Heidi
Peter
The goat-boy
The goatherd of Dörfli and Heidi's best friend on the mountain. He is simple, loyal and stubborn, and he gets jealous when someone else gets Heidi's attention.
Peter takes the village goats up to the high pasture every day, with his shepherd's rod and bag. He is a plain, hearty, honest boy who calls out to Little Swan and Little Bear and runs after Heidi when she kicks off her shoes. He is her first friend on the Alm and guides her to the flowers and eagles.
Peter is stubborn and blunt. He lives with his mother Brigitta and his blind grandmother, and he loves Heidi in his own simple way. He is the keeper of the high pasture and he knows its paths well. He also has a short temper when he feels left out, which is the cause of his one big mistake.
“A penny every day... as long as I live?! I am the richest boy in the world!”
In the story
Contains spoilers.
When Dete takes Heidi away, Peter watches from the ridge, furious. When Heidi returns, he is her companion again, until Clara arrives, and he sees that Heidi no longer comes to the pasture.
Out of jealousy he pushes Clara's wheelchair over the cliff. He helps Clara take her first steps, and his guilt turns to joy. Confessing to Herr Sesemann in terror, he is forgiven by Grandmamma and rewarded with a penny a day for life, which makes him feel like the richest boy in the world.
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