Heidi as Told by Grandmama: Johanna Spyri's

By Ruthie Goldey

At age six, Ruthie became fascinated with a small edited and abridged story of Johanna Spyris Heidi. Over the years, she would consider it one of her favorite stories. It was only after she retired that she took the time to read the full novel and share it with her grandchildren. At that time, she realized that the first version she had read did not reveal the full story of a loving and caring God that was in the original 300-plus page novel. As she told the story to her grandchildren, she became aware that something was missing in all of the smaller versions of the book. She began a collection of picture books of Heidi. None of them contained the complete story of Gods plan of hope and redemption that was learned and shared by Heidi. Although many people have heard of the story of Heidi, or perhaps had seen the movie version, few, if any, had any knowledge of the full story. Thus began her quest to rewrite a story filled with the original message in a shortened and illustrated form.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: May 29, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490875743

Ruthie Goldey

Ruthie has been called the “Pied Piper” of little children and old folks because of her compassion and love for children of all ages. She taught Sunday school and vacation bible school for twenty-six years. She worked in the medical field with her parents. She is the daughter of Godly parents, who spent their lives serving others in the name of Christ in the medical field. Illustrations by Jim Goldey

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Copyright © 2015 Ruthie Goldey.

Cover Photograph by Ruthie Goldey

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Bloomington, IN 47403

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

ISBN: 978-1-4908-7573-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-7574-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015905822

WestBow Press rev. date: 05/27/2015

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HEIDI

as told by Grandmama

INTRODUCTION

1)   HEIDI

2)   GRANDFATHER’S HUT

3)   ON THE HIGH MEADOW

4)   ALM WINTER WITH GRANDMOTHER

5)   TWO VISITORS

6)   HEIDI MEETS KLARA

7)   FRAULEIN ROTTENMEIER AND HEIDI

8)   CONFUSION IN THE HOUSE

9)   KLARA’S FATHER

10)   GRANDMAMA

11)   HEIDI LEARNS TO READ

12)   A GHOST IN THE HOUSE

13)   HEIDI RETURNS TO THE ALPS

14)   SUNDAY CHURCH BELLS

15)   A VISITOR

16)   HEIDI ENCOURAGES

17)   WINTER IN DORFLI

18)   KLARA ARRIVES

19)   SUMMER ON THE ALM

20)   UNEXPECTED CHANGES

21)   SURPRISES AND GOOD-BYES

References:

Dedicated to my father and mother, Ray and Edna Jones, who taught me God’s incredible story of love in Scripture and Hymn; my husband, Jim Goldey, who supported my dream, edited the manuscript and illustrated the artwork; my children—Renee, Angie and Nate; my nine grandchildren—Lillian, Finn, Raeleigh, Vaughn, Blake, Gracie, Talia, Reese and Raegan; and my friends, Suzanne and Alan Lucas, Kay Fire and Susan Gammon, who always believed and encouraged me to finish the project..

Proverbs 16:9

INTRODUCTION

T he story of Heidi was originally written by Johanna Spyri in 1880 in Switzerland. Johanna was born in the rural area of Hirzel, Switzerland. She spent many of her summers as a child in the mountains near Chur, Switzerland, and used the town of Maienfeld, close to Chur, for the setting of this novel. Both towns are situated in the Swiss Alps on the valley floor near the Rhine River, which is flowing north.

If you have ever dreamed of going to, or have been to Switzerland, then you can imagine the intense beauty described in this story. Switzerland is one of those places that grip your soul because of its incredible beauty.

Take a little trip with me, if you will. Imagine arriving at the southern Swiss border and then taking a train to the little town of Maienfeld in the northeast part of Switzerland. Maienfeld is north of Chur, the oldest city in Switzerland. It is situated on the east side of the Rhine River valley. The Rhine River originates in some of the highest mountains in southern Switzerland. It starts out as a small brook in the middle of a high meadow. Each mile down the mountain it begins to grow and gather speed. It turns and tumbles, in and around rocky bluffs, as it begins to change in color from blue to a pale, chalky, gray-blue green. As the river widens, the mountain peaks appear higher above the valley floor. Towns lie near the river on both sides. Tall church steeples lift their heads above the tiny villages perched on the rising slopes. Dark brown wooden-framed homes dot the hillsides. Next to the homes are all types of barns for hay and animals. Fir trees grace every nook and cranny.

Our train travels close to the river, as it cuts a canyon in the mountain. The river widens a bit after each mile, as it rushes down the mountain. By the time the river is wide enough to carve the valley, towns and farms dot both sides of the river. Between the towns the land is farmed with all kinds of crops such as corn and beans; hayfields and grape vineyards rise sharply toward the high peaks of the Alps. As the train slows to a stop in the town of Maienfeld, a rush of excitement fills your heart as you anticipate the walk into the land described in the story of Heidi. The town has tiny narrow, winding cobblestone streets that lead up the side of the valley toward the mountain peak. It is full of quaint buildings, an old stone castle, homes, stables, and vineyards.

As you walk upward, spring-fed rectangular drinking fountains surrounded by flower-filled pots add to the enchantment of this journey. Stone wall fences border the roads as you begin the steeper climb out of the town. Rows of neatly cared for vineyards grace the hillsides. Pastures contain hay bales awaiting the winter months. Echoes of cow bells ringing penetrate into a permanent memory. Horses grazing and snorting cause you to search for their presence. The colors are brilliant and are found in nearly every direction you look. Green meadows are woven with colorful wild flowers, as if in a tapestry. Above, one can view a sky of intense blue, dotted with bright white clouds. Fir trees murmur wisdom unknown to man. Raising your eyes heavenly, steep rocky cliffs beg you to come closer and higher. The air is beyond fresh.

Then, in rushes the realization, that no matter how much time passes or life changes, there will be mountains with fresh air to fill the deepest longings of the child inside you. You have arrived in the land of the child, Heidi, who dearly loved the mountains of Switzerland. You will find many Sleeping in the Straw farm accommodations, for visitors with children to experience the joy of a simplistic life.The story of Heidi allows us to learn the powers of the mountains and the love that comes from giving one’s self to another.

As the story unfolds, Heidi is an orphaned child who has been living in Ragatz with her aunt Dete. Dete has found a job in Frankfurt, Germany, and decides to take the child to live with her grandfather on a high Alpine mountain meadow, called an Alm. Heidi is an intelligent and cheerful five-year-old. Her grandfather is known in the village of Dorfli as the Alm Uncle, an angry old man, who lives alone on the Alm and has little to do with the villagers. Dorfli is a fictitious name, which means little village, and is situated half way up the mountain from Maienfeld. Very quickly, the unspoiled nature of the child wins the love of her grandfather, Peter the goatherd and Peter’s blind grandmother.

Heidi experiences new adventures, while she lives with her grandfather. Then when she is about eight years old, she is abruptly taken from him to live in the city. Her intense longing for the mountains and her grandfather eventually takes her back. In the meantime, she learns about God, trust and faith. When she returns, she carries that new-found faith back to the mountains and blesses those on the Alm.

In 2010 my husband and I went to Switzerland, to Chur and Maienfeld, to gather information and inspiration to rewrite this novel in my words. Many of the photos in this book were taken in and around Maienfeld. Most of the painted images were inspired by family members. I have rewritten this story following the original Spyri story as closely as possible. I have titled my book Heidi as Told by Grandmama, because I am telling this story as a grandmother would to her grandchildren. My reason for writing this story once again is to reduce the number of pages, but keep the original story intact. It was, and is, a story of joy, faith, love, forgiveness and redemption in its sweetest form.

My heart, much like that of Joanna Spyri, wants to share this story with all children and those who love children. It is my desire that grandparents, parents and anyone, who has always wanted to read the story about Heidi but hasn’t, can now read it to the children in their lives. My novel is an easy read in short chapters, filled with exciting but tender examples of love. I have found that little children love the wording of old hymns and listen wide-eyed to such descriptive words. At a very young age, children can easily memorize poems.

Heidi’s journey is a picture of joy, love and grace. She brings love to a