--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not long after, and while it was still…" description: "\"“Not long after, and while it was still twilight, the grandfather also went to bed, for he was up every morning at sunrise, and the sun came climbing u..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/johanna-spyri-15456_children_not-long-after-and-while-it-was-still-tw_835383.jpg" --- # Not long after, and while it was still twilight, the… ![“Not long after, and while it was still twilight, the grandfather also went to bed, for he was up every morning at sunrise, and the sun came climbing up over the mountains at a very early hour during these summer months. The wind grew so tempestuous during the night, and blew in such gusts against…” quote by Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/johanna-spyri-15456_children_not-long-after-and-while-it-was-still-tw_835383.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/johanna-spyri-15456_children_not-long-after-and-while-it-was-still-tw_835383.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/johanna-spyri-15456_children_not-long-after-and-while-it-was-still-tw_835383.jpg) > ““Not long after, and while it was still twilight, the grandfather also went to bed, for he was up every morning at sunrise, and the sun came climbing up over the mountains at a very early hour during these summer months. The wind grew so tempestuous during the night, and blew in such gusts against the walls, that the hut trembled and the old beams groaned and creaked. It came howling and wailing down the chimney like voices of those in pain, and it raged with such fury among the old fir trees that here and there a branch was snapped and fell. In the middle of the night the old man got up. "The child will be frightened," he murmured half aloud. He mounted the ladder and went and stood by the child's bed. Outside the moon was struggling with the dark, fast-driving clouds, which at one moment left it clear and shining, and the next swept over it, and all again was dark. Just now the moonlight was falling through the round window straight on to Heidi's bed. She lay under the heavy coverlid, her cheeks rosy with sleep, her head peacefully resting on her little round arm, and with a happy expression on her baby face as if dreaming of something pleasant. The old man stood looking down on the sleeping child until the moon again disappeared behind the clouds and he could see no more, then he went back to bed.”” [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A caring grandfather watches over his grandchild during a storm, protecting her with presence and love despite nature’s fury. **In simple terms:** Grandfather protects sleeping child during storm. Key Takeaway Provide calm reassurance in fear. Themes care protection family nature comfort Mood tender protective Type narrative emotional When to use this quote - parenting - nighttime safety - storm preparedness Key Concepts parental love storm night vigilance Questions to Reflect On - How do you offer comfort during others’ fear? - What role does presence play in safety? A Different Perspective Even with vigilance, fear may persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Every morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-morning/) [Middle of the night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-of-the-night/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Twilight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twilight/) ## Related quotes > [Having someone wonder where you are when you don't come home at night is a very old human need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/having-someone-wonder-where-you-are-when-you-don-t-come-home-at-night/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Old age is the night of life, as night is the old age of the day. Still, night is full of magnificence; and, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/old-age-is-the-night-of-life-as-night-is-the-old-age-of-the-day-still/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [“The night is always old. He'd walked too often down dark streets in the secret hours and felt the night stretching away, and known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-night-is-always-old-he-d-walked-too-often-down-dark-streets-in/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I'd rather be a creature of the night than an old dude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/i-d-rather-be-a-creature-of-the-night-than-an-old-dude/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [“One night, when I am old, sick, right out of semen, and don’t need things to get any worse, I hear the voices again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/one-night-when-i-am-old-sick-right-out-of-semen-and-don-t-need-things/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [“That night I lay in bed and stared out the window. Night and I were old friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bickle/that-night-i-lay-in-bed-and-stared-out-the-window-night-and-i-were/) [Laura Bickle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bickle/) > [Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/do-not-go-gentle-into-that-good-night-old-age-should-burn-and-rave-at/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [Do not go gentle into the good night. Old age should burn and rage at close of day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/do-not-go-gentle-into-the-good-night-old-age-should-burn-and-rage-at/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > ["I'm not going anywhere," she told me that night. But until we are old ladies-a cypress age, a Sawtooth age-I will continue to link…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-russell/i-m-not-going-anywhere-she-told-me-that-night-but-until-we-are-old/) [Karen Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-russell/) > [“It's just that even though I'm totally old and unhip,I remember what boys in high school were like.Especially the kind like Jack Caputo." "What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brodi-ashton/it-s-just-that-even-though-i-m-totally-old-and-unhip-i-remember-what/) [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) > [“I sneaked out to his house a couple times in the middle of the night to watch over him while he slept, just in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/i-sneaked-out-to-his-house-a-couple-times-in-the-middle-of-the-night/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [I love the royal family. I even got up in the middle of the night to watch Kate and William's wedding. And I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-collins/i-love-the-royal-family-i-even-got-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night-to/) [Lily Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-collins/) > [“There's something not quite Christian about it," Tony said. He sat back in his chair and looked up to where his Bible sat on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-comeau/there-s-something-not-quite-christian-about-it-tony-said-he-sat-back/) [Joey Comeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-comeau/) > [“A Japanese woman we’d met in Paris came to the apartment yesterday and spent several hours explaining our appliances. The microwave, the water kettle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/a-japanese-woman-we-d-met-in-paris-came-to-the-apartment-yesterday/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“Miss Loretta had that new man, Mr. Boxer, take over Cassius' post in the north field. She had him and some other men snatch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-rathbone/miss-loretta-had-that-new-man-mr-boxer-take-over-cassius-post-in-the/) [Gideon Rathbone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-rathbone/) ## More by Johanna Spyri > [Go now and wash yourself first, for the sun will laugh at you if he sees how dirty you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/go-now-and-wash-yourself-first-for-the-sun-will-laugh-at-you-if-he/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [“Her peculiarities must not be punished.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/her-peculiarities-must-not-be-punished/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [“Dont grieve any more, see I am coming up with you everyday now, and if there is anything the matter, you can come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/dont-grieve-any-more-see-i-am-coming-up-with-you-everyday-now-and-if/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [“Heidi began to read of the son when he was happily at home, and went out into the fields with his father's flocks, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/heidi-began-to-read-of-the-son-when-he-was-happily-at-home-and-went/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [God arranges everything for us, so that we need have no more fear or trouble and may be quite sure that all things will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/god-arranges-everything-for-us-so-that-we-need-have-no-more-fear-or/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [“She is not fashioned for a life among strangers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/she-is-not-fashioned-for-a-life-among-strangers/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [Oh, I wish that God had not given me what I prayed for! It was not so good as I thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/oh-i-wish-that-god-had-not-given-me-what-i-prayed-for-it-was-not-so/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [“You mustn't hurt him. Let him go”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/you-mustn-t-hurt-him-let-him-go/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [God certainly knows of some happiness for us which He is going to bring out of the trouble, only we must have patience and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/god-certainly-knows-of-some-happiness-for-us-which-he-is-going-to/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [“The poor child felt like a little bird that is placed in a glittering cage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/the-poor-child-felt-like-a-little-bird-that-is-placed-in-a-glittering/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [We must never forget to pray, and to ask God to remember us when He is arranging things, so that we too may feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/we-must-never-forget-to-pray-and-to-ask-god-to-remember-us-when-he-is/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [“Isn't that a beautiful tale, grandfather," said Heidi, as the latter continued to sit without speaking, for she had expected him to express pleasure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/isn-t-that-a-beautiful-tale-grandfather-said-heidi-as-the-latter/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [If you have a sorrow that you cannot tell to anyone, you can go to our Father in Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/if-you-have-a-sorrow-that-you-cannot-tell-to-anyone-you-can-go-to-our/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [“If God had let me come at once, as I prayed, then everything would have been different, I should only have had a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/if-god-had-let-me-come-at-once-as-i-prayed-then-everything-would-have/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [“Then you must wait," she said, "and keep on saying to yourself: God certainly knows of some happiness for us which He is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/then-you-must-wait-she-said-and-keep-on-saying-to-yourself-god/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) [Explore all 43 Johanna Spyri quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Not long after, and while it was still twilight, the grandfather also went to bed, for he was up every morning at sunrise, and the sun came climbing up over the mountains at a very early hour during these summer months. The wind grew so tempestuous during the night, and blew in such gusts against the walls, that the hut trembled and the old beams groaned and creaked. It came howling and wailing down the chimney like voices of those in pain, and it raged with such fury among the old fir trees that here and there a branch was snapped and fell. In the middle of the night the old man got up. \"The child will be frightened,\" he murmured half aloud. He mounted the ladder and went and stood by the child's bed. Outside the moon was struggling with the dark, fast-driving clouds, which at one moment left it clear and shining, and the next swept over it, and all again was dark. Just now the moonlight was falling through the round window straight on to Heidi's bed. She lay under the heavy coverlid, her cheeks rosy with sleep, her head peacefully resting on her little round arm, and with a happy expression on her baby face as if dreaming of something pleasant. 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