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It happened on the day following this that there was a reading lesson in Peter's class。 When it came to his turn； the teacher said；
〃We must pass over Peter as usual； or will you try again once moreI will not say to read； but to stammer through a sentence。〃
Peter took the book and read off three lines without the slightest hesitation。
The teacher put down his book and stared at Peter as at some out…of…the…way and marvellous thing unseen before。 At last he spoke；
〃Peter； some miracle has been performed upon you！ Here have I been striving with unheard…of patience to teach you and you have not hitherto been able to say your letters even。 And now； just as I had made up my mind not to waste any more trouble upon you； you suddenly are able to read a consecutive sentence properly and distinctly。 How has such a miracle come to pass in our days？〃
〃It was Heidi；〃 answered Peter。
The teacher looked in astonishment towards Heidi； who was sitting innocently on her bench with no appearance of anything supernatural about her。 He continued； 〃I have noticed a change in you altogether； Peter。 Whereas formerly you often missed coming to school for a week； or even weeks at a time； you have lately not stayed away a single day。 Who has wrought this change for good in you？〃
〃It was Uncle；〃 answered Peter。
With increasing surprise the teacher looked from Peter to Heidi and back again at Peter。
〃We will try once more；〃 he said cautiously； and Peter had again to show off his accomplishment by reading another three lines。 There was no mistake about itPeter could read。 As soon as school was over the teacher went over to the pastor to tell him this piece of news； and to inform him of the happy result of Heidi's and the grandfather's combined efforts。
Every evening Peter read one hymn aloud； so far he obeyed Heidi。 Nothing would induce him to read a second； and indeed the grandmother never asked for it。 His mother Brigitta could not get over her surprise at her son's attainment； and when the reader was in bed would often express her pleasure at it。 〃Now he has learnt to read there is no knowing what may be made of him yet。〃
On one of these occasions the grandmother answered； 〃Yes； it is good for him to have learnt something； but I shall indeed be thankful when spring is here again and Heidi can come； they are not like the same hymns when Peter reads them。 So many words seem missing； and I try to think what they ought to be and then I lose the sense； and so the hymns do not come home to my heart as when Heidi reads them。〃
The truth was that Peter arranged to make his reading as little troublesome for himself as possible。 When he came upon a word that he thought was too long or difficult in any other way； he left it out； for he decided that a word or two less in a verse； where there were so many of them； could make no difference to his grandmother。 And so it came about that most of the principal words were missing in the hymns that Peter read aloud。
CHAPTER XX。 NEWS FROM DISTANT FRIENDS
It was the month of May。 From every height the full fresh streams of spring were flowing down into the valley。 The clear warm sunshine lay upon the mountain； which had turned green again。 The last snows had disappeared and the sun had already coaxed many of the flowers to show their bright heads above the grass。 Up above the gay young wind of spring was singing through the fir trees； and shaking down the old dark needles to make room for the new bright green ones that were soon to deck out the trees in their spring finery。 Higher up still the great bird went circling round in the blue ether as of old； while the golden sunshine lit up the grandfather's hut； and all the ground about it was warm and dry again so that one might sit out where one liked。 Heidi was at home again on the mountain； running backwards and forwards in her accustomed way； not knowing which spot was most delightful。 Now she stood still to listen to the deep； mysterious voice of the wind； as it blew down to her from the mountain summits； coming nearer and nearer and gathering strength as it came； till it broke with force against the fir trees； bending and shaking them； and seeming to shout for joy； so that she too； though blown about like a feather； felt she must join in the chorus of exulting sounds。 Then she would run round again to the sunny space in front of the hut； and seating herself on the ground would peer closely into the short grass to see how many little flower cups were open or thinking of opening。 She rejoiced with all the myriad little beetles and winged insects that jumped and crawled and danced in the sun； and drew in deep draughts of the spring scents that rose from the newly…awakened earth； and thought the mountain was more beautiful than ever。 All the tiny living creatures must be as happy as she； for it seemed to her there were little voices all round her singing and humming in joyful tones； 〃On the mountain！ on the mountain！〃
From the shed at the back came the sound of sawing and chopping； and Heidi listened to it with pleasure； for it was the old familiar sound she had known from the beginning of her life up here。 Suddenly she jumped up and ran round； for she must know what her grandfather was doing。 In front of the shed door already stood a finished new chair； and a second was in course of construction under the grandfather's skilful hand。
〃Oh； I know what these are for；〃 exclaimed Heidi in great glee。 〃We shall want them when they all come from Frankfurt。 This one is for Grandmamma； and the one you are now making is for Clara； and thenthen； there will； I suppose； have to be another；〃 continued Heidi with more hesitation in her voice； 〃or do you think； grandfather； that perhaps Fraulein Rottenmeier will not come with them？〃
〃Well； I cannot say just yet；〃 replied her grandfather； 〃but it will be safer to make one so that we can offer her a seat if she does。〃
Heidi looked thoughtfully at the plain wooden chair without arms as if trying to imagine how Fraulein Rottenmeier and a chair of this sort would suit one another。 After a few minutes' contemplation； 〃Grandfather；〃 she said； shaking her head doubtfully； 〃I don't think she would be able to sit on that。〃
〃Then we will invite her on the couch with the beautiful green turf feather…bed；〃 was her grandfather's quiet rejoinder。
While Heidi was pausing to consider what this might be there approached from above a whistling； calling； and other sounds which Heidi immediately recognised。 She ran out and found herself surrounded by her four…footed friends。 They were apparently as pleased as she was to be among the heights again； for they leaped about and bleated for joy； pushing Heidi this way and that； each anxious to express his delight with some sign of affection。 But Peter sent them flying to right and left； for he had something to give to Heidi。 When he at last got up to her he handed her a letter。
〃There！〃 he exclaimed； leaving the further explanation of the matter to Heidi herself。
〃Did some one give you this while you were out with the goats；〃 she asked； in her surprise。
〃No；〃 was the answer。
〃Where did you get it from then？
〃I found it in the dinner bag。〃
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