"No, no, child," the grandmother implored. "That must not be. You must give it to grandfather and he'll tell you what to do with it."
But Heidi did not listen but jumped gaily about the little room, calling over and over again: "Now grandmother can have a roll every day. She'll get well and strong, and," she called with fresh delight, "maybe your eyes will see again, too, when you are strong and well."
The grandmother remained silent, not to mar the happiness of the child. Seeing the old hymn-book on the shelf, Heidi said:
"Grandmother, shall I read you a song from your book now? I can read quite nicely!" she added after a pause.
"Oh yes, I wish you would, child. Can you really read?"
Heidi, climbing on a chair, took down the dusty book from a shelf. After she had carefully wiped it off, she sat down on a stool.
"What shall I read, grandmother?"
"Whatever you want to," was the reply. Turning the pages, Heidi found a song about the sun, and decided to read that aloud. More and more eagerly she read, while the grandmother, with folded arms, sat in her chair. An expression of indescribable happiness shone in her countenance, though tears were rolling down her cheeks. When Heidi had repeated the end of the song a number of times, the old woman exclaimed: "Oh, Heidi, everything seems bright to me again and my heart is light. Thank you, child, you have done me so much good."
Heidi looked enraptured at the grandmother's face, which had changed from an old, sorrowful expression to a joyous one.
She seemed to look up gratefully, as if she could already behold the lovely, celestial gardens told of in the hymn.