Heidi (Gift Edition) [Illustrated by Maria Kirk]

Heidi (Gift Edition) [Illustrated by Maria Kirk]

CONTENTS<br /><br /><br />PART I <br />HEIDI'S YEARS OF LEARNING AND TRAVEL <br />CHAPTER PAGE <br />I Going up to the Alm-Uncle 17 <br />II. With the Grandfather 38 <br />III. On the Pasture 50 <br />IV. In the Grandmother's Hut 67 <br />V. Two Visitors 83 <br />VI. A New Chapter with New Things 95 <br />VII. Miss Rottenmeier Has an Uncomfortable Day 104 <br />VIII. Great Disturbances in the Sesemann House 119 <br />IX. The Master of the House Hears of Strange Doings 129 <br />X. A Grandmama 136 <br />XI. Heidi Gains in Some Respects and Loses in Others 146 <br />XII. The Sesemann House is Haunted 153 <br />XIII. Up the Alp on a Summer Evening 165 <br />XIV. On Sunday When the Church Bells Ring 183 <br />PART II <br />HEIDI MAKES USE OF HER EXPERIENCE <br />XV. Preparations for a Journey 199 <br />XVI. A Guest on the Alp 207 <br />XVII. Retaliation 219 <br />XVIII. Winter in the Village 229 <br />XIX. Winter Still Continues 243 <br />XX. News from Distant Friends 252 <br />XXI. On Further Events on the Alp 268 <br />XXII. Something Unexpected Happens 276 <br />XXIII. Parting to Meet Again 293 <br /><br /><br /><br />------<br />GOING UP TO THE ALM-UNCLE<br /><br /><br />The little old town of Mayenfeld is charmingly situated. From it a footpath leads through green, well-wooded stretches to the foot of the heights which look down imposingly upon the valley. Where the footpath begins to go steeply and abruptly up the Alps, the heath, with its short grass and pungent herbage, at once sends out its soft perfume to meet the wayfarer.<br /><br />One bright sunny morning in June, a tall, vigorous maiden of the mountain region climbed up the narrow path, leading a little girl by the hand. The youngster's cheeks were in such a glow that it showed even through her sun-browned skin. Small [18]wonder though! for in spite of the heat, the little one, who was scarcely five years old, was bundled up as if she had to brave a bitter frost. Her shape was difficult to distinguish, for she wore two dresses, if not three, and around her shoulders a large red cotton shawl. With her feet encased in heavy hob-nailed boots, this hot and shapeless little person toiled up the mountain.<br /><br />The pair had been climbing for about an hour when they reached a hamlet half-way up the great mountain named the Alm. This hamlet was called "Im Dörfli" or "The Little Village." It was the elder girl's home town, and therefore she was greeted from nearly every house; people called to her from windows and doors, and very often from the road. But, answering questions and calls as she went by, the girl did not loiter on her way and only stood still when she reached the end of the hamlet. There a few cottages lay scattered about, from the furthest of which a voice called out to her through an open door: "Deta, [19]please wait one moment! I am coming with you, if you are going further up."