Heidi
thanks, while two large tears of joy rolled down her aged cheeks. And
Heidi saw the glad change come over grandmother's face, and she too now
was entirely happy.
She clung to the old woman saying, "Hasn't it all come about,
grandmother, just like the hymn I read to you last time? Isn't the bed
from Frankfurt sent to make you well?"
"Yes, Heidi, and many, many other good things too, which God has sent
me," said the grandmother, deeply moved. "I did not think it possible
that there were so many kind people, ready to trouble themselves about
a poor old woman and to do so much for her. Nothing strengthens our
belief in a kind heavenly Father who never forgets even the least of
His creatures so much as to know that there are such people, full of
goodness and pity for a poor, useless creature such as I am."
"My good grandmother," said Mrs. Sesemann, interrupting her, "we are
all equally poor and helpless in the eyes of God, and all have equal
need that He should not forget us. But now we must say good-bye, but
only till we meet again, for when we pay our next year's visit to the
Alm you will be the first person we shall come and see; meanwhile we
shall not forget you." And Mrs. Sesemann took grandmother's hand again
and shook it in farewell.
But grandmother would not let her off even then without more words
of gratitude, and without calling down on her benefactress and all
belonging to her every blessing that God had to bestow.
At last Mr. Sesemann and his mother were able to continue their journey
downwards, while Uncle carried Clara back home, with Heidi beside him,
so full of joy of what was coming for grandmother that every step was a
jump.
But there were many tears shed the following morning by the departing
Clara, who wept to say good-bye to the beautiful mountain home where
she had been happier than ever before in her life. Heidi did her best
to comfort her. "Summer will be here again in no time," she said, "and
then you will come again, and it will be nicer still, for you will be
able to walk about from the beginning. We can then go out every day
with the goats up to where the flowers grow, and enjoy ourselves from
the moment you arrive."
Mr. Sesemann had come as arranged to take his little daughter away,
and was just now standing and talking with Uncle, for they had much to
say to one another. Clara felt somewhat consoled by Heidi's words, and
wiped away her tears.
"Be sure you say good-bye for me to Peter and the goats, and especially
to Little Swan. I wish I could give Little Swan a present, for she has
helped so much to make me strong."
"Well, you can if you like," replied Heidi, "send her a little salt;
you know how she likes to lick some out of grandfather's hand when she
comes home at night."
Clara was delighted at this idea. "Oh, then I shall send a hundred
pounds of salt from Frankfurt, for I want her to have something as a
remembrance of me."
Mr. Sesemann now beckoned to the children as it was time to be off.
Grandmamma's white horse had been brought up for Clara, as she was no
longer obliged to be carried in a chair.
Heidi ran to the far edge of the slope and continued to wave her hand
to Clara until the last glimpse of horse and rider had disappeared.
* * * * *
And now the bed has arrived, and grandmother is sleeping so soundly all
night that she is sure to grow stronger.
Grandmamma Sesemann, moreover, has not forgotten how cold the winter is
on the mountain. She has sent a large parcel of warm clothing of every
description, so that the blind grandmother can wrap herself round and
round, and will certainly not tremble with cold now as she sits in her
corner.
There is a great deal of building going on at Doerfli. The doctor has
arrived, and, for the present, is occupying his old quarters. His
friends have advised him to buy the old house that Uncle and Heidi
live in during the winter. The doctor is having this part of the old
house rebuilt for himself, the other part being repaired for Uncle
and Heidi, for the doctor is aware that Uncle is a man of independent
spirit, who likes to have a house to himself. Quite at the back a warm
and well-walled stall is being put up for the two goats, and there they
will pass their winter in comfort.
The two men are becoming better friends every day, and as they walk
about the new buildings to see how they are getting on, their thoughts
continually turn to Heidi, for the chief pleasure to each in connection
with the house is that they will have the light-hearted little child
with them there.
"Dear friend," said the doctor on one of these occasions as they were
standing together, "you will see this matter in the same light as I do,
I am sure. I share your happiness in the child as if, next to you, I
was the one to whom she most closely belonged, but I wish also to share
all responsibilities concerning her and to do my best for the child. I
shall then feel I have my rights in her, and shall look forward to her
being with me and caring for me in my old age, which is the one great
wish of my heart. She will have the same claims upon me as if she were
my own child, and I shall provide for her as such, and so we shall be
able to leave her without anxiety when the day comes that you and I
must go."
Uncle did not speak, but he clasped the doctor's hand in his, and his
good friend could read in the old man's eyes how greatly moved he was
and how glad and grateful he felt.
Heidi and Peter were at this moment sitting with grandmother, and the
one had so much to relate, and the others to listen to, that they all
three got closer and closer to one another, hardly able to breathe in
their eagerness not to miss a word.
And how much there was to tell of all the events that had taken place
that last summer, for they had not had many opportunities of meeting
since then.
And it was difficult to say which of the three looked the happiest at
being together again, and at the recollection of all the wonderful
things that had happened. Mother Brigitta's face was perhaps the
happiest of all, as now, with the help of Heidi's explanation, she was
able to understand for the first time the history of Peter's weekly
dime for life.
Then at last the grandmother spoke, "Heidi read me one of the hymns! I
feel I can do nothing for the remainder of my life but thank the Father
in Heaven for all the mercies He has shown us!"
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:
Obvious printer errors have been corrected. Otherwise, the author's
original spelling, punctuation and hyphenation have been left intact.