6 Two Visitors

CHAPTER 6 Two Visitors If the winter passed quickly, the summer passed even faster. Now another winter was coming to an end. Heidi was still as happy as she had been the day she arrived. She was now eight years old. She had learned all kinds of useful things from her grandfather. Heidi knew how to look after the goats as well as anyone, but children her age were supposed to be in school. The schoolmaster from the town of Dorfli had already written to her grandfather about this twice. The old man

had sent word back each time that he would not be sending Heidi to school. Finally the pastor climbed the mountain to talk with Grandfather about his choice. "The child should have been in school a year ago," the pastor said. "She is not a goat or a bird. She is a child. It is time for her to begin her lessons. Next winter she must go." "Indeed," growled Heidi's grandfather. "Do you really wish me to send a young child like that some miles down the mountain through storm and snow? Should I let her return at night when the wind is raging? Even I would run the risk of being blown down and buried in the snow!" "You are quite right, neighbor," said the pastor in a friendly tone of voice. "I agree that it would be impossible to send her from here. But you must think of the child. It is time to come down from the mountaintop and live among your fellow men. It is too

dangerous to live up here. Heidi would not survive if anything were to happen to you in the winter months!" "Let me assure you, sir, that I take very good care of the child. She stays warm here. My fire never goes out. As for going to live in town, the people there hate me. And I hate them. It is best that we stay away from each other." "No," said the pastor. "It is not best for you. The people down there do not hate you like you think. You need to make your peace with God and move down with us. You will see how happy you can be." The pastor stood and raised his hand. "I am sure you will make the right decision. I know that next year we will be neighbors once again. Give me your hand and promise me that." Grandfather gave the pastor his hand and answered him calmly. "I know you are only

thinking of what is best for the child, but I am telling you now that I will not send her to school and I will not move down the mountain to live among the people." "Then I hope God will help you!" said the pastor. He turned sadly away, left the hut, and went down the mountain. The pastor's visit left Grandfather in a grouchy mood. When Heidi asked him about going to see Grandmother, he told her, "Not today." Then he didn't speak for the rest of the day. The following morning when Heidi asked about Grandmother again, he answered, "We will see." But before they had even cleared the lunch bowls from the table, another visitor arrived. This time it was Aunt Dete. Grandfather looked at her fancy clothes without saying a word. He could tell by her face that she was surprised at how well Heidi looked. She was so happy and well cared for

that Dete hardly knew her. Leaving the child with her grandfather had always worried Dete a bit, so it was happily that she came to the old man with her wonderful news. A rich relative of the people she worked for had an only child. The girl was about Heidi's age and had to use a wheelchair to move about. She spent much of her time alone and needed someone to play with her. Dete had talked to the housekeeper about Heidi, and the woman had agreed to take in the little girl. This could be so wonderful for Heidi! She would live in a fancy house and always have someone to play with. "And who knows," Dete said, "if anything ever happens to the little girl, Heidi might just be lucky enough to—" "Are you finished with what you came to say?" the old man asked the visitor. "Ugh!" cried Dete. She threw her hands up in the air. "Anybody else would be thrilled

with the news I am bringing you!" "Then you can take your news to anyone else. I don't want to hear it." Dete jumped up out of her seat like a rocket. "If you think you can keep my sister's child up here without sending her to church or school, you are mistaken! I am responsible for her! I will not give in!" "Stop it!" yelled Grandfather. "Leave at once and never let me see you here again!" And with that he left the hut. "You have made my grandfather angry!" Heidi cried. She looked crossly at Dete. "He will be fine," the woman said. "Come now, show me where your clothes are." "I am not coming," said Heidi. "Nonsense!" Dete said in surprise. "You don't understand things any better than the old man. You will have things you never dreamed of." She went to the cupboard and took out Heidi's things. Then she rolled them