Heidi Chapter 3 - A Peaceful Day in the Mountains with the Goats - Rest: Sleepy Bedtime Stories

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Good evening and welcome to Rest, your sanctuary for peaceful
sleep and relaxation. Whether you're escaping daily stresses or seeking
a nightly companion, you're in the right place. My name
is Jessica, and I'll be your host this evening. Before

(00:27):
we begin, why don't you turn off your screens and
turn down your volume. Now that's done, let's unwind and
help you ease into a blessed rest. Tonight, we delve

(00:52):
into chapter three of Heidi by Johanna Spiri. In this chapter,
Hidie begins to explore the vibrant world of the Alps.
We will witness her playful moments in the sunlit meadows,
the quiet wisdom of her grandfather, and the simple beauty

(01:17):
of a life connected to nature. As you listen, allow
the words I read to transport you to a place
where the air is crisp, the mountains are formidable, and
peace feels close at hand. Now let's begin our story

(01:43):
as Heidi awakens to a new day. Heidi was awakened
early the next morning by a loud whistle. The sun
was shining through the round window and falling in golden

(02:04):
rays on her bed and on the large heap of hay,
and as she opened her eyes, everything in the loft
seemed gleaming with gold. She looked around her in astonishment
and could not imagine for a while where she was.

(02:28):
But her grandfather's deep voice was now heard outside, and
then Heidi began to recall all that had happened, how
she had come away from her former home and was
now on the mountain with her grandfather instead of with

(02:50):
old Ursula. The latter was nearly stone deaf and always
felt cold, so that she sat all day either by
the hearth in the kitchen or by the sitting room stove,
and Heidi had been obliged to stay close to her,

(03:15):
for the old woman was so deaf that she could
not tell where the child was if out of her sight.
And Heidi, shut up within the four walls, had often
longed to be out of doors. So she felt very

(03:35):
happy this morning as she woke up in her new
home and remembered all the many new things that she
had seen the day before, and which she would see
again that day. And above all, she thought, with delight

(03:59):
of the two oh dear goats. Heidi jumped quickly out
of bed, and a very few minutes sufficed her to
put on the clothes which she had taken off the
night before, for there were not many of them. Then

(04:21):
she climbed down the ladder and ran outside the hut.
There stood Peter all ready with his flock of goats,
and the grandfather was just bringing his too, out of
the shed to join the others. Hidie ran forward to

(04:45):
wish good morning to him and the goats. Do you
want to go with them onto the mountain, asked her grandfather.
Nothing could have pleased Hidi bed, and she jumped for
joy in answer, but you must first wash and make

(05:09):
yourself tidy. The sun that shines so brightly overhead will
else laugh at you for being dirty? See, I have
put everything ready for you, and her grandfather pointed as
he spoke to a large tub full of water which

(05:32):
stood in the sun before the door. Hidie ran to
it and began splashing and rubbing till she quite glistened
with cleanliness. The grandfather meanwhile went inside the hut, calling

(05:52):
to Peter to follow him and bring in his wallet.
Peter obeyed with a astonishment, and laid down the little
bag which held his meager dinner. Open it, said the
old man, and inside it he put a large piece

(06:15):
of bread and an equally large piece of cheese, which
made Peter open his eyes, for each was twice the
size of the two portions which he had for his
own dinner. There now there is only the little bowl

(06:36):
to add, continued the grandfather. For the child cannot drink
her milk as you do from the goat. She is
not accustomed to that. You must milk two bowlfuls for
her when she has her dinner, for she is going

(06:57):
with you, and will remain with you till you return
this evening. But take care she does not fall over
any of the rocks, do you hear? Hide? Now came
running in. Will the sun laugh at me now, grandfather?

(07:20):
She asked anxiously. Her grandfather had left a coarse towel
hanging up for her near the top, and with this
she had so thoroughly scrubbed her face, arms and neck
for fear of the sun, that as she stood there

(07:43):
she was as red all over as a lobster. He
gave a little laugh. No, there is nothing for him
to laugh at now, he assured her. But I tell
you what, when you come home this evening, you will

(08:07):
have to get right into the tub like a fish,
for if you run about like the goats, you will
get your feet dirty. Now you can be off. She
started joyfully for the mountain. During the night, the wind

(08:31):
had blown away all the clouds, the dark blue sky
was spreading overhead, and in its midst was the bright
sun shining down on the green slopes of the mountain,
where the flowers opened their little blue and yellow cups

(08:53):
and looked up to him. Smiling. Heidi went running hither
and thither, and shouting with delight, for here were whole
patches of delicate red primroses, and there the blue gleam

(09:14):
of the lovely Gentian, while above them all laughed and
nodded the tender leaved golden sisters. Enchanted with all this
waving field of brightly colored flowers, Heidy forgot even Peter

(09:36):
and the goats. She ran on in front and then
off to the side, tempted first one way and then
the other as she caught sight of some bright spot
of glowing red or yellow. And all the while she

(09:59):
was plucking the whole handfuls of the flowers, which she
put into her little apron, for she wanted to take
them all home and stick them in the hay so
that she might make her bedroom look just like the

(10:19):
meadows outside. Peter had therefore to be on the alert,
and his round eyes, which did not move very quickly,
had more work than they could well manage, for the
goats were as lively as Heidie. They ran in all directions,

(10:45):
and Peter had to follow, whistling and calling and swinging
his stick to get all the runaways together. Again, where
have you got to now, he called out, somewhat crossly. Here,

(11:07):
called back a voice from somewhere. Peter could see no one,
for Heidi was seated on the ground at the foot
of a small hill thickly overgrown with sweet smelling prunella.
The whole air seemed filled with its fragrance, and Heidi

(11:32):
thought she had never smelt anything so delicious. She sat
surrounded by the flowers, drawing in deep breaths of the
scented air. Come along here, called Peter again. You are

(11:54):
not to fall over the rocks. Your grandfather gave orders
that you were not to do so. Where are the rocks,
asked Tidy, answering him back, but she did not move
from her seat, for the scent of the flowers seemed

(12:18):
sweeter to her with every breath of wind that wafted
it towards her. Up above, right up above. We have
a long way to go yet, so come along and
on the top most peak of all the old bird

(12:41):
of prey sits and croaks. That did it. Heidi immediately
sprang to her feet and ran up to Peter with
her apron full of flowers. Got enough now, said the boy,

(13:04):
as they began climbing up again together. You will stay
here forever if you go on picking, And if you
gather all the flowers now, there will be none for tomorrow.
This last argument seemed a convincing one to hide. And moreover,

(13:30):
her apron was already so full that there was hardly
room for another flower, and it would never do to
leave nothing to pick for another day. So she now
kept with Peter, and the goats also became more orderly

(13:54):
in their behavior, for they were beginning to smell the
plants he loved that grew on the higher slopes, and
clambered up now without pors in their anxiety to reach them.
The spot where Peter generally halted for his goats to pasture,

(14:18):
and where he took up his quarters for the day,
lay at the foot of the high rocks, which were
covered for some distance up by bushes and fir trees,
beyond which rose their bear and rugged summits. On one

(14:41):
side of the mountain, the rock was split into deep clefts,
and the grandfather had reason to warn Peter of danger.
Having climbed as far as the halting place, Peter unslung

(15:02):
his wallet and put it carefully in a little hollow
of the ground, for he knew what the wind was
like up here, and did not want to see his
precious belongings sent rolling down the mountain by a sudden gust.

(15:23):
Then he threw himself at full length on the warm ground,
for he was tired after all his exertions. Heidie meanwhile
had unfastened her apron, and, rolling it carefully round the flowers,

(15:45):
laid it beside Peter's wallet inside the hollow. She then
sat down beside his outstretched figure and looked about her.
The valley lay far below, bathed in the morning sun.

(16:07):
In front of her rose a broad snowfield high against
the dark blue sky, while to the left was a
huge pile of rocks, on either side of which a bare,
lofty peak that seemed to pierce the blue and looked

(16:28):
frowningly down upon her. The child sat without moving her eyes,
taking in the whole scene, and all around was a
great stillness, only broken by soft light puffs of wind

(16:50):
that swayed the light bells of blue flowers and the
shining gold heads of the sisters, and set them nodding
merrily on their slender stems. Peter had fallen asleep after
his fatigue, and the goats were climbing about among the

(17:14):
bushes overhead. Heidi had never felt so happy in her
life before. She drank in the golden sunlight, the fresh air,
the sweet smell of the flowers, and wished for nothing

(17:37):
better than two remain there forever. So the time went on,
while to Heidi, who had so often looked up from
the valley at the mountains above, these seemed now to

(17:58):
have faces, and to be looking down at her like
old friends. Suddenly she heard a loud, harsh cry overhead,
and lifting her eyes, she saw a bird larger than
any she had ever seen before, with great spreading wings,

(18:25):
wheeling round and round in wide circles, and uttering a piercing,
croaking kind of sound above her. Peter Peter wake up,
called out Heidi, see the great bird is there. Look? Look.

(18:53):
Peter got up on hearing her call, and together they
sat and watched the bird, which rose higher and higher
in the blue air till it disappeared behind the gray mountaintops.

(19:14):
Where has it gone to, asked Heidi, who had followed
the bird's movements with intense interest. Home to its nest,
said Peter is his home right up there. Oh, how

(19:34):
nice to be up so high. Why does he make
that noise? Because he can't help it, explained Peter. Let
us climb up there and see where his nest is,
proposed Heidi. Oh oh, oh, exclaimed Peter, his disapproval of

(20:04):
Heidi's suggestion becoming more marked with each ejaculation. Why even
the goats cannot climb as high as that. Besides, didn't
uncle say that you were not to fall over the rocks?

(20:24):
Peter now began suddenly whistling and calling in such a
loud manner that Heidi could not think what was happening.
But the goats evidently understood his voice, for one after
the other they came springing down the rocks until they

(20:49):
were all assembled on the green plateau, some continuing to
nibble at the juicy stems, others skipping about here and there,
or pushing at each other with their horns for pastime.
Heidi jumped up and ran in and out among them,

(21:16):
for it was new to her to see the goats
playing together like this, and her delight was beyond words.
As she joined in their frolics, she made personal acquaintance
with them all in turn, for they were like separate

(21:37):
individuals to her, each single goat having a particular way
of behavior of its own. Meanwhile, Peter had taken the
wallet out of the hollow and placed the pieces of
bread and cheese on the ground in the shape of

(22:02):
a square, the larger two on hidi side and the
smaller on his own, for he knew exactly which were
hers and which his. Then he took the little bowl
and milked some delicious fresh milk into it from the

(22:27):
white goat, and afterwards set the bowl in the middle
of the square. Now he called Heidi to come, but
she wanted more calling than the goats, for the child
was so excited and amused at the capers and lively

(22:51):
games of her new playfellows that she saw and heard
nothing else. But Peter knew how to make himself heard,
for he shouted till the very rocks above echoed his voice.
And at last Hidie appeared, and when she saw the

(23:17):
inviting repast spread out upon the ground, she went skipping
round it for joy. Leave off jumping about. It is
time for dinner, said Peter. Sit down now and begin, Hide,

(23:41):
sat down? Is the milk for me? She asked, giving
another look of delight at the beautifully arranged square with
the bowl as the chief ornament in the center. Yes,

(24:01):
replied Peter. And the two large pieces of bread and
cheese are yours also. And when you have drunk up
that milk, you are to have another bowlful from the
white goat, and then it will be my turn. And

(24:25):
which do you get your milk from, inquired Heidi. From
my own goat the piebaled one. But go on now
with your dinner, said Peter again, reminding her it was
time to eat. Hide now took up the bowl and

(24:50):
drank her milk, and as soon as she had put
it down empty, Peter rose and filled it again for her.
Then she broke off a piece of her bread and
held out the remainder, which was still larger than Peter's

(25:13):
own piece. Together with the whole big slice of cheese
to her companion, saying, you can have that, I have plenty.
Peter looked at Heidi, unable to speak for astonishment, for

(25:35):
never in all his life could he have said and
done like that with anything he had. He hesitated a moment,
for he could not believe that Heidi was in earnest.
But the latter kept on holding out the bread and cheese,

(26:01):
and as Peter still did not take it, she laid
it down on his knees. He saw then that she
really meant it. He seized the food, nodded his thanks
and acceptance of her present, and then made a more

(26:26):
splendid meal than he had known ever since he was
a goatherd hide the while still continued to watch the goats.
Tell me all their names, she said. Peter knew these

(26:48):
by heart, for having very little else to carry in
his head, he had no difficulty in remembering them, so
he began telling Heidi the name of each goat in turn.
As he pointed it out to her. Heidi listened with

(27:12):
great attention, and it was not long before she could
herself distinguish the goats from one another, and could call
each by name. For every goat had its own peculiarities
which could not easily be mistaken. Only one had to

(27:37):
watch them closely, and this Heidi did. There was the
Great Turk, with his big horns, who was always wanting
to butt the others, so that most of them ran
away when they saw him coming, and would have nothing

(28:01):
to do with their rough companion. Only Greenfinch, the slender,
nimble little goat, was brave enough to face him, and
would make a rush at him three or four times
in succession, with such agility and dexterity that the Great

(28:26):
Turk often stood still, quite astonished, not venturing to attack
her again, for Greenfinch was fronting him, prepared for more
warlike action, and her horns were sharp. Then there was

(28:47):
little White Snowflake, who bleated in such a plaintive and
beseeching manner that Heide already had several times run to
it and taken its head in her hands to comfort it.

(29:07):
Just at this moment, the pleading young cry was heard again,
and Heidi jumped up, running and putting her arms round
the little creature's neck, asked in a sympathetic voice, what
is it, little snowflake? Why do you call like that

(29:33):
as if in trouble. The goat pressed closer to Hidi
in a confiding way and left off bleating. Peter called
out from where he was sitting, for he had not
yet got to the end of his bread and cheese.

(29:57):
She cries like that because because the old goat is
not with her. She was sold at Mayenfeld the day
before yesterday, and so will not come up the mountain anymore.
Who is the old goat, called Hidie back. Why her mother,

(30:22):
of course, was the answer. Where is the grandmother, called
Hidie again. She has none? And the grandfather she has none. Oh,
you poor little snowflake, exclaimed Heidi, clasping the animal gently

(30:48):
to her. But do not cry like that anymore. See now,
I shall come up here with you every day so
that you will not be alone anymore. And if you
want anything, you have only to come to me. The

(31:12):
young animal rubbed its head contentedly against Heidie's shoulder and
no longer gave such plaintive bleats. Peter, now having finished
his meal, joined Heidie and the goats. Heidi, having by

(31:34):
this time found out a great many things about these,
she had decided that, by far the handsomest and best behaved.
Of the goats were undoubtedly the two belonging to her grandfather.

(31:56):
They carried themselves with a certain air of distinction and
generally went their own way, And as too, the great Turk,
they treated him with indifference and contempt. The goats were

(32:17):
now beginning to climb the rocks again, each seeking for
the plants it liked in its own fashion, some jumping
over everything they met till they found what they wanted,
others going more carefully and cropping all the nice leaves

(32:42):
by the way. The Turk still now, and then giving
the others a poke with his horns. Little Swan and
little Bear clambered lightly up and failed to find the
best bushes, And then they would stand gracefully poised on

(33:08):
their pretty legs, delicately nibbling at the leaves. Haidei stirred
with her hands behind her back, carefully noting all they did. Peter,
she said to the boy, who had again thrown himself

(33:30):
down on the ground, The prettiest of all the goats
are little Swan and little Bear. Yes, I know they are,
was the answer. Elm Uncle brushes them down and washes

(33:50):
them and gives them salt, And he has the nicest
shed for them. All of a sudden, Peter leaped to
his feet and ran hastily after the goats. Heidi followed
him as fast as she could, for she was too

(34:15):
eager to know what had happened to stay behind. Peter
dashed through the middle of the flock, towards that side
of the mountain, where the rocks fell perpendicularly to a
great depth below, and where any thoughtless goat, if it

(34:38):
went too near, might fall over and break all its legs.
He had caught sight of the inquisitive greenfinch taking leaps
in that direction, and he was only just in time,

(34:59):
for the animal had already sprung to the edge of
the abyss. All Peter could do was to throw himself
down and seize one of her hind legs. Greenfinch, thus,
taken by surprise, began bleating furiously, angry at being held

(35:27):
so fast and prevented from continuing her voyage of discovery.
She struggled to get loose and endeavored so obstinately to
leap forward that Peter shouted to Heidi to come and
help him, for he could not get up and was

(35:51):
afraid of pulling out the goat's leg altogether. Heidi had
already run up and saw at once the danger both
Peter and the animal were in. She quickly gathered a
bunch of sweet smelling leaves, and, then holding them under

(36:17):
green Finch's nose, said coaxingly, come, come, Greenfinch, you must
not be naughty. Look you might fall down there and
break your leg, and that would give you dreadful pain.

(36:39):
The young animal turned quickly and began contentedly eating the
leaves out of Heidie's hand. Meanwhile, Peter got on to
his feet again and took hold of Greenfinch by the
band round her neck from which her bell was hung,

(37:03):
and Heidi taking hold of her in the same way.
On the other side, they led the wanderer back to
the rest of the flock that had remained peacefully feeding. Peter,
now he had his goat in safety, lifted his stick

(37:27):
in order to give her a good beating as punishment,
and Greenfinch, seeing what was coming, shrank back in fear.
But Heidi cried out, no, no, Peter, you must not

(37:47):
strike her. See how frightened she is, she deserves it,
growled Peter, and again lifted his stick. Then hide flung
herself against him, and cried indignantly, you have no right

(38:09):
to touch her. It will hurt her. Let her alone.
Peter looked with surprise at the commanding little figure, whose
dark eyes were flashing, and reluctantly he let his stick drop. Well,

(38:31):
I will let her off if you will give me
some more of your cheese tomorrow, he said, for he
was determined to have something to make up to him
for his fright. You shall have it all tomorrow and

(38:53):
every day. I do not want it, replied Heidi, giving
ready consent to his demand, and I will give you
bread as well, a large piece like you had today.
But then you must promise never to beat Greenfinch or

(39:17):
Snowflake or any of the goats. All right, said Peter,
I don't care, which meant that he would agree to
the bargain. He now let go of Greenfinch, who joyfully

(39:38):
sprang to join her companions. And thus the day had
crept on to its clothes, and now the sun was
on the point of sinking out of sight behind the
high mountains. Was again sitting on the ground, silently gazing

(40:05):
at the blue bell shaped flowers as they glistened in
the evening sun. For a golden light lay on the
grass and flowers, and the rocks above were beginning to
shine and glow. All at once. She sprang to her feet. Peter, Peter,

(40:34):
everything is on fire. All the rocks are burning, and
the great snow mountain and the sky. Oh look look
the high rock up there is red with flame. Oh,

(40:54):
the beautiful fiery snow. Stand up, Peter. See the fire
has reached the great bird's nest. Look at the rocks,
look at the fir trees. Everything everything is on fire.

(41:17):
It is always like that, said Peter, composedly, continuing to
peel his stick. But it is not really fire. What
is it? Then, cried Heide. As she ran backwards and

(41:37):
forwards to look first one side and then the other,
for she felt she could not have enough of such
a beautiful sight. What is it, Peter, what is it?
She repeated? It gets like that of itself, explained Peter. Look, look,

(42:08):
cried Heidi, in fresh excitement. Now they have turned all
rose color. Look at that one covered with snow, and
that one with the high pointed rocks. What do you
call them? Mountains have not any names? He answered, Oh,

(42:34):
how beautiful. Look at the crimson snow, and up there
on the rocks. There are ever so many roses. Oh
now they are turning gray. Oh, oh, now all the

(42:55):
color has died away. It's all gone. Peter and Heidi
sat down on the ground, looking as full of distress
as if everything had really come to an end. It
will come again tomorrow, said Peter. Get up, We must

(43:21):
go home now. He whistled to his goats, and together
they all started on their homeward way. Is it like
that every day? Shall we see it every day? When
we bring the goats up? Here? Asked Heidie as she

(43:44):
clambered down the mountain. At Peter's side. She waited eagerly
for his answer, hoping that he would tell her it
was so, It is like that those days, he replied,
But will it be like that tomorrow for certain? Heidi persisted, Yes, yes,

(44:14):
tomorrow for certain, Peter assured her in answer. Hidi now
felt quite happy again, and her little brain was so
full of new impressions and new thoughts that she did
not speak anymore until they had reached the hut. The

(44:40):
grandfather was sitting under the fir trees, where he had
also put up a seat, waiting as usual for his goats,
which returned down the mountain on this side, Hidi ran
up to him, followed by the white and brown goats,

(45:05):
for they knew their master and stall. Peter called out
after her, come with me again tomorrow good night, for
he was anxious for more than one reason that Heidi
should go with him the next day. Heidi ran back

(45:30):
quickly and gave Peter her hand, promising to go with him,
and then making her way through the goats, she once
more clasped Snowflake round the neck, saying, in a gentle,
soothing voice, sleep well, Snowflake, and remember that I shall

(45:57):
be with you again tomorrow, so you must not bleat
so sadly anymore. Snowflake gave her a friendly and grateful look,
and then went leaping joyfully after the other goats. Heidi

(46:21):
returned to the fir trees. Oh, grandfather, she cried, even
before she had come up to him. It was so beautiful,
the fire and the roses on the rocks, and the

(46:43):
blue and yellow flowers, And look what I have brought you.
And opening the apron that held her flowers, she shook
them all out at her grandfather's feet. But the poor flowers,
how changed they were. Heidie hardly knew them again. They

(47:09):
looked like dry bits of hay. Not a single little
flower cup stood open. Oh, grandfather, what is the matter
with them? Exclaimed Heidi in shocked surprise. They were not

(47:30):
like that this morning. Why do they look so now?
They like to stand out there in the sun and
not to be shut up in an apron, said her grandfather.
Then I will never gather anymore. But Grandfather, why did

(47:57):
the great bird go on croaking? So, she continued in
an eager tone of inquiry, Go along now and get
into your bath while I go and get some milk.
When we are together at supper, I will tell you

(48:19):
all about it. Hidi obeyed, and when later she was
sitting on her high stool before her milk bowl with
her grandfather beside her, she repeated her question, why does

(48:40):
the great bird go on croaking and screaming down at us? Grandfather,
he is mocking at the people who live down below
in the villages, because they all go huddling and gossiping
together and encourage one another in evil talking and deeds.

(49:06):
He calls out, if you would separate and each go
your own way and come up here and live on
a height as I do it, would be better for you.
There was almost a wildness in the old man's voice

(49:30):
as he spoke, so that Heide seemed to hear the
croaking of the bird again even more distinctly. Why haven't
the mountains any names? Heidi went on. They have names,

(49:51):
answered her grandfather, And if you can describe one of
them to me that I know, I will tell you
what it is called. Heidi then described to him the
rocky mountain with the two high peaks, so exactly that

(50:14):
the grandfather was delighted, just so I know it, and
he told her its name. Did you see any other? Then?
Heidi told him of the mountain with the great snowfield,

(50:36):
and how it had been on fire and had turned
rosy red, and then all of a sudden had grown
quite pale again, and all the color had disappeared. I

(50:57):
know that one too, he said, giving her its name.
So you enjoyed being out with the goats. Then Heide
went on to give him an account of the whole
day and of how delightful it had all been, and

(51:20):
particularly described the fire that had burst out everywhere in
the evening. And then nothing would do but for her
grandfather to tell her how it came for Peter knew
nothing about it. The grandfather explained to her that it

(51:47):
was the sun that did it. When he says good
night to the mountains, he throws his most beautiful color
over them, so that they may not forget him before
he comes again the next day. Heidi was delighted with

(52:13):
this explanation and could hardly bear to wait for another
day to come that she might once more climb up
with the goats and see how the Sun bid good
night to the mountains. But she had to go to

(52:37):
bed first, and all night she slept soundly on her
bed of hay, dreaming of nothing but of shining mountains
with red roses all over them, among which happy little

(53:00):
snowflake went leaping in and out.

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Heidi Chapter 3 - A Peaceful Day in the Mountains with the Goats

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Heidi Chapter 3 - A Peaceful Day in the Mountains with the Goats