Heidi | Page 5

protected from
the mighty winds. Had it been exposed to the tempests, it would have
been a doubtful habitation in the state of decay it was in. Even as it was,
the doors and windows rattled and the old rafters shook when the south
wind swept the mountain side. If the hut had stood on the Alm top, the
wind would have blown it down the valley without much ado when the
storm season came.
Here lived Peter the goatherd, a boy eleven years old, who daily
fetched the goats from the village and drove them up the mountain to
the short and luscious grasses of the pastures. Peter raced down in the

evening with the light-footed little goats. When he whistled sharply
through his fingers, every owner would come and get his or her goat.
These owners were mostly small boys and girls and, as the goats were
friendly, they did not fear them. That was the only time Peter spent
with other children, the rest of the day the animals were his sole
companions. At home lived his mother and an old blind grandmother,
but he only spent enough time in the hut to swallow his bread and milk
for breakfast and the same repast for supper. After that he sought his
bed to sleep. He always left early in the morning and at night he came
home late, so that he could be with his friends as long as possible. His
father had met with an accident some years ago; he also had been called
Peter the goatherd. His mother, whose name was Brigida, was called
"Goatherd Peter's wife" and his blind grandmother was called by young
and old from many miles about just "grandmother."
Deta waited about ten minutes to see if the children were coming up
behind with the goats. As she could not find them anywhere, she
climbed up a little higher to get a better view down the valley from
there, and peered from side to side with marks of great impatience on
her countenance.
The children in the meantime were ascending slowly in a zigzag way,
Peter always knowing where to find all sorts of good grazing places for
his goats where they could nibble. Thus they strayed from side to side.
The poor little girl had followed the boy only with the greatest effort
and she was panting in her heavy clothes. She was so hot and
uncomfortable that she only climbed by exerting all her strength. She
did not say anything but looked enviously at Peter, who jumped about
so easily in his light trousers and bare feet. She envied even more the
goats that climbed over bushes, stones, and steep inclines with their
slender legs. Suddenly sitting down on the ground the child swiftly
took off her shoes and stockings. Getting up she undid the heavy shawl
and the two little dresses. Out she slipped without more ado and stood
up in only a light petticoat. In sheer delight at the relief, she threw up
her dimpled arms, that were bare up to her short sleeves. To save the
trouble of carrying them, her aunt had dressed her in her Sunday
clothes over her workday garments. Heidi arranged her dresses neatly

in a heap and joined Peter and the goats. She was now as light-footed
as any of them. When Peter, who had not paid much attention, saw her
suddenly in her light attire, he grinned. Looking back, he saw the little
heap of dresses on the ground and then he grinned yet more, till his
mouth seemed to reach from ear to ear; but he said never a word.
The child, feeling free and comfortable, started to converse with Peter,
and he had to answer many questions. She asked him how many goats
he had, and where he led them, what he did with them when he got
there, and so forth.
[Illustration: SHE UNDID THE HEAVY SHAWL AND THE TWO
LITTLE DRESSES]
At last the children reached the summit in front of the hut. When Deta
saw the little party of climbers she cried out shrilly: "Heidi, what have
you done? What a sight you are! Where are your dresses and your
shawl? Are the new shoes gone that I just bought for you, and the new
stockings that I made myself? Where are they all, Heidi?"
The child quietly pointed down and said "There."
The aunt followed the direction of her finger and descried a little heap
with a small red dot in the middle, which she recognized as the shawl.
"Unlucky child!" Deta said excitedly. "What does all this mean? Why
have you taken your things all off?"
"Because I do not need them," said the child, not seeming in the least
repentant of her deed.
"How