HEIDI

_by Johanna Spyri_

About the Author

A woman named Johanna Spyri wrote this book. She was born in Switzerland. That was a long time ago. She got married. Later, she wrote a book to help people. People liked her book very much. She kept writing after that. She wrote many books for children. She died in 1891. People all over the world still love her books.

This book is called "Heidi." It is about a little girl. She lives in the mountains. People who love mountains love this story. People who love children love it too.

CHAPTER 1: Heidi's First Mountain Climb

It was a sunny day in June. Two people walked up a mountain path. One was a tall girl. One was a little child. The path went up to a village. Then it went higher, up a big mountain called the Alm.

The sun was hot. But the little girl wore thick, warm clothes. She wore two dresses. She wore a heavy red shawl too. She wore thick mountain shoes. She looked about five years old.

The two travelers reached a small village. It was called Doerfli. It sat halfway up the mountain. People there knew the older girl. They called out to her.

A woman called out, "Wait, Dete! I will walk up with you."

The older girl was named Dete. She stopped walking. The little girl let go of her hand. She sat down on the ground.

"Are you tired, Heidi?" Dete asked.

"No, I am hot," said Heidi.

"We will get to the top soon," said Dete. "Take big steps. One more hour, and we will be there."

Then the other woman caught up. Her name was Barbel. She walked with Dete.

"Where are you taking the child?" Barbel asked. "Is this your sister's little girl?"

"Yes," said Dete. "I am taking her to Uncle. She will live with him now."

"Live with Alm-Uncle?" said Barbel. "Are you sure? He might send her back home!"

"He cannot," said Dete. "He is her grandfather. He must take care of her. I took care of her before. Now I have a new job. I must go."

"But he is not like other people," said Barbel. "How can he care for a child, especially one so young? Where are you going now?"

"I am going to a city called Frankfurt," said Dete. "I have a good job there."

"Poor child," said Barbel. "No one knows much about the old man up there. He stays away from everyone. He never goes to church. When he does come down, people hide from him. He has bushy gray eyebrows. He has a big beard. He looks scary. People say many things about him. You must know more, Dete. He was your sister's father-in-law."

"I will not tell tales," said Dete. "It might get back to him. I would get in trouble."

Barbel took Dete's arm. "Please tell me," she said. "Why does everyone stay away from him? Was he always this cross? I will keep it secret."

"All right," said Dete. She looked around for Heidi. But Heidi had wandered off.

"There she is!" said Barbel. She pointed far away. "She is climbing with Peter and his goats. But tell me about the old man. Did he always live alone with just two goats?"

"No," said Dete. "He once owned a big farm. But he drank too much. He gambled his money away. His parents were so sad, they died. Uncle had nothing left. He went away and became a soldier. Many years later, he came back. He brought a young son with him. No one in his family wanted him. Every door was shut in his face. He got angry. He said he would never go back to his old home. He came to live in Doerfli instead. His wife had died when the baby was born. Uncle had some money saved. He sent his son, Tobias, to learn to be a carpenter. Tobias was a good young man. People liked him. But people still did not trust Uncle. Some even said he had hurt a man long ago."

"Why does everyone call him Uncle?" asked Barbel. "He can't be uncle to the whole village."

"Our grandmothers were related," said Dete. "So we called him Uncle. Soon everyone called him that too."

"What happened to Tobias?" asked Barbel.

"Tobias learned his trade well," said Dete. "He came back and married my sister, Adelaide. But soon after, Tobias died in an accident. Adelaide was so sad, she got very sick. She died two months later. Everyone said it was bad luck because of Uncle's wild younger days. Our minister tried to talk to Uncle. But Uncle only grew angrier. He stopped talking to everyone. Then he moved up the Alm mountain. He has lived alone there ever since. Now everyone calls him Alm-Uncle.

"My mother and I took care of Adelaide's baby. That baby was Heidi. She was only one year old then. Last year, my mother died. I went away to work. I paid a woman named Ursel to watch Heidi. Now it is Uncle's turn to care for her. But where are you going, Barbel? We are halfway up the mountain now."

"This is my stop," said Barbel. "I must see Peter's mother. She is spinning wool for me. Good-bye, Dete! Good luck!"

Barbel walked to a small brown hut. It stood near the path, tucked away from the wind.

Peter lived there. He was eleven years old. His mother was named Brigitta. His grandmother was blind. Everyone just called her "Grandmother."

Every morning, Peter walked down to the village. He brought the goats up the mountain to eat grass. At night, he walked back down with them. He would whistle, and all the goat owners would come get their goats.

Dete stood and looked around. She looked for ten minutes. She was looking for Heidi and the goats. But Heidi and Peter had gone a long way around. Peter knew all the best spots. He knew where the goats could find good plants to eat. Heidi was hot and tired in her heavy clothes. She was climbing hard, out of breath...