"Come on, then," said her grandfather, as he rose and went toward the door. "Pick up your bundle and bring it along," he added as he entered. "I shan't need those things any more," de- clared Heidi. The old man turned and looked keenly at the child whose black eyes were bright with eager an- ticipation of all that was to be seen within. "It can't be that she is simple," he muttered to himself, and then added aloud: "Why will you not need them?" "I want to run about like the goats; they have such light little legs." "Well, you may, if you like; but bring the things; they can be put into the closet," were the grandfather's orders. Heidi obeyed. The old man opened the door, and she followed him into a large room which, being the only one, was as wide and long as the hut itself. In the middle stood a table with a chair beside it; in one corner was the grandfather's bed, while in another a large kettle hung in the hearth; in the opposite wall was a large door which her grandfather opened; it was the closet. In it hung his clothes, while his shirts, stockings and neck- cloths lay folded on one of the shelves; on another stood some plates, cups and glasses, and on the top-most lay a round loaf of bread, smoked meat -22- |