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