A Tale of Two Heidis
by Wendi Capehart, January 31, 2017 and February 8, 2017
The illustration above is from an older book, a full translation.
This first bit of text is from an abridgement, or more accurately, a 'retelling.' Read it, picturing the story in your mind (make a movie of it, or a series of book illustrations):
"Clara could hardly control her excitement when she learned of her grandmother's visit. She told Heidi all about her and how much fun it would be to have her in the house again.
When the day finally came, even Heidi was excited about Grandma's visit. As soon as Heidi saw the old woman, she loved her at once. She saw the kind expression in her eyes and the way her white hair curled in tiny ringlets about her face. And grandma liked Heidi too. Despite Miss Rottenmeier's harsh words, Grandma knew that Heidi was a bright and loving child.
Not long after Grandma arrived, she discovered that while Clara took her afternoon nap, Heidi was left with nothing to do. The child still had not learned to read and this concerned Grandma. She could not understand why this was so. She called Heidi downstairs and asked her to sit next to her while they looked at picture books. Heidi was happy to have company in the afternoon and liked all the lovely pictures Grandma showed her. But when they came to a picture of a green meadow with goats and sheep and a young shepherd, Heidi burst into tears. It reminded her of the home she loved so much and Peter and Grandfather, who were now so far away.
Grandma dried her tears and decided to ask her why she had not learned to read. Heidi confessed that she knew she could never learn to read, since Peter had told her how hard he tried but could never learn either. Grandmother told her that of course she could learn, and that she must try. She asked Heidi if she would like to read the story that went with the picture of the green meadow and the animals. Heidi thought about it for a minute. How wonderful it would be if she could spend her lonely afternoons reading stories about faraway places!
One morning about a week later, Mr. Usher asked if he could speak with Grandma. He was invited to her room, where he was greeted in the usual friendly way.
I have something quite remarkable to report," he said. "The impossible has happened. Heidi has learned to read at least. I never thought I would see the day!"
Grandma smiled. That evening she gave Heidi the picture book as a present, and Heidi read the story about the meadow to Clara."
Now, I'm a Charlotte Mason educator. So I want to suggest you take a moment to narrate the above to yourself. Draw a picture of it or simply retell it to yourself, picturing it in your head as vividly as possible.
Once you've done that (no cheating, please), read the following, also picturing it in your mind as you read through. Here is the same section as found in an original translation on Project Gutenberg:
The following evening great expectation reigned in the house. Tinette had put on a new cap, Sebastian was placing footstools in front of nearly every armchair, and Miss Rottenmeier walked with great dignity about the house, inspecting everything.
When the carriage at last drove up, the servants flew downstairs, followed by Miss Rottenmeier in more measured step. Heidi had been sent to her room to await further orders, but it was not long before Tinette opened the door and said brusquely: "Go into the study!"
The grandmama, with her kind and loving way, immediately befriended the child and made her feel as if she had known her always. To the housekeeper's great mortification, she called the child Heidi, remarking to Miss Rottenmeier: "If somebody's name is Heidi, I call her so."
The housekeeper soon found that she had to respect the grandmother's ways and opinions. Mrs. Sesemann always knew what was going on in the house the minute she entered it. On the following afternoon Clara was resting and the old lady had shut her eyes for five minutes, when she got up again and went into the dining-room. With a suspicion that the housekeeper was probably asleep, she went to this lady's room, knocking loudly on the door. After a while somebody stirred inside, and with a bewildered face Miss Rottenmeier appeared, staring at the unexpected visitor.
"Rottenmeier, where is the child? How does she pass her time? I want to know," said Mrs. Sesemann.
"She just sits in her room, not moving a finger; she has not the slightest desire to do something useful, and that is why she thinks of such absurd things that one can hardly mention them in polite society."
"I should do exactly the same thing, if I were left alone like that. Please bring her to my room now, I want to show her some pretty books I have brought with me."
"That is just the trouble. What should she do with books? In all this time she has not even learned the A,B,C for it is impossible to instil any knowledge into this being. If Mr. Candidate was not as patient as an angel, he would have given up teaching her long ago."
"How strange! The child does not look to me like one who cannot learn the A,B,C," said Mrs. Sesemann. "Please fetch her now; we can look at the pictures anyway."
The housekeeper was going to say more, but the old lady had turned already and gone to her room. She was thinking over what she had heard about Heidi, making up her mind to look into the matter.
Heidi had come and was looking with wondering eyes at the splendid pictures in the large books that Grandmama was showing her. Suddenly she screamed aloud, for there on the picture she saw a peaceful flock grazing on a green pasture. In the middle a shepherd was standing, leaning on his crook. The setting sun was shedding a golden light over everything. With glowing eyes Heidi devoured the scene; but suddenly she began to sob violently.
The grandmama took her little hand in hers and said in the most soothing voice: "Come, child, you must not cry. Did this remind you of something? Now stop, and I'll tell you the story to-night. There are lovely stories in this book, that people can read and tell. Dry your tears now, darling, I must ask you something. Stand up now and look at me! Now we are merry again!"
Heidi did not stop at once, but the kind lady gave her ample time to compose herself, saying from time to time: "Now it's all over. Now we'll be merry again."
When the child was quiet at last, she said: "Tell me now how your lessons are going. What have you learnt, child, tell me?"
"Nothing," Heidi sighed; "but I knew that I never could learn it."
"What is it that you can't learn?"
"I can't learn to read; it is too hard."
"What next? Who gave you this information?"
"Peter told me, and he tried over and over again, but he could not do it, for it is too hard."
"Well, what kind of boy is he? Heidi, you must not believe what Peter tells you, but try for yourself. I am sure you had your thoughts elsewhere when Mr. Candidate showed you the letters."
"It's no use," Heidi said with such a tone as if she was resigned to her fate.
"I am going to tell you something, Heidi," said the kind lady now. "You have not learnt to read because you have believed what Peter said. You shall believe me now, and I prophesy that you will learn it in a very short time, as a great many other children do that are like you and not like Peter. When you can read, I am going to give you this book. You have seen the shepherd on the green pasture, and then you'll be able to find out all the strange things that happen to him. Yes, you can hear the whole story, and what he does with his sheep and his goats. You would like to know, wouldn't you, Heidi?"
Heidi had listened attentively, and said now with sparkling eyes: "If I could only read already!"
"It won't be long, I can see that. Come now and let us go to Clara." With that they both went over to the study.
Since the day of Heidi's attempted flight a great change had come over the child. She had realized that it would hurt her kind friends if she tried to go home again. She knew now that she could not leave, as her Aunt Deta had promised, for they all, especially Clara and her father and the old lady, would think her ungrateful. But the burden grew heavier in her heart and she lost her appetite, and got paler and paler. She could not get to sleep at night from longing to see the mountains with the flowers and the sunshine, and only in her dreams she would be happy. When she woke up in the morning, she always found herself on her high white bed, far away from home. Burying her head in her pillow, she would often weep a long, long time.
Mrs. Sesemann had noticed the child's unhappiness, but let a few days pass by, hoping for a change. But the change never came, and often Heidi's eyes were red even in the early morning. So she called the child to her room one day and said, with great sympathy in her voice: "Tell me, Heidi, what is the matter with you? What is making you so sad?"
But as Heidi did not want to appear thankless, she replied sadly: "I can't tell you."
"No? Can't you tell Clara perhaps?"
"Oh, no, I can't tell anyone," Heidi said, looking so unhappy that the old lady's heart was filled with pity.
"I tell you something, little girl," she continued. "If you have a sorrow that you cannot tell to anyone, you can go to Our Father in Heaven. You can tell Him everything that troubles you, and if we ask Him He can help us and take our suffering away. Do you understand me, child? Don't you pray every night? Don't you thank Him for all His gifts and ask Him to protect you from evil?"
"Oh no, I never do that," replied the child.
"Have you never prayed, Heidi? Do you know what I mean?"
"I only prayed with my first grandmother, but it is so long ago, that I have forgotten."
"See, Heidi, I understand now why you are so unhappy. We all need somebody to help us, and just think how wonderful it is, to be able to go to the Lord, when something distresses us and causes us pain. We can tell Him everything and ask Him to comfort us, when nobody else can do it. He can give us happiness and joy."
Heidi was gladdened by these tidings, and asked: "Can we tell Him everything, everything?"
"Yes, Heidi, everything."
The child, withdrawing her hand from the grandmama, said hurriedly, "Can I go now?"
"Yes, of course," was the reply, and with this Heidi ran to her room. Sitting down on a stool she folded her hands and poured out her heart to God, imploring Him to help her and let her go home to her grandfather.
About a week later, Mr. Candidate asked to see Mrs. Sesemann, to tell her of something unusual that had occurred. Being called to the lady's room, he began: "Mrs. Sesemann, something has happened that I never expected," and with many more words the happy grandmama was told that Heidi had suddenly learned to read with the utmost correctness, most rare with beginners.
"Many strange things happen in this world," Mrs. Sesemann remarked, while they went over to the study to witness Heidi's new accomplishment. Heidi was sitting close to Clara, reading her a story; she seemed amazed at the strange, new world that had opened up before her. At supper Heidi found the large book with the beautiful pictures on her plate, and looking doubtfully at grandmama, she saw the old lady nod. "Now it belongs to you, Heidi," she said.
"Forever? Also when I am going home?" Heidi inquired, confused with joy.
"Certainly, forever!" the grandmama assured her. "Tomorrow we shall begin to read it."
"But Heidi, you must not go home; no, not for many years," Clara exclaimed, "especially when grandmama goes away. You must stay with me."
Heidi still looked at her book before going to bed that night, and this book became her dearest treasure. She would look at the beautiful pictures and read all the stories aloud to Clara. Grandmama would quietly listen and explain something here and there, making it more beautiful than before. Heidi loved the pictures with the shepherd best of all; they told the story of the prodigal son, and the child would read and re-read it till she nearly knew it all by heart. Since Heidi had learned to read and possessed the book, the days seemed to fly, and the time had come near that the grandmama had fixed for her departure."
Take a moment to think about what you've read. Narrate it to yourself, or in the comments. Or draw a picture. Visualize it. Dwell on the story. Notice all the richness that is missing--not just the religious references, but the fuller descriptions, the motivation, the heart.
Heidi was not originally written in English, so any version we read in English is going to be a translation. Translations will vary a bit. However, the first excerpt quoted above is not a translation. It's not even an abridgement. It's a complete butchering of the original story, discarding its heart, and leaving the reader with a few loosely disjointed plot scenes.
People often recommend these particular abridgements as being good for young children to begin with--they will then be interested in the original story later. But why waste their time with this? Let them read the many wonderful books already suitable for their age and reading level without the butchery, and read Heidi aloud together when they can follow the story (you'll be surprised how young this might be).
Here's another example:
Much later in the book, Heidi at last gets to return home. She has come home with a fair sum of money the grandfather wishes her to put away to save. She asks instead if she can't use it to buy daily white bread for Peter's grandmother, and she talks about how good it was of God to let her be able to make this plan. You don't read about most of that in the Illustrated Classics, though. You just read of Heidi's plan to buy the grandmother bread and of how proud her grandfather is of his grand-daughter's generosity . . . Nobody thanks God or even mentions Him.
"That evening at dinner, as Heidi chatted about her life in the city and how kind everyone had been to her, a change came over Grandfather. For the first time in a very long while, he saw the goodness in other people. And he saw this goodness through Heidi's eyes. He realized what a gift this child was and that his life of bitterness was not good for him and certainly not good for Heidi. That night Uncle Alp make an important decision. He decided to return to a life that included other people.
The next day was Sunday, and Grandfather told Heidi to get dressed in the clothes Clara had given her . . .
[they go to church, the people are friendly, the pastor talks him into moving down during winter months so Heidi can go to school, they return home and chat more]
He had finally give up the bitterness that had made him a lonely old man without friends or neighbors. now, thanks to Heidi that was all over. He had begun a new life."
Thanks to Heidi?
Here's what the original version says:
At this the child gave a bound, shouting: "Oh grandfather, now grandmother won't ever have to eat hard, black bread any more. Oh, everything is so wonderful now! If God Our Father had done immediately what I prayed for, I should have come home at once and could not have brought half as many rolls to grandmother. I should not have been able to read either. Grandmama told me that God would make everything much better than I could ever dream. I shall always pray from now on, the way grandmama taught me. When God does not give me something I pray for, I shall always remember how everything has worked out for the best this time. We'll pray every day, grandfather, won't we, for otherwise God might forget us."
"And if somebody should forget to do it?" murmured the old man.
"Oh, he'll get on badly, for God will forget him, too. If he is unhappy and wretched, people don't pity him, for they will say: 'he went away from God, and now the Lord, who alone can help him, has no pity on him'."
"Is that true, Heidi? Who told you so?"
"Grandmama explained it all to me."
After a pause the grandfather said: "Yes, but if it has happened, then there is no help; nobody can come back to the Lord, when God has once forgotten him."
"But grandfather, everybody can come back to Him; grandmama told me that, and besides there is the beautiful story in my book. Oh, grandfather, you don't know it yet, and I shall read it to you as soon as we get home."
The grandfather had brought a big basket with him, in which he carried half the contents of Heidi's trunk; it had been too large to be conveyed up the steep ascent. Arriving at the hut and setting down his load, he had to sit beside Heidi, who was ready to begin the tale. With great animation Heidi read the story of the prodigal son, who was happy at home with his father's cows and sheep. The picture showed him leaning on his staff, watching the sunset.
"Suddenly he wanted to have his own inheritance, and be able to be his own master. Demanding the money from his father, he went away and squandered all. When he had nothing in the world left, he had to go as servant to a peasant, who did not own fine cattle like his father, but only swine; his clothes were rags, and for food he only got the husks on which the pigs were fed. Often he would think what a good home he had left, and when he remembered how good his father had been to him and his own ungratefulness, he would cry from repentance and longing. Then he said to himself: 'I shall go to my father and ask his forgiveness.' When he approached his former home, his father came out to meet him--"
"What do you think will happen now?" Heidi asked. "You think that the father is angry and will say: 'Didn't I tell you?' But just listen: 'And his father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck. And the son said: Father, I have sinned against Heaven and in Thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called Thy son. But the father said to his servants: Bring forth the best robe and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet; and bring hither the fatted calf and kill it; and let us eat and be merry: For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to be merry."
"Isn't it a beautiful story, grandfather?" asked Heidi, when he sat silently beside her.
"Yes, Heidi, it is," said the grandfather, but so seriously that Heidi quietly looked at the pictures. "Look how happy he is," she said, pointing to it.
A few hours later, when Heidi was sleeping soundly, the old man climbed up the ladder. Placing a little lamp beside the sleeping child, he watched her a long, long time. Her little hands were folded and her rosy face looked confident and peaceful. The old man now folded his hands and said in a low voice, while big tears rolled down his cheeks: "Father, I have sinned against Heaven and Thee, and am no more worthy to be Thy son!"
The next morning found the uncle standing before the door, looking about him over valley and mountain. A few early bells sounded from below and the birds sang their morning anthems.
Re-entering the house, he called: "Heidi, get up! The sun is shining! Put on a pretty dress, for we are going to church!"
That was a new call, and Heidi obeyed quickly. When the child came downstairs in her smart little frock, she opened her eyes wide. "Oh, grandfather!" she exclaimed, "I have never seen you in your Sunday coat with the silver buttons. Oh, how fine you look!"
The old man, turning to the child, said with a smile: "You look nice, too; come now!" With Heidi's hand in his they wandered down together. The nearer they came to the village, the louder and richer the bells resounded. "Oh grandfather, do you hear it? It seems like a big, high feast," said Heidi.
When they entered the church, all the people were singing. Though they sat down on the last bench behind, the people had noticed their presence and whispered it from ear to ear. When the pastor began to preach, his words were a loud thanksgiving that moved all his hearers. After the service the old man and the child walked to the parsonage. The clergyman had opened the door and received them with friendly words.
"I have come to ask your forgiveness for my harsh words," said the uncle. "I want to follow your advice to spend the winter here among you. If the people look at me askance, I can't expect any better. I am sure, Mr. Pastor, you will not do so."
When they had parted at last, the uncle looked after them with his face shining as with an inward light. Heidi looked up to him and said: "Grandfather, you have never looked so beautiful!"
"Do you think so, child?" he said with a smile. "You see, Heidi, I am more happy than I deserve; to be at peace with God and men makes one's heart feel light. God has been good to me, to send you back."
This is a story worth telling. In the first version, the focus is on what a wonderful person Heidi is, and those around her on thankful to her and proud of her. It is true that she is a precious little girl. But in the true version, she is also conduit of God's grace and mercy, and those around her are, grateful to God. Most particularly the hard hearted and embittered by grief Grandfather is deeply expressive of his relief and his gratitude to God.
It is not an insignificant difference. One has to wonder why the producers of Illustrated Classics work so hard to eliminate the religious themes of the classics they reproduce, because Heidi is not the only one.
Another change which also seems small but is odd to me, is the issue of schooling for Heidi. In the real version, it is a demonstration of the Grandfather's converted heart and repentance that he goes to the Pastor and on his own, immediately asks if he can still send Heidi to school, and makes plans to do so. In the Illustrated Classics version for some reason, this does not occur to him. In his visit with the Pastor it is the Pastor who again broaches the subject and asks the Grandfather to change his mind.
Once again, people often recommend these books as stepping stones to greater reading later, but I see no point.
Commented Chrissy in the previous post: "I think that anyone who would say that you interest a child in something delicious but unknown by giving them a dry cracker and then saying the unknown thing is just like it, only better, is a crazy person."
They do not need to read this gutted, diluted, watered down and butchered version of Heidi in order to appreciate Heidi later, nor do they need this kind of thing to build up their reading skills. To build their reading skills so they can later appreciate the complex themes, language, syntax, and ideas of Heidi, they can be reading excellent quality books already suited to their age and reading ability.
~ Wendi Capehart, 2017