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23 - Heidi by Johanna Spyri · Heidi

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  Speaker 1: Chapter twenty three of Heide by Joanna Speedy, translated by
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  Speaker 1: Elizabeth P. Stark. This liebriyvox recording is in the public domain.
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  Speaker 1: Chapter twenty three, Parting to meet again. A day before
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  Speaker 1: her visit, the Grandmamma had sent a letter to announce
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  Speaker 1: her coming. Peter brought it up with him. Next morning,
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  Speaker 1: the grandfather was already before the hut with the children
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  Speaker 1: and his merry goats. His face looked proud as he
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  Speaker 1: contemplated the rosy faces of the girls and the shining
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  Speaker 1: hair of his two goats. Peter, approaching, neared the uncle slowly.
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  Speaker 1: As soon as he had delivered the letter. He rang back, shyly,
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  Speaker 1: looking about him as if he were afraid. Then with
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  Speaker 1: a leap, he started off. I should like to know
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  Speaker 1: why Peter behaves like the big turk when he is
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  Speaker 1: afraid of the rod, said Heide, watching his strange behavior.
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  Speaker 1: Maybe Peter fears a rod that he deserves, said the
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  Speaker 1: old man. All the way, Peter was tormented with fear.
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  Speaker 1: He could not help thinking of the policeman who was
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  Speaker 1: coming from Frankfort to fetch him to prison. It was
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  Speaker 1: a busy morning for Heidi, who put the hut in
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  Speaker 1: order for the expected visitor. The time went by quickly,
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  Speaker 1: and soon everything was ready to welcome the good Grandmamma.
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  Speaker 1: The grandfather also returned from a walk on which he
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  Speaker 1: had gathered a glorious bunch of deep blue Gentians. The children,
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  Speaker 1: who were sitting on the bench exclaimed for joy when
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  Speaker 1: they saw the glowing flowers. Heidi, getting up from time
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  Speaker 1: to time to spy down the path, suddenly discovered Grandmamma
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  Speaker 1: sitting on a white horse and accompanied by two men.
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  Speaker 1: One of them carried plenty of raps, for without those
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  Speaker 1: the lady did not dare to pay such a visit.
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  Speaker 1: The party came nearer and nearer, and soon reached the top.
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  Speaker 1: What do I see, Clara? What is this? Why are
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  Speaker 1: you not sitting in your chair? How is this possible?
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  Speaker 1: Cried the Grandmamma in alarm, Dismounting hastily before she had
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  Speaker 1: quite reached the children, she threw her arms up in
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  Speaker 1: great excitement. Clara, is that really you? You have red round cheeks,
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  Speaker 1: my child, I hardly know you anymore. Grandmama was going
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  Speaker 1: to rush at her grandchild when heide slipped from the
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  Speaker 1: bench and Clara, taking her arm they quietly took a
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  Speaker 1: little walk. The grandmama was rooted to the spot from fear.
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  Speaker 1: What was this? Upright and firm? Clara walked beside her friend.
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  Speaker 1: When they came back, their rosy faces beamed. Rushing toward
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  Speaker 1: the children, the grandmother hugged them over and over again.
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  Speaker 1: Looking over the bench, she beheld the uncle, who sat
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  Speaker 1: there smiling. Taking Clara's arm in hers, she walked over
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  Speaker 1: to him, continually venting her delight. When she reached the
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  Speaker 1: old man, she took both his hands in hers and said,
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  Speaker 1: my dear dear uncle, what have we to thank you for?
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  Speaker 1: This is your work, your care and nursing. But our
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  Speaker 1: Lord's sunshine and mountain air, interrupted the uncle, smiling. Then
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  Speaker 1: Clara called yes, and also Schwanley's good delicious milk. Grandmamma,
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  Speaker 1: you ought to see how much goat milk I can
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  Speaker 1: drink now? Oh it is so good. Indeed, I can
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  Speaker 1: see that from your cheeks, said the grandmamma, smiling. No,
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  Speaker 1: I hardly recognize you anymore. You have become broad and round.
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  Speaker 1: I never dreamt that you could get so stout and tall, Oh, Clara,
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  Speaker 1: is it really true? I cannot look at you? Enough.
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  Speaker 1: But now I must telegraph your father to come. I
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  Speaker 1: shan't tell him anything about you, for it will be
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  Speaker 1: the greatest joy of all his life. My dear uncle,
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  Speaker 1: how are we going to manage it? Have you sent
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  Speaker 1: them in away? I have, but I can easily send
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  Speaker 1: the goatherd. So they decided that Peter should take the message.
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  Speaker 1: The uncle immediately whistled so loud that it resounded from
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  Speaker 1: all sides. Soon Peter arrived white with fear, for he
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  Speaker 1: thought his doom had come, but he only received a
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  Speaker 1: paper that was to be carried to the post office
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  Speaker 1: of the village. Relieved for the moment, Peter set out. Now,
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  Speaker 1: all the happy friends sat down round the table, and
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  Speaker 1: Grandmamma was told how the miracle had happened. Often the
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  Speaker 1: talk was interrupted by exclamations of surprise from Grandmamma, who
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  Speaker 1: still believed it was all a dream. How could this be?
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  Speaker 1: Her pale, weak little Clara. The chillchildren were in a
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  Speaker 1: constant state of joy to see how their surprise had worked. Meanwhile,
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  Speaker 1: mister Seismon, having finished his business in Paris, was also
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  Speaker 1: preparing a surprise. Without riding his mother, he traveled to
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  Speaker 1: ragots On a sunny summer morning. He had arrived on
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  Speaker 1: this very day, some hours after his mother's departure, and
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  Speaker 1: now taking a carriage, he drove to Meenfeld. The long
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  Speaker 1: ascent to the alp from there seemed very weary and
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  Speaker 1: far to the traveler. When would he reach the goatherd's hut.
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  Speaker 1: There were many little roads branching off in several directions,
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  Speaker 1: and sometimes mister Seismond doubted if he had taken the
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  Speaker 1: right path. But not a soul was near, and no
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  Speaker 1: sound could be heard except the rustling of the wind
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  Speaker 1: and the hum of little insects. A merry little bird
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  Speaker 1: was singing on a larch tree, but nothing more. Standing
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  Speaker 1: still and cooling his brow, he saw a boy running
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  Speaker 1: down the hill to topmost speed. Mister Seismond called to him,
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  Speaker 1: but with no success, for the boy kept at a
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  Speaker 1: shy distance. Now, my boy, can't you tell me if
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  Speaker 1: I am on the right path to the hut where
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  Speaker 1: height he lives and the people from Frankfort are staying.
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  Speaker 1: A dull sound of terror was the only reply. Peter
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  Speaker 1: shot off and rushed head over heels down the mountain side,
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  Speaker 1: turning wild somersaults on his perilous way. His course resembled
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  Speaker 1: the course his enemy had taken some days ago. What
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  Speaker 1: a funny bashful mountaineer, mister Seismond remarked to himself, thinking
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  Speaker 1: that the appearance of a stranger had upset this simple
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  Speaker 1: son of the Alps. After watching the downward course of
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  Speaker 1: the boy a little while, he soon proceeded on his way.
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  Speaker 1: In spite of the greatest effort, Peter could not stop
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  Speaker 1: himself and kept rolling on. But his fright and terror
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  Speaker 1: was still more more terrible than his bumps and blows.
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  Speaker 1: This stranger was the policeman, that was a certain fact.
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  Speaker 1: At last, being thrown against a bush, he clutched it
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  Speaker 1: wildly good. Here's another one. A voice near Peter said,
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  Speaker 1: I wonder who was going to be pushed down tomorrow?
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  Speaker 1: Looking like a half opened potato bag. The village baker
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  Speaker 1: was making fun of him. For a little rest after
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  Speaker 1: his weary work. He had quietly watched the boy. Peter
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  Speaker 1: regained his feet and slunk away. How did the baker
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  Speaker 1: know the chair had been pushed? He longed to go
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  Speaker 1: home to bed and hide, for there alone he felt safe.
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  Speaker 1: But he had to go up to the goats, and
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  Speaker 1: the uncle had clearly told him to come back as
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  Speaker 1: quickly as he could. Groaning, he limped away up to
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  Speaker 1: the alp. How could he run now with this fear
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  Speaker 1: and all his poor sore limbs. Mister Seithmon had reached
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  Speaker 1: the hut soon after meeting Peter and felt reassured. Climbing
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  Speaker 1: further with renewed courage, he at last saw his goal
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  Speaker 1: before him, but not without long and weary exertion. He
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  Speaker 1: saw the arm hut above him and the swaying fir trees.
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  Speaker 1: Mister Seiseman eagerly hurried to encounter his beloved child. They
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  Speaker 1: had seen him long ago from the hut, and a
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  Speaker 1: treat was prepared for him that he never suspected. As
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  Speaker 1: he made the last steps, he saw two forms coming
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  Speaker 1: towards him. A tall girl with light hair and rosy
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  Speaker 1: face was leaning on Heidi, whose dark eyes sparkled with
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  Speaker 1: keen delight. Mister Seisman stopped short, staring at this vision. Suddenly,
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  Speaker 1: big tears rushed from his eyes for this shape before him.
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  Speaker 1: Recall sweet memories Clara's mother had looked exactly like this
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  Speaker 1: fair maiden. Mister Seisman at this moment did not know
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  Speaker 1: if he was awake. Or dreaming? Papa, don't you know
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  Speaker 1: me anymore? Clara called, with beaming eyes. Have I changed
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  Speaker 1: so much? Mistre Seissmann rushed up to her, folding her
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  Speaker 1: in his arms. Yes, you have changed. How is it possible?
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  Speaker 1: Is it really true? Is it really you? Clara asked
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  Speaker 1: the overjared father, embracing her again and again, and then
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  Speaker 1: gazing at her as she stood tall and firm by
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  Speaker 1: his side. His mother joined them now, for she wanted
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  Speaker 1: to see the happiness of her son. What do you
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  Speaker 1: say to this? My son? Isn't our surprise finer than yours?
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  Speaker 1: She greeted him. But come over to our benefactor now,
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  Speaker 1: I mean the uncle. Yes, indeed I also must greet
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  Speaker 1: our little Heidi, said the gentleman, shaking Heide's hand. Well,
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  Speaker 1: always fresh and ha the mountain. I guess I don't
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  Speaker 1: need to ask for no alpine rose can look more blooming? Ah, child,
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  Speaker 1: what joy this is to me? With beaming eyes, the
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  Speaker 1: child looked at the kind gentleman who had always been
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  Speaker 1: so good to her. Her heart throbbed in sympathy with
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  Speaker 1: his joy. While the two men who had at last
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  Speaker 1: approached each other were conversing Grandmamma walked over to the grove. There,
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  Speaker 1: under the fir trees, another surprise awaited her. A beautiful
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  Speaker 1: bunch of wondrously blue Gentians stood as if they had
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  Speaker 1: grown there. How exquisite, how wonderful, What a sight, she exclaimed,
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  Speaker 1: clapping her hands. Heidi, come here have you brought me those? Oh?
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  Speaker 1: They are beautiful. The children had joined her, Heidi, assuring
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  Speaker 1: her that it was another person's deed. Oh, Grandmamma, up
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  Speaker 1: on the pasture, it looks just like that, Clara remarked.
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  Speaker 1: Just guess who brought you the flowers. At that moment,
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  Speaker 1: a russell was heard, and they saw Peter, who was
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  Speaker 1: trying to sneak up behind the trees to avoid the hut. Immediately,
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  Speaker 1: the old lady called to him, for she thought that
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  Speaker 1: Peter himself had picked the flowers for her. He must
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  Speaker 1: be creeping away. Out of sheer modesty, the kind lady
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  Speaker 1: thought to give him his reward. She called, come here,
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  Speaker 1: my boy, don't be afraid. Petrified with fear, Peter stood still.
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  Speaker 1: What had gone before had robbed him of his courage.
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  Speaker 1: He thought now that all was over with him, With
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  Speaker 1: his hair standing up on end and his pale face
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  Speaker 1: Distarted by anguish, he approached. Come straight to me, my boy,
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  Speaker 1: the old lady encouraged him. Now tell me, boy, if
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  Speaker 1: you have done that any anxiety. Peter did not see
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  Speaker 1: the Grandmamma's finger that pointed to the flowers. He only
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  Speaker 1: saw the uncle standing near the hut, looking at him penetratingly,
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  Speaker 1: and beside him the policeman, the greatest horror for him
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  Speaker 1: in the world, Trembling in every limb. Peter answered, yes, well,
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  Speaker 1: but what are you so frightened about? Because because it
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  Speaker 1: is broken and can never be minted again, Peter said,
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  Speaker 1: his knees tolering under him. The Grandmama now walked over
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  Speaker 1: to the hut, My dear uncle, She asked, kindly, is
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  Speaker 1: this poor lad out of his mind? Not at all,
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  Speaker 1: was the reply. Only the boy was the wind which
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  Speaker 1: blew away the wheelchair. He is expecting the punishment he
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  Speaker 1: well deserves. Grandmama was very much surprised, for she vowed
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  Speaker 1: that Peter looked far from wicked. Why should he have
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  Speaker 1: destroyed the chair? The uncle told her that he had
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  Speaker 1: noticed many signs of anger in the boys since Clara's
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  Speaker 1: advent on the alp. He reassured her that he had
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  Speaker 1: suspected the boy from the beginning, My dear uncle, the
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  Speaker 1: old lady said, with animation, we must not punish him further.
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  Speaker 1: We must be just. It was very hard on him
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  Speaker 1: when Clara robbed him of Heidi, who is and was
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  Speaker 1: his greatest treasure. When he had to sit alone day
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  Speaker 1: after day, it roused him to a passion, which drove
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  Speaker 1: him to this wicked deed. It was rather foolish, but
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  Speaker 1: we all get so when we get angry. The lady
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  Speaker 1: walked over to the boy again, who was still quivering
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  Speaker 1: with fear. Sitting down on the bench, She began, come, Peter,
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  Speaker 1: I'll tell you something. Stop trembling and listen. You pushed
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  Speaker 1: the chair down to destroy it. You knew very well
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  Speaker 1: that it was wicked and deserved punishment. You tried very
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  Speaker 1: hard to conceal it, did you not. But if somebody
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  Speaker 1: thinks that nobody knows about a wicked deed, he is wrong.
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  Speaker 1: God always knows. As soon as he finds that a
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  Speaker 1: man is trying to conceal an evil he has done,
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  Speaker 1: he wakens a little watchman in his heart, who keeps
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  Speaker 1: on pricking the person with a thorn till all his
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  Speaker 1: rest is gone, he keeps on calling to the evil door.
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  Speaker 1: Now you'll be found out. Now your punishment is near.
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  Speaker 1: His joy has flown, for fear and terror takes place.
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  Speaker 1: Have you not just had such an experience? Peter? Peter
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  Speaker 1: nodded all contracte. He certainly had his variance. This you
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  Speaker 1: have made a mistake, The Grandmamma continued by, thinking that
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  Speaker 1: you could hurt Clara by destroying her chair, It so
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  Speaker 1: happened that what you have done has been the greatest
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  Speaker 1: good for her. She would probably never have tried to
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  Speaker 1: walk if her chair had been there. If she should
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  Speaker 1: stay here, she might even go up to the pasture
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  Speaker 1: every single day. Do you see, Peter, God can send
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  Speaker 1: a misty to the good of the injured person and
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  Speaker 1: bring trouble on the offender. Have you understood me, Peter,
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  Speaker 1: Remember the little watchman when you longed to do a
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  Speaker 1: wicked deed again? Will you do that? Yes? I shall,
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  Speaker 1: Peter replied, still fearing the policeman who had not left yet.
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  Speaker 1: So now that matter is all settled, said the old
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  Speaker 1: lady in conclusion. Now tell me if you have a wish,
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  Speaker 1: my boy, for I am going to give you something
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  Speaker 1: by which to remember your friends from Frankfort. What is it?
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  Speaker 1: What would you like to have? Peter, lifting his head,
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  Speaker 1: stared at the Grandmamma with round, astonished eyes. He was
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  Speaker 1: confused by this sudden change of prospect, being again urged
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  Speaker 1: to utter a wish. He saw at last that he
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  Speaker 1: was saved from the power of the terrible man. He
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  Speaker 1: felt as if the most crushing load had fallen off him.
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  Speaker 1: He knew now that it was better to confess at
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  Speaker 1: once when something had gone wrong, so he said, I
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  Speaker 1: have also lost the paper. Reflecting a while, the Grandmamma
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  Speaker 1: understood and said that is right. Always confess what is wrong.
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  Speaker 1: Then he can be settled. And now what would you
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  Speaker 1: like to have? So Peter could choose everything in the
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  Speaker 1: world he wished. His brain got dizzy. He saw before
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  Speaker 1: him all the wonderful things in the fair and Maenfeld.
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  Speaker 1: He had often stood there for hours looking at the
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  Speaker 1: pretty red whistles and the little knives. Unfortunately, Peter had
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  Speaker 1: never possessed more than half what those objects cost. He
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  Speaker 1: stood thinking, not able to decide, when a bright thought
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  Speaker 1: struck him. Ten pennies, said Peter, with decision, that certainly
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  Speaker 1: is not too much. The old lady said with a smile,
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  Speaker 1: taking out of her pocket a big round failure, on
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  Speaker 1: top of which she laid twenty pennies. Now, I'll explain
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  Speaker 1: this to you here. You have as many times ten
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  Speaker 1: pennies as there are weeks in the year. You will
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  Speaker 1: be able to spend one every Sunday through the year
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  Speaker 1: all my life, Peter asked, quite innocently. The Grandmama began
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  Speaker 1: to laugh so heartily at this that the two men
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  Speaker 1: came over to join her. Laughingly, she said, you shall
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  Speaker 1: have it, my boy. I will put it in my will,
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  Speaker 1: and then you will do the same, my son. Listen,
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  Speaker 1: Peter the goatherd shall have a tenpenny piece weekly as
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  Speaker 1: long as he lives. Mister Seismond nodded. Peter, looking at
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  Speaker 1: his gifts, said solemnly God be thanked. Jumping and bounding,
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  Speaker 1: he ran away. His heart was so light that he
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  Speaker 1: felt he could fly a little later, the whole party
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  Speaker 1: sat round the table holding a merry feast. After dinner, Clara,
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  Speaker 1: who was lively as never before, said to her father, Oh, Papa,
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  Speaker 1: if you only knew all the things grandfather did for me,
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  Speaker 1: it would take many days to tell you. I shall
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  Speaker 1: never forget them all my life. Oh, if we could
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  Speaker 1: please him only half as much as he did for me,
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  Speaker 1: it is my greatest wish to dear child, said her father.
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  Speaker 1: I have been trying to think of something all the time.
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  Speaker 1: We have to show our gratitude in some way. Accordingly,
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  Speaker 1: mister Seithmond walked over to the old man and began,
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  Speaker 1: my dear friend, May I say one word to you.
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  Speaker 1: I am sure you believe me when I tell you
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  Speaker 1: that I have not known any real joy for years?
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  Speaker 1: What was my wealth to me when I could not
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  Speaker 1: cure my child and make her happy? With the help
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  Speaker 1: of the Lord. You have made her well. You have
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  Speaker 1: given her a new life. Please tell me how to
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  Speaker 1: show my gratitude to you. I know I shall never
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  Speaker 1: be able to repay you, but what is in my
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  Speaker 1: power I shall do. Have you any requests to make,
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  Speaker 1: please let me know. The uncle had listened quietly and
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  Speaker 1: had looked at the happy father. Mister Seismon, you can
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  Speaker 1: be sure that I also am repaid by the great
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  Speaker 1: joy I experience at the recovery of Clara, said the
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  Speaker 1: uncle firmly. I thank you for your kind offer, mister Seismon.
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  Speaker 1: As long as I live, I have enough for me
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  Speaker 1: and the child. But I have one wish. If this
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  Speaker 1: could be fulfilled, my life would be free of care. Speak,
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  Speaker 1: my dear friend, urged Clara's father. I am old, continued
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  Speaker 1: the uncle, and shall not live many years when I die.
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  Speaker 1: I cannot leave Heidi anything. The child has no relations
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  Speaker 1: except one who even might try to take advantage of
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  Speaker 1: her if she could. If you would give me the assurance,
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  Speaker 1: mister Seismond, that Heidi will never be obliged to go
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  Speaker 1: into the world and earn her bread, you would amply
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  Speaker 1: repay me for what I was able to do for
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  Speaker 1: you and Clara, My dear friend, There is no question
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  Speaker 1: of that, began mister Seismond. The child belongs to us.
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  Speaker 1: I promise at once that we shall look after her
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  Speaker 1: so that there will not be any need of her
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  Speaker 1: ever earning her bread. We all know that she is
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  Speaker 1: not fashioned for a life among strangers. Nevertheless, she has
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  Speaker 1: made some true friends, and one of them will be
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  Speaker 1: here very shortly. Doctor Clawsan is just now completing his
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  Speaker 1: last business in Frankfort. He intends to take your advice
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  Speaker 1: and live here. He has never felt so happy as
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  Speaker 1: with you and Heidi. The child will have two protectors
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  Speaker 1: near her, and I hope with God's will that they
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  Speaker 1: will be spared a long long time. And may it
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  Speaker 1: be God's will, added the grandmama, who with Heidie had
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  Speaker 1: joined them, shaking the uncle tenderly by the hand. Putting
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  Speaker 1: her arms around the child, she said, Heidi, I want
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  Speaker 1: to know if you also have a wish. Yes, indeed,
• 21:26
  Speaker 1: I have said, Heidi, pleased, tell me what it is. Child.
• 21:31
  Speaker 1: I should like to have my bed from Frankfort, with
• 21:33
  Speaker 1: the three high pillows and the thick warm cover. Then
• 21:37
  Speaker 1: grandmother will be able to keep warm and won't have
• 21:39
  Speaker 1: to wear her shawl in bed. Oh, I'll be so
• 21:42
  Speaker 1: happy when she won't have to lie with her head
• 21:44
  Speaker 1: lower than her heels, hardly able to breathe. Heidi had
• 21:48
  Speaker 1: set all this in one breath. She was so eager. Oh, dear,
• 21:53
  Speaker 1: I had nearly forgotten what I meant to do. I
• 21:55
  Speaker 1: am so glad you have reminded me, Heidi. If God
• 21:59
  Speaker 1: sends us happiness, we must think of those who have
• 22:02
  Speaker 1: many privations. I shall telegraph immediately for the bed, and
• 22:07
  Speaker 1: if Miss Rottenmeyer sends it off at once, it can
• 22:10
  Speaker 1: be here in two days. I hope the poor blind
• 22:13
  Speaker 1: grandmother will sleep better when he comes. Heidi, in her happiness,
• 22:19
  Speaker 1: could hardly wait to bring the old woman the good news.
• 22:23
  Speaker 1: Soon it was resolved that everybody should visit the grandmother,
• 22:27
  Speaker 1: who had been left alone so long. Before starting, however,
• 22:31
  Speaker 1: mister Seisman revealed his plans. He proposed to travel through
• 22:36
  Speaker 1: Switzerland with his mother and Clara. He would spend the
• 22:39
  Speaker 1: night in the village so as to fetch Clara from
• 22:42
  Speaker 1: the arm next morning for the journey. From there, they
• 22:45
  Speaker 1: would go first to Ragots and then further. The telegram
• 22:49
  Speaker 1: was to be mailed that night. Clara's feelings were divided,
• 22:54
  Speaker 1: for she was sorry to leave the alp, but the
• 22:56
  Speaker 1: prospect of the trip delighted her. The thing was settled.
• 23:00
  Speaker 1: They all went down, the Uncle carrying Clara, who could
• 23:04
  Speaker 1: not have risked the lently walk all the way down.
• 23:07
  Speaker 1: Heidee told the old lady of her friends in the hut,
• 23:10
  Speaker 1: the coal they had to bear and winter, and the
• 23:12
  Speaker 1: little food they had. Bridgeta was just hanging up Peter's
• 23:16
  Speaker 1: shirt to dry when the whole company arrived. Rushing into
• 23:20
  Speaker 1: the house, she called to her mother, Now they are
• 23:23
  Speaker 1: all going away. Uncle is going too, carrying the lame child. Oh,
• 23:28
  Speaker 1: must it really be sighed the grandmother. Have you seen
• 23:32
  Speaker 1: whether they took Heidie away? Oh? If she only could
• 23:36
  Speaker 1: give me your hand once more. Oh, I longed to
• 23:40
  Speaker 1: hear her voice once more. The same moment, the door
• 23:43
  Speaker 1: was flung open and Heidie held her tight. Grandmother, just
• 23:48
  Speaker 1: think my bed with the three pillows in the thick
• 23:51
  Speaker 1: cover was coming from Frankfort. Grandmamma has said that it
• 23:54
  Speaker 1: will be here in two days. Heidi thought that grandmother
• 23:58
  Speaker 1: would be beside herself with joy, but the old woman,
• 24:02
  Speaker 1: smiling sadly, said, Oh, what a good lady she must be.
• 24:07
  Speaker 1: I know I ought to be glad she is taking
• 24:10
  Speaker 1: you with her, Heidi, but I don't think I shall
• 24:12
  Speaker 1: survive it long. But nobody has said so. The Grandmamma,
• 24:17
  Speaker 1: who had overheard these words, said, kindly, pressing the old
• 24:21
  Speaker 1: woman's hand, she continued, it is out of the question. Heidi,
• 24:25
  Speaker 1: will stay with you and make you happy to see
• 24:28
  Speaker 1: Haidi again. We will come up every year to the Alm,
• 24:32
  Speaker 1: for we have many reasons to thank the Lord there.
• 24:35
  Speaker 1: Immediately the face of the grandmother lighted up and she
• 24:38
  Speaker 1: cried tears of joy. Oh, what wonderful things God is
• 24:43
  Speaker 1: doing for me, said the grandmother, deeply touched. How good
• 24:47
  Speaker 1: people are to trouble themselves about such a poor old
• 24:50
  Speaker 1: woman as I. Nothing in this world strengthens the belief
• 24:54
  Speaker 1: in a good Father in heaven more than this mercy
• 24:57
  Speaker 1: and kindness shown to a poor, useless little woman like me,
• 25:01
  Speaker 1: my dear grandmother, said missus Seismond. Before God in heaven,
• 25:07
  Speaker 1: we are all equally miserable and poor. Woe to us
• 25:10
  Speaker 1: if He should forget us. But now we must say
• 25:13
  Speaker 1: good bye. Next year, we shall come to see you
• 25:17
  Speaker 1: just as soon as we come up the alp. We
• 25:20
  Speaker 1: shall never forget you. With that, missus Seismond took her hand.
• 25:25
  Speaker 1: It was some time before she was allowed to leave, however,
• 25:29
  Speaker 1: because the grandmother thanked her over and over again and
• 25:33
  Speaker 1: invoked all Heaven's blessings on her and her house. Mister
• 25:38
  Speaker 1: Seismond and his mother went on down while Clara was
• 25:41
  Speaker 1: carried up to spend her last night in the hut.
• 25:46
  Speaker 1: Next morning, Clara shed hot tears at parting from the
• 25:49
  Speaker 1: beloved place where such gladness had been hers. Heidi consoled
• 25:54
  Speaker 1: her with plans for the coming summer that was to
• 25:57
  Speaker 1: be even more happy than this one had been. Mister
• 26:00
  Speaker 1: Seismond then arrived and a few last parting words were exchanged. Clara,
• 26:07
  Speaker 1: half crying, suddenly said, please give my love to Peter
• 26:11
  Speaker 1: and the Goat's Heidie. Please greet Schwanley especially for me,
• 26:15
  Speaker 1: for she has helped a great deal in making me. Well.
• 26:18
  Speaker 1: What could I give her? You can send her salt, Clara,
• 26:23
  Speaker 1: you know how fond she is of that, advised little Heidie. Oh,
• 26:27
  Speaker 1: I will surely do that. Clara assented, I'll send her
• 26:31
  Speaker 1: a hundred pounds of salt as a remembrance from me.
• 26:34
  Speaker 1: It was time to go now, and Clara was able
• 26:37
  Speaker 1: to ride proudly beside her father. Standing on the edge
• 26:41
  Speaker 1: of the slope, Heidi waved her hand, her eyes following
• 26:45
  Speaker 1: Clara till she had disappeared. The bed has arrived. Grandmother
• 26:51
  Speaker 1: sleeps so well every night now that before long she
• 26:54
  Speaker 1: will be stronger than ever. Grandmamma has not forgotten the
• 26:58
  Speaker 1: cold winter on the alp, and has sent a great
• 27:01
  Speaker 1: many warm covers in shawls to the goathertz Hut. Grandmother
• 27:05
  Speaker 1: can wrap herself up now and will not have to
• 27:08
  Speaker 1: sit shivering in a corner in the village. A large
• 27:12
  Speaker 1: building is in progress. The doctor has arrived and is
• 27:15
  Speaker 1: living at present in his old quarters. He has taken
• 27:18
  Speaker 1: the uncle's advice and has bought the old ruins that
• 27:21
  Speaker 1: sheltered Heidie and her grandfather the winter before. He is
• 27:25
  Speaker 1: rebuilding for himself. The portion with the fine apartment already
• 27:29
  Speaker 1: mentioned the other side is being prepared for Heidi and
• 27:32
  Speaker 1: her grandfather. The doctor knows that his friend is an
• 27:36
  Speaker 1: independent man and likes to have his own dwelling. Barley
• 27:40
  Speaker 1: and Schwanlee, of course, are not forgotten. They will spend
• 27:43
  Speaker 1: the winter in a good, solid stable that is being
• 27:46
  Speaker 1: built for them. The doctor and the alm uncle become
• 27:50
  Speaker 1: better friends every day. When they overlook the progress of
• 27:54
  Speaker 1: the building, they generally come to speak of Heidi. They
• 27:58
  Speaker 1: both look forward to the time when they will be
• 28:00
  Speaker 1: able to move into the house with their merry charge.
• 28:03
  Speaker 1: They have agreed to share together the pleasure and responsibility
• 28:07
  Speaker 1: that Heidi brings them. The uncle's heart is filled with gratitude,
• 28:11
  Speaker 1: too deep for any words when the doctor tells him
• 28:14
  Speaker 1: that he will make ample provision for the child. Now,
• 28:18
  Speaker 1: her grandfather's heart is free of care for if he
• 28:21
  Speaker 1: is called away, another father will care for Heidi and
• 28:25
  Speaker 1: love her in his stead. At the moment when our
• 28:28
  Speaker 1: story closes, Heidi and Peter are sitting in grandmother's hut.
• 28:33
  Speaker 1: The little girl has so many interesting things to relate,
• 28:37
  Speaker 1: and Peter is trying so hard not to miss anything
• 28:40
  Speaker 1: that in their eagerness they are not aware that they
• 28:43
  Speaker 1: are near the happy grandmother's chair. All summer long, they
• 28:47
  Speaker 1: have hardly met, and very many wonderful things have happened.
• 28:52
  Speaker 1: They are all glad at being together again, and it
• 28:55
  Speaker 1: is hard to tell who is the happiest of the group.
• 28:58
  Speaker 1: I think Bridget's face is more radiant than any, for
• 29:01
  Speaker 1: Heidi has just told her the story of the perpetual
• 29:04
  Speaker 1: ten penny piece. Finally, the grandmother says, Heidi, please read
• 29:11
  Speaker 1: me a song of thanksgiving and praise. I feel that
• 29:15
  Speaker 1: I must praise and thank the Lord for the blessings
• 29:17
  Speaker 1: he has brought to us. All end of Chapter twenty three.
• 29:23
  Speaker 1: End of Heidi by Joanna Speedy, translated by Elizabeth P. Stark.
• 29:28
  Speaker 1: This recording by Phil shinever Baton, Rouge, Louisiana, August twenty nineteen,