Heidi

In this soothing episode, we journey to the picturesque Swiss Alps as we begin the timeless tale of Heidi by Johanna Spyri. In the first two chapters, meet young Heidi, a spirited little girl, as she moves to live with her reclusive grandfather in a quaint mountain village. Experience the serenity of the alpine landscape and the warmth of new beginnings as we settle into the peaceful rhythms of Heidi’s new life.

So, snuggle up and have sweet dreams.

The music in this episode is Smell of Morning Coffee by Franz Gordon. 

Chapters

• 0:21 Uncle's Mountain
• 12:21 Heartwarming Encounter on the Mountain
• 20:56 Heidi's First Night at Grandfather's
• 33:33 New Goats Named Swan and Bear

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:21

Welcome to Dreamful Podcast, the attempt stories for slumber. I would like to start this episode by thanking our newest supporter, kelly Sikalik. Thank you so much, kelly, and I hope you have the sweetest of dreams. If you'd like to support the show and gain access to subscriber-only episodes while receiving a shout-out access to subscriber-only episodes while receiving a shout out, visit dreamfullstoriescom and, on the support page, find a link to become a Buzzsprout supporter or subscribe to your supercast. If you listen on Spotify, your donations go toward things like music, licensing software and paying my amazing editor, katie, and, speaking of Katie, be sure to support her podcast, heavenly Bedtime. Visit dreamfullstoriescom. Slash heavenlybedtime for more information and follow Heavenly Bedtime on your favorite podcast app to make her beautifully produced scripture readings part of your nighttime routine. For this episode, I'll be reading the first two chapters from one of my favorite classics, heidi. I remember watching the 1937 film with Shirley Temple as Heidi over and over again and, though it is an old film and in black and white, it was just so comforting and it's the perfect tale to fall asleep, to so snuggle up in your blankets and have sweet dreams. Thank you.

Speaker 1: 2:37

On a bright June morning, two figures one a tall girl and the other, a child could be seen climbing a narrow mountain path that winds up from the pretty village of Maynfield to the lofty heights of the Alm Mountain. In spite of the hot June sun, the child was clothed as if to keep off the bitterest frost. She did not look more than five years old, but what her natural figure was like would be hard to say, for she had on apparently two dresses, one above the other, and over these a thick red woolen shawl. Her small feet were shod in thick nailed mountain shoes. When the wayfarers came to the hamlet known as Dorfli, which is situated halfway up the mountain, they met with greetings from all sides, for the elder girl was now in her old home sides where the elder girl was now in her old home.

Speaker 1: 3:47

As they were leaving the village, a voice called out Wait a moment, dutta, if you are going up on the mountain, I will come alongside you. The girl, thus addressed, stood still and the child immediately let go her hand and seated herself on the ground. Are you tired, heidi, asked her companion. No, I am hot, answered the child. We shall soon get to the top. Now you must walk bravely on a little longer and take good long steps, and in another hour we shall be there, said Dette.

Speaker 1: 4:35

They were now joined by a stout, good-natured-looking woman who walked on ahead with her old acquaintance. And where are you going with the child, asked the one who had just joined the party. I suppose it is the child your sister left. Yes, answered Detta. I am taking her out to Angol, where she must stay. This child stay up there with Almangol.

Speaker 1: 5:06

You must be out of your senses, detta. How can you think of such a thing? The old man, however, will soon send you both packing off home again. He cannot very well do that, seeing that he is her grandfather. He must do something for her.

Speaker 1: 5:25

I have had the charge of the child till now and I can tell you, barbel, I'm not going to give it the chance which has just fallen to me of getting a good place for her sake. It would be all well if you were like other people, said Barbel, but you know what he is and what can he do with a child, especially with one so young. The child cannot possibly live with him. But where are you thinking of? Going yourself To Frankfurt, where an extra good place awaits me and Sir Detta, I am glad I am not the child, exclaimed Barbell.

Speaker 1: 6:10

Not the creature knows anything about the old man up there. He will have nothing to do with anybody and never sets his foot inside a church from one year's end to another. When he does come down once in a while, everybody clears out of his way. The mere sight of him with his bushy, grey eyebrows and immense beard is alarming enough. All kinds of things are said about him. You, detta, however, must certainly have learned a good deal concerning him from your sister. Yes, but I'm not going to repeat what I heard. Suppose it should come to his ears. I should get him to no end of trouble about it.

Speaker 1: 6:56

Barbara put her arm through Dedda's in a confidential sort of way and said Now do just tell me what is wrong with the old man. Was he always shunned as he is now, and was he always so cross? I assure you I will hold my tongue if you tell me. Very well, then I will tell you. But just wait a moment, said Deda, looking around for Heidi who had slipped away unnoticed. I see where she is, exclaimed Barbell. Look over there. And she pointed to a spot far away from the footpath. She's climbing up the slope yonder with Peter and his goats. But tell me about the old man. Did he ever have anything more than his two goats and his hut? I should think so indeed, replied Detta with animation.

Speaker 1: 7:59

He was at one time the owner of one of the largest farms in Domlesk, where my mother used to live, but he drank and gambled away the whole of his property, and when this became known to his mother and father, they died of sorrow, one shortly after the other, having nothing left to him. But his bad name disappeared, and it was heard that he had gone to Naples as a soldier. After twelve or fifteen years, he reappeared in Domleschk, bringing with him a young son whom he tried to place with some of his kinspeople. Every door, however, was shut in space, for no one wished to have any more to do with him. Embittered by this treatment, he vowed never to set foot in Domlesch again, and he then came to Dorfli where he lived with his little boy. His wife, it seemed, had died shortly after the child's birth. He must have accumulated some money during his absence, for he apprenticed his son Tobias to a carpenter.

Speaker 1: 9:13

He was a steady lad and kindly received by everyone in Dorfli. His father, however, was still looked upon with suspicion, and it was even rumored that he had killed a man in some brawl at Naples. But why does everyone call him uncle? Surely he can't be uncle to everyone living in Dorfli, asked Barbell. Our grandmothers were related so we used to call him uncle and as my father had family connections with so many people in Dorflea, soon everyone fell into the habit of calling him Uncle. Explained Etta and what happened to Tobias. Further questioned Barbell, who was listening with deep interest.

Speaker 1: 10:03

Tobias was taught his trade in millbell, who was listening with deep interest. Tobias was taught his trade in mills and when he had served his apprenticeship he came back to Dorfli and married my sister, adelaide. But their happiness did not last so long. Two years after their marriage, tobias was killed in an accident. His wife was so overcome with grief that she fell into a fever from which she never recovered. She had always been a rather delicate subject to curious attacks during which no one knew whether she was awake or sleeping. And so, two months after Tobias had been carried to the grave, knew whether she was awake or sleeping. And so, two months after Tobias had been carried to the grave, his wife followed him.

Speaker 1: 10:58

Their sad fate was the talk of everybody, far and near, and the general opinion was expressed that it was a punishment which Uncle deserved for the godless life he had led. Our minister endeavored to awaken his conscience, but the old man grew only more wrathful and stubborn and would not speak to us all All at once. We heard that he had gone to live on the All-Mountain and that he did not intend to come down again. Since then he has led his solitary life up there, and everyone knows him now by the name of Om. Uncle Mother and I took Adelaide's little one, then only a year old, into our care. Her mother died last year and I went down to the baths to earn some money. I paid old Ursula to take care of her. So you see, I have done my duty. Now it's uncle's turn. But where are you going to go yourself, barbel? We are now halfway up the Ulm. We have just reached the place I wanted, answered Barbel, I must see Peter's mother who is doing some spinning for me. So goodbye, deda, and good luck to you.

Speaker 1: 12:21

She went toward a small, dark brown hut which stood a few steps away from the path in a hollow that afforded it some protection from the mountain wind. Here lived Peter, the eleven-year-old boy, with his mother Brigitta, and his blind grandmother, who was known to all the old and young in the neighborhood as just grandmother. Every morning Peter went down to Dorfli to bring up a flock of goats to browse on the mountain. At sundown he went skipping down the mountain, again with his light-footed animals, down the mountain, again with his light-footed animals. When he reached Orfley, he would give a shrill whistle, whereupon all the owners of the goats would come out to take the animals that belonged to them. Detta had been standing for a good ten minutes, looking about her in every direction for some sign of the children and the goats. Meanwhile, heidi and the goat herd were climbing up by a far and roundabout way, for Peter knew many spots where all kinds of good food in the shape of shrubs and plants grew for his goats.

Speaker 1: 13:43

The child, exhausted with the heat and weight of her thick clothes, panted and struggled after him, at first with some difficulty. She said nothing, but her little eyes kept watching, first Peter as he sprang nimbly hither and thither on his bare feet, but only in his short light breeches, and then the slim-legged goats that went leaping over rocks and shrubs. All at once she sat down on the ground and began pulling off her shoes and stockings. Then she unwound the hot red shawl and took off her frock, but there was still another to unfasten. Bordetta had put the sunday dress on over the everyday one to save the trouble of carrying it quick as lightning. The everyday frock followed the other, and now the child stood up. Day frog followed the other, and now the child stood up clad only in her light short-sleeved undergarment. She stretched out her little bare arms with glee, leaving all her clothes together in a tidy little heap. She went jumping and climbing up after Peter and the goats as nimbly as anyone at the party, as nibbly as anyone at the party. Now that Harie was able to move at her ease, she began to enter into a conversation with Peter. She asked him how many goats he had, where he was going to go with them and what he had to do when he arrived there At last.

Speaker 1: 15:24

After some time they came within view of Detta. Hardly had the latter caught sight of the little company climbing up towards her when she shrieked out Heidi, what have you been doing? What a sight you have made of yourself. And where are your two frocks and the red wrapper and the new shoes I bought and the new stockings I knitted for you. Everything gone, not a thing left. What can you have been thinking of, heidi? Where are all your clothes?

Speaker 1: 16:03

The child quietly pointed to a spot below on the mountainside and answered down there, you good for nothing, little thing, exclaimed Etta angrily. What could have put it into your head to do that? What made you undress yourself? What do you mean by it? I don't want any clothes, said Heidi. What made you undress yourself? What do you mean by it? I don't want any clothes, said Heidi. You wretched, thoughtless child. Have you no sense in you at all?

Speaker 1: 16:39

Continued Deda scolding and lamenting Peter, you go down and fetch them for me as quickly as you can, and you shall have something nice. And she held out a bright new piece of money to him that sparkled in the sun. Peter was immediately off down the steep mountainside taking the shortest cut and was back again so quickly with the clothes that even Detta was obliged to give him war of praise. As she handed him the promised money, peter promptly thrust it into his pocket and his face beamed with delight, for it was not often that he was the happy possessor of such riches. You can carry the things up for me as far as uncles as you are going. The same way went on Dede, who was preparing to continue her climb up the mountainside, which rose in a steep ascent immediately behind the goat-herd's hut. Peter willingly undertook to do this and followed after her.

Speaker 1: 17:48

After a climb of more than three quarters of an hour, they reached the top of the all-mountain. Uncle's hut stood on a projection of the rock, exposed indeed to the winds, but where every ray of sun could rest upon it and a full view could be had of the valley. Beneath, behind the hut, stood three old fir trees with long, thick, unlocked branches, with long, thick, unlocked branches. Beyond these rose a further wall of mountain, a lower height, still overgrown with beautiful grass and plants. Against the hut, on the side, looking towards the valley, unglud put up a seat. Here he was sitting, his pipe in his mouth and his hands on his knees, quietly looking out, when the children, the goats and Detta suddenly clambered into view. Heidi was at the top first. She went straight up to the old man, put out her hand and said Good evening, grandfather. So, so what is the meaning of this? He asked gruffly, as he gave the child an abrupt shake of the hand and gazed at her from under his bushy eyebrows. Heidi stared steadily back at him in return with unflinching gaze.

Speaker 1: 19:26

Meanwhile, detta had come up with Peter after her. I wish you a good day, uncle, said Detta as she walked towards him. And I have brought you Tobias Nathalie's child. You will hardly recognize her, as you have never seen her since she was a year old. And what has a child to do with me up here, asked the old man curtly, you there. He then called out to Peter Be off with your goats. You are none too early as it is, and take mine with you. Peter obeyed on the instant and quickly disappeared. The child here is to remain with you. Dette made answer. I've done my duty by her for these four years, and now it is time for you to do yours. That's it is. It, said the old man, as he looked at her with a flash in his eye. And when the child begins to fret and whine after you, what am I to do with her? Then? That's your affair, retorted Detta. If you cannot arrange to keep her, do with her as you like. You will be answerable for the result. If harm happens to her, though, you've hardly need to have the burden already on her conscience. Now.

Speaker 1: 20:56

Detta was not quite easy in her own conscience about what she was doing and consequently was feeling hot and irritable and said more than she had intended. As she uttered her last words, uncle rose from his seat. He looked at her in a way that made her draw back a step or two. Then, flinging out his arm, he said to her in a commanding voice Be off with you this instant and get back as quickly as you can to the place once you came, and do not let me see your face again in a hurry. Detta did not wait to be told twice. Goodbye to you then, and you too, heidi, she called. She turned quickly away and started to descend the mountain at a running pace, but she did not slacken Till she found herself safely again at Dörfli. Till she found herself safely again at Dorfli, as soon as Detta had disappeared, the old man went back to his bench and there he remained seated, staring at the ground without uttering a sound, while thick curls of smoke floated upward from his pipe.

Speaker 1: 22:27

Heidi, meanwhile, was enjoying herself in her new surroundings. She looked about till she found a shed built against the hut where the goats were kept. She peeped in and saw it was empty. She continued her search, but presently came back to where her grandfather was sitting. Seeing that he was in exactly the same position as when she found him, she went and placed herself in front of the old man and said I want to see what you have inside the house.

Speaker 1: 23:04

Come then, and the grandfather rose and went before her towards the hut. Bring your bundle of clothes in with you, he bid her as she was following. I shan't want them anymore, was her prompt answer. The old man turned and looked searchingly at the child, whose dark eyes were sparkling in delighted anticipation of what she was going to see inside. She is certainly not wanting an intelligence, he murmured to himself. She is certainly not wanting an intelligence, he murmured to himself. And why shall you not want them anymore? He asked aloud. Because I want to go about like the goats with their thin light legs. Well, you can do so if you like, said her grandfather, but bring the things in. We must put them in the cupboard. Heidi did as she was told.

Speaker 1: 24:13

The old man now opened the door and Heidi stepped inside after him. She found herself in a good-sized room which covered the whole ground floor of the hut. A table and a chair were the only furniture. In one corner stood the grandfather's bed, in another was a hearth with a large kettle hanging above it, and on one further side was a large door in the wall. This was the cupboard. The grandfather opened it. Inside were his clothes. On a second shelf were some plates and cups and glasses, and on a higher one still, a round loaf, smoked meat and cheese, for everything that Uncle Almond needed for his food and clothing was kept in his cupboard.

Speaker 1: 25:04

Heidi thrust in her bundle of clothes as far back behind her grandfather's things as possible so that they might not easily be found again. She then looked carefully around the room and asked when am I to sleep, grandfather? Wherever you like, he answered. Heidi was delighted and began at once to examine all the nooks and corners to find out where it would be pleasantest to sleep out, where it would be pleasantest to sleep In the corner near her grandfather's bed. She saw a short ladder against the wall. She climbed and found herself in the hayloft. There lay a large heap of fresh, sweet-smelling hay. All through a round window on the wall she could see right down the valley.

Speaker 1: 26:07

I shall sleep up here, grandfather. She called down to him. It's lovely up here, come up and see how lovely it is. Oh, I know all about it. He called up. In answer, I'm getting the bed ready now. She called down again as she went busily to and fro at her work. But I shall want you to bring me up a sheet. You can't have a bed without a sheet. If you want to lie upon it, all right, said the grandfather, and presently he went to the cupboard and after rummaging about inside for a few minutes, he drew out a long, coarse piece of stuff which was all he had to do duty for a sheet. He carried it up to the loft where he found Heidi had already made quite a nice bed. She had put an extra heap of hay at one end for a pillow. Where he found Heidi had already made quite a nice bed. She had put an extra heap of hay at one end for a pillow and had so arranged it that when in bed she would be able to see comfortably out through the round window. That is capital, said her grandfather. Now we must put on the sheet. They spread it over the bed and where it was too long or too broad, heidi quickly tucked it in under the hay. It looked as tidy and comfortable in the bed as you could wish for.

Speaker 1: 27:37

And Heidi stood gazing thoughtfully at her handiwork. We have forgotten something. Now, grandfather, she said after a short silence. What's that, he asked? A cover lid. When you get into bed you have to creep in between the sheet and the cover lid. Oh, that's the way, is it? But suppose I have not got a cover lid, said the old man. Well, never mind, grandfather, said Heidi in a consoling tone of voice. I can take some more hay to put over me. And she was turning quickly to fetch another armful from the heap when her grandfather stopped her. Wait a moment, he said, and he climbed down the ladder again and went towards his bed. He returned to the loft with a large, thick sack made of flax which he laid tidily over the bed. That is a splendid coverlet, said Heidi, and the bed looks lovely altogether. I wish it was night so I might get inside it at once. I think we'd better go down and have something to eat first, said the grandfather.

Speaker 1: 29:12

While the kettle was boiling, the old man held a piece of cheese on a large iron fork over the fire, turning it round and round till it was toasted a nice golden-yellow color on each side. Heidi watched all that was going on with eager curiosity. Suddenly, some new idea seemed to come into her head, for she turned and ran to the cupboard and then began going busily backwards and forwards. Presently, the grandfather got up and came to the table with a jug and the cheese. And there he saw it already, tidily laid with a round loaf and two plates and two knives, each in its right place. All that's right, said the grandfather. I'm glad to see that you have some ideas of your own. And as he spoke, he laid the toasted cheese on a layer of bread. But there was still something missing.

Speaker 1: 30:16

Heidi looked at the jug that was steaming away invitingly and ran quickly back to the cupboard. At first she could only see a small bowl left on the shelf, but she was not long in perplexity For a moment. Later she caught sight of two glasses further back and without an instant's loss of time she returned with these and the bowl and put them down on the table. Good, I see you know how to set about things, but what will you do for a seat? The grandfather himself was sitting on the only chair in the room.

Speaker 1: 30:58

Heidi flew to the hearth and, dragging the three-legged stool up to the table, sat herself down upon it. The grandfather filled the bowl with milk and pushed it in front of Heidi. Then he brought her a large slice of bread and a piece of the golden cheese and told her to eat it. Heidi lifted the bowl with both hands and drank without pause till it was empty, for the thirst of all her long, hot journey had returned upon her. Then she drew a deep breath. In the eagerness of her thirst she had not stopped to breathe and put down the bowl. Was the milk nice, he asked. I never drank any so good before, answered Heidi. Then you must have some more. And the old man filled her bowl again to the brim and set it before the child, who was now hungrily beginning her bread, having first spread it with the cheese which, after being toasted, was soft as butter.

Speaker 1: 32:14

The meal being over, the grandfather went outside to put the goat shed in order, and Heidi watched with interest while he first swept it out and then put fresh straw for the goats to sleep upon. Then he went to the little well shed and there he cut some long round sticks and a small round board. In this he bore some holes and stuck the sticks into them. And there, as if made by magic, was a three-legged stool, just like her grandfather's, only higher. Heidi stood and looked at it, speechless, with astonishment. What do you think that is, asked her grandfather. It's my stool, I know, because it is such a high one, and it was made all of a minute, said the child, still lost in wonder and admiration. She understands what she sees. Her eyes are in the right place, remarked the grandfather to himself.

Speaker 1: 33:33

And so the time passed happily on till evening. Then the wind began to roar louder than ever through the old fir trees. Heidi listened with delight to the sound, and it filled her heart so full of gladness that she skipped and danced around the old trees as if some unheard of joy had come to her. The grandfather stood and watched her from the shed. Suddenly, a shrill whistle was heard Down from the heights above. The goats came springing one after another, with Peter in their midst. Heidi sprang forward with a cry of joy and rushed among the flock, greeting first one and then another of her old friends of the morning. As they neared the hut, the goats stood still, and then two of their number, two beautiful slender animals, one white and one brown, ran forward to where the grandfather was standing and began licking his hands, for he was holding a little salt which he always had ready for his goats.

Speaker 1: 34:54

On their return home, peter went on down the mountain with the remainder of his flock. Heidi tenderly stroked the two goats in turn, jumping about in her glee at the pretty little animals. Are they ours, grandfather? Are they both ours? Are you going to put them in the shed? Will they always stay with us? Heidi's questions came tumbling out one after the other, so that her grandfather had only time to answer each of them with yes, yes. Father had only time to answer each of them with yes, yes.

Speaker 1: 35:37

When the goats had finished licking up the salt, her grandfather told her to go and fetch her bowl and the bread. Heidi obeyed and was soon back again. The grandfather milked the white goat and filled her basin, and then breaking off a piece of bread. Now eat your supper, he said, and then go up to bed. Dete left another little bundle for you with a nightgown and other small things in it, which you will find at the bottom of the cupboard if you want them. I must go and shut up the goats, so be off and sleep well. Good night, grandfather, good night. What are their names, grandfather? What are their names? She called out. She ran after his retreating figure and the goats the white one is named Little Swan and the brown one Little Bear. He answered Good night, little Swan. Good night, little Bear. She called again at the top of her voice. Good night, little bear. She called again at the top of her voice. Then she ate her supper and went indoors and climbed up to her bed no-transcript.