Heidi - (Illustrated Edition of World Children's Literature)

Author: Johanna Spyri
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Heidi is the masterpiece of Swiss renowned children's literature author Johanna Spyri. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Alps, the novel portrays the growth of its young protagonist, Heidi, and creates a vivid literary image of a naive, lively, innocent, kind-hearted, nature-loving, life-loving, and helpful character, rich in educational significance. It has been adapted into radio dramas, films, TV series, cartoons, and comic strips, and has been widely circulated around the world, becoming a classic best-selling children's literature book for young readers.
Leaving the ancient and beautiful town of Maienfeld, a path winds through lush, tree-dotted meadows, leading to the foothills of the mountains. The mountains overlook the valley, appearing majestic and solemn. This path stretches up to the steep Alm, also known as the high mountain pasture; the roadside is overgrown with low grass and abundant mountain herbs. As soon as a traveler steps onto the path, the fragrance of the meadow fills the air.
On a sunny morning in June, a strong, tall mountain girl, holding the hand of a little girl, was climbing the narrow mountain path. The little girl's cheeks were flushed, appearing like a red flame against her sun-tanned skin. This was not surprising at all: under the scorching June sun, she was dressed head to toe, as if to prevent the biting cold. The little girl was about five years old, but describing her actual appearance was not easy, as she wore two or three layers of clothing, one over the other, and a large red cotton scarf tied around her neck. Her two feet were clad in heavy, spike-covered hiking boots, making it impossible to see her clearly as she struggled up the mountain.
After climbing for an hour from the valley, they arrived at a small village called D?rfli, located halfway up the high mountain pasture. There, they were greeted by almost every household—some through the windows, some from the door, and others on the street—since the girl was a local. However, they did not stop but continued walking, responding to the greetings and questions of the villagers until they reached the end of the village. A few scattered households remained at the edge of the village. When they reached the last house, a voice called out from inside, "Wait a moment, Deti. If you're going up the mountain, I'll come with you." The girl stopped, and the little girl immediately pulled her hand back and sat down on the ground.
"Are you tired, Heidi?" the girl asked.
"No, I'm just too hot," the little girl replied.
"We'll be up the mountain soon; if you walk briskly, we can get there in less than an hour," Deti encouraged her.
At that moment, a plump woman with a gentle demeanor came out of the door and joined them. The little girl stood up and followed behind. The two old acquaintances greeted each other warmly and began to chat animatedly, discussing the happenings in D?rfli and the nearby households.
"Where are you taking this child, Deti?" the new woman asked. "She must be the child of your sister, the orphan."
"She is," Deti replied. "I'm taking her to Grandpa; she has to stay there."
"What? Leaving the child with Grandpa at the Alm? You must be crazy, Deti! How can you do that? The old man will just send the child back to you!"
"No, he's her grandfather. He has to do something; I've been taking care of the child until now. I can tell you, Babbel, I've already found a job, and I don't want to lose it because of this child. Now it's her grandfather's turn to take responsibility."
"Yes, if he were like others, he would," Babbel, the plump woman, insisted. "You know him. How can he bring a child, especially one so young? The child won't last there!—But where are you going?"
"To Frankfurt," Deti explained. "I found a great job there. Last summer, a family came to the spa at the foot of the mountain for treatment, and I cleaned their house. They wanted to take me with them, but I couldn't leave. Now they're back, and they want to take me again. You can trust me on that."
"I'm not a child," Babbel retorted disdainfully. "No one knows what the old man in the mountains is like! He doesn't associate with anyone and never goes to church all year round. Even once a year, when he comes down the mountain with his thick cane, everyone avoids him for fear of him. He has gray, thick eyebrows and a terrible beard, looking like an old pagan or an Indian. It's a blessing if you don't meet him alone."
"Nevertheless," Deti said stubbornly, "he's her grandfather, and he has to take care of the child. He won't harm her, and even if he does, it's his responsibility, not mine."
"I just want to know," Babbel said cautiously, "what wrong has the old man done? His eyes always seem so intense, and he lives alone on the high mountain pasture, almost cut off from the world. People talk about all sorts of stories about him. You must know some too, from your sister, right, Deti?"
"Of course, but I won't tell. If he hears about it, I'll be in trouble!"