Chapter-6
Mr. Sesemann returned home a few days later. The first thing he did after his return was to spend a few hours playing with his daughter. Then, he met Heidi and greeted her happily. He spent a few hours with both the girls in the dining room and was very much happy and satisfied to know that Clara and Heidi were good friends now. Then he enquired everything about her from Miss Rottenmeier.
“Is everything all right?” asked Mr. Sesemann.
“Sir, we have been deceived. Heidi is not the right girl,” said Miss Rottenmeier pompously.
“Why, what is the matter? I don’t understand you.” he asked.
“Her conduct in the house is not good. She is not stable in her mind. She keeps on bringing different creatures and animals in the house,” she replied.
Before she could continue Mr. Usher entered the room and Mr. Sesemann was delighted to see him as he knew that Mr. Usher was the right man to tell him about Heidi.
“Mr. Usher, I was just expecting you. Come, let’s have a cup of tea together,” said Mr. Sesemann.
Mr. Sesemann told Mr. Usher what Rottenmeier was trying to say. Mr. Usher began to speak in his round robin fashion, but Mr. Sesemann’s patience didn’t last that long and he got up and went to the study and sat down beside his daughter. Heidi was also present in the room.
He wanted Heidi to be out of the room for a few minutes, so he asked Heidi to fetch a glass of water for him. Then, he sat close to Clara holding her hand, “Clara, tell me what you think about Heidi. Why does Miss Rottenmeier think she is not quite right in the head? What about the animals, where did they came from?”
Clara told him everything in complete detail. It was Miss Rottenmeier who created the fuss about everything. Mr. Sesemann kept laughing all the time. Clara told him that she liked Heidi and wanted her to stay in the house. Mr. Sesemann was happy to see he daughter happy.
“So, you want me to let Heidi stay here,” he asked.
“Of course! She is a great friend. She keeps doing delightful things in the house and she also tries to take care of me,” replied Clara.
Meanwhile, Heidi came back with a glass of water. He was happy to see her now. He spent some time with Heidi and kept laughing at her innocent jokes. Then, he went and told Miss Rottenmeier that Heidi was to stay.
“She is perfectly normal and the most important thing is Clara loves her. You should not consider her funny little mischief as her deliberate measures to trouble you. Now, you have to make sure that she is kindly treated in this house,” he explained to Miss Rottenmeier.
Rottenmeier had no option but to obey Mr. Sesemann’s order. She nodded her head and left the place.
A few days later, Mr. Sesemann left which made Clara upset but Heidi took special care to cheer up Clara all the time.
Clara used to tell Heidi about her grandmother. She used to call her grandmamma. Soon, Heidi was so involved with Clara that she also started regarding Clara’s grandmother as grandmamma too. This used to annoy Miss Rottenmeier. One day, she called Heidi and told her to call Mrs. Sesemann as ‘Gracious Madam’ and not as ‘Grandmamma’. Heidi feared Miss Rottenmeier, so she didn’t dare to ask her why.
One day, a carriage came rolling up to the front door. An old lady stepped off the carriage. She was the grandmamma, Mrs. Sesemann. Sebastian and Tinette came running down to the door and lifted her luggage. Miss Rottenmeier escorted the old lady inside. Meanwhile, Heidi was rehearsing the words Miss Rottenmeier had asked her to address Mrs. Sesemann. Soon, Heidi was called out to come and greet the old lady. She came running downstairs and as soon as she entered the room she said, “Good evening, Madam Gracious.”
Mrs. Sesemann burst out in laughter on hearing that. She first thought that people in the mountains were addressed like that. But then she politely told Heidi to call her grandmamma. This delighted Heidi and she looked over to Miss Rottenmeier who was furious. Heidi was pleased to see the kindness of the old lady which made her happy.
Next day grandmamma called Heidi to her room and gifted her some books. Heidi was happy and she sat down in front of her and turned the pages and saw the pictures in the book. While turning pictures, a particular picture made Heidi burst into tears. Grandmamma took notice of Heidi’s tears and looked at the picture. The picture had a shepherd surrounded with many animals standing in a green meadow.
She came closer to Heidi and patted her back. She kept her hand on her head till she was silent.
After Heidi had dried her eyes, the old lady asked, “So how are your lessons going on? What all did you learn till now?”
Heidi told her that she had learnt nothing because Peter had once told her that it was always difficult to learn to read. Grandmamma gave Heidi a big smile.
“You should not take somebody else’s word for it. You must try it yourself with dedication. And if you will try it, I am sure you will be able to do it. And then, you can read stories on your own and find out what happens to animals with the shepherd in the meadows. And I know you will enjoy this, wouldn’t you?” asked grandmamma.
This made Heidi feel motivated and now she wished that she could read that very minute.
But soon Heidi had realized that she would not be able to go home whenever she wanted to, as Detie had promised her. This used to make her upset during the nights and she used to lie awake the whole night thinking about the mountain, Uncle Alp, Peter and his family. Sometimes she used to wake because of a vivid dream and thought of running down the ladder from the loft but at last she would remember that it was Uncle Alp’s place.
The grandmamma realized that Heidi was unhappy with her life. She tried to ask Heidi the reason for her sadness but she always avoided the question saying she did not wish to share it with anyone.
One day the grandmamma called Heidi and said, “When we are in trouble we should share it with God. He always listens to our worries and is there to help us. You pray to thank Him for all the good things and you can ask Him to protect you from harm too. Don’t you pray?”
“I don’t pray. My grandmother taught me how to pray but now I have forgotten about it,” said Heidi.
“Don’t worry; tell God everything now and see how quickly your troubles will get solved. He will soon make you happy again,” explained the grandmamma.
This fascinated Heidi. “Do you think God will answer to my worries?” she asked.
“Yes, He will. He listens to everyone who prays,” replied the lady.
Heidi quickly got up and asked for permission to leave. She ran to her own room and sat down on the floor on her knees. With both palms joined in reverence she murmured all her troubles as if she were talking to God.
A few weeks later, Mr. Usher came to see Mrs. Sesemann. He had come to tell the lady that for the first time Heidi read a few lines. He was surprised as in spite of all his efforts she seemed unable to learn even the letters. But now, all of a sudden, she had mastered all of them overnight and was able to read complete sentences. She could read more correctly than most beginners.
Mrs. Sesemann knew that it was new desire in Heidi to learn and be able to read like other children of her age. She was thankful to God that the child had gone that far and wished progress in her life.
The grandmamma gifted a big book with lots of stories and big pictures to Heidi at the supper that night. Heidi was delighted to receive it and before going to sleep that night, she had a good look at her lovely book and from that day reading was a fun activity for her.
