden and inviting that she was

obliged to sit down for a few minutes and look about her. Then

she suddenly remembered that her stool was left standing in the

middle of the floor and that the table had not been rubbed, and

she jumped up and ran inside again. But it was not long before

the fir trees began their old song; Heidi felt it in all her

limbs, and again the desire to run outside was irresistible, and

she was off to play and leap to the tune of the waving branches.

The grandfather, who was busy in his work-shed, stepped out from

time to time smiling to watch her at her gambols. He had just

gone back to his work on one of these occasions when Heidi

called out, “Grandfather! grandfather! Come, come!”

 

He stepped quickly out, almost afraid something had happened to

the child, but he saw her running towards where the mountain

path descended, crying, “They are coming! they are coming! and

the doctor is in front of them!”

 

Heidi rushed forward to welcome her old friend, who held out his

hands in greeting to her. When she came up to him she clung to

his outstretched arm, and exclaimed in the joy of her heart,

“Good-morning, doctor, and thank you ever so many times.”

 

“God bless you, child! what have you got to thank me for?” asked

the doctor, smiling.

 

“For being at home again with grandfather,” the child explained.

 

The doctor’s face brightened as if a sudden ray of sunshine had

passed across it; he had not expected such a reception as this.

Lost in the sense of his loneliness he had climbed the mountain

without heeding how beautiful it was on every side, and how more

and more beautiful it became the higher he got. He had quite

thought that Heidi would have forgotten him; she had seen so

little of him, and he had felt rather like one bearing a message

of disappointment, anticipating no great show of favor, coming

as he did without the expected friends. But instead, here was

Heidi, her eyes dancing for joy, and full of gratitude and

affection, clinging to the arm of her kind friend.

 

He took her by the hand with fatherly tenderness.

 

“Take me now to your grandfather, Heidi, and show me where you

live.”

 

But Heidi still remained standing, looking down the path with a

questioning gaze. “Where are Clara and grandmother?” she asked.

 

“Ah, now I have to tell you something which you will be as sorry

about as I am,” answered the doctor. “You see, Heidi, I have

come alone. Clara was very ill and could not travel, and so the

grandmother stayed behind too. But next spring, when the days

grow warm and long again, they are coming here for certain.”

 

Heidi was greatly concerned; she could not at first bring

herself to believe that what she had for so long been picturing

to herself was not going to happen after all. She stood

motionless for a second or two, overcome by the unexpected

disappointment. The doctor said nothing further; all around lay

the silence, only the sighing of the fir trees could be heard

from where they stood. Then Heidi suddenly remembered why she had

run down there, and that the doctor had really come. She lifted

her eyes and saw the sad expression in his as he looked down at

her; she had never seen him with that look on his face when she

was in Frankfurt. It went to Heidi’s heart; she could not bear to

see anybody unhappy, especially her dear doctor. No doubt it was

because Clara and grandmother could not come, and so she began to

think how best she might console him.

 

“Oh, it won’t be very long to wait for spring, and then they

will be sure to come,” she said in a reassuring voice. “Time

passes very quickly with us, and then they will be able to stay

longer when they are here, and Clara will be pleased at that. Now

let us go and find grandfather.”

 

Hand in hand with her friend she climbed up to the hut. She was

so