Get your Kleenex box out, your going to need it!
What an awesome read, one of those stories that you "drop down into;" the characters are real.
Got this old 1919 copy with tipped-in illustrations for Christmas.
I think the descriptions of god and how to relate to him are some of the best I've ever read. I suppose it's a children's book but it has a reminder or two for adults.
It seems like the theme of most of my reading these days partly revolves around the facts of urban vs rural views and Prejudice. (just like today!)
The "horrible" conditions of the city vs the restorative powers of nature.
I asked my Swedish friend Marika what were the classic books from her homeland and of course this was high on the list.
Some of the flaws have to do with the lack of backstory for Uncle and the inner thinking of Peter
Favorite impressions:
In this instance Heidi learns not to take what one person says in earnest as the truth:
"The grandmother laid her hand kindly on Heidi's. "Don't cry, dear child, don't cry," she said, "the picture has reminded you perhaps of something. But see, there is a beautiful tale to the picture which I will tell you this evening. And there are other nice tales of all kinds to read and to tell again. But now we must have a little talk together, so dry your tears and come and stand in front of me and tell me how you are getting on in your school-time; do you like your lessons, and have you learnt a great deal?"
"O no!" replied Heidi sighing, "but I knew beforehand that it was not possible to learn."
"What is it you think impossible to learn?"
"Why, to read, it is too difficult."
"You don't say so! and who told you that?"
"Peter told me, and he knew all about it, for he had tried and tried and could not learn it."
"Peter must be a very odd boy then! But listen, Heidi, you must not always go by what Peter says. You must believe what I tell you—and I tell you that you can learn to read in a very little while, as many other children do, who are made like you and not like Peter. As soon as you are able to read you shall have that book for your own."
I this instance a lonely old man implores Heidi to stay in the mountains:
"Oh doctor, doctor!"
Looking round he stood still and waited till the child had reached him. Her tears came rolling down her cheeks while she sobbed: "I'll come with you to Frankfurt and I'll stay as long as ever you want me to. But first I must see grandfather."
"No, no, dear child," he said affectionately, "not at once. You must remain here, I don't want you to get ill again. But if I should get sick and lonely and ask you to come to me, would you come and stay with me? Can I go away and think that somebody in this world still cares for me and loves me?"
In this instance we are tutored by Heidi regarding our relationship to God:
"When Clara and Heidi were lying in their beds that night, glancing up at the shining stars, Heidi remarked: "Didn't you think to-day, Clara, that it is fortunate God does not always give us what we pray for fervently, because He knows of something better?"
"What do you mean, Heidi?" asked Clara.
"You see, when I was in Frankfurt I prayed and prayed to come home again, and when I couldn't, I thought He had forgotten me. But if I had gone away so soon you would never have come here and would never have got well."
Clara, becoming thoughtful, said: "But, Heidi, then we could not pray for anything any more, because we would feel that He always knows of something better."
[291]"But, Clara, we must pray to God every day to show we don't forget that all gifts come from Him. Grandmama has told me that God forgets us if we forget Him. But if some wish remains unfulfilled we must show our confidence in Him, for he knows best."
"How did you ever think of that?" asked Clara.
"Grandmama told me, but I know that it is so. We must thank God to-day that He has made you able to walk, Clara."
This really is one of the finer arguments, or at least one that makes human sense to me.
