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HEIDI

"Hurry up and learn the three letters, then you won't have to!"

Peter, beginning again, repeated the three letters till Heidi said:

"Now you know them."

Having observed the good result of the first rhyme, she began to read again:

D, E, F you then must read,
Or of misfortune take good heed!

Who over L and M doth stumble,
Must pay a penance and feel humble.

There's trouble coming; if you knew,
You'd quickly learn N, O, P, Q.

If still you halt on R, S, T,
You'll suffer for it speedily.

Heidi, stopping, looked at Peter, who was so frightened by all these threats and mysterious horrors that he sat as still as a mouse. Heidi's tender heart was touched, and she said comfortingly: "Don't be afraid, Peter; if you come to me every day, you'll soon learn all the letters and then those things

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