The central park mystery

Anish and vinay were returning back from school. They were talking to each other all the way while walking on the footpath of the Central park they noticed an old beggar sitting there.

Vinay took out a 1 rupee coin from his pocket and gave it to the beggar. Anish was lost in thought. He used to read a lot of detective stories this made him curious about strange people and things around him. He said to vinay, “we’ve never seen this beggar here before, somewhere something is wrong.”                                                                                                                                                                    “Stop investigating. He must have come from some other place in search of alms.”                                                                                              They soon reached home. Later, they saw the beggar at the same place every day. Anish felt sick in school and his teacher permitted him to go home. Anish thanked his teacher and left the school. It was 3 o’clock in the afternoon. It was a hot sunny day and therefore people were staying indoors. The roads were empty and deserted.

Anish was walking slowly. He noticed the beggar who sat near the central park while crossing the road. He had a new digital camera in his hand. He was clicking photographs of the central park from different angels.                                                                                                            Suddenly the beggar spotted Anish. He got alert and hid the camera in his torn blanket and sat with the bowl in his hand.                     Anish got alarmed. He reached his house soon. His mother called the doctor and Anish rested after taking the prescribed medicines.

                After 2 days Anish felt quite well. He went to the breakfast table. Papa was reading newspaper. He said in an upset tone, “It has difficult to survive in cities these days.”

“What happened, papa?”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 “A bomb blasted in Central park yesterday. No one died but 15 people were seriously injured. Terrorist group by the name, ‘Terror’ has taken the responsibility”

“They said that if the police release 2 of their comrades who are in the jail now, then there would be more such more blasts.”                      Anish was shocked to hear this. That day, while returning back from school, he looked for the beggar near the central park.                    “Oh! Where has that old beggar gone?”                                                                                                                                                                                “No any idea about him. I did not see him yesterday either when I was going back home before the blast,” said Vinay with a curious look.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           “I have a doubt if he is also a part of the terror group who planted the bomb yesterday.” “What are you saying, Anish?” asked            Vinay shockingly.

“I saw him clicking photographs of this park. How could a beggar get an expensive digital camera? I am sure he was one of the terrorists,” said Anish firmly. “Oh! But what can be done now? He is not seen here now .He must have gone to his hideout because blasts through him.”

They returned home while discussing this. It was Anish’s mother’s birthday. Papa came early from the office. Anish also got ready after coming back from the school.

Papa planned for evening show and dinner in a restaurant. Soon, they reached Prabhat Theatre in their car. Papa bought tickets for the evening show. He parked the car in the allotted parking and they all hurriedly walked inside the theatre. It was show time. Suddenly Anish and ran in the other direction. His parents stood there and looked at him in surprise.

Anish saw an inspector there trying to arrest a person who was selling tickets in black. Anish went to the inspector and explained his observation and his doubts regarding the beggar. The inspector rushed towards the beggar. As soon as the beggar saw the inspector approaching, he left his belongings and started running. Both, inspector and the beggar disappeared in the crowd.

As they came out after watching the film, they found the inspector waiting for Anish at the gate. He smiled and shook hands with papa and congratulated him. He said, “Your son is very sharp. Really , he was an informer for the ‘terror’ group, disguised as a beggar . I have locked him up in the police station and waited here to talk to you.”  

“He has accepted that, after Central park , this theatre was their target for blast. He used to take photographs and send them to the terror group who chalks out a plan.”

Papa was looking at the inspector. He was very happy to hear the whole story.

After some days, the Mayor of the region invited Anish to honor him and gave him gifts. Next day, Anish occupied the front page in newspapers ans headlines in TV reports.

FAKE NOTE

                                           

Every Morning Whity Rabbit travelled by train to reach his office. While returning from office, one day, his eyes fell upon a 500 rupee note lying on the platform of the railway station. He slyly picked up the note and kept in his pocket.
For a moment, he was happy to find money but he could not hold the idea for long as he did not consider it correct.
"What should I do?" he thought. After pondering for some time, he decided to utilize the money for paying his electricity bill which was pending for a few months.
When he reached home, he remembered that he had gone to a birthday party of his friend Mighty the next day.
He thought, 'But from where do i have money t buy a nice gift for my friend?' He then thought of the 500 rupee note.
    "Good idea. Instead of paying the bill, I will buy a gift for Mighty with this money." Whity decided.
But Whity was still thinking about the note. "Whom does it belong to? From whose pocket it must have fallen? Maybe he needed it for buying a suit for himself or probably, paying his electricity bill. Or maybe buying a gift for his friend?" He thought, "But now this note is with me. What will he do?"
Whity was no longer happy now. He was only thinking of that person.
He now started searching for that man to whom the note belonged. This was not easy after all. Whity did not know anyone for that matter. Neither can he ask anyone about the lost note. Anyone could have taken it out of greed.
Finally, he decided to go back to the railway station and talk to someone who could be looking sad at the loss of something. And if anyone complained to him about his lost note, Whity would give it to him.
He reached the station. To his surprise, all people there appeared sad. Someone got tired after travel.
After walking up and down for some time, Whity noticed Blacky Bear. He went to Blacky and said, “You appear a little sad. Can I know the reason for it?"
Blacky said, "Yes, actually I want to go to my in-laws place and I also to buy a new suit but..."
"But you don't have money for it as you lost your 500 rupee note somewhere. Isn't it?" Whity immediately enquired.
"No, it is not like that. In fact, I don't have any money."
Whity quietly slipped from there. The next day, he saw Monty monkey who was uneasily walking up and down the station. “Can I help you?" Whity asked Monty. "I am searching for something which I am not finding. You too try, maybe you will find it," said Monty. "500 rupee note?"
"No, my pen has dropped somewhere. I am searching for it since long," Monty said.
Whity walked away. he met Longe Giraffe who too was appearing a little upset. Seeing Longe, he was sure that the note he found must have fallen from Lunge’s pocket.
Whity walked to him and said, "You seem to be upset. Has a 500 rupee note fallen from your pocket?"
"No, I am upset as I have to go to my friend's birthday party and I don't have money to buy gift for him. i am able to decide whether I should go or not," Longe said.
"You must go to your friend's party. What if you don't have a gift to present him with? If you are his good friend, he will be happy even if you reach without any gift.
"Think, how bad he will feel if you do not go," Whity advised. "You are correct. You have solved my problem."
Longe thanked him and went away.


"Now, what about my problem which is not yet solved," Whity pondered, sitting on a bench. Jumbo Elephant too came and sat near Whity murmuring, "Why does this happen to me only?"
"What happened?" asked Whity enquiringly. "I lost my 500 rupee note yesterday."
Whity jumped up, "500 rupee note! Was it yours? I have it. i have been searching for you since so long to return your note."
Without hearing Jumbo’s word fully, Whity took out the note from his pocket quickly and handed it over to jumbo.
"Don't make a fool of me. This is a fake note," said jumbo, looking at it closely.
"What?"
Whity looked at the note carefully. it was actually fake. "Sorry, i did not see it carefully. i found it here itself," said Whity. "I am not saying anything. I found my note yesterday itself. In fact, it was in my pocket and i was searching for it everywhere. I made a fool of myself. And today also I should have gone home from office but I have come here again. Why does this happen to me only?" said jumbo. "On! That means both of us have been made fools,” Whity murmured.

 "Well, now let us go home together. It will be foolish to wait here any longer, a' Jumbo said and whity followed him.

THE DANCING WHITE GHOST

                     THE DANCING WHITE GHOST

Wind was blowing strong .It was pitch dark and looked stormy. Thunder and lightning struck the sky and making it all the scarier. ”It is a stormy night," said Monty Dog to his friend Rocky.
Rocky came near the window and said, "Yes, it is. Fortunately, we are inside the house. It is warm and cosy here. If we were out now, we should be frozen to death."
In a while, it started raining heavily. They heard strange noise as the wind blew through the trees and rain hit the roofs. "Look, there is someone outside," Monty said while peeping out of the window. Rocky was bewildered. He said, "I cannot see anyone around.
"Look under that banyan tree, something white is moving here and there," Monty pointed out.
Rocky looked at that direction. There he could see a shadowy figure. Who could it be under the banyan tree at this time? Both of them were confused and at the same time scared too.
"i think it is a ghost," said Monty. Rocky was frightened. He said, "Are you sure??"
Both of them came near the window. The white ghost was still running around the tree. “Look...the ghost is swinging in the air..." Although Rocky could not see anything clearly, he started visualizing what Monty narrated.
"What do you think? Will it be an animal under the tree, that too at this time? It is surely a ghost," said Monty his voice was shaking. Both friends shut the window and ran towards their bed.
"I hope that the ghost will not come here," said Rockey and turned towards the kitchen to make some tea. “Both of them were too scared. Suddenly, Monty screamed, “The ghost is trying to enter our house."
'Sssssssssssss.....sssssssssss....’the wind was blowing strong outside.
"Thud...Thud...Thud...." it seemed that someone was knocking at the door with force. Their hearts beat fast. Monty went into the bedroom and brought a big stool and placed it against the door, “now, the ghost cannot break the door and come in, “he wiped off the sweat from his forehead.
  Suddenly Rocky noticed the lower portion of the door. A small portion was broken from which the enters from here? He thought. He ran into the kitchen to get old newspapers and blocked the hole on the door using them.
"Now, the ghost cannot enter our house," said Rockey and went to his bed. Monty switched on the TV.
'Whroom.....Whroom...'
'Thud......Thud....Thud...'
Horrifying noises like these came from outside the door but both rocky and Monty did not pay attention to them as they started watching their favorite show on the TV. Soon they were sleepy. Next morning, they woke up with a knock at the door Rocky opened the door while rubbing his eyes. There was Munku monkey standing there.
"Oh! You both are still sleeping. Yesterday, I was knocking at your door for a long time, but you did not open. I think you both had sound sleep last night." Rocky band Monty looked at each other.
"Actually my white bed sheet flew away with the wind and tangled on the banyan tree branch. I tried to pick it up, but could not. I thought i will borrow your big stool but you did not open."
Monty and Rocky burst into laughter and said, "Oh! It was you. We thought there was a white ghost, ha....ha....ha....ha...?" They laughed aloud as they explained their nightmare to Munku.                                                                                




                                                                                                                                 by –dkushwaha700

Foolish Alligator

                                     Foolish Alligator

Cheeku and meeku were best friends. They were famous in the jungle for their intelligence. One day, they went to the bank of the river to drink water. There stood a peepal tree whose roots were roots were spread into the river.

After quenching their thirst both friends sat under the tree and started talking.
The river was home to many deadly alligators. When one of them saw Cheeku and Meeku his mouth started watering.

"Today is a wonderful chance. I must not let the 2 rabbits go away."
He quietly swam under the water and caught their legs. "I have finally caught you      today. Where will you run now? I will eat you for dinner."

Cheeku and meeku knew that they were in danger. But they were brave and thought that getting frightened won`t help them. They had faith on their brainpower.

Cheeku suddenly laughed loudly and said, "Meeku how foolish is this alligator. It seems he has not know the difference between a tree`s root and the leg of a rabbit.

"He probably does not know that what he is holding is the tree`s root not our leg."
Hearing Cheeku the alligator felt embarrassed and quickly left their leg to rush for the roots of peepal.
Immediately, they jumped out of the water and taking a position far away, started making fun of the alligator.
The alligator realised his foolishness, "How stupid I am. Believing them to be correct I left my prey."
Murmuring to himself, he decided to take revenge.
At night, the alligator came out of the river and crawled towards Cheeku and Meeku`s burrow.
Both were not in their burrows then.
"let them come. I will not leave them now," said alligator.  He waited outside their burrow, pretending as if he was dead.
At midnight, when Cheeku   and Meeku returned home, they terrified at seeing an alligator outside their house.
"Cheeku, it seems this is same alligator whom we fooled that day," said Meeku whispering to Cheeku.
"He has surely come to take revenge on us and lying here pretending to be dead," Cheeku explained to Meeku is gestures and both stood at a distance from outside their burrow.
"It may be possible that he is actually dead," said cheeku. Standing at a distance from their house, cheeku said, "How this water animal has come here and died?"
Replying back quickly, Meek said, "No, he is not dead, rather he is pretending to e dead."
"How can you say that?" Cheeku asked.
"The alligator`s mouth opens up if he dies. If this one had died, his mouth would have opened," said Meeku.
With closed eyes, the alligator was listening to the talks of Cheeku and meeku. To show that he is dead, he quickly opened his mouth. Seeing him open his mouth both the friends laughed and ran away from there. The alligator kept lying there with his mouth open for a long time.
On opening his eyes and not finding anyone around him, he again realised his foolishness. He understood that it was not easy to make fool of the 2 friends.
He decided that he will never run behind the 2 rabbits. He walked back towards the river with a heavy heart.  ©
                                                                                            by -dkushwaha700™ 

GANDHIJI AND A COFFEE DRINKER

                                GANDHIJI AND A COFFEE DRINKER

About the lesson 

Mahatma Gandhi was the father of the nation . He was very kind and considerate . He took in nursing the sick . In this lesson, we would see how he served coffee to a patient in the Ashram at Sasbarmati.

Gandhi was a first class nurse to the sick. Where he picked up nursing was a mystery . He certainly did not pass through a nursing school. As in many other things, when nursing became necessary to him  in life, he learned it through the hard way of experience. In  the Ashram at Sabarmati, all sick persons came directly under  his eyes and care. Doctors were of course,  counslted; but the care of the sick, Gandhiji arranged in person. It was a joke, espically among young people in the Ashram, that if you wanted to see Gandhiji every day and talk to him and hear him crack jokes, you had only to be ill and get into bed ! For Gandhiji visited the sick everyday, spent a few minuts at every-bed side, himself saw to things carefully and never failed to crack a jokor two with the paitent . There was no day to busy for Gandhiji to attend sick person .
There was once a young lad who went down with dysentry. He had done his best to accustom himself  to Ashram food, but he failed. He had a great liking for coffee . But in the Ashram, there was no coffee for him nor was  coffee was allowed. In good time, he got rid of his dysentrty and was now recovering. Gandhiji visited him for a few minuts during his usual rounds. Those few minuts were like a tonic to the poor lad,
He pined for a cup of good coffee. One day, he was lying on his back dreaming of it when he heared the welcome sound of the wooden sandals of Gandhiji. A minute later,  Gandhiji entered with his never failing smile and cheering words.
He looked the lad and said : "Now you are decidedly better. You must have recorved your apptite, What would you like to eat ? Ah ! some good , uppuma or thosai ?"
Gandhiji evidently knew all about lad's partiality fot these two good old South Indian dishes. Gandhiji was laughing .The youngester had a sudden brain - wave.
"Could I have a cup of coffee, please"he blurted out.
Gandhiji answered with a peal of laughter, "Oh, you old sinner, that is what you want !" And then seeing the look on the lad's face, he added ,"You certainly shall have your cup of coffee . Yes light coffee wil soothe your stomach. And what will you have with your coffee ? I don't think, we can make Uppuna or thsai, but warm toast would go well with coffee. I  shall send you a tray."
With that, and a kind parting word, Ganhiji lefty room . The lad lay waiting, he could not believe his good luck. Coffee in Sabarmati Ashram ! and Gandhiji himself offering to send it in to him!
Gandhiji's cottage was at the other end of the Ashram, a good way across the road. teh lad could well imagine what would happen. Gandhiji would go to Kasturbain her kitchen and ask for coffee and toast. But it was  an untimely hour. The kitchen would be closed . Ba herself would be taking rest. Had he caused Gandhiji too much botheration? Some twenty minuts passed. Hark! What was that sound? The click-click of Gandhiji,s wodden sandels again. Had the coffee been called off? His heart sank within him. But there was Gandhiji carrying a tray covered with a white khadi napkin. The lad was dazed. What had really happened?
 Gandhiji was speaking. " Now, here is your coffee ans toast. And. mind you, I made the coffee myself. Npow like a good south Indian, will you certify I can make good coffee?"
"but "whispered the lad, " why did you not ask someone else to bring this for me? I am very sorry I  put you to this trouble."
"Now,now" , said Gandhiji , "do not ruin your coffee. Cold coffee is bad coffee. You see Ba was resting and I did not dare to disturb her ."And then he said suddenly, "well, I shall leave you now. Someone will come for the tray." With that off he went.
The coffee was light, but excellent. The lad saipped as if it were necta. But he was troubled. His mind 's eye saw Gandhiji opening the kitchen, lighting the stove, amking the coffee and toast and carrying it to him, all in order not to disturb others at that untimely hour. He was overwhelmed.

                                                                                                 by C. Ramchandran 

A LETTER TO GOD

                                 A LETTER TO GOD  

About the Author

  G.L. Fuents, one of the famous modern writers has written for the young as well as the old. He is a simple, short story writer and humorist . He is a general writer who has written on simple themes. 'A Letter to God' is his simple story which is full of humour.

About the Lesson

Lencho, a hard working farmer, lived in a valley om the top of a low hill. One morning he faced ruin due to a severe snowfall resulting a total damage of his crops. He turned to God in distress and wrote a letter asking him to send money . A postman saw the letter to God and took it to the post-master who first laughed and then was surprised at the faith of the writer . He collected some money from his employees and sent it to Lencho along with a letter. When Lencho got the letter with money and counted it less, he felt furious. so he wrote another letter to god asking him to send the rest of the money not by the post as the post-office employees were a bunch of crooks.

The Houses _the only one in the entire valley__sat on the crest of a low hill.From his height,one could see the river and the field of ripe corn dotted with the flowers that always promised a good harvest.

          The only thing, the earth needed, was a downpour or at least a shower. Throughout the morning Lencho _ who knew his fields intimately _ had done nothing else but seen the sky towards the North- East.

"Now we are really going to get some  water, woman."

The woman, who was preparing supper, replied : "yes, God,s willing."

The older boys were working in the field, while the smaller ones were playing near the house, until the woman called to them all : "Come for dinner ...."

It was during the meal that , just as Lencho had predicated, big drops of  rain began to fall. In the North- East huge mountains of clouds could be seen approaching . The air was fresh and sweet . 

The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the  rain on his body and when he returned he exclaimed .

"These are not raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins. The big drops are ten-cent pieces and the little ones are fives...."

With a satisfied expression he regarded the field of ripe corn with its Flowers, draped in a curtain of rain, But suddenly a strong wind began to blow and along with the rain very large hailstones began to fall. These truly did resemble new silver coins. The boys, exposing themselves to the rain, ran out to collect the frozen pearls.

"It's really getting bad now",exclaimed the man , "I hope it passes quickly , for an hour , the hail rained on the garden , the hillside, the cornfield , on the whole valley . The field was white, as if covered with salt. Not a leaf remained on the trees. The corn was totally destroyed. The flowers were gone from the plants. Lencho's soul was filled with sadness When the storm had passed, he stood in the middle of the field and said to his sons.

"A plauge of locusts would have left more then this ... The hail has left nothing ; this year we will have no  corn......

That night was a sorrowful one .

"All our work for nothing"

"There's no one can help us."

"We'll all go hungry this year .....

But in hearts of all who lived in that solitary house in the middle of the valley, there was a single hope ' help from god.

"Don't be so upset, even though this seems like a total loss. Remember, no one dies of hunger."

"That's What they say;no one dies of hunger..."

All through the night, Lencho thought only of his one hope  ; the help of God, whose eyes, as he had been instructed, see everything, even what is deep in one's conscience.

Lencho was an ox of a man, working like an animal in the fields, but still he knew how to write. The following Sunday, at daybreak, he began to write letter which he himself would carry to town and place in the mail;

It was nothing less then a letter to God.

"God," he wrote , "If you don't help me, my family and I will go hungry this year. I need a hundred pesos in order to sow my field again and to live until the corp comes, because the hailstorm....."                               He wrote "To God" on the envelope, put the letter inside and still troubled, went to town. At the Post-office, he placed a stamp on the letter to and dropped in into the mailbox.
One of the employees, who was a postman ans also helped at the post-office, went to his boss laughing heartily and showed him the letter to God.Never in his career as a postman had he known that address. The postmaster _a fat, amiable fellow_________also brake out laughing, but almost immediately he turned serious and, tapping the letter on his desk, commented:
        "What faith! I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter, starting up a correspondence with God!"

So, in order to shake the writer's faith in God, the postmaster came up with an idea:

answer the letter. But when he opened it, it was evident that to answer it he needed something more than goodwill, ink and paper. But he stuck to his resolution : he asked for money from his employees, he himself gave part of his salary and several friends of his were obliged to give something for an act of charity.
It was impossible to gather together the hundred pesoes, so he was able to send farmer only a little more than half.He put the money in an envelope addressed to Lencho and with them a letter containing only a single word as a signature : God .
the following Sunday, Lencho came a bit earlier than usual to ask if there was a letter for him. while the postmaster, experiencing the contentment of a man who was has performed good deed, looked on 

from the doorway of his office.
Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the money: such was his confidence _ but he came angry when he counted the money.. God could not have made a mistake, nor could he have denied Lencho what he had requested.
Immediately, Lencho went up to the window to ask for paper ans ink. On the public writing table, he started to write, with much wrinkling of his brow caused by the effort he had made to but a stamp which he licked and then affixed to the envelope with a blow of his fist.
The moment that the letter fell into the mailbox the postmaster went to open it .It said:
"God : of the money that I asked for, only seventy pesoes reached me, ssend me the rest, since I need it very much. But don't send it to me through the mail, because the post-office employees are a bunch of crooks. Lencho,"-------------- end@



                                                                                                                                       by G. L. Fuents 

THE INDEPENDENCE DAY

                      THE INDEPENDENCE DAY

15TH of August is Independence day . On this day in 1947, India become free from  the Britishers . Since then the day is celebrated as independence day by the people of India.

On this day in Delhi,the Priminister  hoists the national flag at the Red Fort .The national flag is also hoisted in all schools, colloages, government and private office. After that the national anthem is sung . The primeminister delivers speech about the lives of patriots and freedom struggle. We take inspiration from them. Children get sweets on this day in their schools .

The independence day is a national holiday . All schools, collages, and offices are closed on this day .

On this day we take uath to do our duties towards our Mother land.

INDIAN WEAVERS

                                 INDIAN WEAVERS 

About the Poem 

Indian Weavers are highly skilled in their work. They work hard from dawn to late in the night.

They can weave beautiful cloths for all the occasions of life viz, birth, marriage and death.

Weavers, weaving at break of day,

Why do you weave a garment so gay ?

Blue as the wing of a halcyon wild,

We weave the robes of a new-born child.

Weavers, weaving at fall of night,

Why do you weave a garment so bright?

Like the plumes of a peacock, purple and green,

We weave the marriage veils of a queen.

Weavers m weaving solemn and still,

What do you weave in the moonlight chill?

White as a feather and white as a cloud,

We weave a dead man's funeral shroud.

                                                                                                                                    _Sarojini Naidu

FAITHFUL FRIENDS

                     

                                 FAITHFUL FRIENDS

About the Poem

Here, the poet defines a true friend and advises us to beware  of the flatterers who praise you sky high but their love is is only a show. They gather around you as long as you have money. They leave you as soon as your store of money is spent . Whereas a true friend will always stand by you through the ups and downs of life .Many people may claim to be your friend but true friends are rare to find.

Everyone that flatters thee

Is no friend in misery; 

Words are easy, like the wind,

Faithful friends are hard to find.

Every man will be thy friend,

Whilst hast wherewith to spend;

But, if store of crowns be scant,

No man will supply thy want.

He that is thy friend indeed,

He will help thee in thy need.

If thou sorrow, he will weep;

If you wake, he can not sleep.

Thus of every grief in heart,

He with thee doth bear a part.

These are certain signs to know.

Faithful friends from flattering foe.                                                        _William Shakespeare

SYMPATHY

                                        SYMPATHY

About the poem

Sympathy is a quality of God. We should not be indifferent towards the sufferings of other people. Money is great but greater than money is sympathy. If somebody helps us with money, we can pay back money is due course. But the service done to us in sympathy cannot be aid back.

I lay in sorrow, deep distressed;  

My grief a proud man heard;

His looks were cold, he gave me gold,

But not a kindly word.

                  My sorrow passed-I paid him back 

                  The gold he gave to me;

                  Then stood erect and spoke my thanks

                  And blessed his charity.

I lay in want, and grief, and pain;

A poor man passed my way; 

He bound my dead, He gave me bread,

He watched me day and night.

                     

                   How shall I pay him back again

                   For all he did to me ?

                   Oh, gold is great, but greater far

                   Is heavenly sympathy.                                                                     _ Charles Mackay 

THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SQUIRREL

                   THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SQUIRREL 

 

About the Poem

This poem is a dialogue between the mountain and the squirrel . The mountain is proud of its towering bigness and looks upon the squirrel.The squirrel justifies its existence.It says that God created this universe in a very orderly way after a good deal of thinking. All big or small , rich or poor have a distinct quality and a definite place. None is superior or inferior. None should be considered as weak or useless .

The mountain and the squirrel 

Had a quarrel,

And the former called the latter"Little prig"

Bun replied,

                  You are doubtless very big;

                   But all sorts of things and weather

                   Must be taken in together 

                   To make up a year

And a sphere,

And I think it no disgrace 

To occupy my place

If I'm not so large as you,

                   You are not small as I,

                    And not half so spry;

                    I'll not deny you make 

                    A very pretty squirrel track.                                                                                                 Talents differ; all is well and wisely put;

'If I cannot carry forests on my back,

Neither can you crack a nut.'

             

                                                                                                                           Ralph Waldow Emerson

THE NATION BUILDERS

                                THE NATION BUILDERS

Central Idea of the Poem

The Poem 'The Nation Builders' tells us that material wealth does not make a nation strong and great. The people of strong character build a nation. People who are ready to make sacrifices for the truth and honour , who are ready to stand firm and suffer, lay solid foundation of a nation.The industries and daring people make a nation great, and not the weak and cowards.

           Not gold, but only men can make 

                       A people great and strong_

          Men who, for truth and honour's sake,

                       Stand fast and suffer long

          Brave men who work while others sleep,

                      Who dare while others fly_

          They build a nation's pillars deep

                     And lift them to the sky.

                                                                                                                                 by R.W. Emerson 

THE PERFECT LIFE

                                 

                                   THE PERFECT LIFE  

Central Idea of the Poem

The poem 'The Perfect Life' presents the picture of life through beautiful and contrasting images.The poet says that a short and meaningful life is far better than a life that is long but uneventful.The poet compares the long life to an oak tree that grows tall and lasts for hundreds of years but is of no use to anyone.On the other hand, a lily is short-lived but it spreads sweetness and beauty all around . It gives joy to the people. Ben Jonson, in short, says life can be made beautiful and prefect even in a small life span.

     It is not growing like a tree 

     In bulk, doth make Man better be,

     Or standing as an oak, three hundred year,

     To fall a log at last, dry, bald and sere;

     A lily of a day

     Is fairer far in May.

     Although it fall and die that night_

     It was the plant and flower o'light.

     In small proportions we just beauties see.

     And in short measures life may perfect be.

                                                                                                                                          by Ben Jonson 

THE PSALM OF LIFE

                                 

                                  THE PSALM OF LIFE

Central Idea of the Poem

     Life is not an empty dream. It is a serious reality. Death is not its ultimate object for soul is immortal. Sorrow or joy is not its preordained way or aim. Our main duty in life is to work hard and progress day by day. In this short and temporary camp of life we should face the circumstances of life as a hero, and not be driven this way by them like helpless cattle. We should give up idleness and start working hard to achieve success after success. We should learn to labour  hard and wait for the result.                    

Life is real! Life is earnest!

              And the grave is not its goal.

"Dust thou art to dust returnest.

              Is not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,

              Is our destined end or way;

But to act that each tomorrow

              Finds us farther than today.

In the world;s broad field of battle,

              In the bivouac of life.

Be not like dumb, driven cattle;

              Be a hero in the strife!

Let us, then,be up and doing,

             With a heart for any fate;

Still achieving, still pursuing,

             Learn to labour and to wait.....

                                                                                                                                  by H. W. Longfellow

THE FOUNTAIN

                                              

                                       The Fountain

Central  Idea of the Poem

'The Fountain' is a very inspiring poem. The poet describes the fountain in three different aspects.In the sunshine it is bright and upward leaping and glittering. In the moon light it appears snowy white and sways rhythmically like flowers when the wind rushes. Under the starlight it rises and falls like spray. All the time it is cheerful and lively. All the time it seems to be aspiring higher and higher. The poet wishes to learn these qualities of freshness, change fitness,constancy and aspiring from the fountain.

Into the sunshine,

Full of the light,

Leaping and flashing

From morn till night!              

                               

                   Into the moonlight,

                   Whiter than snow.

                   Waving so flower-like,

                   When the winds blow

Into the starlight,

Rushing in spray,

Happy at midnight,

Happy by day!

                    

                   Ever in motion,

                   Blithesome and cheery,

                   Still climbing heavenward,

                   Never a weary;

Glad of all weathers,

Still seeming best,

Upward or downward

motion thy rest;

                  

                   Full of a nature

                   Nothing can tame,

                   Changed every moment,

                   Ever the same 

Ceaseless aspiring,

Ceaseless content,

Darkness or sunshine,

Thy element;

                   Glorious fountain!

                   Let my heart be

                   Fresh, changeful, constant,

                   Upward like thee!

                                                                                                                               by james Russell Lowell

                                                                  

THE ENCHANTED POOL

                             

                                              THE ENCHANTED POOL

About the lesson

This lesson is an extract from 'The Mahabharata'.It reflects the character of Yudhishthira, the Dhram Raj; his patience, kindness,love for his brothers and intelligence.He pleases Yaksha by giving satisfactory answers to his questions.The Yaksha was pleased with Yudhishthira's impartiality.The Yaksha was 'Yama' the lord of Death who had taken the form of Yaksha to see Yudhidhthira and test his knowledge. Being satisfied with his answers he blessed him and disappeared.

Yudhishthira waited for his brothers in anxiety and thirst. "Can they have been subjected to a curse or are they still wandering about in the forest in search of water? Can they have fainted or died of thirst? "Unable to bear these thoughts, and driven by an overpowering thirst,he gave-up waiting and started out to look for his brothers and the pool hoping that he might find them.

Yudhishthira proceeded in diction his brothers had taken and kept on walking through tracts full of wild beat and spotted dear and big forest birds till he came upon a beautiful green meadow, around a pool pf clear water. But when when he saw his brothers lying there like flagpoles,unable to restrain his grief, he lifted his voice and wept . 

he touched the faces of Bhima and Arjun, as they lay so still and silent,and mourned:"was this to be the end of all our vows? just when out exile is about to  end,you have been taken away. Even the Gods have forsaken me in my misfortune. 

As he looked at their mighty limbs,now so helpless, he sadly wondered who could have been powerful enough to kill then. Then he  too descended into pool, drawn to the water by an overpowering thirst. At once the voice without form warned.

"Your brothers died because they did not heed my words. They tried to drink water without answering  my questions. Don't follow them. Answer my questions first and then you can quench your thirst.This pool belongs to me." 

It did mot take Yudhishthira  a moment to understand that these could be none other than the words of a Yaksha and guessed what had happened to his brothers.It took him no time to see a possible way of bringing them back in life. He said to the bodiless voice: "please ask your questions."

The voice pt questions rapidly one after another. 
"What rescues man in danger?"
"Courage" 
"By the studying of which science does man become wise?"
"Not by studying any_'Shastra' does man become wise.It is by association with the great in wisdom that he gets wisdom."
The Yaksha asked, "What is swifter than the wind?"
"Mind."
"what is more faded than a dried straw?"
"A sorrow stricken heart."
What befriends a traveller?" 
"Learning."
"Who is the friend of who stays at home?"
"The wife."
"Who accompanies a man in death?"
"Dharma.That alone accompanies the soul in its solitary journey after death." 
"Which is the biggest vessel?"
"The earth,which contains all within itself, is the greatest vessel."
"What is happiness?"
"Happiness is the result of good conduct."
"What is that, by giving up which man becomes loved by all?"
"Pride.For,if man gives up being proud, will be loved by all"
"What is the loss which yields joy and not sorrow?"
"Anger,if we give up being angry, we will he no longer subject to sorrow."
"What is that, by giving-up which a man becomes rich?"
"Desire .if man gives up being greedy, he will become wealthy."
"What makes one a real 'Brahmana?' Is it birth, good conduct, or learning? Answer decisively."
Birth and learning do not make one a Brahman; good conduct alone does. 
However learned a person may be,he will not be a 'Brahaman' without giving up bad habits.Even though he may be learned in the four Vedas, a man of bad conduct falls to a lower class."

"What is the greatest wonder in the world?"

"Everyday men see creatures depart to Yama's kingdom; and yet those who remain want to live for ever.This truly is the greatest wonder."

Thus , the Yaksha put many questions and Yudhishthira answered them all .
In the end the Yaksha asked "O, King one of your dead brothers can now be revived.
Who do you want to come back to life?"

It took Yudhishthira a moment to think and then he wished that the cloud -complexioned, lotus-eyed, broad-chested and long-necked nkula , lying like a fallen ebony tree, might arise.
The Yaksha was pleased at this and Yudhishthira: "Why did you choose Nakula in the preference to Bhima, who has the strength of sixteen elephants ? I have heared that 
Bhima is most dear to you. And why not Arjuna, whose strength in arms is your protection? Tell me why you choose Nakula rather than either of these two."

Yudhishthira replied : "O Yaksha , 'Dharma' is the only shield of man and not Bhima or Arjuna, If 'Dharma' is given up,man will be ruined. kunti and madri were the two wives of my father. I am alive, a son of kunti and so she is not  completely bereaved. In order that the scales of  justice  may be even.I ask that madri's son, Nakula may revive."

The Yaksha was most Pleased with Yudhishthira's impartiality and granted that all his brothers come back to life.
It was Yama, the Lord of Death, who had taken the form of Yaksha so that he might see Yudhishthira  and test him. He embraced Yudhishthira's and blessed him; then he disappered.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         by c.Raj gopalachar