Edelweiss

After leaving Beaune, the train entered Switzerland before long.

Switzerland's national flower was the edelweiss, a famous flower in Europe because it grew only on high alpine peaks.

In history, both Hannibal and Napoleon had crossed the Alps to invade other countries. There was also a musical film in cinema history called The Sound of Music. A lively, restless nun was unsuited to life in a convent, so the Mother Abbess sent her to Colonel von Trapp's home as a governess.

When Maria arrived at the von Trapp household, she discovered that he was a widower with seven children. Years in the navy and grief over his late wife had made him treat his children with the strictness of a military commander. Maria soon understood why the previous governesses had left. The children lacked their father's affection and constantly played tricks on their governesses to draw his attention. The colonel demanded that Maria be as strict as he was, but she did not obey. Instead, she won the children's friendship with her natural gentleness and kindness. While the colonel was away, she made play clothes for every child out of curtains, took them to the market, picnicked with them in the beautiful Alps, and taught them to sing. The children's former restraint and gloom were gradually replaced by music and laughter.

Before long, the colonel returned home, bringing with him Uncle Max, whom the children liked, and his girlfriend, the Baroness, whom they did not.

The colonel was deeply dissatisfied with Maria's methods, but when he heard the children sing for the Baroness, he was moved. Maria had brought music back into the house, music that had been absent since his wife's death. Maria also prepared a puppet show with the children. The colonel was drawn to Maria's infectious enthusiasm