CHAPTER ONE

A Mountain Home

It was a hot morning in June in the Alps. Heidi walked behind her aunt named Dete.
They were walking through the village and up the mountain. Heidi was very hot
because she was wearing all her clothes. She had to carry them to her new home. She
was only six years old.

As Heidi and her aunt hurried out of the village, a villager stopped to talk.

"Dete, is this the orphan your sister left when she died? Where are you taking
her?"

"Yes, this is Heidi. I'm taking her to live with her grandfather. I'm starting a
job in the city. So I can't take care of her any more."

"Poor Heidi," said the villager. "No one else will talk to that grumpy old man.

While Dete was talking with the villager, Heidi met a boy named Peter. He was the
village goat herder. Every morning, Peter came to the village to get the goats.

He was going to take them up the mountain. Heidi followed him up the mountain. She
couldn't keep up with him because of her heavy clothes. So she took off all of them
except her underwear.

Then she danced behind Peter. He thought she was funny. The two children began
laughing.

Dete caught up with them.

"Where are your clothes?" she asked.

"I don't need them!" Heidi said.

Aunt Dete scolded Heidi and sent Peter to get her clothes. They walked for another
hour.

Near the mountaintop was Grandfather's hut. The old man was sitting in front of the
house.

Heidi ran up to him and held out her hand.

"Hello, Grandfather," she said. He held her hand and stared at her.

"Good morning, Uncle," said Dete. Heidi must stay with you now." She explained why
she couldn't take care of the child any more.

The old man was angry. "You can just get out of here!" he yelled at Dete. Aunt Dete
said goodbye to Heidi very quickly and left.

Heidi looked around her new home.

"Where can I sleep?" asked Heidi.

"Anywhere you want," answered Grandfather.

Heidi saw a ladder behind the bed. She climbed the ladder up to the loft. The loft
was filled with fresh hay.

''I'll sleep up here," said Heidi happily.

Heidi followed Grandfather everywhere. She watched as he made a new chair for her.
When the sun was setting, Heidi heard a whistle. It was Peter bringing the goats
home. Grandfather had two goats. Their names were Daisy and Dusky. Heidi liked them
at once.
The next morning, Peter's whistle woke Heidi. She got ready to go with Peter. She
was excited. The mountain was very beautiful. Heidi picked flowers and chased the
goats. Peter told her all of the goats' names.

Heidi was sad when she heard that a little goat had lost its mother. She promised
to take special care of that goat.

By now, the sun was setting.

It spread a golden glow across the tops of the mountains.

"Peter!" cried Heidi. "The mountains are on fire!"

"Don't worry," replied Peter. "That happens every day. It means it's time to go
home."

Heidi went up the mountain with Peter every day during the summer.

She grew to be healthy and strong. She was as free as a bird. But when the fall
came, Grandfather made her stay at home. He was afraid the strong winds would blow
her off the mountain. She spent the days helping him make cheese.

Then came the winter and lots of snow.

Peter went to school in the winter.

One day, he came to the hut. He told Heidi that his grandmother would like to meet
her. She wanted to go.

But Grandfather said the snow was too deep.

A few days later, the snow finally stopped. The sun came out, and Grandfather said
she could go out.

He put Heidi on his sled. The sled raced down the mountain very fast. Grandfather
stopped the sled in front of Peter's small hut.

Heidi met an old woman that was sewing.

"Hello, Grannie," said Heidi.

Grannie smiled and felt Heidi's hand. Grannie was blind.

"Why can't you see?" asked Heidi.

"I can't see," Grannie said kindly, "but I can hear."

Heidi spent the rest of the winter with Grannie. Sometimes Grandfather came and
fixed the windows and chairs in Grannie's hut.

CHAPTER TWO

Heidi Goes to Frankfurt

It was near the end of Heidi's second happy winter with Grandfather.

One day, the village pastor came to the hut. He was angry at Grandfather because
Heidi wasn't in school.

"Heidi doesn't need school," argued Grandfather. "She'll grow up here with the
goats and the birds. They won't teach her any bad ideas!"

"She must learn to read and write!" the pastor argued back.
But he couldn't change Grandfather's mind.

The next day, Aunt Dete came to the hut.

"I have a wonderful opportunity for Heidi," she said. "Heidi is going to live with
a wealthy family in Frankfurt. She'll be a companion to their little girl."

"Heidi is happy here!" Grandfather said rudely. "She doesn't need to go to

Aunt Dete said, "This is a chance for Heidi to go to school and church."

"Fine!" yelled Grandfather. "Then take her, and don't ever come back!"

Heidi didn't want to leave Grandfather to go to Frankfurt. But Aunt Dete lied to
her that they would be back in a day or two.

"You can even bring fresh bread for Grannie," said Aunt Dete. This idea pleased
Heidi. Grannie had trouble eating black, hard bread.

They left so quickly that Heidi couldn't even say goodbye to Peter.

Dete took Heidi to a large house in Frankfurt. A rich man named Mr Sesemann owned
the house. His daughter Klara had to stay in a wheelchair. Her mother had died a
long time ago. Now Ms Rottenmeier was looking after her. Ms Rottenmeier took a look
at Heidi. She did not like her old clothes and hat.

She didn't even like Heidi's name.

"Is 'Heidi' a real name?" Ms Rottenmeier asked.

"Her mother named her Adelheid," Aunt Dete explained.

Later, when Ms Rottenmeier was away, Klara said, "I'll call you Heidi if you want."

"It doesn't matter," said Heidi. "I'll be going home tomorrow with some fresh
bread."

"No," said Klara. "You came here to keep me company."

At the dinner table, Heidi was happy to find fresh bread on her plate. She put it
in her pocket. A servant, Sebastian, brought a dish of food for Heidi. She didn't
know what to do with it. She had never eaten this way before.

Then Ms Rottenmeier told Heidi how she should behave at the table for a long time.

But while she was talking, Heidi fell asleep.

When Heidi awoke, she didn't know where she was. She remembered that she was in
Frankfurt. She was afraid.

A few days later, Heidi went for a walk while Klara was resting. Sebastian told her
to look at the whole city from the church tower.

When she climbed up to the top of the tower, all she could see was buildings. There
were no mountains and trees. The church keeper could see that she was disappointed.

So he showed her a basket of kittens.

"You can have them," he said. "I'll deliver them to your house."

"Oh yes," said Heidi. "But can I have two of them now?"
The keeper gave Heidi two kittens.

When she got home, everyone was waiting for her. Ms Rottenmeier was angry.

"Who said you could leave the house?" she asked.

"Meow," a sound came from Heidi's pocket. Ms Rottenmeier screamed. She was afraid
of cats.

The next morning, there was a knock at the door. Sebastian came back with a big
basket. Klara opened it, and kittens ran everywhere. One kitten climbed up Ms
Rottenmeier's skirt.

"Sebastian!" she screamed. "Get rid of these little monsters!"

That evening, Ms Rottenmeier decided to punish Heidi. She said, "I'm going to lock
you in the cold basement."

But Klara said, "Please, wait until my father gets home. Let him decide what to
do."

Ms Rottenmeier agreed.

For the next few days, Heidi didn't get into any trouble. But she was becoming very
homesick.

CHAPTER THREE

Homesick

Mr Sesemann came home from his business trip with many gifts. He was happy to see
Klara. He was also happy to meet Heidi. He could see that Heidi and Klara liked
each other.
But Ms Rottenmeier said terrible things about Heidi to Klara's father.

"I think that little girl is crazy," she said. "You should see the trouble she's
caused here."

Mr Sesemann asked Klara about Heidi.

"What happened while I was away?"

Klara told him about the kittens and other things. Mr Sesemann laughed.

He went to Ms Rottenmeier and said,

"Heidi will stay. She is good for Klara."

A few days later, Mr Sesemann left on another business travel. But his mother,
Grandmamma Sesemann, came to visit. Her face seemed very kind to Heidi. Heidi liked
Grandmamma very much.

One day, Grandmamma showed Heidi a book. She wanted to help Heidi with her reading.

In the book there was a picture of a boy with goats on a mountain. The picture
reminded Heidi of Peter, so she began to cry. She was very homesick. Grandmamma
told Heidi she could have the book when she learned to read. From then on, Heidi
tried very hard to read.

That night, she prayed to God to help her read and go home.

After a week, Grandmamma heard Heidi reading to Klara. She gladly gave Heidi the
picture book. It was time for Grandmamma to leave the house.

After she left, something strange started happening at night. Every morning, the
front door was wide open. Sebastian locked the door tight every evening. But in the
morning, it was open. It was a mystery.
One night, Sebastian and another servant stayed up to watch the door. Then the wind
blew the candle out. The house was totally dark, and the door was open. Sebastian
saw a small person in white run up the stairs.

He thought it was a ghost. He told everyone there was a ghost in the house.

Two days later, Mr Sesemann came home. He and his friend, Dr. Classen, stayed up to
watch the door.

Late that night, they heard the door opening. There was a small person in white
clothes. It was Heidi.

"What are you doing? asked Mr Sesemann.

Heidi looked confused.

''I don't know," she answered. "Every night I dream I'm back with Grandfather."

"She's been sleepwalking," said Dr. Classen. "She must be very homesick. The only
cure is to send her home."

The next day, Mr Sesemann prepared to send Heidi home. Klara was very upset when
she learned Heidi was leaving. But her father promised her she could visit Heidi
with Grandmamma very soon.

CHAPTER FOUR

Heidi Returns

Sebastian and Heidi traveled to her village. All of the villagers were surprised
that Heidi came back to live with her grandfather. The first place Heidi ran to was
Peter and Grannie's hut. Heidi cried and sat on Grannie's lap. She gave Grannie a
basket of fresh bread.
Then she climbed the mountain to see her grandfather. He was sitting outside the
hut, just like the first time she saw him.

"Grandfather!" Heidi cried.

She threw her arms around him. Grandfather cried for the first time in many years.

"So you've come back," he said.

That night, Heidi slept in her old bed in the loft. It was the best night of sleep
she'd had in a long time.

The next day, Grandfather woke Heidi.

"Put your best clothes on," he said. "We're going to church."

They went to church in the village. Grandfather spoke to the pastor.

"I've decided to move to the village for the winter. Heidi will go to school."

The villagers were surprised to see Grandfather and the pastor talking like
friends.

On the way home, Grandfather told Heidi, "I never thought I would be this happy
again. It was a good day when God sent you to me.'

That fall, Peter often asked Heidi to herd the goats with him. But she told him she
was too busy. She was cleaning the hut. She was also waiting for her friends from
Frankfurt to visit.

One day, she looked down the mountain and saw somebody coming. It was Dr. Classen.
Grandfather and Heidi greeted him.
"Where are Grandmamma and Klara?" Heidi asked.

"I'm alone," he said. "Klara has been sick. She can't travel until springtime, when
the weather is warmer."

Heidi was sad, but she was glad to see Dr. Classen.

Grandfather gave Dr. Classen a mug of fresh goat's milk and some golden cheese.

"This will be a good place for Klara to get well," said the doctor.

That winter, Heidi and Grandfather moved down to the village. Grandfather rented a
small hut there.

Heidi missed the mountains. But she was very happy to go to school. She studied her
lessons very hard. But Peter rarely went to school.

One day, Heidi asked him, "Why weren't you at school again today?"

"I couldn't stop the sled," lied Peter. "It went straight through the village. I
couldn't get off! Then it was too late to go to school!"

"If you do that again," said Grandfather, "you're going to get in big trouble with
me!"

When Heidi and Peter came to visit Grannie, she was very sick.

Grannie couldn't get out of bed. Heidi read to her to cheer her up. She thought
Peter should learn to read. Then he could read to Grannie, and maybe she would get
well.

The next day at school, Heidi said to Peter, "You must learn to read. So then you
can read to Grannie."
"I can't do it," Peter replied.

"I'm going to teach you," said Heidi.

Reading was very difficult for Peter. But Heidi made him learn the ABC's with a
book from Klara.

Then he began to read a few words. A few weeks later, he could read to Grannie.

The whole village heard that Heidi got Peter to read. Everyone was very impressed.

CHAPTER FIVE

The Mountain Miracle

When spring came, the mountains turned green again.

Then Grandfather and Heidi moved back up to their hut on the mountain. One day,
Peter brought Heidi a letter. It was from Klara.

"Klara and Grandmamma will be here in six weeks!" cried Heidi. She was very
excited. But Peter was not. He was angry and jealous.

One morning in June, Heidi saw them coming up. One man was pushing Klara in her
wheelchair. Another man carried their things. Grandmamma rode behind them on a
horse.

Klara and Grandmamma were amazed at the beauty of Heidi's mountain home.

"Oh, Heidi," cried Klara. "If only I could run over the hills with you!"
"Don't worry," said Heidi. "I'll push you everywhere."

Then Grandfather served everyone big mugs of goat's milk and toasted cheese. They
ate happily outside in the gentle breeze and sunshine.

When Klara saw Heidi's bed in the hayloft, she said, "It must be wonderful to look
at the stars while you go to sleep."

Grandfather asked Grandmamma, "Why don't you let Klara stay here with us while you
stay in the village?"

Grandmamma agreed.

"I think it will be very good for Klara's health to stay here."

As the days passed, Grandfather grew to like Klara very much.

He told Peter to feed the goats the best grass. They made extra-good milk that
would make Klara strong.

While Klara stayed with them for two weeks, Grandfather helped her stand. Standing
made her legs and feet hurt very much. But each day, she tried to stand a little
longer.

Heidi begged Grandfather to carry Klara up to the top of the mountain. That was the
place where the was the most beautiful.

But Grandfather said he would do that only if Klara could stand on her own.

Heidi was excited and told Peter. But this made Peter angry.

He wanted Klara to go away.

Peter was so afraid. He ran away without taking the goats.

Grandfather and Heidi came outside and found out the wheelchair was gone. They
looked everywhere for the wheelchair. Grandfather saw it down below the mountain.
The wheelchair was in pieces. It was destroyed.

"It must have been the wind," said Heidi. Klara began to cry.

"Now I'll never be able to go up the mountain."

"That's okay," said Grandfather. "I'll carry you up. By the way, where is Peter?"

Grandfather picked up Klara, and they walked up the mountain.

The goats followed them.

When Grandfather saw Peter, he scolded him for forgetting the goats.

"Did you see Klara's wheelchair?" asked Grandfather.

Peter just shook his head to say, "No."

Grandfather left the children on top of the mountain and went back home.

After lunch, Heidi wanted to take Klara higher to see the prettiest flowers.

"Peter and I can carry you," Heidi said.

"I'm walking!" she shouted.

When Grandfather came to get them later, he was happy to see Klara walk.

Klara practiced walking for the next week. When Grandmamma came up the mountain,
Klara surprised her. She cried with joy when she saw Klara walking.

"Thank you so much!" she said to Grandfather. "Your kindness and care have done
this for her."

"And God's sun and the mountain air," Grandfather replied.

Then Grandmamma decided to send a letter to Klara's father.

She wanted him to come early and join them for the surprise.

Mr Sesemann had almost arrived at the hut. He expected to meet Klara and Heidi in a
moment. Klara was waiting at the hut with a surprise for him.

They saw him getting close to the hut. Then Klara stood up and walked to him. Mr
Sesemann was surprised and cried, "It's a miracle!"

Mr Sesemann thanked Grandfather and Heidi for helping Klara.

Grandmamma saw Peter hiding behind the hut.

"Young man," she said, "why are you so afraid of us?"

"I think Peter was the wind that blew Klara's wheelchair down the mountain," said
Grandfather.

Grandmamma took Peter aside.

"What you did was very bad. But I understand how you feel," she said. "I hope you
will always remember us." Peter became happy.

Later, Mr Sesemann asked Grandfather if there was any way he could repay him.

Grandfather thought for a while.

Then he said, "Will you promise to take care of Heidi when I die?"

Mr Sesemann promised he would, and the men shook hands.

It was time for the Sesemanns to leave. Klara was sad.

But Heidi said to her, "Don't worry. Soon it will be summer again. Then you can
come back and see us."

Heidi stood on the mountain and watched her friends leave.

She waved until she couldn't see them any more.

Shortly after, Dr. Classen came to live in the village. He bought a hut and shared
it with Grandfather and Heidi in the winter. He told Grandfather that he thought of
Heidi as his own child. He promised to always take care of her.

Heidi spent another happy winter in the village. All around were people who cared
for her.
- THE END -

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