In great amazement, the teacher looked at the little girl. Then the kind man continued: "I have noticed a great change in you, Peter. You used to stay away from school, sometimes more than a week, and lately you have not even missed a day. Who has brought about this change?" "The uncle." Every evening now Peter on his return home read one song to his grandmother, but never more. To the frequent praises of Brigida, the old woman once replied: "I am glad he has learnt something, but nevertheless I am longing for the spring to come. Then Heidi can visit me, for when she reads, the verses sound so different. I cannot always follow Peter, and the songs don't thrill me the way they do when Heidi says them!" And no wonder! For Peter would often leave out long and difficult words,--what did three or four words matter! So it happened sometimes that there were hardly any nouns left in the hymns that Peter read. XX NEWS FROM DISTANT FRIENDS May had come. Warm sunshine was bathing the whole Alp in glorious light, and having melted the last snow, had brought the first spring flowers to the surface. A merry spring wind was blowing, drying up the damp places in the shadow. High above in the azure heaven the eagle floated peacefully. Heidi and her grandfather were back on the Alp. The child was so happy to be home again that she jumped about among the beloved objects. Here she discovered a new spring bud, and there she watched the gay little gnats and beetles that were swarming in the sun. The grandfather was busy in his little shop, and a sound of hammering and sawing could be heard. Heidi had to go and see what the grandfather was making. There before the door stood a neat new chair, while the old man was busy making a second. "Oh, I know what they are for," said Heidi gaily. "You are making them for Clara and grandmama. Oh, but we need a third--or do you think that Miss Rottenmeier won't come, perhaps?" "I really don't know," said grandfather: "but it is safer to have a chair for her, if she should come." Heidi, thoughtfully looking at the backless chairs, remarked: "Grandfather, I don't think she would sit down on those." "Then we must invite her to sit down on the beautiful green lounge of grass," quietly answered the old man. While Heidi was still wondering what the grandfather had meant, Peter arrived, whistling and calling. As usual, Heidi was soon surrounded by the goats, who also seemed happy to be back on the Alp. Peter, angrily pushing the goats aside, marched up to Heidi, thrusting a letter into her hand. "Did you get a letter for me on the pasture?" Heidi said, astonished. "No." "Where did it come from?" "From my bag."