Heidi was awakened early in the morning by a loud whistle. Jumping out of bed, she put on her things and ran outside.
Peter, the goatherd, was already there with his flock, waiting for Schwanli and Barli. Heidi, ‘s grandfather was bringing them to join the other.
“Do you want to go with him to the pasture?” Grandfather asked.
“Yes,” cried Heidi, clapping her hands.
They started merrily up the Alp. Heidi was wild with joy and ran from side to side. In one place she saw big patches of fine red primroses. On another spot, blue gentians sparkled in the grass. Everywhere, the golden rock roses were nodding at her.
In her wild joy at finding such treasures, Heidi even forgot Peter and his. She ran far ahead of him and then strayed away off to one side.
Peter had a hard time looking out for her. “Follow me now!” he called out.
“Where had a hard time looking out for her. “follow me now!” he called out.
why up there, and we have still far to go.” he said.
Peter could tell them all to her. The one with the big horns was the Big Turk. The bold Thistlefinch alone was not afraid of him. Snowhopper was a small white goat and kept bleating in the saddest way.
All of a sudden, Peter stumbled over a stone while trying to stop Thistlefinch who had gone too far. Peter stumbled over a stone while trying to stop Thistlefinch from falling over the edge of the mountain. He was only able to catch the goat with one leg. Thistlefinch bleated loudly.
Heidi saw that Peter could not get up and was calling for help. She quickly picked up some fragrant herbs and held them under the animals’ noses.
The goat turned about and started eating the herbs from Heidi’s hand. When Peter got to his feet, he led Thistlefich back to the herd.
Thus the day passed, and the sun was already sinking down behind the mountains. The peaks started to glow, and Heidi suddenly called Peter, “Look! Everything is on fire. The mountains are burning and the sky, too. Oh, how beautiful the snow looks!”
When they returned to the hut, Grandfather was waiting for them. Heidi told him about the beautiful fire.
“The sun does it,” he exclaimed. “He throws his most beautiful rays at them. He wants that they should not forget him till the morning. This is his way of saying good night to the mountains.”
An extract from Heidi by Johana Spyri