GOBINDGARHPUBLICSCHOOL
MANDIGOBINDGARH
SESSION2021-22
DATE&DAY:04MAY2021,FRIDAY
CLASS&SECTION:IX BOLD
SUBJECT:ENGLISH
HOMEWORK/ASSIGNMENTNO.06
Moments--Lesson1
TheLostChild
byMulkRajAnand
TheLostChild--Introductiontothelesson
TheLostChildisthestoryofasmallchildwhogetslostinafair.Hehadgonewithhisparentstothefairbutlosesthem whenhegetsengrossedinlookingataroundaboutswing.Thestoryhighlightsthebondofloveandaffectionthatthechildshareswithhisparents.Beforelosingthem hehadbeendemandingdifferentthingslikesweets,balloons,flowers,swings,etc.Oncehelosesthem,heispickedupbyastranger.Thestrangertriestoquietenthechildbyofferinghim allthesethingsthathehaddemandedfrom hisparentsbutthechilddoesnotwantthem anymore.Hewantshisparentsfirst.
TheLostChild--Summary
Itwastheseasonofspring.Thepeopleofthevillagecameoutoftheirhouses,incolourfulattireandwalkedtowardsthefair.Achildalongwithhisparentswasgoingtothefairandwasveryexcitedandhappy.Hewasattractedtothestallsoftoysandsweets.Though,hisfathergotangrybuthismotherpacifiedhim anddivertedhis
attentiontowardsotherthings.Thechildmovedforwardbutonceagainlaggedbehindbecausehiseyeswerecaughtbyonethingortheothereverynowandthen.
Astheymovedforward,thechildwantedthevariousthingsonthestalls.Hismouthwateredseeingsweetsdecoratedwithgoldandsilverleaves.Hewantedhisfavouriteburfibutknowingthathisparentswouldrefuseonthegroundthathewasgreedy,hewalkedahead.Thenhesawbeautifulgarlandsofgulmohurbutdidn’taskforit,thenhesawballoonsbutheknewverywellthathisparentswoulddenyduetothefactthathewastoooldtoplaywithballoons,sohewalkedaway.
Thenhesawasnakecharmerandaroundaboutswing.Ashestoppedtoaskhisparentsforpermissiontoenjoytheswing,tohisastonishment,therewasnoreply.Neitherhisfathernorhismotherwasthere.Nowthechildrealizedthathewaslost.Heranhereandtherebutcouldnotfindthem.Theplacewasovercrowded.Hegotterrifiedbutsuddenlyakindheartedmantookhim upinhisarmsandconsoledthebitterlyweepingchild.Heaskedifhewouldliketohaveajoyridebutthechildsobbed“Iwantmyfather,Iwantmymother.”Themanofferedhim sweets,balloonsandgarlandbutthechildkeptsobbing“Iwantmyfather,Iwantmymother.”
TheLostChild--Explanation
Itwasthefestivalofspring.From thewintryshadesofnarrowlanesandalleysemergedagailycladhumanity.Somewalked,somerodeonhorses,otherssat,beingcarriedinbambooandbullockcarts.Onelittleboyranbetweenhisfather’slegs,brimmingoverwithlifeandlaughter.
wintryshadesofnarrowlanesandalleys:inthewinterseason,thenarrowlaneswerefullofshade.
Emerged:cameoutBrimmingover:tobefullofsomething
Thestoryissetinthespringseason.Asthewinterseasonhadjustended,allthepeoplecameoutoftheirhouses.Theywerecheerfulasthechillingcoldweatherhadended.Peopleconveyedthroughdifferentmodes-foot,horses,bamboocartsandbullockcarts.Alittlechildwasaccompaniedbyhisparents.Heranexcitedlyandoftenbangedintohisfather’slegs.Hewasfulloflife,excitementandlaughter.
“Come,child,come,”calledhisparents,ashelaggedbehind,fascinatedbythetoysintheshopsthatlinedtheway.
Laggedbehind:wasleftbehindFascinatedby:attractedtoLinedtheway:weresetupalongtheway.
Thechildwasattractedtothetoyswhichweredisplayedatthevariousstalls.Ashewouldbeleftbehind,hisparentswouldcallhim tocomewiththem.
Hehurriedtowardshisparents,hisfeetobedienttotheircall,hiseyesstilllingeringontherecedingtoys.Ashecametowheretheyhadstoppedtowaitforhim,hecouldnotsuppressthedesireofhisheart,eventhoughhewellknewtheold,coldstareofrefusalintheireyes.
Lingering:lastingforalongtimeReceding:leftbehindashewalkedaheadSuppress:putanendtoCold:withoutanyfeelings,emotions
Thechildwasobedientandwouldwalktowardsthem onbeingcalledbuthiseyes
wouldkeeponlookingatthetoysthathewanted.Ashereachedthem,hecouldn'tcontrolhisdesiretobuyatoy.Hewasfamiliartothereactionthattheywouldgive.Heknewthattheywouldstarehim indicatingdenialtobuyhim thetoy.Thechildknewtheemotionlesswayinwhichtheywouldstareathim.
“Iwantthattoy,”hepleaded.
Thechildwasunabletocontrolhisdesireanylonger.Hesaidthathewantedtobuythetoy.
Hisfatherlookedathim red-eyed,inhisfamiliartyrant’sway.
Tyrant:acruelandoppressiveruler
Thefather’seyesgrewredwithanger.Helookedatthechildjustlikeacruelrulerwhowastryingtooppresshim.
Hismother,meltedbythefreespiritofthedaywastenderand,givinghim herfingertohold,said,“Look,child,whatisbeforeyou!”
Melted:becametenderandloving
Themotherbecameemotionalduetothecheerfulmood.Lovingly,shegaveherfingertothechildtoholdandguidedhim toaplace.Sheaskedhim toseewhatwasinfrontofhim.
Itwasafloweringmustard-field,palelikemeltinggoldasitsweptacrossmilesandmilesofevenland.Agroupofdragonflieswerebustlingaboutontheirgaudypurplewings,interceptingtheflightofaloneblackbeeorbutterflyinsearchofsweetnessfrom theflowers.Thechildfollowedthem intheairwithhisgaze,tilloneofthemwouldstillitswingsandrest,andhewouldtrytocatchit.Butitwouldgofluttering,flapping,upintotheair,whenhehadalmostcaughtitinhishands.Thenhismothergaveacautionarycall:“Come,child,come,comeontothefootpath.”
Pale:dull,colourlessGaudy:extremelybrightandshowy
Therewasavastfieldfullofbrightyellow-colouredmustardflowers.Theyseemedlikeflowingstreamsofgoldandwerewidespread.Agrouppfdragonflies,blackbeesandbutterfliesbuzzedaround,suckingthenectarfrom theflowers.Thechildlookedatthem astheyflewaround.Whenoneofthesatsomewhere,hetriedtocatchthembutthetinycreatureswouldflyawaythenextinstance.Themothercalledouttohimastheystartedwalkingdownthefootpath.
Herantowardshisparentsgailyandwalkedabreastofthem forawhile,being,however,soonleftbehind,attractedbythelittleinsectsandwormsalongthefootpaththatwereteemingoutfrom theirhidingplacestoenjoythesunshine.
Abreast:sidebysideandfacingthesameway
Teemingout:topouroremptyout
Thechildrantowardshisparents.Hewalkednexttothem butafterfewsteps,hestoppedtoseetheinsectswhowerecomingoutofthesoil.Onceagainthechildwasleftbehind.
“Come,child,come!”hisparentscalledfrom theshadeofagrovewheretheyhadseatedthemselvesontheedgeofawell.Herantowardsthem.
Grove:asmallwoodorgroupoftrees
Theparentscalledhim.Theysatnexttoawellundertheshadytrees.Thechildonceagainranandjoinedhisparents.
Ashowerofyoungflowersfelluponthechildasheenteredthegrove,and,forgettinghisparents,hebegantogathertherainingpetalsinhishands.Butlo!heheardthecooingofdovesandrantowardshisparents,shouting,“Thedove!Thedove!”Therainingpetalsdroppedfrom hisforgottenhands.
Asthechildenteredtheshadyforestedarea,hewaswelcomedbyashowerofflowers.Heforgothisparentsandstartedcollectingthepetalsthathadfallen.Justthenheheardthecooingofdovesandwasexcitedtoseethem.Hestartedchasingthebirdsandintheprocess,thepetalsfellfrom hishand.(Thisshowsthatasthechildgotattractedtowardsthenextthing,heforgotwhathehadbeendoingearlier).
“Come,child,come!”theycalledtothechild,whohadnowgonerunninginwildcapersroundthebanyantree,andgatheringhim uptheytookthenarrow,windingfootpathwhichledtothefairthroughthemustardfields.
Capers:aplayfulskippingmovement
Theparentscalledthechildwhowasrunningandplayingaroundabanyantree.Theyliftedhim andwalkeddownanarrow,twistinglanethroughwhichtheycrossedthe
mustardfieldsandreachedthefair.
Astheynearedthevillagethechildcouldseemanyotherfootpathsfullofthrongs,convergingtothewhirlpoolofthefair,andfeltatoncerepelledandfascinatedbytheconfusionoftheworldhewasentering.
Throngs:hugecrowdsConverging:gathering
Astheywereabouttoreachthefair,thechildsawhugecrowdsofpeoplewalkingfrom alldirectionstowardsthefair.Thedensecrowdscaredhim andhesteppedbackforawhilebutthenextmoment,hegotattractedtothemind-bogglingcrowdofhumanity.
Asweetmeatsellerhawked,“gulab-jaman,rasagulla,burfi,jalebi,”atthecorneroftheentranceandacrowdpressedroundhiscounteratthefootofanarchitectureofmanycolouredsweets,decoratedwithleavesofsilverandgold.Thechildstaredopen-eyedandhismouthwateredfortheburfithatwashisfavouritesweet.“Iwantthatburfi,”heslowlymurmured.Buthehalfknewashebeggedthathispleawouldnotbeheededbecausehisparentswouldsayhewasgreedy.Sowithoutwaitingforananswerhemovedon.
Heeded:paidattentionto
Attheentranceofthefair,toonecorner,asweetmeatsellerhadsetupashop.Hewassellingvarioussweetslikegulabjamun,rasgulla,burfiandjalebi.Thesweetsweredisplayedatdifferentheightsandwerecoveredwithfoilsofgoldandsilver.Theboy'smouthwateredwhenhesightedhisfavouriteburfi.Heexpressedhisdesiretogetoneinalowvoicebecauseheknewthathisrequestwouldberefutedbyhisparents.Theywouldsaythathewasgreedyfortheburfi.Ashedidnotexpectthathisdemandwouldbefulfilled,hewalkedfurther.
Aflower-sellerhawked,“Agarlandofgulmohur,agarlandofgulmohur!”Thechildseemedirresistiblydrawn.Hewenttowardsthebasketwheretheflowerslayheapedandhalfmurmured,“Iwantthatgarland.”Buthewellknewhisparentswouldrefusetobuyhim thoseflowersbecausetheywouldsaythattheywerecheap.So,withoutwaitingforananswer,hemovedon.
Thenextstallwasthatofaflowerseller.Heannouncedthathewassellinggarlandsofgulmohurflowers.Thechildwantedoneofthose.Hewalkedtowardsthebasketoflowersandagainannouncedhisdesiretohaveoneinalowvoicebecauseheknewthathisdemandwouldnotbefulfilled.Theywouldrefusetobuyhim theflowersastheywouldsaythattheywerecheap.Again,theboywalkedaheadwithoutexpectingareplyfrom hisparents.
Amanstoodholdingapolewithyellow,red,greenandpurpleballoonsflyingfrom it.Thechildwassimplycarriedawaybytherainbowgloryoftheirsilkencoloursandhewasfilledwithanoverwhelmingdesiretopossessthem all.Buthewellknewhisparentswouldneverbuyhim theballoonsbecausetheywouldsayhewastoooldtoplaywithsuchtoys.Sohewalkedonfurther.
Overwhelming:averystrongemotion
Thenextthingthatthechildcameacrosswasaballoonsellersellingballoonsofdifferentcoloursoftherainbow.Theboywasattractedtotheshinycoloursoftheballoonsandwantedtohavethem all.Heknewthathisparentswouldnotbuytheballoonsforhim astheywouldreasonthathewastoooldtoplaywiththem.So,thechildwalkedfurther.
Asnake-charmerstoodplayingaflutetoasnakewhichcoileditselfinabasket,itsheadraisedinagracefulbendliketheneckofaswan,whilethemusicstoleintoitsinvisibleearslikethegentleripplingofaninvisiblewaterfall.Thechildwenttowardsthesnake-charmer.But,knowinghisparentshadforbiddenhim tohearsuchcoarsemusicasthesnake-charmerplayed,heproceededfarther.
Forbidden:notallowedCoarse:unpleasant
Thenhepausedatasnakecharmerwhowasplayingafluteandthesnakewastwistingit’snecktothemusic.Thesnakehadcoileditselfinabasketandhadraiseditsheadout.Itbentandmoveditsneckgracefullylikeaswan.Itseemedthatthemusicoftheflutewasheardbythesnake’sinvisibleearsandcreatedtheeffectofawaterfallonitbecauseitswayeditsneckinasimilarway.Theboywalkedtowardsthesnakecharmerbutashisparentshadwarnedhim toremainawayfrom theunpleasantmusicplayedbysuchmen,hewalkedfurther.
Therewasaroundaboutinfullswing.Men,womenandchildren,carriedawayina
whirlingmotion,shriekedandcriedwithdizzylaughter.Thechildwatchedthem
intentlyandthenhemadeaboldrequest:“Iwanttogoontheroundabout,please,
Father,Mother.”
Thenhesawtheroundaboutswing.Itwasfullofmen,womenandchildrenwhowere
enjoyingtheride.Theboywatchedthepeopleontheroundaboutandthenwithalot
ofcourage,expressedhisdesiretogoontheroundabout.
Therewasnoreply.Heturnedtolookathisparents.Theywerenotthere,aheadof
him.Heturnedtolookoneitherside.Theywerenotthere.Helookedbehind.There
wasnosignofthem.
Whenhisparentsdidnotreply,heturnedtowardsthem.Hesawthattheywere
nowherearound.Helookedaroundandbehindbuthisparentswerenowheretobe
seen.
Afull,deepcryrosewithinhisdrythroatandwithasuddenjerkofhisbodyheran
from wherehestood,cryinginrealfear,“Mother,Father.”Tearsrolleddownfrom his
eyes,hotandfierce;hisflushedfacewasconvulsedwithfear.Panic-stricken,heran
toonesidefirst,thentotheother,hitherandthitherinalldirections,knowingnot
wheretogo.“Mother,Father,”hewailed.Hisyellowturbancameuntiedandhis
clothesbecamemuddy.
Hitherandthither:hereandthere
Theboycriedloudly,jerkedhisbodyandranhereandtherecallingoutforhisparents.
Hewasfulloffearandtearsstartedrollingdownhischeeks.Ashewailedandran
aroundhisturbanopenedandhisclothesbecamemuddy.
Havingruntoandfroinarageofrunningforawhile,hestooddefeated,hiscries
suppressedintosobs.Atlittledistancesonthegreengrasshecouldsee,throughhis
filmyeyes,menandwomentalking.Hetriedtolookintentlyamongthepatchesof
brightyellowclothes,buttherewasnosignofhisfatherandmotheramongthese
people,whoseemedtolaughandtalkjustforthesakeoflaughingandtalking.
Intently:carefully
Aftersometimehegaveup.Theloudcriesturnedintomildsobs.Hesawsome
peoplestandingandtalkingandtriedtofindifhisparentswereamongthem.The
laughterandtalksofthepeopleweremeaninglessforthechild.Hewassimply
searchingforhisparents.
Heranquicklyagain,thistimetoashrinetowhichpeopleseemedtobecrowding.
Everylittleinchofspaceherewascongestedwithmen,butheranthroughpeople’s
legs,hislittlesoblingering:“Mother,Father!”Neartheentrancetothetemple,
however,thecrowdbecameverythick:menjostledeachother,heavymen,with
flashing,murderouseyesandheftyshoulders.Thepoorchildstruggledtothrusta
waybetweentheirfeetbut,knockedtoandfrobytheirbrutalmovements,hemight
havebeentrampledunderfoot,hadhenotshriekedatthehighestpitchofhisvoice,
“Father,Mother!”Amaninthesurgingcrowdheardhiscryand,stoopingwithgreat
difficulty,liftedhim upinhisarms.
Congested:fullof
Hefty:largeandheavy
Thrust:push
Knocked:hit
Brutal:harsh,rough
Trampled:crushed
Surging:powerful
Theboyrantowardsatemplewhichwascrowdedwithpeople.Heranthroughthe
legsofmen,callingoutforhisparents.Thecrowdwaspushingeachotherashe
nearedtheentranceofthetemple.Theboygotscaredofhugestrongmenwho
starredpeoplewiththeirmurderouseyesandpushedthem withtheirstrongandbig
shoulders.Theboycouldhavebeencrushedunderthefeetofthemenhadhiscries
notbeenheardbyamaninthecrowd.Heliftedthechild.
“Howdidyougethere,child?Whosebabyareyou?”themanaskedashesteered
clearofthemass.Thechildweptmorebitterlythanevernowandonlycried,“Iwant
mymother,Iwantmyfather!”
Asthemangotthechildoutofthecrowd,heaskedhim howhehadreachedthere
andwhatwerehisparents’names.Theboycriedevenmoreandrepeatedthathe
wantedtogotohisparents.
Themantriedtosoothehim bytakinghim totheroundabout.“Willyouhavearideon
thehorse?”hegentlyaskedasheapproachedthering.Thechild’sthroattoreintoa
thousandshrillsobsandheonlyshouted,“Iwantmymother,Iwantmyfather!”
Soothe:relax,comfort
Themantriedtorelaxthechildbytakinghim totheroundaboutswing.Heofferedhim
aridebutthechildscreamedandweptloudlythathewantedhisparents.
Themanheadedtowardstheplacewherethesnake-charmerstillplayedontheflute
totheswayingcobra.“Listentothatnicemusic,child!”hepleaded.Butthechildshut
hisearswith
hisfingersandshoutedhisdouble-pitchedstrain:“Iwantmymother,Iwantmy
father!”Themantookhim neartheballoons,thinkingthebrightcoloursofthe
balloonswoulddistractthe
child’sattentionandquietenhim.“Wouldyoulikearainbowcolouredballoon?”he
persuasivelyasked.Thechildturnedhiseyesfrom theflyingballoonsandjust
sobbed,“Iwantmymother,Iwantmyfather!”
Pleaded:requested
Double-pitchedstrain:usageofalotofforce
Themanstartedwalkingbackonthesameroutewhichthechildhadtaken.Sohe
tookthechildtothesnakecharmer.Heaskedhim tolistentothenicemusicbeing
playedbythesnake-charmer.Thechildshuthisearswithhisfingersandscreamed
loudlythathewantedhisparents.Themantookthechildtothebrightcoloured
balloons,hopingthathemightgetcheeredbyseeingthem.Heofferedaballoonto
thechildbutheturnedawayandweptforfather,
Theman,stilltryingtomakethechildhappy,borehim tothegatewheretheflower-
sellersat.“Look!Canyousmellthoseniceflowers,child!Wouldyoulikeagarlandto
putroundyourneck?”
Bore:carried
Themantriedtomakethechildhappyandtookhim totheflowerseller.Heaskedhim
tosmellthefragranceoftheflowersandofferedhim agarland.
Thechildturnedhisnoseawayfrom thebasketandreiteratedhissob,“Iwantmy
mother,Iwantmyfather!”
Reiterated:repeated
Thechildrefusedtosmelltheflowersthathewantedtobuyearlierbecausenow,his
prioritywastogethisparents.
Thinkingtohumourhisdisconsolatechargebyagiftofsweets,themantookhim to
thecounterofthesweetshop.“Whatsweetswouldyoulike,child?”heasked.The
childturnedhisfacefrom thesweetshopandonlysobbed,“Iwantmymother,Iwant
myfather!”
Disconsolate:veryunhappyandunabletobecomforted
Charge:apersonorthingentrustedtothecareofsomeone
Finally,themantookhim tothesweetmeatsellerandofferedtobuysweetsforhim.
Still,thechilddidnotwanthisfavouritesweetbutwantedhisparents.
NAMEOFTHESUBJECTTEACHER:MS.URMILADEVI