Level 5

Herr Sesemann
Decides
W hen Fraulein left Heidi’s room, Heidi
broke into a wild fit of weeping. “Now
Grannie’s rolls are all gone!” she cried. “They
were all for Grannie and now they are all
gone!”
Clara was distressed at Heidi’s tears.
“Heidi, Heidi, please don’t cry!” she said
desperately. “I promise that when you go
home, you shall have as many fresh rolls for
Grannie as you want. Yours would have been
1
 hard and dry by then. Please, Heidi, don’t cry
anymore.”
Clara’s promise comforted Heidi a little,
but she did not stop sobbing for a long time.
When she arrived at supper, her eyes were
still red from crying. She sat quietly at the
table and tried her best to be well behaved.
Whenever Sebastian caught her eye, he
pointed strangely to his head and then to
hers. Heidi couldn’t understand what he
2
was trying to tell her. But when she went to
bed that night, she found her old straw hat
under her bedspread. She snatched it up with
delight and hugged it. Then she wrapped a
handkerchief around it and hid it as far back
in her cupboard as she could.
A few mornings later, there was a great
commotion and much running up and down
the stairs in the large house. Clara’s father
had just returned with packages and boxes
3
 and lots of pretty things. When he arrived,
he immediately went to see Clara. Heidi
was sitting beside her in the study. Father
and daughter hugged each other with warm
affection. Then, Herr Sesemann held out his
hand to Heidi and said kindly, “So this is our
little Swiss girl. Come and shake hands with
me! Now tell me, are Clara and you good
friends?”
“Yes, Clara is very kind to me,” answered
4
Heidi.
He stayed and talked with the girls for a
few minutes, and then they left to eat supper.
Fraulein sat across from him at the table, her
face sour with bad news.
“Herr Sesemann, if you only knew the
things Heidi has done─or the people and
animals she has brought into this house! Her
behavior is past understanding!”
Clara’s father listened to Fraulein, and he
5
 spoke with the tutor as well. Finally, he went
to Clara. “And now, my dear little Clara,”
he said, pulling up his chair and taking her
hand in his. “What kind of animals has
Heidi brought into the house? And why does
Fraulein think that she is not in her right
mind?”
Clara had no difficulty explaining. She
told her father about the kittens and the organ
boy. Herr Sesemann laughed heartily and
6
asked, “So do you want me to send Heidi
home?”
“Oh, no, no!” Clara exclaimed. “Please
do not send her away.”
“It is settled then,” said her father.
Herr Sesemann was only home for a short
time. He comforted Clara with the promise
that Clara’s Grandmamma would arrive soon
to keep her company. Clara was overjoyed,
and she told Heidi all about her.
7
 Upon her arrival, Clara’s Grandmamma was
eager to meet Heidi and welcomed her warmly.
When Clara took her nap that afternoon,
Grandmamma asked Fraulein, “Where is Heidi?
And what does she do in the afternoons?”
“She is sitting in her room, Frau Sesemann,”
said Fraulein.
“Bring her to my room,” said Grandmamma
cheerfully. “I have some pretty books with me
that I would like to give her.”
8
 Level 5

Herr Sesemann Decides

Copyright © 2007 by Little Fox Co., Ltd.

All rights reserved.