Grandfathers -- Fiction; Mountain life -- Switzerland -- Fiction; Orphans -- Fiction; Switzerland -- History -- 19th century -- Fiction
Heidi was so full of joyful anticipation that she determined to seize
the first possible moment next day to go down and tell grandmother who
was coming, and also particularly who was not coming. The old lady
was no longer confined to her bed. She was back in her corner at her
spinning-wheel, but there was an expression on her face of mournful
anxiety. Peter had come in the evening before, brimful of anger and
had told about the large party who were coming up from Frankfurt, and
he did not know what other things might happen after that; and the old
woman had not slept all night, pursued by the old thought of Heidi
being taken from her.
Heidi ran in, and taking her little stool immediately sat down by
grandmother and began eagerly pouring out all her news, growing more
excited with her pleasure as she went on. But all of a sudden she
stopped short and said anxiously, "What is the matter, Grandmother,
aren't you a bit pleased with what I am telling you?"
"Yes, yes, of course, child, since it gives you so much pleasure," she
answered, trying to look more cheerful.
"But I can see all the same that something troubles you. Is it because
you think after all that Miss Rottermeyer may come?" asked Heidi,
beginning to feel anxious herself.
"No, no! it is nothing, child," said the grandmother, wishing to
reassure her. "Just give me your hand that I may feel sure you are
there. No doubt it would be the best thing for you, although I feel I
could scarcely survive it."
"I do not want anything of the best if you could scarcely survive it,"
said Heidi, in such a determined tone of voice that the grandmother's
fears increased as she felt sure the people from Frankfurt were coming
to take Heidi back with them, since now she was well again they
naturally wished to have her with them once more. But she was anxious
to hide her trouble from Heidi if possible, as the latter was so
sympathetic that she might refuse perhaps to go away, and that would
not be right.
"Heidi," she said, "there is something that would comfort me and calm
my thoughts; read me the hymn beginning: 'All things will work for
good.'"
Heidi found the place at once and read out in her clear, young voice:--
All things will work for good
To those who trust in Me;
I come with healing on my wings,
To save and set thee free.
"Yes, yes, that is just what I wanted to hear," said the grandmother,
and the deep expression of trouble passed from her face. Heidi looked
at her thoughtfully for a minute or two and then said, "healing means
that which cures everything and makes everybody well, doesn't it,
Grandmother?"
"Yes, that is it," replied the old woman with a nod of assent, "and
we may be sure everything will come to pass according to God's good
purpose."
When the evening came, Heidi returned home up the mountain. The stars
came out overhead one by one, so bright and sparkling that each seemed
to send a fresh ray of joy into her heart.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account