Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Heidi who had no parents–only an aunt and a grandfather who lived on top of a mountain. One day, her aunt decided to take Heidi to her grandfather’s little house in the mountain. On the way was a little village called Dorfli. People in Dorfli said Heidi’s grandfather was a grumpy old man who did not like visitors.
Heidi and her aunt started up the mountain anyway. They kept on climbing. Soon the village was far behind. The slopes of the mountain grew steep. The two travellers stopped to rest. While they were resting, they met a young boy on a small grassy mound. He was watching a herd of goats and his name was Peter.
Every morning, Peter took the goats from the village into the high meadow to graze. He told Heidi that Schwanli and Barli belonged to her grandfather. Soon Heidi and her aunt reached the top of the mountain. Heidi’s grandfather, Alm, was sitting on a bench in front of his house. Heidi did not think that her grandfather looked grumpy. He was surprised to learn that she had come to live with him! Heidi’s aunt took leave of grandfather.
Heidi could hardly wait to see the inside of the house. It had a big fireplace and a ladder leading to a hayloft. Heidi climbed up. She could see the whole valley from the hayloft window! Her grandfather said that she could sleep up there if she wanted. She loved her grandfather and happy times were about to begin for her in the mountain.
The warm sun streaming in the window woke Heidi up the next morning. Soon, Peter came to get the goats. The little girl wanted to go along too. So, her grandfather packed the lunch for both Heidi and Peter. Heidi enjoyed living on mountaintop. Many happy days and weeks passed. She was a very helpful girl and helped her grandfather in the housework. She used to bake bread and take it for Peter’s grandmother and in return, Peter’s grandmother would give her fresh goat-milk to drink.
One day after Christmas, Heidi’s aunt came again. She told the grandfather she had found a place for Heidi to stay where she would get some schooling. It was with the Sesemanns family in Frankfurt. The grandfather did not want Heidi to leave. At last, he consented.
Heidi sadly said ‘goodbye’ to everyone and followed her aunt down the mountain. They took a train to Frankfurt, but even the excitement of the trip did not cheer her up at all.
The Sesemanns lived in a big dark house. The housekeeper Miss Rottenmeier opened the door. There, Heidi met Clara, the little girl of the house. Clara had spent most of her life on a wheelchair, as she could not walk. She was lonesome and glad to have someone to give her company. “You must have hated to leave the mountain,” she said to Heidi. Heidi was given new clothes and a room of her own. And she liked Clara. But she missed her grandfather, Peter and the goats. Clara tried to help. She made up games to play and began teaching Heidi how to read.
Several months went by. Heidi felt confined in the big dreary house. One day in April, she could stand it no longer. She ran away. She slipped out of the house, into the street and into the centre of the town. There, she found a tall tower.
Heidi went into the tower building and climbed to the top. The wind from the mountain was blowing free and clear and the sun shone. When Heidi came down from the tower, a policeman stopped her and asked where she lived. Heidi told him about her house. He took her back to the Sesemanns’ house.
Miss Rottenmeier was angry and locked Heidi in her room. “You are not to be trusted!” she said. Heidi couldn’t even eat because of her homesickness. Clara’s father and grandmother realized her sadness. After a while, they decided to send her back to the mountain. While Heidi was leaving, her aunt told her that Clara would visit her in the mountain next year.
Happy to be back to the mountain, Heidi first went to meet Peter’s grandmother. She went home running and hugged her grandfather as tight as he could. And they were happy again. Heidi also started attending school in Dorfli.
One day, she received a letter saying Clara would visit her soon.
Heidi’s grandfather was very happy to see Clara. He told them that they could sleep on his big bed. He himself would sleep in the hayloft. Clara’s Grandmother stayed near by in Dorfli for a short time.
The salubrious climate of the mountain was like medicine for Clara. One fine morning, she felt so good that she decided to try walking. Heidi and Peter helped her at first. After a while, she started to take steps without any help. “I can walk! Yes, I owe this to you,” said Clara. Before long she was going to the high meadow with them every day.
When Clara’s father came to visit her, he saw her dear daughter walking! He and grandmother couldn’t believe their eyes. They thanked Heidi’s Grandfather Alm and Heidi. Clara and her family promised to visit the next summer. At last, Heidi was completely happy. In the clear and fresh air of the mountain, life seemed as beautiful as the flowers all around her.
