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

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Peter looked again at the present in his hand to make sure he

was not dreaming, and then said, “Thank God!”

 

And he went off running and leaping with more even than his

usual agility, and this time managed to keep his feet, for it was

not fear, but joy such as he had never known before in his life,

that now sent him flying up the mountain. All trouble and

trembling had disappeared, and he was to have a penny every week

for life.

 

As later, after dinner, the party were sitting together

chatting, Clara drew her father a little aside, and said with an

eagerness that had been unknown to the little tired invalid,—

 

“O papa, if you only knew all that grandfather has done for me

from day to day! I cannot reckon his kindnesses, but I shall

never forget them as long as I live! And I keep on thinking what

I could do for him, or what present I could make him that would

give him half as much pleasure as he has given me.”

 

“That is just what I wish most myself, Clara,” replied her

father, whose face grew happier each time he looked at his

little daughter. “I have been also thinking how we can best show

our gratitude to our good benefactor.”

 

Herr Sesemann now went over to where Uncle and grandmamma were

engaged in lively conversation. Uncle stood up as he approached,

and Herr Sesemann, taking him by the hand said,—

 

“Dear friend, let us exchange a few words with one another. You

will believe me when I tell you that I have known no real

happiness for years past. What worth to me were money and

property when they were unable to make my poor child well and

happy? With the help of God you have made her whole and strong,

and you have given new life not only to her but to me. Tell me

now, in what way can I show my gratitude to you? I can never

repay all you have done, but whatever is in my power to do is at

your service. Speak, friend, and tell me what I can do?”

 

Uncle had listened to him quietly, with a smile of pleasure on

his face as he looked at the happy father.

 

“Herr Sesemann,” he replied in his dignified way, “believe me

that I too have my share in the joy of your daughter’s recovery,

and my trouble is well repaid by it. I thank you heartily for

all you have said, but I have need of nothing; I have enough for

myself and the child as long as I live. One wish alone I have,

and if that could be satisfied I should have no further care in

life.”

 

“Speak, dear friend, and tell me what it is,” said Herr Sesemann

entreatingly.

 

“I am growing old,” Uncle went on, “and shall not be here much

longer. I have nothing to leave the child when I die, and she

has no relations, except one person who will always like to make

what profit out of her she can. If you could promise me that

Heidi shall never have to go and earn her living among strangers,

then you would richly reward me for all I have done for your

child.”

 

“There could never be any question of such a thing as that, my

dear friend,” said Herr Sesemann quickly. “I look upon the child

as our own. Ask my mother, my daughter; you may be sure that

they will never allow the child to be left in any one else’s

care! But if it will make you happier I give you here my hand

upon it. I promise you: Heidi shall never have to go and earn her

living among strangers; I will make provision against this both

during my life and after. But now I have something else to say.

Independent of her circumstances, the child is totally unfitted

to live a life away from home; we found out that when she was

with us. But she has made friends, and among them I know one who

is at this moment in Frankfurt; he is winding up his affairs

there, that he may be free to go where he likes and take his

rest. I am speaking of my friend, the doctor, who came over here

in the autumn and who, having well considered your advice,

intends to settle in this neighborhood, for he has never felt so

well and happy anywhere as in the company of you and Heidi. So

you see the child will henceforth have two protectors near her—

and may they both live long to share the task!”

 

“God grant it indeed may be so!” added grandmamma, shaking

Uncle’s hand warmly as she spoke, to show how sincerely she

echoed her son’s wish. Then putting her arm round Heidi, who was

standing near, she drew the child to her.

 

“And I have a question to ask you too, dear Heidi. Tell me if

there is anything you particularly wish for.”

 

“Yes, there is,” answered Heidi promptly, looking up delightedly

at grandmamma.

 

“Then tell me at once, dear, what it is.”

 

“I want to have the bed I slept in at Frankfurt with the high

pillows and the thick coverlid, and then grandmother will not

have to lie with her head down hill and hardly able to breathe,

and she will be warm enough under the coverlid not to have to

wear her shawl in bed to prevent her freezing to death.”

 

In her eagerness to obtain what she had set her heart upon Heidi

hardly gave herself time to get out all she had to say, and did

not pause for breath till she reached the end of her sentence.

 

“Dearest child,” answered grandmamma, moved by Heidi’s speech,

“what is this you tell me of grandmother! You are right to

remind me. In the midst of our own happiness we forget too often

that which we ought to remember before all things. When God has

shown us some special mercy we should think at once of those who

are denied so many things. I will telegraph to Frankfurt at once!

Fraulein Rottenmeier shall pack up the bed this very day, and it

will be here in two days’ time. God willing, grandmother shall

soon be sleeping comfortably upon it.”

 

Heidi skipped round grandmamma in her glee, and then stopping

all of a sudden, said quickly, “I must make haste down and tell

grandmother, and she will be in trouble too at my not having

been to see her for such a long time.” For she felt she could not

wait another moment before carrying the good news down to

grandmother, and, moreover, the recollection came to her of the

distress the old woman was in when she last saw her.

 

“No, no, Heidi, what can you be thinking of,” said her

grandfather reprovingly. “You can’t be running backwards and

forwards like that when you have visitors.”

 

But grandmamma interfered on Heidi’s behalf. “The child is not

so far wrong, Uncle,” she said, “and poor grandmother has too

long been deprived of Heidi for our sakes. Let us all go down to

her together. I believe my horse is waiting for me and I can ride

down from there, and as soon as I get to Dorfli the message

shall be sent off. What do you think of my plan, son?”

 

Herr Sesemann had not yet had time to speak of his travelling

plans, so he begged his mother to wait a few moments that he

might tell her what he proposed doing.

 

Herr Sesemann had been arranging that he and his mother should

make a little tour in Switzerland, first ascertaining if Clara

was in a fit state to go some part of the way with them. But now

he would have the full enjoyment of his daughter’s company, and

that being so he did not want to miss any of these beautiful

days of later summer, but to start at once on the journey that he

now looked forward to with such additional pleasure. And so he

proposed that they should spend the night in Dorfli and that

next day he should come and fetch Clara, then they would all

three go down to Ragatz and make that their starting point.

 

Clara was rather upset at first at the thought of saying good-bye like this to the mountain; she could not help being pleased,

however, at the prospect of the journey, and no time was allowed

her to give way to lamentation.

 

Grandmamma had already taken Heidi by the hand, preparatory to

leading the way, when she suddenly turned. “But what is to

become of Clara?” she asked, remembering all at once that the

child could not yet take so long a walk. She gave a nod of

satisfaction as she saw that Uncle had already taken Clara up in

his arms and was following her with sturdy strides. Herr Sesemann

brought up the rear, and so they all started down the mountain.

 

Heidi kept jumping for joy as she and grandmamma walked along

side by side, and grandmamma asked all about grandmother, how

she lived, and what she did, especially in the winter when it was

so cold. And Heidi gave her a minute account of everything, for

she knew all that went on at grandmother’s, and told her how

grandmother sat crouching in her corner and trembling with cold.

She was able to give her exact particulars of what grandmother

had and had not to eat. Grandmamma listened with interest and

sympathy until they came to Grandmother’s. Brigitta was just

hanging out Peter’s second shirt in the sun, so that he might

have it ready to put on when he had worn the other long enough.

As soon as she saw the company approaching she rushed indoors.

 

“The whole party of them are just going past, mother, evidently

all returning home again,” she informed the old woman. “Uncle is

with them, carrying the sick child.”

 

“Alas, is it really to be so then?” sighed the grandmother. “And

you saw Heidi with them? Then they are taking her away. If only

she could come and put her hand in mine again! If I could but

hear her voice once more!”

 

At this moment the door flew open and Heidi sprang across to the

corner and threw her arms round grandmother.

 

“Grandmother! grandmother! my bed is to be sent from Frankfurt

with all the three pillows and the thick coverlid; grandmamma

says it will be here in two days.” Heidi could not get out her

words quickly enough, for she was impatient to see grandmother’s

great joy at the news. The latter smiled, but said a little

sadly,—

 

“She must indeed be a good kind lady, and I ought to be glad to

think she is taking you with her, but I shall not outlive it

long.”

 

“What is this I hear? Who has been telling my good grandmother

such tales?” exclaimed a kindly voice, and grandmother felt her

hand taken and warmly pressed, for grandmamma had followed Heidi

in and heard all that was said. “No, no, there is no thought of

such a thing! Heidi is going to stay with you and make you

happy. We want to see her again, but we shall come to her. We

hope to pay a visit to the Alm every year, for we have good cause

to offer up especial thanks to God upon this spot where so great

a miracle has been wrought upon our child.”

 

And now grandmother’s face was lighted up with genuine

happiness, and she pressed Frau Sesemann’s hand over and over