A Letter to God

Summary of the Chapter

Lencho was a farmer. He had the field of ripe corn dotted with the flowers. He
hoped for a downpour or at least a shower. He was happy to see huge
mountains of clouds.

But suddenly strong wind began to blow with the large hailstones. The hail
rained for an hour and the field was white as if covered with salt. The corn
was totally destroyed. The hail has left nothing. He did not understand what to
do. But he had a great faith on god. He decided to seek help from god. He
wrote a letter to god demanding 100 pesos.

When the postman read the letter addressing to god he could not stop himself
by laughing. But the post master who was a fat, amiable man decided to help

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Lencho. He collected 70 pesos from his friends, charity and he himself gave
part of his salary.

The following Sunday Lencho came to collect the money. But he was
disappointed to find only 70 pesos. He was angry and he wrote again a letter
to god demanding rest of the money. He also wrote that the god should not
send the money through the post office because what he believed that the post
office employees are bunch of crooks.

Quick Revision Notes

• Lencho’s crops had failed that year and he had only a single hope i.e. God!

• He wrote a letter to God “God, my crops have failed and my family is going to
starve. I need some money- hundred pesos.”

• At the post office, the postmen saw such a queer letter and brought it to the
postmaster.

• The postmaster was a man of sympathy and understand a man like Lencho.
• Postmaster observed that faith of Lencho was strong as a child’s so he
decided to send an amount of hundred pesos to the poor farmer.

• Hundred pesos was a huge amount, the postmaster was able to collect only
seventy pesos. However, he sent the money to Lencho.

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• Lencho received the money with a belief that God had helped him.

• Lencho was sad and angry after counting the money as he received only
seventy instead of hundred.

• Lencho wrote another letter to God and dropped the letter in the same
postbox and went.

• The postmaster felt the biggest shock and shame in his life after opening
Lencho’s second letter to God.

• Lencho had written, “God, of the money that I had asked for, only seventy
pesos reached me. Send me the rest, since I need it very much. But don’t send
it to me through the post because the post office employees are a bunch of
thieves. Lencho.”

Word Meanings

Crest : top/the highest part of a hill

Dotted with : scattered over an area

Predict : foretell the future

Drape : cover

Locusts : insects which fly in big groups and destroy crops.

Solitary : lonely / single

Upset : disturbed

Conscience : an inner sense of right and wrong

Peso : currency of several Latin American countries

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Amiable : friendly and pleasant

Correspondence : an act of writing letters

Resolution : a firm decision

Contentment : satisfaction

Crooks : dishonest persons / people

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 Long Walk to Freedom
Summary of the Chapter

Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918. He was the first South African
President to be elected in a fully representative democratic election.

In life, every man has twin obligations: obligations to his family, to his parents,
to his wife and children; and he has an obligation to his people, his community
and his country. In a civil and humane society, each man is able to fulfill those
obligations according to his own inclinations and abilities. But in a country
like South Africa, it was almost impossible for a man of my birth and colour to
fulfill both of those obligations.
In South Africa, a man of colour who attempted to live as a human being was
punished and isolated. In South Africa, a man who tried to fulfil his duty to his
people was inevitably ripped from his family and his home and was forced to
live a life apart, a twilight existence of secrecy and rebellion.
He said as quoted, "I did not in the beginning choose to place my people above
my family, but in attempting to serve my people, I found that I was prevented
from fulfilling my obligations as a son, a brother, a father and a husband."

"I was not born with a hunger to be free. I was born free — free in every way
that I could know. Free to run in the fields near my mother’s hut, free to swim
in the clear stream that ran through my village, free to roast mealies under the
stars and ride the broad backs of slow-moving bulls. As long as I obeyed my
father and abided by the customs of my tribe, I was not troubled by the laws of
man or God."
"It was only when I began to learn that my boyhood freedom was an illusion,
when I discovered as a young man that my freedom had already been taken
from me, that I began to hunger for it. At first, as a student, I wanted freedom
only for myself, the transitory freedoms of being able to stay out at night, read
what I pleased and go where I chose."

"Later, as a young man in Johannesburg, I yearned for the basic and

honourable freedoms of achieving my potential, of earning my keep, of
marrying and having a family — the freedom not to be obstructed in a lawful
life. But then I slowly saw that not only was I not free, but my brothers and
sisters were not free. I saw that it was not just my freedom that was curtailed,
but the freedom of everyone who looked like I did. That is when I joined the

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African National Congress, and that is when the hunger for my own freedom
became the greater hunger for the freedom of my people."
"It was this desire for the freedom of my people to live their lives with dignity
and self- respect that animated my life, that transformed a frightened young
man into a bold one, that drove a law-abiding attorney to become a criminal,
that turned a family-loving husband into a man without a home, that forced a
life-loving man to live like a monk."

"I am no more virtuous or self sacrificing than the next man, but I found that I
could not even enjoy the poor and limited freedoms I was allowed when I
knew my people were not free. Freedom is indivisible; the chains on anyone of
my people were the chains on all of them, the chains on all of my people were
the chains on me. I knew that the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as
the oppressed."

"A man who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred; he is
locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. I am not truly
free if I am taking away someone else’s freedom, just as surely as I am not free
when my freedom is taken from me. The oppressed and the oppressor alike
are robbed of their humanity."

Quick Revision Notes

• Nelsom Mandela swears in as the first black president of South Africa on

10th May 1994.

• At the time of his swearing two national anthems were sung. He wished that
freedom in Africa should reign.

• The swearing in ceremony took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheater

in Pretoria

• He addressed the rainbow gathering with a zest telling that never, never, and
never again should it be that that beautiful land would experience the
oppression of one by another.

• He wished that freedom in Africa should reign.

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• The army officials who could have caught have and put him in jail before
were saluting him to pay respect to the newly born democracy.

• The two national anthems were sung at the time of his swearing in
ceremony.

• He recalls back the history and pays homage to the national martyrs who
sacrificed their lives for the sake of their motherland.

• He tells about the martyrs were the man of extraordinary courage and
wisdom and generosity.

• That’s why he pays homage to the national martyrs who sacrifice their lives
for the sake of their motherland.

• The country of South Africa is rich in minerals and gems but the greatest
wealth of country is its people.

• He tells no one is born hating another person because of the colour of his
skin, or his background , or his religion.

• If people learn to hate, they can be taught to love too.

• He talks that man's goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never
exhausted.

• He talks about the twin obligations-obligation towards his family &

obligation towards his nation.

• While discharging his duties he found he was not free. Hence, he joined
African National Congress fought for the freedom of his country.

• He well known about the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the
oppressed.

• The oppressor and oppressed are alike are robbed of their humanity.

7
 His First Flight
Summary of the Chapter
This story of a young seagull and He wouldn’t dare to fly, and the entire family
member encourage him to fly but all went in vain, and for the same, he was
harshly punished by his parents. He was left all alone on the ledge starving for
24 hours. He cried with hunger. After all his mother took final decision to put
before him bait. It worked, he dived for a scrap of fish.
Mother was high up in the sky and he was in the open air falling down and
down. Bravery is the fear is the victory. And he opened his wings and found
himself flying. In this way to young seagull take his first flight. Hence, we can
say parental encouragement and discipline play a extraordinary role in
shaping the destiny of the young children.

Quick Revision Notes

• This story is about a young seagull, who was afraid of flying.

• Young seagull was full of pessimism.

• His parents and family members used to encourage him for his first flight
but he doesn’t have enough courage to fly.

• He was left alone by his family members for 24 hours and he ate nothing.

• He was very hungry and he begged for food for mother.

• Young seagull’s mother diverted his mind from fear to food.

• He dived when he saw the food. He cried and screamed but his wings opened
automatically and flapped his wings.

• After all he was joined by his family in his first flight.

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 Black Aeroplane (Two Stories about Flying)
Summary of the Chapter

The story revolves around the mystery, ‘who was another pilot?’

The story teller was on his flight go to England hoping to have a good English
breakfast with his family. But during flight he saw great storm clouds ahead of
him and clouds are looks like mountains. He risked entering in the clouds and
everything turned black.
He saw another aeroplane without lights on its wings. The pilot waved his
hand to the story teller and asked him to follow him. The story teller followed
that another pilot as his compass, radio went dead. Even there was not enough
fuel in his tank. With the help of another pilot, he landed safely and when he
went to receptionist to thank the pilot he was informed by the lady that there
was no any other plane flying in the sky that night.
Quick Revision Notes

• At the midnight a pilot of old Dakota aeroplane flies over Paris (France)
towards England.

• Pilot was flies with the dreams of having breakfast in the morning and
spending holidays with his family.

• Unfortunately he passes through huge black clouds.

• The compass, radio, fuel gauge and all other equipment turned dead. Even
not enough fuel in fuel tank.

• Suddenly he noticed another pilot in black aeroplane waved his hand to

follow his instructions.

• Suddenly he noticed a row of light on the ground and that’s runway, he lands
safely.

• He went to receptionist and asks about the aeroplane. But he is dumbstruck

to know that there is no aeroplane noticed on the radar that night.

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• Many questions in his mind remain unsolved about the mysterious the black
aeroplane.

10
 From the Diary of Anne Frank
Summary of the Chapter
This is a story of young girl her named ‘Anne Frank’. This story is based on her
diary. Anne Frank is a Jewish girl who has to go into hiding during World War
Two to avoid the Nazis. She shared her experience in the story when she is
depressed. Together with seven others she hides in the secret annex on the
Prinsengracht 263 in Amsterdam. She doesn’t have any close friend. After
almost 2 years in hiding they are discovered and deported to concentration
camps. Anne’s father, Otto Frank, is the only one of the eight people to survive.
She describe her all important experience in her childhood in her diary. After
her death Anne becomes world famous because of the diary she wrote while
in hiding.
Quick Revision Notes

• On her thirteenth birthday, Anne Frank’s parents give her a diary.

• Anne starts writing about daily events, her thoughts, school grades, boys, all
that.
• For two years, the Frank family lives in this Secret Annex.

• Anne grows in her knowledge of politics and literature, and she puts tons of
energy into studying and writing.
• At the same time, she grows further and further away from the other
members of the Annex.

• We see a real change in Anne when she begins hanging out in the attic with
Peter van Daan.
• Around this time she starts having dreams about a boy she was in love with,
another Peter: Peter Schiff.

• She sometimes even gets the two Peters confused in her head.

• There her diary ends. Two short months after Anne’s fifteenth birthday, and
two days after he last diary entry, the Secret Annex is raided.

• We don’t know Anne’s thoughts or feelings at that point or any time after,
but we know things got worse.

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• As you probably already know, Anne and the other members of the Annex
were sent to various concentration camps. Anne’s father, Otto Frank, was the
sole survivor.

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 Glimpses of India

I. A Baker From Goa

Bakers of Goa known as Pader

In old Portuguese days, the people of Goa ate loaves of bread. Now these loaves
have disappeared. But their makers are still there. The furnaces also exist there
even now. The sound of the traditional bakers’ bamboo can still be heard.
Someone of the family still carries this business. These bakers are known as
pader in Goa even today.

Coming of the baker

The baker used to be the author’s friend and guide. He used to come twice a day.
The sound of his bamboo woke the author and others from sleep. The author
used to run to him for bread- bangles. The maidservants used to buy loaves and
carry them inside the houses.

Delivering the loaves

The baker came with the jhang, jhang’ sound of his bamboo staff. One hand
supported the basket on his head. The other banged the bamboo on the ground.
The baker would place the basket on the bamboo. The author and others would
look into his basket. They would eat the loaves with hot tea. They would not
brush their teeth.

Importance of bread
The baker was very important for all occasions. Marriage gifts were meaningless
without the sweet bread called bol. Sandwiches, cakes and bolinhas were made
with the bread.

Baker’s dress
The baker or bread-seller of the past had a peculiar dress. It was known as the
kabai. It was a single-piece long frock. It reached down to the knees. It is similar
to half pants of today.

Baker—a happy family

The baker usually collected his bills at the end of the month. Baking was a
profitable profession in the olden days. The baker and his family never starved.
Their fat bodies showed that they were happy and were not poor.

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II. Coorg

Coorg—a heavenly place

Coorg lies between the coastal town of Mangalore and Mysore. It is a very
beautiful place like heaven. It must have come from the Kingdom of God. Strong
men, beautiful women and wild creatures live in it.

Coorg’s weather and environment

Coorg or Kodagu is the smallest district of Karnataka. It has evergreen forests,
spices and coffee plantations. Many visitors come to it between September and
March. The weather is fine then. The air is full of coffee flavour.

People of Coorg—origin etc

The people of Coorg are of Greek or Arabic descent. The story goes that a part of
Alexander’s army settled here. Its return became impractical. These people
married among the locals. This culture is seen in the martial traditions, marriage
and religious rites. The Arab origin is seen in the long, black coat worn by the
Kodavus. It is known as kuppia. It is like the kuffia worn by the Arabs and the
Kurds.

Coorg and its people

Coorgi homes have a tradition of hospitality. The people have many tales of
bravery. Coorg | Regiment is one of the most decorated in the Indian Army.
General Cariappa, the first Army Chief, was a Coorgi. Even today Kodavus are the
only people in India to carry firearms without a licence.

Its wildlife
The river Cauvery gets its water from Coorg’s forests and hills. Mahaseer, the
largest freshwater fish is found in these waters. Kingfishers, squirrels and
langurs are found near these waters. Birds, bees and butterflies give one a good
company here. Elephants enjoy being bathed here by their mahouts.

The landscape
The Brahmagiri hills give the climber a whole view of Coorg. A walk across the
rope bridge leads to the sixty-four-acre Island of Nisargadhama. Buddhist monks
from India’s Tibetan settlement live in Bylakuppe here. One can see them
dressed in red, ochre and yellow robes.

III. Tea From Assam

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Rajvir and Pranjol on way to Assam
Rajvir and Pranjol were travelling to Assam. A tea vendor called ‘chai-garam …
garam- chai’. They took tea and sipped it. Rajvir told Pranjol that over
800,000,000 cups of tea are drunk everyday throughout the world.

Tea gardens seen

Rajvir looked at the beautiful scenery outside. Pranjol kept reading his detective
book. There was greenery outside. Soon the soft green paddy fields gave way to
tea-bushes. Tea-bushes spread as far as the eye could see. There were shade
trees also over the areas. In the distance there was an ugly building. It was a tea-
garden.

About legends behind tea

They were in Assam, the tea-country. Assam has the largest concentration of tea
plantations in the world. Rajvir told Pranjol that no one really knew who
discovered tea. There are many legends about it.

Chinese legend
A Chinese emperor always boiled water before drinking it. One day a few leaves
of branches burning under the pot fell into the water. It gave a delicious flavour.
These were tea-leaves.

Indian legend
Bodhidharma, a Buddhist monk cut off his eyelids because he felt sleepy during
meditations. Ten tea plants grew out of his eyelids. These leaves when put in hot
water and drunk, banished sleep.

Tea and China

Rajvir told Pranjol that tea was first drunk in China. It was as far back as 2700
B.C. Words like chai and chini are Chinese. Tea came to Europe in the sixteenth
century. It was then drunk more as medicine.

Reaching the destination

Both of them dropped at Mariani junction. They were driven to Dhekiabari Tea
Estate. On both sides of the road there were acres and acres of tea-bushes.
Women with bamboo baskets were plucking the new leaves from them.

Rajvir’s knowledge about tea plantations

Pranjol’s father received them there. They had come there in the sprouting

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season. It lasts from May to July. It gives out the best tea. Rajvir told this to
Pranjol’s father. He told Rajvir that he knew many things about tea plantations.
Rajvir told him that he would learn more about them there.

16
 Mijbil The Otter
Summary of the Chapter

After the death of the dog, the author thought to have another pet. Early in
1956, he travelled to Southern Iraq. He saw there some Arab people having an
otter. Then, he also thought of having an otter. He told this to his friend. His
mail was due; therefore, with a friend he went to Basra to receive his mail. His
friend collected his mail and went away. After he had left, he received a sack in
which there was something. The sack was for the narrator and there was an
otter in it. The narrator christened it, Mijbil. First the otter slept on the floor
but soon he entered the bed till the servant bought tea. When it went to
bathroom it plunged and rolled in the bath tub joyfully. The narrator was
extremely surprised when he found it struggling with the water tap. It had
learnt how to turn on the tap. It spent most of its time playing with the rubber
ball and marbles.

He was staying at Basra while he had to move to England and then to

Camusfearna. But the problem was that some of the airlines did not allow
transporting animals. Therefore, the narrator had to choose a different flight
that allowed animals on board. As a result, Mijbil was packed in a box of its
size. Then the narrator went for the meals. When he returned to his room, he
noticed blood coming out from the air holes. He got frightened. He hurriedly
opened it and saw that Mij was almost unconscious. He removed all the sharp
edges from the box and placed it again into the box. The time was passing and
he managed to hire a taxi. There were only ten minutes in his flight. So he sat
at the back seat of the taxi and placed the box on his lap. Somehow he
managed to catch the flight and he boarded the plane. The air hostess was
somewhat friendly and she allowed the narrator to place the otter on his lap.
But as soon as the narrator opened the box the otter disappeared in the plane.
This frightened the passengers. But the airhostess helped him to find out Mij
again.
In London people did not recognize otters. They used to make blind guesses to
recognize the animal. The most surprising event was when the labourer was
digging his hole in the street. On seeing the animal, he placed down his tools
and when the narrator neared him, he shouted, what is that supposed to be.

Quick Revision Notes

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• In the beginning of 1956, the author was in Iraq. One day on the way to
Basra, he casually mentioned to a friend that he would love to have an otter
instead of a dog as a pet.
• A few days later, the author got an otter from his friend. Two Arabs brought
it for him in a sack.

• The author stayed in Basra for a few days. Very soon the otter became very
friendly with the author. It loved to play with water all the time. It played with
a rubber ball also.

• The author named his otter Mijbil. He made for it a body-belt. He would take
it on a lead to the bathroom. There the otter would go mad playing with water.
It could even turn the tap and make the water flow at full pressure.
• After some days, the author was to come back to London. The transporting
of Mijbil became a problem. British airline did not permit animals on its
flights. Another airline agreed to take the animal if packed in a box.

• The author made a small box for the otter. He had to face a lot of difficulty
and it made him late for the plane.

• While in the plane, the otter escaped from the box. There was a lot of hue
and cry. At last, the otter came back and settled on the author’s knees.

• After an eventful journey, the author and his otter at last reached London
where he lived in a flat.

• The otter spent most of its time playing with its toys. Sometimes the author
took it out for a walk. He would take it on a lead as if it were a dog.

• Opposite to the author’s flat, there was a primary school that had a low outer
wall about thirty yards long. The otter would jump on to it and go running all
the length of the wall.

• Different people made different guesses as to what animal it was. They

would say it was a baby seal, squirrel, a walrus, a hippo, a beaver, a bear cub
or even a leopard with spots.

• Very few Londoners had ever seen an otter. They were filled with surprise
on seeing such a strange animal.

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• One day a labourer was digging a hole in the street. Looking at the author’s
otter, he exclaimed, “Here, Mister, what is that supposed to be?”

19
 Madam Rides the Bus
Summary of the Chapter
This is a sensitive story of an eight year old girl’s whose name is Valliammai. It
was story of her first bus journey into the world outside her village. The girl
Valli, at a very tender age, tries to understand the mystery of life and
death. The outside world for Valli is charming and fascinating but mysterious.
She longs to experience it by herself.

The talks of the village people about the town added fuel to the fire. She
decides to go to the town all by herself without anybody’s support. She asked
the bus conductor to take her to the town .She herself paid her fare. She
wanted to devour everything with her eyes. She saw the canal, palm tree,
grass land, distant mountain and the blue sky. She also saw great stretch of
green field as far as the eye could see.
She was overjoyed when she saw a cow running with her raised tail on the
road ahead of the bus. While returning she noticed that the body of the same
cow was crushed and bled. She was moved from within. Perhaps she was
trying to understand the meaning of life and death in her own terms. She
returned home in time. None of the family members could know her
adventurous journey.

Quick Revision Notes

• The story is about an eight year girl named Valliammai. She was very curious
to know about things.

• Her favourite pastime was to stand at the front doorway of her house and see
what was happening in the street outside.

• She would watch the bus that passed every half an hour from her village to
the nearest town.

• She developed a desire to ride the bus. This became her deepest desire.

• Valli found out the details of the bus journey by listening carefully to the
conversations between her neighbours and regular bus users.

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• She came to know that the town was just six miles from her village and the
fare was thirty paise one way. The trip took forty-five minutes.

• Valli planned her visit to the town. She saved sixty paise for the fare. Finally
she took the one o’clock bus to the town.

• The conductor was a jolly short of person. He amused Valli with her light
hearted remarks. He calls her MADAM by way of joke.

• Valli was very happy to have got into the bus. She saw outside through the
window. She could see the canal, the palm trees, grassland, distant mountains
and the blue sky.

• She met some passengers in the bus. She got annoyed when an elderly man
called her a child. She disliked the elderly woman for her shabby look and
didn’t prefer to talk to her.

• On the way to the town, Valli saw a frightened cow running right in front of
the bus. She clapped gleefully as the cow ran faster.

• Valli did not get off the bus at the town. She did not want to go to the stall
and have a drink because she had no money. She also declined the offer of a
cold drink by the conductor. It tells u that she is a self-respecting girl and can
overcome temptation.

• On the return journey, she saw the same cow lying dead by the roadside. This
unpleasant sight made her very sad.

• She was a sensitive girl.

• The bus reached the village at three forty. She got down the bus and reached
her home. Her mother did not come to know about her journey.

21
 Sermon at Benares
Summary of the Chapter
Sermon is a religious talk delivered by a prophet or Saint. Here we have the
journey of Goutam Buddha from prince hood to his saintly life. He left the
palace at the age of 25, after seeing the sufferings of the world, to seek
enlightenment. He wandered for seven years, here and there, and under a
peepal tree at Bodhgaya he got it. His first sermon was delivered at Benaras as
it was considered to be the holiest place because of the river Ganga.

He thinks that he who seeks peace should draw out the arrow of lamentation,
complaint and grief. He who has drawn out the arrow has become composed,
and will obtain peace of mind; he who has overcome all such circumstances
will be free from sorrow and be blessed.
Kisa Gautami: She was grieving over the death of her son. She moved from
door to door and at last came to Buddha. She made him a humble request to
make her son alive. Buddha said he would do but he asked a handful of
mustard seeds. He further commanded it must be taken from a house where
no one had lost a child, husband, parent or friend.

She went from house to house but was unable to find one where nobody had
died. She was tired and hopeless and sat down at the wayside watching the
light of the city as they flickered up. And she realised that these lives flicker up
for some time and are extinguished again.

This way she was taught that the lives of mortals in this world are troubled
and brief and there is no means by which one can avoid deaths. As all earthen
vessels made by the potter are being broken, so is the life of mortals. Death is
inevitable.

Quick Revision Notes

• This lesson tells us about the life of Gautama Buddha, who was born in a
royal family as Siddhartha.

• Once he saw a funeral processing, and monk begging for the alms.

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• These sights moved them a lot and he decided to become a monk and started
moving in search of enlightenment.

• He started meditation under a peepal tree and after seven days he got
enlightenment and he became known as the Buddha (the Awakened or the
Enlightened).

• He preached his first sermon at Benares.

• Once a woman came to him requesting to bring her dead son to life.

• Gautama Buddha asked the lady to bring handful of mustard seeds from the
house were there had been no death.
• The lady moved from one house to another but she could not find a single
house where no one has lost a child, husband, parents or friend.
• Then she came to know that death common to all and is the ultimate truth.

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 The Proposal
Summary of the Chapter

This story is a drama or play between three characters. They are Stepan
Stepanovitch Chubukov who is a landowner, her daughter Natalya Stepanovna
who is twenty-five years old and Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov who is a neighbour
Chubukov. He is a large and hearty, but very suspicious, landowner.

Lomov enters into the house of Chubukov’s. Chubukov meets him. Chubukov
is extremely happy to meet him. He asks him to sit down. He also asks him
where he is going in the evening dress.
Lomov tells him that he has come to see him with a request. He wants to say
but gets excited. Chubukov feels that he has come to borrow money. Lomov
starts speaking. But he talks of this thing or that thing. At last he says that he
has come to ask Natalya’s hand. Chubukov is greatly excited to hear it.

Chubukov embraces and kisses Lomov for it. He says that he always wanted
that. Lomov asks him if he should think that he gives his consent. Chubukov
okays it. He tells him that Natalya also is in love with him.

Lomov trembles due to great excitement. He says that if he looks for an ideal
love he would never get married. He gets cold. He feels that Natalya is a good
housekeeper. She is beautiful and well-educated. He is already 35. He should
lead a quiet and regular life. But he now has palpitations. He starts jumping
like a mad person.

Natalya enters. She asks him why he is in the evening dress. Is he going to a
ball?

Lomov tries to tell her the purpose behind the visit. But he is off the point. He
tells that he has known her family for long. He also tells how he inherited his
land and how he respects Natalya’s father . He tells her hat his Oxen Meadows
touch Natalya’s birch woods. And over this issue they fight verbally like bull
dogs.

Natalya refuses Lomov’s claim. Lomov offers to make a present to them to

Natalya. Natalya gets angry. She comes to a low level. She starts accusing

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Lomov. They start shouting at each other.

Chubukov enters. Natalya asks him to tell Lomov that Oxen Meadows are
theirs. Lomov refuses this. Chubukov clarifies that by shouting Lomov won’t
prove the ownership. He accuses Lomov of speaking disrespectfully as he is
twice his age. Lomov adds that good neighbours don’t behave like that. He
calls Chubukov a land grabber.

Lomov threatens to take Chubukov to courts. They exchange abuses calling

that Lomov’s grandfather was a drunkard. His younger aunt Nastasya ran
away with an architect. Lomov wants to say something. But he feels that he is
dying.

Natalya calls Lomov ‘a rascal’. Chubukov calls him the villain and the scare
crow. He calls him a monster who has the courage to propose.

Hearing ‘propose’ Natalya asks what ‘proposal’. Chubukov tells her that
Lomov had come to propose her for marriage. She starts weeping. She calls
Chubukov to bring him back at once. She is in hysterics. He laments that it is a
great burden to be a father of a grown up daughter.

Lomov enters. He has palpitating heart. Natalya begs to be excused. She tells
him that the Meadows are his. Their talk now centers on dogs. Lomov tells
Natalya that his best dog Guess costs him 125 roubles. Natalya calls it too
much as her father gave 85 roubles for his Squeezer. Squeezer is better than
his dog. Lomov refutes it. He states that his lower jaw is shorter than
the upper. Natalya defends saying that their Squeezer is of the finest pedigree.

Both Lomov and Natalya start fighting over their dogs. Lomov calls his Guess
better. Natalya calls hers better. Lomov’s heart gets palpitating. He says that
his heart Is going to pieces. Chubukov enters. He asks what the matter is.
Chubukov also adds that Lomov’s dog Guess is old and short.

Lomov cites facts for his dog’s superiority. He cites the dog race with the
count’s dog. In that Squeezer was left behind. Dogs ran but Squeezer ran after
a sheep. Lomov speaks about the condition of his heart. Natalya asks him what
sort of hunter he is. He should go to the kitchen and not go after foxes.

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Chubukov cites with Natalya. He adds that Lomov should sit at home. He
changes the subject to avoid losing his temper. Lomov and he exchange abuses
calling ‘intriguer’, ‘pup’, ‘rat’, etc. Lomov tells that Chubukov’s late wife beat
him. He falls down.

Natalya asks her father what has happened to Lomov. Chubukov also feels sick
as he can’t breathe. Chubukov asks what the matter is. Natalya says that
Lomov is ‘dead’. At this Chubukov calls for water and a doctor.

Chubukov starts accusing himself. He calls himself the most unhappy of men.
He demands for a knife or a pistol. Lomov is reviving.

Lomov says he sees stars. He asks where he is. Chubukov asks him to hurry up
and get married. Natalya is also willing to marry him. Chubukov asks him to
kiss each other. Lomov asks whom he should kiss. He then says that he
understands. Natalya is also happy. Chubukov feels that a weight has come off
his shoulders. He offers some Champaign.

Quick Revision Notes

• Lomov went to Chubukov’s house.

• Lomov tells him the purpose of his visit.

• Chubukov agreed when Lomov tells the purpose.

• Lomov thinks of Natalya as his own life.

• Natalya and Lomov together talk.

• Lomov starts talking of his land.

• Lomov explains ownership.

• Argument continues.

• Shouting starts.

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• Chubukov sides with Natalya.

• Abuses exchanged.

• Accusation exchanged.

• Chubukov tells the purpose behind Lomov’s visit.

• Fighting over dogs.

• Fighting continues.

• Personal accusation

• Lomov becomes unconscious.

• Chubukov gives her daughter’s hand to Lomov.

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