Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-10-09

now, you won't have any tomorrow"
Then Heidi stopped picking and
went along with Peter. When at last
they reached the mountain patsure,
Peter took off his bag and laid it care
fully In little hollow in the ground
Then he stretched himself on the
ground to rest
Heidi sat down beside him and
looked around her. Everywhere there
was deep stiffness; only the wind
passed very softly and gently over the
tender bluebells which were nodding
to and fro on their slender stems.
A good while passed in this way.
Then Peter began such whistling
and calling that Heidi did not know
what was going to happen; but the
goats understood the sound.
One after another they came jump
ing down until the whole flock was
gathered on the green slope. Some
nibbled the spicky stalks, others ran to
and fro, and still others amused them
selves by butting one another with
their horns.
Meanwhile Peter had brought out
the bag and nicely arranged all four
pieces of bread and cheese on the
ground In square. The larger pieces
were on Heidis side; the smaller
ones on his side. Then he took the
little bowl and MIXED sweet, fresh
milk from Schwartz into it and placed
it in the middle of the square Then
he called Heidi till the rocks echoed.
est. jumping; 1t is time to eat"
sad Pc >er; ''sit down and begin
Heidi sat down.
"Is the milk mine?" she asked.
eyes," answered Peter, land the
two large pieces of bread and cheese
are yours, too; and when you have
drunk all the milk, you can have an
other bowlful from Schwartz, and
then it is my turn"
And where will you get your
MILK"
From my goat schenke. Go on
eating!'
Heidi began with the milk, and as
soon as she set down he empty bowl
Peter rose and filled 1t again. Heidi
broke some of the bread into it. The
rest, a piece still larger than all
Peters bread, she handed over to him.
"You may have that" she said. 81
have enough"
Peter looked at Heidi in amaze
ment. Never in his life had he been
able to say such thing or give any
thing away. When he did not take the
bread, Heidi laid it down on his knee.
Then he saw that she meant it for
him; he seized the prize, and then
made the best dinner of his goatherd
life Meantime Heidi watched the
goats.
What are their names, Peter?"
Peter began to name one after the
other, pointing to each one as he did
So. Before long Heidi could call each
by name.
There was the big Turk with his
powerful horns. He was trying to butt
all the others. The brave Distelfinck
a slender, nimble little goat. was the
only one that did not avoid him.
There was the little white Schnee-
hopli, always bleating so touchingly
Heidi ran to her again and again and
put her arms around her head to COM
fort her. But now the child hurried
to her once more, and threw her arm
around the little creatures neck:
What Is the matter, Schneehopli?
Why do you cry so?"
The goat pressed close to Heidi's
side and became quiet. Peter called
out:
"she does so because the old one
doesn't come any more. They sold
her day before yesterday; SO she
doesn't come UP on the Aim any
longer"
who is the old one?'
"Why, the mother, of course"
"You poor schneehopli," said
Heidi. Don't cry SO any more, for,
you see, will come with you every
day, and then you won't be alone;
and If you want anything, you can
come to me-"
Schneehopli rubbed her head con-
tentedly against Heidi's shoulder and
bleated no more.
BY far the prettiest and cleanest of
the goats were Schwartz and Barli.
Heidi stood with her hands behind
her back, watching them all with
close attention.
Peter" she said, "the prettiest OF
them all are Schwartz and Barli'
"Of course they are. Your grand
father brushes and washes them, and
gives them salt, and puts them In the
best she'd"
PART iI.-AFTERNoON
Suddenly Peter jumped up and
fairly leapede after the goats. Heidi
ran after him. she felt that some
thing must have happened, and she
could not remain behind. Peter ran
through the midst Of the goats to the
side of the mountain. He had seen
venturesome Distelfinck jumping
along in that direction. He reached
there just in time, for at the instant
the little goat came to the very edge
OF the precipice.
Just as it was falling Peter flung
himself down on the ground and man
aged to seize one Of its legs and hold
1t fast. Distelfnck bleated with anger
and struggled onward. Peter scream
ed Heidi, help mel for he couldn't
get up. and was almost pulling off
leg. Heidi was already
there She quickly pulled up from
the ground some fragrant herbs and
held them under Distelfinck's nose.
Then she said soothingly:
Come, come Distelfinck, you must