Tobias was well liked but no one trusted the old man Some said he deserted the army But the family had to accept him Our grandmothers were sisters so we called him uncle As we’re practically related to all of Dorfl i everyone started to call him Uncle When he went to live up the mountain it became Uncle Alp What happened to Tobias asked Barbie He married my sister Adelheid Only two years later he was killed while trying to build a house The baby was only months old After his death my sister died of a broken heart My mother and I took Heidi to live with us She was only a year old People blamed Uncle Alp for their deaths saying he never repented for his sins This made him angrier than ever He went up the mountain and refused to come back down Now that my mother has died I can no longer care for Heidi I want to take a good job in Frankfurt It will help me provide for her later 10
So you’re going to hand Heidi over just like that asked Barbie How can you think such thoughts I’ve done my best but I can’t be burdened with a young child any longer She wouldn’t be welcomed where I’ll be working Detie said Barbie sighed This is where we part I need to see Peter’s mother She does some spinning for me in the winter Detie watched Barbie walk toward a little brown house It was a rickety house that if not sheltered from the mountain would have blown off by now It was Peter the goatherd’s home He was eleven years old He would fetch the goats from the villagers below each morning Then he’d bring them up the mountain to eat In the evening he’d return them He worked hard so he could help his mother and grandmother Heidi had followed Peter up the mountain puffi ng and panting as all her clothes made it hard to climb She didn’t complain but envied 11
how free Peter was in bare feet and pants Heidi wanted to be free as well She carefully unwrapped her scarf and lay it down with her dresses She had nothing on but a petticoat and was waving her bare arms in delight when Detie found her What have you done with your dresses she barked I didn’t need them said Heidi as she ran free across the mountain This annoyed Detie but she couldn’t catch up to Heidi who continued to run up the mountain It took another hour to reach Uncle Alp The small house basked in sunlight but was exposed to harsh winds It overlooked the valley below Three old fi r trees towered behind the house as if they were standing guard Uncle Alp had made a wooden seat and attached it to the side of the hut so he could overlook the land below He was sitting there as Peter and Heidi ran toward him 12
Heidi went straight up to him and held out her hand Hello Grandfather The man was shocked to see anyone but Peter Good morning Uncle said Detie I’ve brought you Tobias’s daughter Why have you brought her here he demanded He looked at Peter Be off with your goats at once She’s come to stay with you said Detie It’s your turn to care for her 13
