Level 5

Heidi Travels Home

H eidi was staring with wild eyes and
trembling from head to foot.
“Heidi, what is going on?” asked Clara’s
father. “Why did you come down here?”
White with terror, and hardly able to speak,
Heidi answered, “I don’t know.”
The doctor quickly stepped in and helped
Heidi up to bed. “Don’t be frightened, child.
It’s all right,” he told her. The doctor settled
Heidi into her bed and stayed with her until
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 she stopped shaking. Then he asked, “Now
tell me, where were you going?”
“Nowhere,” answered Heidi. “I didn’t
know that I’d gone downstairs. I was just
there.”
“Had you been dreaming?”
“Yes, I dream every night. I think I am
back in Grandfather’s hut. I wonder if the
stars are shining, so in my dream I get up and
open the door to the hut. It’s so beautiful, but
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when I wake up I am still in Frankfurt,” said
Heidi, struggling to keep back the tears.
“And where did you live with your
Grandfather?” asked the doctor.
“Up the mountain,” said Heidi, “It is
beautiful there,” and then she broke into
violent weeping.
“There, there. Go ahead and cry. It will do
you good. Don’t worry. Tomorrow everything
will be all right.” The doctor left her quietly
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 and went downstairs to Herr Sesemann.
“First,” said the doctor, “let me tell you that
Heidi was sleepwalking. Second, she is
consumed by homesickness. It looks as if she
has lost a lot of weight. She is practically a
skeleton. There is only one remedy. You must
send her home to her mountain.”
Herr Sesemann rose and paced up and
down the room. His face was pale with
concern.
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 The next morning, the maid surprised
Heidi by telling her to put on her best
clothes. When Heidi was ready, she went
downstairs and found Herr Sesemann and
Clara in the study. “Well, what do you say
about this, Heidi? I’ve decided that you are
going home!” said Clara’s father.
“Home?” Heidi’s face turned rosy with
delight. She couldn’t believe her ears. “Oh,
yes, yes, home! I want to go home.”
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 “All right then,” said Clara’s father, “your
carriage is waiting outside. Say your good-
byes to Clara and Sebastian will escort you
to Dorfli.”
Heidi felt sad about saying good-bye to
Clara. The girls hugged each other, and Clara
promised to visit Heidi as soon as she could.
She told Heidi she had filled a small suitcase
with dresses and pretty scarves for her. Then
she handed Heidi a basket with 12 fresh rolls
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for Grannie wrapped in a cloth. Heidi’s
delight and sorrow were so evenly mixed that
she smiled with tears sparkling in her eyes.
She bundled her favorite book and old straw
hat in her red shawl and added them to the
basket.
Heidi was lifted into the carriage, and
Sebastian took his place beside her. Herr
Sesemann lifted her suitcase up beside her
and handed Heidi a small thick packet.
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 “Keep this package safe, Heidi. It is a present
for you and a letter for your grandfather.”
Heidi thanked him with all her heart and hid
the present in her basket. Soon, they were on
the way to the train station.
Throughout the train ride, Heidi held
tightly to her basket with the precious rolls.
The next day, when they got down from the
train, the baker from Dorfli was at the
station, loading sacks onto his cart. Sebastian
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asked him to take Heidi and her things to
Dorfli, and she climbed up onto the seat of
his cart. As the cart headed up the road,
Heidi watched Sebastian waving from
behind. Then she turned to face the
mountain, trembling with excitement.

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 Level 5

Heidi Travels Home

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