Life and Adventures of Santa Claus & Other Christmas Novels. Люси Мод Монтгомери

      Often Peter would growl and object to those measures, but nevertheless he kept on learning, and soon had but three letters left.

      The next few days the following rhymes, with their threats, made Peter more eager than ever.

      If you the letter X forget

       For you no supper will be set.

      If you still hesitate with Y,

       For shame you'll run away and cry.

      When Heidi read the last,

      And he who makes his Z with blots,

       Must journey to the Hottentots,

      Peter sneered: "Nobody even knows where they are!"

      "I am sure grandfather does," Heidi retorted, jumping up. "Just wait one minute and I shall ask him. He is over with the parson," and with that she had opened the door.

      "Wait!" shrieked Peter in great alarm, for he saw himself already transported to those dreadful people. "What is the matter with you?" said Heidi, standing still.

      "Nothing, but stay here. I'll learn," he blubbered. But Heidi, wanting to know something about the Hottentots herself, could only be kept back by piteous screams from Peter. So at last they settled down again, and before it was time to go, Peter knew the last letter, and had even begun to read syllables. From this day on he progressed more quickly.

      It was three weeks since Heidi had paid her last visit to the grandmother, for much snow had fallen since. One evening, Peter, coming home, said triumphantly:

      "I can do it!"

      "What is it you can do, Peter?" asked his mother, eagerly.

      "Read."

      "What, is it possible? Did you hear it, grandmother?" exclaimed Brigida.

      The grandmother also was curious to learn how this had happened.

      "I must read a song now; Heidi told me to," Peter continued. To the women's amazement, Peter began. After every verse his mother would exclaim, "Who would have ever thought it!" while the grandmother remained silent.

      One day later, when it happened that it was Peter's turn to read in school, the teacher said:

      "Peter, must I pass you by again, as usual? Or do you want to try—I shall not say to read, but to stammer through a line?"

      Peter began and read three lines without stopping.

      In dumb astonishment, the teacher, putting down his book, looked at the boy.

      "What miracle has happened to you?" he exclaimed. "For a long time I tried to teach you with all my patience, and you were not even able to grasp the letters, but now that I had given you up as hopeless, you have not only learnt how to spell, but even to read. How did this happen, Peter?"

      "It was Heidi," the boy replied.

      In great amazement, the teacher looked at the little girl. Then the kind man continued:

      "I have noticed a great change in you, Peter. You used to stay away from school, sometimes more than a week, and lately you have not even missed a day. Who has brought about this change?"

      "The uncle."

      Every evening now Peter on his return home read one song to his grandmother, but never more. To the frequent praises of Brigida, the old woman once replied: "I am glad he has learnt something, but nevertheless I am longing for the spring to come. Then Heidi can visit me, for when she reads, the verses sound so different. I cannot always follow Peter, and the songs don't thrill me the way they do when Heidi says them!"

      And no wonder! For Peter would often leave out long and difficult words,—what did three or four words matter! So it happened sometimes that there were hardly any nouns left in the hymns that Peter read.

      XX

       NEWS FROM DISTANT FRIENDS

       Table of Contents

      May had come. Warm sunshine was bathing the whole Alp in glorious light, and having melted the last snow, had brought the first spring flowers to the surface. A merry spring wind was blowing, drying up the damp places in the shadow. High above in the azure heaven the eagle floated peacefully.

      Heidi and her grandfather were back on the Alp. The child was so happy to be home again that she jumped about among the beloved objects. Here she discovered a new spring bud, and there she watched the gay little gnats and beetles that were swarming in the sun.

      The grandfather was busy in his little shop, and a sound of hammering and sawing could be heard. Heidi had to go and see what the grandfather was making. There before the door stood a neat new chair, while the old man was busy making a second.

      "Oh, I know what they are for," said Heidi gaily. "You are making them for Clara and grandmama. Oh, but we need a third—or do you think that Miss Rottenmeier won't come, perhaps?"

      "I really don't know," said grandfather: "but it is safer to have a chair for her, if she should come."

      Heidi, thoughtfully looking at the backless chairs, remarked: "Grandfather, I don't think she would sit down on those."

      "Then we must invite her to sit down on the beautiful green lounge of grass," quietly answered the old man.

      While Heidi was still wondering what the grandfather had meant, Peter arrived, whistling and calling. As usual, Heidi was soon surrounded by the goats, who also seemed happy to be back on the Alp. Peter, angrily pushing the goats aside, marched up to Heidi, thrusting a letter into her hand.

      "Did you get a letter for me on the pasture?" Heidi said, astonished.

      "No."

      "Where did it come from?"

      "From my bag."

      The letter had been given to Peter the previous evening; putting it in his lunch-bag, the boy had forgotten it there till he opened the bag for his dinner. Heidi immediately recognized Clara's handwriting, and bounding over to her grandfather, exclaimed: "A letter has come from Clara. Wouldn't you like me to read it to you, grandfather?"

      Heidi immediately read to her two listeners, as follows:—

      Dear Heidi:—

      We are all packed up and shall travel in two or three days. Papa is leaving, too, but not with us, for he has to go to Paris first. The dear doctor visits us now every day, and as soon as he opens the door, he calls, 'Away to the Alp!' for he can hardly wait for us to go. If you only knew how he enjoyed being with you last fall! He came nearly every day this winter to tell us all about you and the grandfather and the mountains and the flowers he saw. He said that it was so quiet in the pure, delicious air, away from towns and streets, that everybody has to get well there. He is much better himself since his visit, and seems younger and happier. Oh, how I look forward to it all! The doctor's advice is, that I shall go to Ragatz first for about six weeks, then I can go to live in the village, and from there I shall come to see you every fine day. Grandmama, who is coming with me, is looking forward to the trip too. But just think, Miss Rottenmeier does not want to go. When grandmama urges her, she always declines politely. I think Sebastian must have given her such a terrible description of the high rocks and fearful abysses, that she is afraid. I think he told her that it was not safe for anybody, and that only goats could climb such dreadful heights. She used to be so eager to go to Switzerland, but now neither Tinette nor she wants to take the risk. I can hardly wait to see you again!

      Good-bye, dear Heidi, with much love from grandmama,

      I am your true friend,

       Clara.

      When Peter heard this, he swung his rod to right and left. Furiously driving the goats before him, he bounded down the hill.

      Heidi visited the grandmother next day, for she had to tell her the good