On a clear sunny morning, two people walked up a narrow mountain path.
Detie, a tall, strong-looking young woman, was leading a girl named Heidi by the hand.
Heidi had a heart-shaped face and short, curly brown hair.
She had just turned six years old.
Detie, who looked after Heidi, was her aunt.
She had accepted a new job in Frankfurt and could not take Heidi with her.
She had decided to take Heidi to live with Heidi's grandfather.
Grandfather lived high on the mountain where the flowers and grass grew wild among the rocks.
As she climbed, Heidi could smell the short grasses and mountain plants.
High above her, on the steep slope just below the mountaintop, she could see a tiny herd of goats.
Against the side of Grandfather's hut, looking down toward the valley, was Grandfather's chair.
When they came over the rise, Heidi saw him sitting there with his pipe in his mouth.
"I wish you good day,"
said Detie, as she walked toward him.
"I have brought you your granddaughter.
You will hardly recognize her.
You haven't seen her since she was one year old."
While frowning at Heidi, the old man asked rudely, "And why have you brought the child up here to see me?"
"Because she is going to live with you," said Detie.
"I have done my duty looking after her since her parents died.
Now it is your turn to do your duty."
"So, that's it, is it?"
said the old man, as he looked at Detie with a flash in his eye.
"And what am I supposed to do when she starts to cry and whine because she misses you?"
"That's your business," replied Detie.
"She was left with me when she was a baby.
I have put up with her for five years.
If you cannot arrange to keep her, do what you want with her.
But remember you will be responsible if any harm comes to her."
Detie was suddenly feeling hot and irritable.
She felt a little guilty about leaving Heidi alone with her grandfather.
With a stern loud voice, Grandfather replied, "Go away right now!
I don't want to see your face again anytime soon!"
Detie did not wait to be told twice, and with a quick "Good-bye!" to Heidi, she turned and ran down the mountain.
When Detie reached Dorfli, the village in the valley below, the women began to criticize her.
They had seen Detie take Heidi up the mountain and knew what she had done.
One woman cried out, "How could you do such a thing?"
Another said, "To think of leaving a helpless little girl up there with such a grumpy man!"
Detie hurried through the village as quickly as she could.
She promised herself that, when she had plenty of money from her new job, she would do something good for Heidi.
After Detie left, Heidi decided to explore.
She found a shed built against the hut, but inside it was empty.
Behind the hut, she discovered some fir trees.
Their large branches grew in curious twists.
A strong breeze was blowing, and it made a rushing sound in the branches that sounded like music.
Heidi twirled and jumped and felt the cool wind on her cheeks.
She was enjoying herself so much she almost forgot about her grandfather.