Heidi | Page 2

learn to
speak it with unusual clearness and purity. For illustration we need go
no further than Joseph Conrad, a Pole, probably the greatest master of
narrative English writing to-day; or to our own fellow-citizen Carl
Schurz. In the present case, the writer has lived seven years in America
and has strengthened an excellent training with a wide reading of the
best English classics.

Many people say that they read without noticing the author's style. This
is seldom quite true; unconsciously every one is impressed in some
way or other by the style of every book, or by its lack of style. Children
are particularly sensitive in this respect and should, therefore, as much
as is practicable, read only the best. In the new translation of "Heidi"
here offered to the public I believe that most readers will notice an
especial flavor, that very quality of delight in mountain scenes, in
mountain people and in child life generally, which is one of the chief
merits of the German original. The phrasing has also been carefully
adapted to the purpose of reading aloud--a thing that few translators
think of. In conclusion, the author, realising the difference between the
two languages, has endeavored to write the story afresh, as Johanna
Spyri would have written it had English been her native tongue. How
successful the attempt has been the reader will judge.
CHARLES WHARTON STORK Assistant Professor of English at the
University of Pennsylvania
[Illustration]

CONTENTS

PART I
HEIDI'S YEARS OF LEARNING AND TRAVEL

CHAPTER PAGE
I. GOING UP TO THE ALM-UNCLE 17
II. WITH THE GRANDFATHER 38

III. ON THE PASTURE 50
IV. IN THE GRANDMOTHER'S HUT 67
V. TWO VISITORS 83
VI. A NEW CHAPTER WITH NEW THINGS 95
VII. MISS ROTTENMEIER HAS AN UNCOMFORTABLE DAY 104
VIII. GREAT DISTURBANCES IN THE SESEMANN HOUSE 119
IX. THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE HEARS OF STRANGE
DOINGS 129
X. A GRANDMAMA 136
XI. HEIDI GAINS IN SOME RESPECTS AND LOSES IN OTHERS
146
XII. THE SESEMANN HOUSE IS HAUNTED 153
XIII. UP THE ALP ON A SUMMER EVENING 165
XIV. ON SUNDAY WHEN THE CHURCH BELLS RING 183

PART II
HEIDI MAKES USE OF HER EXPERIENCE
XV. PREPARATIONS FOR A JOURNEY 199
XVI. A GUEST ON THE ALP 207
XVII. RETALIATION 219
XVIII. WINTER IN THE VILLAGE 229

XIX. WINTER STILL CONTINUES 243
XX. NEWS FROM DISTANT FRIENDS 252
XXI. ON FURTHER EVENTS ON THE ALP 268
XXII. SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENS 276
XXIII. PARTING TO MEET AGAIN 293

ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE WAVING HER HAND AND LOOKING AFTER HER
DEPARTING FRIEND TILL HE LOOKED NO BIGGER THAN A
LITTLE DOT Frontispiece
SHE UNDID THE HEAVY SHAWL AND THE TWO LITTLE
DRESSES 30
HERE A NEAT LITTLE BED WAS PREPARED 41
SHE HANDED HIM ALSO THE WHOLE SLICE OF CHEESE 57
OFF THEY STARTED AT SUCH A PACE THAT HEIDI SHOUTED
FOR JOY 71
WHEN HEIDI HEARD THAT SHE STRUGGLED TO GET FREE 92
OFF THEY STARTED, AND SOON HEIDI WAS PULLING THE
DOOR-BELL 116
THERE SHE WOULD REMAIN, EATING HER HEART AWAY
WITH LONGING 152
THROWING HERSELF IN HER GRANDFATHER'S ARMS, SHE
HELD HIM TIGHT 179
WITH HEIDI'S HAND IN HIS THEY WANDERED DOWN

TOGETHER 192
THEY ARE COMING, OH, THE DOCTOR IS COMING FIRST 211
THE TWO CHILDREN WERE ALREADY FLYING DOWN THE
ALP 241
HE WATCHED HIS FALLEN ENEMY TUMBLING
DOWNWARDS, DOWNWARDS 277
PETER SHOT OFF AND RUSHED DOWN THE MOUNTAIN-SIDE,
TURNING WILD SOMERSAULTS ON HIS PERILOUS WAY 298


Part I
Heidi's Years of Learning and Travel
[Illustration]

HEIDI
I
GOING UP TO THE ALM-UNCLE
The little old town of Mayenfeld is charmingly situated. From it a
footpath leads through green, well-wooded stretches to the foot of the
heights which look down imposingly upon the valley. Where the
footpath begins to go steeply and abruptly up the Alps, the heath, with
its short grass and pungent herbage, at once sends out its soft perfume
to meet the wayfarer.
One bright sunny morning in June, a tall, vigorous maiden of the

mountain region climbed up the narrow path, leading a little girl by the
hand. The youngster's cheeks were in such a glow that it showed even
through her sun-browned skin. Small wonder though! for in spite of the
heat, the little one, who was scarcely five years old, was bundled up as
if she had to brave a bitter frost. Her shape was difficult to distinguish,
for she wore two dresses, if not three, and around her shoulders a large
red cotton shawl. With her feet encased in heavy hob-nailed boots, this
hot and shapeless little person toiled up the mountain.
The pair had been climbing for about an hour when they reached a
hamlet half-way up the great mountain named the Alm. This hamlet
was called "Im Dörfli" or