Heidi: (Gift Edition)

In the original gift edition, there are 8 margin images repeated on each page, these have been preserved and reproduced at the beginning of each chapter. Inconsistent hyphenation in the original document has been preserved. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected in this text. For a complete list, please see the end of this document . HEIDI GIFT EDITION WAVING HER HAND AND LOOKING AFTER HER DEPARTING FRIEND TILL HE SEEMED NO BIGGER THAN A LITTLE DOT ToList Page 228 HEIDI BY JOHANNA SPYRI TRANSLATED BY ELISABETH P. STORK WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY CHARLES WHARTON STORK, A.M., Ph.D. 14 ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOR BY MARIA L. KIRK GIFT EDITION PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY 1919 COPYRIGHT, 1915. BY J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS AND DECORATIONS COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY PRINTED BY J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY AT THE WASHINGTON SQUARE PRESS PHILADELPHIA, U.S.A. INTRODUCTION Unassuming in plot and style, "Heidi" may none the less lay claim to rank as a world classic. In the first place, both background and characters ring true. The air of the Alps is wafted to us in every page; the house among the pines, the meadows, and the eagle poised above the naked rocks form a picture that no one could willingly forget. And the people, from the kindly towns-folk to the quaint and touching peasant types, are as real as any representation of human nature need be. Every goat even, has its personality. As for the little heroine, she is a blessing not only to everyone in the story, but to everyone who reads it. The narrative merits of the book are too apparent to call for comment. As to the author, Johanna Spyri, she has so entirely lost herself in her creation that we may pass over her career rather rapidly. She was born in Switzerland in 1829, came of a literary family, and devoted all her talent to the writing of books for and about children. Since "Heidi" has been so often translated into English it may well be asked why there is any need for a new version. The answer lies partly in the conventional character of the previous translations. Now, if there is any quality in "Heidi" that gives it a particular charm, that quality is freshness, absolute spontaneity. To be sure, the story is so attractive that it could never be wholly spoiled; but has not the reader the…