Chapter-10
Winter passed and it was May again. The mountains were green again and the clear sunlight made them shine and look lush green. Heidi and the grandfather were back to the mountains after spending the winters at Dorfli.
One morning, Heidi came out of the hut and was running here and there like a bird in spring. She went round the corner to see if Peter was anywhere in the sight. But she saw something unusual. She saw two men carrying a chair on poles and a girl sitting on the chair. An elderly looking lady was following them on a horse. Behind the horse she saw two more men following. One of them was pushing an empty wheel chair and the other was carrying a bundle of rugs and wraps.
Soon, they were close enough for Heidi to recognize them and once she did she shouted at her highest pitch, “They are here, grandfather; they have come to meet me.”
It was Clara and the grandmamma who had finally come to meet her. Heidi had been waiting for them the entire winter. The chair carriers put their burden down. Heidi quickly ran towards them to welcome Clara and Mrs. Sesemann.
The old lady got off from the horse and came forward to greet Uncle Alp who had come forward by now.
“This is a beautiful place and I haven’t seen a place more peaceful than this. And my Little Heidi looks so well.” Saying this she pulled Heidi close to her.
Clara was also excited seeing the beauty of the place but more than that she was happy because she was with Heidi again.
Uncle Alp came forward and lifted Clara in his arms and then settled her in her usual wheel chair. Then Clara said, “Heidi, I wish I could run here and there with you.”
Heidi quickly came forward and hugged Clara on hearing this. She started pushing Clara’s chair with all her power trying to take it as far as possible among the fir trees. Clara was enjoying the breeze striking her face. She had never seen trees like these before with their straight trunks and long thick branches sweeping almost to the ground. The flowers blooming everywhere just fascinated her. Heidi then told her about the lovely flowers up on the pasture and promised her to take up there.
“I wish I could walk and climb up there with you,” said Clara in a sad tone.
“I will push you up,” said Heidi. Heidi kept running with the chair here and there and it was just before time that Uncle Alp caught the handle, else they both would have fallen of the edge.
All of them had dinner together with Heidi and Clara lost in their own talks. Clara demanded to sleep with Heidi, so they both went up the ladder into the hay-loft where Heidi slept. Uncle Alp carried Clara up. Clara liked the place up there and now she was more stubborn to sleep there with Heidi.
Both Mrs. Sesemann and Uncle finished their dinner and Mrs. Sesemann kept asking about Heidi. And at last, it was agreed that Clara could stay there for four weeks, by which time, they would be able to judge if the salubrious climate of the mountains suited Clara and was doing her any good.
Uncle Alp made another bed with the rugs and wraps Mrs. Sesemann had brought for Clara. Then, all of them escorted Mrs. Sesemann back to Dorfli.
When they came back, Peter was standing near the hut with the goats. Seeing Heidi and Clara, the goats at once surrounded them. Meanwhile, Peter stood a little aside and wondering who the newcomer was. He was not happy to see the newcomer and made no reply to their friendly greeting. Instead, he slashed about violently with his stick, as was his habit when he was angry. Soon, he was off with his herd.
Both of them enjoyed the time at the night when they were in bed and looking up the stars in the sky.
“Heidi, why do the stars twinkle so brightly?” said Clara.
“Because the stars want us to believe that they are the eyes of God and He is always looking after us through them. Let us pray to God to care for us,” Heidi replied.
Both the girls joined their palms in reverence and said their prayers. Heidi slept at once after that but Clara kept looking at the stars all night. She had never seen so many stars ever before.
Before Heidi woke up next morning, Uncle Alp carried Clara out into the sunshine and put her in her wheel-chair. Clara felt relived as she had for the first time seen sunrise in mountain. She took long breaths to feels the mountain air. Heidi woke up a few hours later and found Clara.
“I wish I could stay here for ever,” Clara said to Heidi who still was half awake.
Just then Uncle Alp brought milk for the two girls. Clara had never tasted a goat’s milk before, so she hesitated to drink it. But then she saw Heidi emptying her mug so fast that she started drinking it sip by sip but ended up by enjoying it. Uncle Alp was happy to see that Clara made no fuss about the goat’s milk. Instead, she liked it.
Peter appeared with the goats a few moments later. He had come to take the two goats and Heidi up to the pasture. But that day to his surprise when he shouted to Heidi to come with him, she refused telling him that she won’t be coming with him as long as Clara was living with her. This annoyed Peter so much that he shook his fists at the wheel-chair and then ran off like mad as he was afraid that Uncle might have seen him doing that and might scold him for the same.
The morning passed quickly for the girls as they kept talking to each other. They even decided to have the mid-day meal in the open air. During the afternoon when the sun became too strong, Heidi took Clara under the shade of fir trees and they spent rest of the afternoon. Clara kept telling her everything that had happened since Heidi left Frankfurt. Heidi told Clara about the change in Uncle Alp and their stay at Dorfli during the winters.
The girls didn’t realize that it was almost evening and the light began to change. Peter, still scowling, was back with the goats. He was in no mood to talk with anyone. So after driving Daisy and Dusky into their shed, he went off at once without even responding to Clara and Heidi. Although Heidi shouted behind his back “good night” yet he was in no mood to respond back.
Clara was too excited. She had never spent a whole day out of doors anywhere and did not know what strength there was in this high mountain air. So, when Uncle Alp brought over the milk, she took hers and drank it up before Heidi finished and asked for more. This delighted Uncle Alp and he fetched her some more milk and this time along with a slice of bread spread with butter. This was a special treat for Clara.
Day by day Uncle Alp grew very fond of Clara. He was enjoying his life serving the two kids. He had brought special plants and herbs for Daisy so that its improved milk might make Clara strong. It was after a few days of Clara’s stay with him that he began trying to make Clara stand each day before putting her in the chair in the morning and taking her to the bed at night. But she could not because it hurt so much. But Uncle Alp persuaded her each day to try for little longer.
One day he decided to take Heidi and Clara up to the pasture himself. He got up early and brought the wheel-chair to the front of the hut. Then, he went indoors to call the children. Peter arrived too, hitting the goats without any reason all through the way up. He was feeling angry and sore. Heidi had not been up with him to the pasture for past some many weeks now. He knew she was going today to show the pasture to Clara. He saw the wheel-chair and glared at it. He wanted to curse it being the reason for all his anger. Then, he looked around and saw there was no one. In a sudden burst of rage, he rushed at the chair and pushed it hard. It went rolling down the slope and then plunged headlong out of sight.
He quickly went from there and flew up the mountains as if he had wings. He hid behind a big bush so that Uncle Alp might not see him. He kept seeing the chair bouncing and rolling until it broke into pieces. He was very much happy to see it and thought the horrid girl would leave Heidi now and she would come with him once more. He did not realize till now what a bad thing he had done.
Heidi came out first followed by the grandfather carrying Clara. The grandfather was surprised not to find the wheel-chair where he had last seen it.
“Where did the chair go from here?” asked Heidi looking towards the grandfather.
The grandfather too was puzzled. He settled Clara at a place so that he might go and find the wheel-chair. He went and looked over the edge. He saw the chair lying at the bottom and questioned himself. How had it gone there? He was surprised as he had left the chair in front of the door.
He came back and told the kids about the chair. This made Heidi sad. Clara looked at Heidi and said, “How dreadful! Now, we won’t be able to go up to the pasture.”
The grandfather told the kids that they were still going to see the pasture. He went to the goat’s shed and untied Daisy and Dusky. He wondered where Peter was and why he was late that day as he didn’t hear Peter’s usual whistle till that time. So the grandfather decided to take the two animals himself along with the kids to the pasture.
After breakfast, the grandfather carried Clara up to the mountain. Heidi was moving ahead of him with her hands on the neck of the two goats. When they reached the pasture, they saw other goats already grazing there peacefully and Peter was asleep on the ground at some distance. This surprised both Heidi and the grandfather.
The grandfather reached the place where Peter was lying. Heidi shook him to wake him up.
“Why didn’t you come today? How can you be so much irresponsible?” The grandfather asked Peter angrily.
Peter shouted at the top of his voice at once.
“No one was up,” he replied.
“Did you see Clara’s chair?” asked Uncle Alp.
“Which chair, sir?” Peter mumbled sourly.
Uncle did not say any more. He found a sunny place for Clara and settled her there. He kept a bag near her in which he had kept lunch for the two girls and told them he would return in the evening to take them back. He had to go down and repair the chair so that it might be easier to carry Clara back to the hut.
There was no cloud in the deep blue sky. The two girls sat side by side and were happy with their talks. The two goats were lying down near them all the time. Heidi was excited about the bare meadows where the flowers grew and she wanted Clara to see them. She wanted to get some flowers for Clara but didn’t like the idea of leaving her alone.
“Would you mind if I leave you alone for a few minutes? I want to get some flowers for you,” Heidi asked.
She then thought of an idea. She picked some grass and spread it on Clara’s lap. Then she brought one of the goats over and gave her a little push to make her lie down. Then, she smiled and looked towards Clara. She gave Clara some company.
“You can go now and get your flowers. I am happy to spend some time with this goat,” said Clara.
So Heidi ran off and Clara kept feeding the goat with little grass after every few minutes. Clara liked this. Heidi reached the flower meadow. She instead of getting the flowers, raced back to Clara as she wanted her to see the beauty of the place herself.
She came and said, “I want you to come with me. Do you think I can carry you?” asked Heidi.
Clara shook her head, “I think you won’t be able to do that, Heidi. I wish I could walk.”
Heidi was upset seeing Clara’s dull face. She looked around and saw Peter higher up on the slope staring at them. He was wondering that he himself destroyed the chair and still Clara was there at the pasture. He could hardly believe his eyes. Heidi shouted loud to call him but he refused to come.
Heidi got angry and ran a few steps towards him. “If you don’t come at once, I will tell the grandfather!” she stormed at him. This frightened him as he thought that Heidi knew all about the chair. He got up at once and both of them approached Clara. They made Clara stand between them. She put one arm around Heidi’s neck and leaned on Peter with the other. But when she tried to take a step, it hurt so much that she drew it back very quickly.
“You should try putting one foot down firmly and so it would hurt less,” Heidi advised her.
Clara doubted Heidi’s idea but had no other option but to try it out once. She did as Heidi suggested and it succeeded. It was hurting less. She tried a few steps looking towards Heidi. It was paining her a bit but she kept her nerves and soon she felt as if she were walking. She was trembling a bit but she couldn’t believe she was able to land her feet herself on the ground without much pain.
Clara still kept hold of Heidi and Peter, but with each step they could feel her getting steadier on her feet. Heidi was wild with excitement. She immediately said, “I think we can now come to the pasture daily and we can run and play here. You would not need a wheel-chair ever again.”
Clara happily agreed to it as she always wished to be strong and to be able to walk like other people. Finally, they reached the meadow. Heidi and Peter made Clara sit on the warm grass and now she was gazing at the beautiful flowers and smelling their fragrance.
An hour later, the three came to the original place and had lunch together. Heidi and Clara didn’t eat much and offered their share to Peter who ate it all, to the last crumb. But he knew by himself that he was not enjoying the meal as always. He was still worried about the chair and did not know what would happen when the grandfather knew about it.
It was almost evening when Uncle Alp arrived to fetch them home. Heidi saw him coming and quickly ran towards him to tell him the great news about Clara. She was so excited that she told the entire story in one long breath. The grandfather did not understand the exact story but the excitement on Heidi’s face said it all to him and his face grew with delight too. He went up to Clara and lifted her up. He made her walk a few steps, putting one arm round her waist. With him being stronger than the two kids, Clara was able to walk with much more confidence. After a few metres he lifted Clara in his arms as he felt it was enough for the day. Soon, they reached back home.
Peter came later that evening to Dorfli. As he reached, he saw a group of people staring at something. Peter made his way through them and saw the remains of Clara’s chair. Someone was saying that whoever did it would surely be in trouble when Mr. Sesemann came to know about it. These words were enough to scare Peter. He quickly made his way out and ran home without talking to anyone in the way. His heart was pumping as fast as it could. His hair stood on end with horror. As he reached home, he could neither speak nor eat and went straight to bed and hid himself under the blanket. Heidi and Clara went to bed early that night as they were tired after the day’s fun. That night they decided to give extra thanks to God for making Clara walk on her feet. It took a week for Clara to be able to walk alone. They also sent a message to the grandmamma to come up to the mountain as soon as possible but didn’t write about the reason for calling her in such a hurry. It was Heidi’s idea to see the grandmamma’s reaction when they revealed the surprise to her.
