Author: Vintage Treasure Chest

Heidi was standing under the swaying fir trees, waiting for her grandfather to join her.

Mr. Sesemann, going upstairs in great agitation, knocked at the housekeeper’s door. He asked her to hurry, for preparations for a journey had to be made.

For several days Miss Rottenmeier had been wandering silently about the house. When she went from room to room or along the corridors, she would often glance back as if she were afraid that somebody was following her.

The grandmama sent for Heidi every day after dinner, while Clara was resting and Miss Rottenmeier disappeared into her room. She talked to Heidi and amused her in various ways, showing her how to make clothes for pretty little dolls that she had brought.

The following evening great expectation reigned in the house. Tinette had put on a new cap, Sebastian was placing footstools in front of nearly every armchair, and Miss Rottenmeier walked with great dignity about the house, inspecting everything.

A few days afterwards there was great excitement in the Sesemann residence, for the master of the house had just arrived. The servants were taking upstairs one load after another, for Mr. Sesemann always brought many lovely things home with him.

A short time after the tutor had arrived the next morning, the doorbell rang so violently that Sebastian thought it must be Mr. Sesemann himself.

When Heidi opened her eyes the next morning, she did not know where she was. She found herself on a high white bed in a spacious room.

In a beautiful house in Frankfurt lived a sick child by the name of Clara Sesemann.

Two winters had nearly passed. Heidi was happy, for the spring was coming again, with the soft delicious wind that made the fir trees roar. Soon she could go up to the pasture, where blue and yellow flowers greeted her at every step. She was nearly eight years old and had learned to take care…