A LETTER TO GOD FIRST FLIGHT EXTRA QUESTION , IMPORTANT QUESTION

A LETTER TO GOD

FIRST FLIGHT

EXTRA QUESTION , IMPORTANT QUESTION AND MUCH MORE

INTRODUCTION

Lencho was a farmer. He was an extremely hard-working man. However, his crop was destroyed in an exceedingly Hailstorm. He had a firm belief in God. He thought that God would surely him. Thinking this he wrote a letter to God. He asked God to send him some money. At the post-office, the master read Lencho’s letter. He and the other postmen of the post-office wanted to help Lencho. They collected some amount to help him and placed the collected amount into an envelope. The next Sunday, Lencho came to check whether there was any letter for him. The master gave him that envelope. Once Lencho opened the envelope he found the cash. But it was less than what he had requested for. He wrote another letter to God He asked God to send him the rest of the money. But he asked God not to send it by post because the post-office employees were a bunch of crooks.

(लैंचो एक किसान था I  वह बहुत मेहनती था I  मगर उसकी फसल ओलों के तूफ़ान में नष्ट हो गई थी I  उसे भगवान में पक्का विश्वास था I  उसने सोचा कि ईश्वर उसकी सहायता करेगें I  इसलिए उसने भगवान को एक पत्र लिखा I  उसने भगवान से कहा कि वह उसे पैसा भेंजे I  डाकघर में पोस्टमास्टर ने वह पत्र पढ़ा I  उसने एवं डाकघर के डाकियों ने लैचों की सहायता करने का फैसला किया I  उन्होंने कुछ पैसा इकट्ठा करके एक लिफाफे में डाल दिया I  अगले रविवार लैंचो डाकखाने गया और पूछा क्या उसके लिए कोई पत्र है I  पोस्टमास्टर ने उसे वह लिफाफा दे दिया I  जब लैंचों ने वह लिफाफा खोला तो उसमें पैसा था I  मगर यह उस राशि से कम था जितनी उसने माँगी थी I  उसने भगवान को दूसरा पत्र लिखा कि वह बाकी का पैसा भेजें I  मगर उसने भगवान को कहा कि वह पैसा डाक से न भेजें I  क्योंकि डाकघर के कर्मचारी  तो ठगों का एक टोला हैं I )

SHORT SUMMARY

1.    Lencho a Farmer: Lencho was a farmer. His house was the only one in the entire valley. It was on the top of a hill. His fields needed a good harvest. He was looking towards the sky hoping for rain. During the meal, big drops of rain began to fall. He went out to feel the rain on his body.

2.    Raindrops Like Coins: Lencho was satisfied. The drops of rain were like coins. The big drops were ten cent pieces and the little ones were worth five each. Suddenly, a strong wind began to blow. Lencho was worried.

3.    Raining of Huge Hailstones: Along with the rain came very large hailstones. They truly did resemble silver coins. The house, the fields and the hill-side were covered with the white hails. Not a leaf remained on the trees. The corn was totally destroyed. So were the flowers. Lencho was sorrowful. They would have no corn that year.

4.    Single Hope — Help from God: Lencho thought that there was only one hope. It was the help from God. The following Sunday, he wrote a letter to God. He wrote that if he did not help, his whole family would die. He needed a hundred pesos in order to sow his field again and to live until the new crop came. He wrote ‘To God’ on the envelope, placed a stamp on it and dropped it into the mailbox.

5.    Strange Address: One of the postmen who read the address laughed heartily and took it to the postmaster. The postmaster was quite a friendly and pleasant man. He too broke out laughing. But soon he became serious. He realised that the sender of the letter had great faith in God. He didn’t want to shake the writer’s faith in God. He decided to answer the letter.

6.    Help from the Postmaster: The generous postmaster collected money from his employees. He himself gave a part of his salary. He put seventy pesos, all the money he could collect, in an envelope and sent it to Lencho by mail.

7.    Lencho’s Anger Against Post Office Employees: Lencho had a firm and unshaken faith in God. He did expect help from God. When he received the money, he was not surprised. But his happiness was just for some moments. When he counted the money, he became very angry. He believed that God could never deceive him. Immediately, he wrote a second letter to God and posted it. The postmaster opened the letter eagerly. Lencho wrote that he received seventy pesos that had been sent by God. He requested God to send him the rest of the money. He asked God not to send the money through the mail. The post-office employees were ‘a bunch of crooks’.

Theme of the Story

This is a story of a hard-working farmer Lencho. He is expecting a good harvest this year if it rains. The rain does come bringing brief happiness. However, a hailstorm follows the rain destroying all his crops. Being deeply hurt, he looks toward God. Having an unshaken faith in God he writes a letter to Him demanding one hundred pesos. This amount is sufficient enough to sow his crop again. He posts it. The postman has a hearty laugh when he reads it and shows it to the postmaster. The postmaster, being a generous man, decides to help Lencho. He gives a part of his salary and collects money from the employees. He sends seventy pesos to Lencho. Lencho’s happiness was momentary when he counts the money. God can’t deceive him, it is the work of post office employees. He writes another letter to God asking Him not to send the remaining 30 pesos by mail as post office employees are a ‘bunch of crooks’.

The lesson shows three things. It shows Lencho’s firm faith in God. His faith is rewarded through the helpers are human beings. Secondly, it shows the utter innocence of the farmer, Lencho. Thirdly, the lesson gives a message that sometimes even your generosity is not recognised. You may not get any credit for your generosity and kindness. But on the other hand, you may be misunderstood as a ‘bunch of crooks’.

Complete Question Bank For A Letter to God-

EXTRACT :

“It’s really getting bad now”, exclaimed the man. “I hope it passes quickly.” It did not pass quickly. For an hour the hail rained on the house, 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.

Questions:

Q1. What was getting bad for Lencho?

ANS: The falling of hailstones was getting bad for Lencho.

Q2. What did Lencho expect?

ANS: Lencho expected that the falling of hailstones would stop soon.

Q3. Did it happen as he expected?

ANS: No, he expected that the falling of hailstones would stop soon. On the contrary, the hail rained for an hour.

Q4. What were the adverse impacts of hailstones on his crops?

ANS: The falling of hailstones totally destroyed his crops.

EXTRACT :

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 plague of locusts would have left more than this. The hail has left nothing. This year we will have no corn.”

Questions:

(a) What made Lencho so dejected and depressed?

ANS: The hailstones completely destroyed his crops which made him very dejected and depressed.

(b) With whom did he share his sorrow?

ANS: He shared his sorrow with his sons.

(c) Why did he compare the hailstones with a plague of locusts?

ANS: A plague of locusts also destroys the crops but not as much as done by the hailstones.

(d) Did Lencho and his family go hungry that year?

ANS: No, he got the help of 70 pesos from the post office staff to run his household expenditure and sow his field again.

EXTRACT :

But in the 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.”

Questions:

(a) Who lived in that solitary house?

ANS: Lencho lived with his family in that solitary house.

(b) What single hope they ‘had’ left with?

ANS: They had left with the single hope of getting some help from God

(c) How did the speaker console his family?

ANS: He consoled his family by reminding that no one ever dies of hunger

(d) What does it show about the speaker?

ANS: It shows the speaker’s unshaken faith in God and His mercy.

EXTRACT :

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 a letter which he himself would carry to town and place in the mail. It was nothing less than a letter to God.

Questions:

(a) What did Lencho think all through the night?

ANS: Lencho thought all through the night about the help from God.

(b) What kind of a farmer was Lencho?

ANS: Lencho was strong and active like an ox working in the field.

(c) What did he begin to write on the following Sunday?

ANS: He began to write a letter to God seeking His help to save him and his family.

(d) Why did he think of doing such a thing?

ANS: He needed God’s help because he and his family were on the verge of starvation

EXTRACT :

“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 field again and to live until the crop comes because of 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 and dropped it into the mailbox.

Questions:

(a) What did he write about his family?

ANS: He wrote that he and his family were on the verge of starvation that year.

(b) What was the address written on the envelope?

ANS: Lencho wrote ‘To God’ as the address on the top of the envelope.

(c) Was the letter received by the addressee?

ANS: No, the letter was not received by the addressee, instead, it was opened and read by the postman.

(d) How did the receiver of the letter response to the letter?

ANS: The receiver of the letter first made fun of the sender, but later he passed it on to the postmaster who decided to help the sender.

EXTRACT :

 

The house—the only one in the entire valley sat on the crest of a low hill. From this 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 see the sky towards the north-east.

Questions:

 

Where was Lencho’s house?

Lencho’s house was at the top of a hill.

What could one see from his house?

One could see the river, the fields with ripe corn dotted with flowers from the height of his house were situated.

Did the rainfall fulfil his expectation?

No, along with rain very large hailstones began to fall which destroyed his crops.

Why did Lencho see the sky towards the north-east?

Lencho constantly saw the sky towards the north-east expecting some signs of rain

EXTRACT :

It was during the meal that, just as Lencho had predicted, 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 aren’t raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins. The big drops are ten cent pieces and the little ones are fives.”

Questions:

 (a) What happened during the meal?

ANS: Big drops of rain began to fall during the meal.

(b) What could one see in the north-east?

ANS: One could see huge mountains of snow approaching in the north-east.

(c) How did the pleasant rain turn into devilish one for Lencho?

ANS: The rain accompanied very large hailstones which proved to be devilish for Lencho.

(d) What is the mood of the narrator in this passage

ANS: The narrator is very happy to see the rainfall.

EXTRACT :

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.

Questions:

(a) Why was Lencho satisfied?

ANS: Lencho was satisfied as it started raining heavily. He regarded the fields of ripe corn with its flowers covered with rain.

(b) What happened all of a sudden?

ANS: Suddenly, a strong wind began to blow and along with the rain very large hailstones began to fall.

(c) What did ‘they’ truly resemble?

ANS: The large hailstones resembled new silver coins.

(d) What do the ‘frozen pearls’ refer to, here?

ANS: Here ‘frozen pearls’ refers to hailstones.

EXTRACT :

One of the employees, who was a postman and 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 broke 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!”

Questions:

(a) The postman laughed heartily to see ‘To God’ as the receiver’s name.

ANS: Why did the postman laugh heartily?

(b) Had the postman ever known that address?

ANS: No, the postman had never known any letter with such an address

(c) Why did the postmaster become serious?

ANS: The postman became serious as he was deeply moved by the faith the sender had in God.

(d) What did the postmaster do to keep up Lencho’s unshakable faith in God?

ANS: The postmaster collected money and gave part of his salary and sent 70 pesos to Lencho.

EXTRACT : 

Immediately, Lencho went up to the window to ask for paper and ink. On the public writing-table, he started to write, with much wrinkling of his brow, caused by the effort he had to make to express his ideas. When he finished, he went to the window to buy a stamp which he licked and then affixed to the envelope with a blow of his first. The moment the letter fell into the mailbox the postmaster went to open it. It said, “God: Of the money that I 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 mail because the post office employees are a bunch of crooks”. Lencho.

Questions:

(a) Why were there much wrinkles on Lencho’s brow?

ANS: Lencho was not much educated so he had to put pressure on his mind to express his ideas on the letter.

(b) What did he do when he finished the letter?

ANS: When he finished it, he stamped and put it into the mailbox.

(c) What was Lencho’s request regarding the amount of money?

ANS: Lencho requested God to send the remaining thirty pesos as he needed them badly.

(d) Were the post office employees indeed ‘a bunch of crooks’?

ANS: No, the post office employees were generous men as they helped Lencho.

EXTRACT :

So, in order not to shake the writer’s faith in God, the postmaster came up with an idea to answer the letter. But when he opened 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 for him to gather together the hundred pesos, so he was able to send the farmer only a little more than half.

Questions:

(a) Why did the postmaster decide to answer the letter?

ANS: The postmaster was deeply moved and impressed by the sender’s unshaken faith in God.

(b) Why did the sender need something more than goodwill?

ANS: The sender needed something more than goodwill — a help of one hundred pesos.

(c) How did the postmaster collect money?

ANS: The postmaster collected money by giving a part of his salary and taking contributions from his employees.

(d) Why could the postmaster collect only 70 pesos, not 100?

ANS: It was an act of charity, so whatever amount was given by the staff at their sweet will, he accepted and he also added some part of his salary to the charity but could not collect 100 pesos.

EXTRACT :

He put the money in an envelope addressed to Lencho and with it 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. It was the postman himself who handed the letter to him while the postmaster, experiencing the contentment of a man who has performed a good deed, looked on from his office.

Questions:

(a) Why did the postmaster put the signature ‘God’ on the letter?

ANS: He put the signature ‘God’ so that Lencho’s unshaken faith in God did not break.

(b) What unusual act was done by Lencho on the following Sunday?

ANS: On the following Sunday, he reached the post office a bit earlier than usual to ask if there was a letter for him.

 (c) Who handed over the letter to Lencho?

ANS: The postman himself handed over the letter to Lencho.

(d) What sort of ‘good deed’ did the postmaster perform?

ANS: The postmaster helped a person who, if not helped by him, would suffer from starvation.

EXTRACT :

Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the money; such was his confidence—but he became angry when he counted the money. God could not have made a mistake, nor could he have denied Lencho what he had requested.

Questions:

(a) Why did Lencho not show any surprise on seeing the money?

ANS: Lencho had so much confidence in God that he showed no surprise when he saw the money.

(b) Why did he become angry when he counted the money?

ANS: He became angry as he received thirty pesos less than what he had demanded from God.

(c) Could God have denied Lencho what he had requested Him?

ANS: No, God couldn’t have denied Lencho what he had requested Him.

(d) What was the help he demanded from God?

ANS: He demanded a sum of one hundred pesos from God as a special help to him.

Answer the questions that follow.

(a)   What did the earth need?

       Ans. A downpour or a shower

(b) What did Lencho do throughout the morning?

ANS: Lencho waited for the rain.

(c) Why had Lencho kept looking towards the north-east?

ANS: The rain-clouds were to come from that direction.

(d) What promised a good harvest?

ANS: The river and the field of ripe corn dotted with the flowers promised a good harvest.

(a) Why did Lencho get angry?

ANS: Lencho got angry to find less money (that he had asked)

(b) Who could not have made a mistake in Lencho’s eyes?

ANS: God

(c) Why did Lencho not surprise on seeing the money?

ANS: This was because Lencho had full confidence in God. He had firm faith in the help of God.   

(d) What did Lencho find when he counted the money?

ANS: He found only 70 pesos and not 100, the amount he had asked for.

(a) What was Lencho thinking while writing the letter?

ANS: He thought that the post office employees had stolen a part of his money sent by God.

(b) Why did the postmaster open the mailbox immediately after Lencho had posted his letter?

ANS: He wanted to see Lencho’s response after receiving the money. He thought Lencho must have thanked God for sending the money

(c) How much money had Lencho asked for?

ANS: One Hundred Pesos.

(d) Why did Lencho not want to send the rest of the money by mail?

ANS: He thought post office employees were dishonest people who had cheated him.

(a) Why did Lencho go out in the rain?

ANS: Lencho went out in the rain to have the happiness of feeling the rain on his body.

(b) Why were the raindrops like `new coins’ for Lencho?

ANS: They were like new coins because Lencho thought that it would yield a good harvest, and help him earn money.

(c) How did these new coins ultimately bring disaster to his cornfield?

ANS: These new coins i.e., rain drops soon turned into hailstones which destroyed all his crops and ruined his hopes.

(d) Explain the description: ‘The air was fresh and sweet’.

ANS: The clouds brought cool and sweet smelling air in their wake.

(a) What help has he asked for?

ANS: He has asked for a hundred pesos in order to sow his field again.

(b) Why did he need help?

ANS: He needed help because the hailstorm had destroyed his crop, and his family would go hungry.

(c) Why did Lencho write a letter to God?

ANS: Lencho’s crops were completely destroyed by the hailstorm. He had nobody to help but he had faith in God.

(d) Why was Lencho and his family in distress?

ANS: Lencho’s crops were completely destroyed by the hailstones. He feared that he and his family would go hungry.

(a) Why did no leaf remain on the trees?

ANS: A hailstorm had struck, leaving the field bare.

(b) How did Lencho feel after the storm?

ANS: Lencho was utterly unhappy and distressed.

(c) What was the major effect of the hailstorm on the field?

ANS: The corn was totally destroyed.

(d) What made Lencho sad?

ANS: He was left with no corn to sow and feed his family.

(a) How did Lencho feel when he saw his fields covered with the curtain of rain?

ANS: Lencho felt satisfied.

(b) What followed the rain?

ANS: A strong wind followed the rain.

(c) What did hailstone resemble?

ANS: They resembled with silver coins.

(d) How did these new silver coins bring disaster to him?

ANS: These new silver coins turned into hailstones which destroyed all his crops and ruined his hopes.

(a) What did Lencho think throughout the night?

ANS: He thought of one hope—the help of God.

(b) What does ‘Lencho was an ox of a man’ imply?

ANS: He was very hardworking—he worked like an ox.

(c) Which line suggests that Lencho was literate?

ANS: “The following Sunday… he began to write a letter ….” This line suggests that Lencho was literate.

(d) What strange action did Lencho take?

ANS: Lencho’s odd action was his letter addressed to God.

(a) What was the postmaster’s reaction to seeing the letter?

ANS: He first laughed then became serious.

(b) What did the postmaster wish?

ANS: To have as much faith in God as the writer who wrote the letter to God had.

(c) What kind of person was the postmaster?

ANS: He was an amiable, kind, pleasant and friendly person.

Character Sketch

1.Lencho: Lencho was a man of limited means and earned his living by farming his fields. He had an unshaken faith in God. He believed that God always helps people with a clear conscience. Therefore, when he lost all hopes and he and his family were on the verge of starvation, he looked towards God for help. His deep faith in God even impressed the postmaster who decided to help him.

He was a little educated to write a letter. He shows his innocence by trying to have a correspondence with God directly.

                                                                                

While he had an unshaken faith in God, he mistrusted easily the motives of men. He could never know and nor did he ever try to know who had sent him those seventy pesos to help him. It is quite ironical that he abused his helpers by calling them ‘a bunch of crooks’.

2. Postmaster: The postmaster has all that is good in human thinking and behaviour. He has a thorough understanding of a sharp, sympathetic and sensitive mind. He knows how the mind of a God-fearing rustic like Lencho works. He doesn’t want to break the deep faith of Lencho in God. First, he laughed at the man who wanted to have a direct correspondence with God. After reading the letter, he was deeply moved and impressed by Lencho’s faith in God. He knew that merely goodwill was not sufficient. The farmer needed financial help. So he collected a sum of 70 pesos from his employees. He also contributed a part of his salary and sent the money to Lencho.

3. The Post Office Employees: The post-office employees make every effort to help Lencho. They believed that only an innocent and foolish farmer can write a letter to God. They were considerate and full of compassion. They wondered at the faith of the man who wrote that letter. But they contributed something for an ‘act of charity’. They couldn’t collect the hundred pesos but sent only seventy pesos to Lencho. Only a single word was written as a signature: `God’.

Extra Very Short Answer Type Important Questions

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

What had Lencho been doing throughout the morning?

Ans. He had been looking at the clouds in the northeast throughout the morning.

What did Lencho’s field need badly?

Ans. His fields needed heavy rain badly.

 What does Lencho call the rain-drops?

Ans. He calls the big rain-drops ten cent pesos and the small rain-drops five cent pesos.

How did Lencho’s field look after the hails had rained?

Ans. The field looked as if covered with salt.

 What was the effect of the hail storm on tile valley?

Ans. No crop or vegetation was left in the entire Valley.

 Who did Lencho write a letter to?

ANS: Lencho wrote a letter to God.

 How much money did Lencho demand from God?

Or

Why did Lencho write a letter to God?

Ans. In his letter, Lencho demanded one hundred pesos from God.

 How much money did Lencho receive from God?

Ans. He received only seventy pesos from God.

 Who sent the money to Lencho?

Ans. The postmaster sent the money to Lencho.

 Why did the post-master decide to answer Lencho’s letter to God?

Ans. By doing so he wanted to protect Lencho’s faith in God.

 How did Lencho feel when he counted the money in the envelope?

 Ans. He got angry after counting the money in the envelope.

  Who does Lencho blame for the loss of thirty pesos in the envelope?

Ans. He blames the post-office employees for this loss.

  What does Lencho call the post-office employees?

Or

How did Lencho describe the post-office employees?

Ans. He calls them “a bunch of crooks.”

 Where was the house’ located?

Ans. ‘The House’ was located on the top of a low hill.

 Why do you think it is called ‘the’ house and not ‘a house’?

Ans. It is called ‘the house’ and not ‘a house’ because it was the only house in the entire valley.

 Why did Lencho keep gazing at the sky?

Ans. Lencho kept gazing at the sky because he wished for rain.

 How did Lencho feel when it started raining?

Ans. Lencho felt very happy.

 What was the effect of the rain on the crops?

Ans. His crops were destroyed because of the rain and the storm.

 Lencho had only one hope. What was it?

Ans. Lencho’s only hope was help from God.

 Who was Lencho?

Ans. Lencho was a hard-working farmer.

Answer the following questions in 30-40 words:

Lencho calls the raindrops ‘new coins’. Why does he call them so?

Ans. Lencho hoped to get good crops because of raindrops. He thought he would earn good money so he called them new coins. But raindrops soon turned into hailstones which destroyed all his crops and ruined his hopes.

 Why were Lencho and his family in distress? Whom did he ask for help?

Ans. Lencho’s crops were completely destroyed by the hailstones. He feared that he and his family would go hungry. He had no one to help but he had full faith in God whose eyes see everything. He wrote a letter to God asking for a hundred pesos to sow the crop and live until the next harvest.

”Now we’re really going to get some water woman.” Is Lencho sure that it is going to rain? Give a reason for your answer.

Ans. Yes. Lencho is sure that it is going to rain. He needs rain for his crops. He has been gazing at the sky since morning. He has perhaps seen some signs of coming rain. True to his prediction. It soon starts raining.

 What are the raindrops compared to and why?

Ans. It starts raining. Lencho is very happy. He compares the big drops of rain to ten-cent pieces and the little ones to five-cent pieces. Lencho needs rain for a good harvest. If he has good crops, he will get money. That is why he compares the raindrops to coins.

 Did the letter reach God? Why did the postmaster send a reply to Lencho?

Ans. No, the letter did not reach God. The postman saw the letter addressed to God. He took the letter to the postmaster. The postmaster did not want to shake Lencho’s faith in God. So he sent a reply to Lencho. He sent seventy pesos to him

 Why was Lencho angry when he received the letter?

Ans. Lencho had asked God to send him a hundred pesos. But when he opened the envelope he found only seventy pesos in it. He thought that the post-office employees had taken the rest of the money. So he became angry when he received the letter.

Why did Lencho go a bit earlier than usual to the post office the following Sunday?

Ans. Lencho had firm faith in God and His mercy. He did expect a reply from Him. So, on the following Sunday, he went to the post office a bit earlier than usual. The postman handed over the letter to Lencho. The postmaster was only contented to perform a good deed.

Why did Lencho show no surprise on seeing the money?

Ans. Lencho had a firm faith in God. He did expect help from Him. He didn’t show any surprise when he received the sum of seventy pesos. He believed in the mercy of God and expected definite help from him. So, he showed no surprise when he received the money.

Why was Lencho angry after he counted the money?

Ans. Lencho had demanded a sum of a hundred pesos as an immediate help from God. He did hope in God’s mercy and help. However, his happiness was short lived when he counted the money. The sum was short by 30 pesos. Lencho believed that God did send him a hundred pesos but the dishonest post office employees embezzled the money.

Why did Lencho ask help from God? Did he receive it?

Ans. Lencho had written a letter to God requesting him to send a sum of one hundred pesos. This money was necessary to show his fields again and to live until the new crop came. The help did come in the form of 70 pesos. Actually, it was not God but the kind-hearted postmaster who had collected the money and sent to Lencho by post signing God.’

What did Lencho write in his second letter to God? Why did he ask Him not to send the rest of the money by post mail?

Ans. Lencho wrote to God that he received only 70 pesos out of the 100 that he had asked for. He asked God to send him the rest of the money as he needed it very much. He even asked God not to send the money through the postal mail. He said that the post office employees were dishonest and ‘a bunch of crooks’.

 Lencho has great faith in God. Does he have the same kind of faith in man? Taking examples from the story describe his attitude towards God and man.

Ans. Lencho’s crop was totally destroyed. He had great faith in God. He wrote a letter to God asking for a hundred pesos as help. The postmaster and the employees collected seventy pesos and sent the money to him. Lencho thought that the employees had stolen 30 pesos. He wrote another letter to God asking for 30 pesos more but not through the post office. He called the employees ‘a bunch of crooks’. This highlights Lencho’s attitude to God and man. He had full faith in God but doesn’t have any faith in man.

What is the ironical about the ending of the story?

Ans. The end of the story is rather ironical. The postmaster was greatly impressed by Lencho’s faith in God. He didn’t want to shake his faith in God. He collected a sum of seventy pesos from his employees and contributed a part of his salary. However, his great act of charity was not recognised and appreciated by the man who received help. On the contrary, the helpers were ironically called ‘a bunch of crooks’.

 What were tenches feelings when he found the letter with money in it? What did he do after opening the letter?

Ans. Lencho was not at all surprised to see the money in the letter as he was fully confident about it. He knew that God will send money to him. On opening the letter he found seventy pesos instead of a hundred. So, he wrote another letter to God to send rest of the amount but now not through the mail as the post office employees were crooks.

 Whom did Lencho write a letter? What did he ask for? 

Ans. When Lencho’s annual crop was completely destroyed due to heavy rains and hailstorm and there was no one to help hint during the crisis. At that time Lencho wrote a letter to God.

He wrote the letter requesting Him to send 100 pesos so that he could sow his fields again till the next crop.

 Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter ‘God’?

Ans. The postmaster was a kind, generous, helpful and God fearing man. When he received the letter written to God asking for 100 pesos, he felt sympathetic towards Lencho. Hence, he decided to help Lencho. He gave a part of his salary and asked the other employees to help. He signed the letter ‘God’ in order to preserve the man’s faith in God.

 How far would you agree that one’s positivity can bring in a spark of brightness even in adverse circumstances’?

Ans. It is absolutely true that optimism can bring about a spark of brightness even in adverse situations. It was Lencho’s innocent optimism that eventually led to his getting seventy pesos. In fact, it was his positivity despite the hailstorm that he even wrote a letter to God in the first place. His hope finally triumphed.

 Was Lencho surprised to find a letter with money in it? Why/Why not?

Ans. Lencho was not at all surprised to receive the envelope with the money in it because he had utter faith in God. His unshakeable faith gave him firm confidence.

 What impression do you form the postmaster after reading the story ‘A Letter to God’?

Ans. The postmaster was a kind, generous, helpful, amiable and God-fearing man. He was generous, as he helped Lencho with 70 pesos. He also wrote a reply to Lencho’s letter in order to maintain his faith in God.

 Why was Lencho angry? What did he do?

Ans. Lencho had deep faith in God and hence wrote a letter to God asking for 100 pesos. But when he received 70 pesos instead of 100, he was angry. He wrote another letter to God asking him to send the rest of the money, but not through the post-office as they were a ‘bunch of crooks’.

 Lencho describes the post office employees as “a bunch of crooks.”

(1) Were they a bunch of crooks?

(ii) How would you describe them?

 Ans. Lencho thought that the post office employees had cheated him. So he calls them “a bunch of crooks.” But they were not crooks. They were kind persons. They wanted to help Lencho. So they collected seventy pesos and sent the money to Lencho by mail.

Where was Lencho’s house situated?

Ans. Lencho was a farmer. His house was the only one in the valley. It was situated on the top of a low hill overlooking the valley. From this height, he could see the river. He could also see his fields of ripe corn dotted with flowers. The flowers always promised a good harvest.

What did Lencho and the earth need immediately?

Ans. The only thing the earth needed was rain. Lencho, being a farmer wished for heavy rain. At least, a shower was necessary. His fields needed water immediately otherwise the crop would be completely mined. So, he would constantly look at the sky towards the north-east.

How did the rain come as predicted by Lencho and how did he receive it?

Ans. Lencho’s wife was preparing supper. The older boys were working in the field. It was during the meal, in the north-east huge mountains of clouds could be seen approaching. Then, as Lencho had predicted, big drops of rain began to fall. Lencho went out to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body. To him, the raindrops were like the new coins.

Why were the raindrops like new coins for Lencho?

Ans. Lencho had been impatiently waiting for the rain. The earth needed a downpour immediately. At least, a shower was necessary to save the crops. Fortunately for Lencho, in the north-east huge mountains of clouds could be seen approaching. Big drops of rain began to fall. Every drop was precious for the fields and the crops. The bigger drops were worth ten cent pieces and the little ones were fives.

Why did Lencho’s happiness change into deep concern?

Ans. As Lencho had predicted the rain did come. At the meal time, it came in the form of big drops. Naturally, the rain gladdened his heart. He could see better prospects of a good crop. However, his happiness was short-lived. Suddenly, a strong wind began to blow. The rain turned into big hailstones. The falling of heavy ball of big hailstones for an hour completely destroyed everything— leaves, trees and the standing crops. Naturally, such a heavy loss put Lencho into a deep concern.

Describe the loss caused by the heavy fall of hailstones in general and to Lencho in particular.

Ans. For an hour, the hailstones rained on the house, the garden, the hillside and the cornfield. Actually, the whole valley was covered with them. Leaves and flowers were destroyed. Lencho’s fields were covered with a white layer. The corn was totally destroyed. The hail had left practically nothing. There was no chance of any corn that year for Lencho.

In the hearts of all who lived in that solitary house …, there was a single hope ….’ What was that?

Ans. The hail had practically left nothing. The cornfields were totally destroyed. Lencho and his family would have no corn that year. He could expect no help from human beings. In the hearts of all who lived in that solitary house, there was a single hope: help from God. Only God could save them from such a miserable situation.

Why did Lencho think of writing a letter to God? What did he write in the letter?

Ans. The hailstones completely destroyed Lencho’s cornfields. They would have no corn that year. Having lost all hopes, Lencho thought of writing a letter to God. He requested God to send him a hundred pesos to sow his fields again. He wrote that he needed money to live until the new crops came. If God didn’t help, his family would face starvation.

What was the address written and how was the letter sent to God?

Ans. Lencho had an unshaken faith in God and His mercy. Therefore, he decided to write a letter to God for help. He wrote ‘To God’ on the envelope and put the letter inside. He went to the post office and placed a stamp on the letter. Finally, he dropped it into the mailbox.

How did the postmaster react when a postman showed him the letter to God?

Ans. When a postman received Lencho’s letter, he laughed heartily and took that letter to the postmaster. The postmaster looked at the letter to God and laughed heartily too. However, he soon grew serious. He was impressed with the sender’s faith in God who tried to correspond Him. “What a faith”! he could utter only such words.

Why did the postmaster decide to answer Lencho’s letter?

Ans. After laughing at the very idea of a letter to God, the postmaster became serious soon. He was impressed with the unshaken faith of the sender in God. He wished he had the faith of the man who wrote that letter to God. So, in order not to shake the writer’s faith in God, the postmaster decided to answer the letter.

 How did the postmaster answer Lencho’s letter by sending him the money?

Ans. The postmaster didn’t want to shake the writer’s faith in God and so decided to help him. It needed something more than goodwill. So he collected money from his employees and himself contributed a part of the salary. He could collect only seventy pesos. He put the money into the envelope and put a single word `God’ as signature and posted it to Lencho.

Important Long/ Detailed Answer Type Questions- to be answered in about 100 -150 words each

Answer the following questions in 100-120 words:

QUES:

Why did Lencho need God’s help?

 Ans. Lencho was a simple farmer. He was very hard-working. His crops had always been good. One year, he wished that there should be some rain so that his crop would be better. Lencho was sure that the rain would come. In the evening it started raining. But soon the rain changed into a hailstorm. The hails fell on the house, the garden, the hillside and the corn-field. The field looked white as if it had been covered with salt. No leaves were left on the trees. The flowers were gone from the plants. Lencho’s crop was completely destroyed. His heart was filled with sorrow. But he had faith in God. He was sure that God would help him. He wanted God’s help for sowing seed and for living until the next harvest.

QUES:

Describe Lencho as a farmer. How did the rain gladden his heart but the heavy hailstones that followed left him a worried man?

Ans. Lencho was a farmer who lived in a house that was on the top of a small hill. From that height, he could see the river and its fields. Lencho was an ‘ox’ of a man. He was strong and worked as an animal in his fields. The only thing the earth and the fields needed was heavy rain. At least, a shower was very necessary. Lencho’s older boys were working in the field. He could see huge mountains of clouds in the north-east. It gladdened his heart. As predicted by him, big drops of rains began to fall. The raindrops were like ‘new coins’.

Unfortunately, Lencho’s happiness was short lived. Suddenly a strong wind began to blow. Along with the rain, very large hailstones began to fall. Within an hour the house, the garden, the hillside and the fields were covered with a white sheet of hailstones. The leaves, trees and the flowers were destroyed. The hail had left nothing. The corn was totally destroyed. That year they would have no corn. They would survive on the mercy of God. All such dismal prospects worried Lencho.

QUES:

What circumstances made Lencho write a letter to God? What does this act show about him?

Ans. The rain did come but came with disastrous hailstones that ruined everything. The leaves, plants and flowers were ruined. The corn was totally destroyed. The hail had left nothing. That year Lencho and his family would have no corn. They would be on the verge of starvation. All such dismal prospects worried Lencho. There was only one hope— help from God.

Lencho and his wife were highly religious and had an unshaken faith in God. They believed in God’s mercy and also believed that ‘no one dies of hunger’. So, Lencho decided to write a letter to God. He wrote that he needed immediate help. He wrote that without God’s help his family would face starvation. He needed a hundred pesos in order to sow his fields and live until the fresh crop coming. He wrote the letter and wrote ‘To God’ on the envelope and dropped it into the mailbox.

QUES:

Writing a letter to God for help really shows not only the unshaken faith in God of the writer Lencho but also shows his utter simplicity and innocence. Comment.

Ans. Lencho was a simple and hardworking farmer who worked like an ox in his fields. When the heavy fall of hailstones destroyed his corn totally, he and his family were rather on the verge of starvation. He was left with one hope, help from God. He believed that God is all merciful and hears the call of those who are of a clear conscience. He requested Him to send a hundred pesos immediately to help him to sow his fields. He and his family also needed some money to live on until the fresh crop coming.

QUES:

 Lencho received the money and a letter from God but still, he was not happy. Was it not in his attitude to be happy with what he achieved? Did he not know the pleasure of being grateful to others? Reflecting on the values required to lead a happy life, explain in about 100-120 words.

Ans. Lencho had full faith in God and hence, had written a letter to God asking for 100 pesos. But when he received the money and a letter from God, he was not happy. It was not his attitude to be happy with what he received, nor was he ungrateful to God. He was angry because he had received 70 pesos instead of 100. He did not doubt God for it. He wrote another letter to God asking him to send the rest of the money but not through the post-office as they were a bunch of crooks. This shows that Lencho had full faith in God and was confident that his desire would be fulfilled. It was Lencho’s innocent optimism that eventually led to his getting seventy pesos. Optimism and faith can lead to a happy life.

QUES: The postmaster represents such people who still believe in helping others mention those values of the postmaster which you would like to emulate in yourself. Write in 100-120 words.

Ans. The postmaster was a kind, generous, helpful, amiable and God-fearing man. He received a letter from Lencho which was written to God asking for 100 pesos so that he could sow his fields again. The postman felt sympathetic towards Lencho. He decided to help Lencho. He gave up a part of his salary and asked all other employees to help. Even friends were made to contribute for a cause of charity and he managed to collect 70 pesos. He sent the money to Lencho along with a reply. He did so in order to preserve the man’s faith in God. This shows the postmaster was a nice man at heart.

QUES: “If you don’t help me, my family and I will go hungry this year.” Lencho had faith in God but he didn’t manage to solve the problem by himself. Did he lack the courage to resolve his matter himself? What values did he lack? Explain it in 100-120 words.

Ans. Lencho was a hardworking farmer. He was completely dependent upon the crops of his fields. His annual crop was completely destroyed due to heavy rains and hailstorm. In the entire village, there was no one to help him during the times of financial crisis. He had the firm belief in God and hence wrote a letter requesting Him to send 100 pesos so that he could sow his fields again till the next crop. This act did not prove that he lacked the courage to resolve his problem but shows that he did not have any option left for himself He had a firm belief in God. He was an ox of a man but lacked money to stand again.

QUES: Show Lencho’s faith and confidence in God with examples from the lesson.

Ans. Lencho had full faith in the help of God. The following sentences in the story tell us about it. ‘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.’

Again, Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the money in the envelope—such was his confidence. But he became angry when he counted the money. ‘God could not have made a mistake nor could he have denied Lencho what he had requested. The above facts from the text prove his deep faith and confidence in God.

QUES: Give the character-sketch of Lencho.

Or

“I wish I had the faith of the man.” Describe Lencho’s character in the light of the above statement.                                                                                              

Ans. Lencho was a hardworking farmer. He laboured like an ox. He had good knowledge of farming and knew his crop needed a downpour to give him good yield.Lencho had great faith in God. He knew how to read and write. He wrote a letter to God for help when his crops were totally ruined by hailstones.He was a simple and innocent farmer. He could not reason out things. He blamed the post-office employees for cheating him of 30 pesos and called them ‘A bunch of crooks’.But Lencho was a caring head of the family. He got sad and worried that his family would have to go hungry.

QUES: Why did Lencho write a letter to God? Who received the letter and what did he do?

Ans. Lencho was a hard- farmer. He was expecting a good harvest. But unfortunately, a hail storm came and destroyed his crop completely. Now he had nothing to support the family. He had no money to purchase the seed for sowing. But he had a firm faith in God. He believed that God would help him. He was a simple man. He Wrote a letter to God. He asked God to send him a hundred pesos. He wanted this money in order to sow seed again and to live until the next harvest season.

Lencho went to the town and pasted the letter. At the post-office, a postman took out the letter from the letterbox. He read the address on it and had a good laugh. He showed the letter to the postmaster the postmaster was greatly impressed by the faith of Lencho. He did not want to shake Lencho’s faith in God. He collected money from his employees. He put this money into an envelope and addressed it to Lencho.

QUES:

i) What did the postmaster need to answer the letter? How did he collect it?

Ans. (i) Lencho’s crop had been destroyed. He needed God’s help. So he wrote a letter to God. He posted the letter. At the post-office, a postman took the letter out of the letterbox. He laughed at reading the address. He showed the letter to the postmaster. The postmaster also laughed. But he praised Lencho’s firm faith in God. He did not want to shake this faith. He was very kind. He decided to help Lencho. He and the post-office employees collected some money. The postmaster gave a part of his salary. They put the money into an envelope and addressed it to Lencho.

(ii) How did Lencho react to help?

(ii) The next Sunday Lencho came to the post-office. He asked if there was any letter for him. The postman gave him the envelope. Lencho opened the letter. He found that the money was less than what he had requested for. He thought that God could not have made a mistake. He wrote another letter to God. He asked God to send him the rest of the money. But he should not send it through the mail as the post-office employees were a bunch of crooks.

QUES:

How do you think the postmaster felt when he received Lencho’s second letter? What do you think he did?

Ans. When Lencho opened the letter, he found only seventy pesos in it. He thought that God could not make a mistake. Perhaps the post office employees had cheated him. He wrote another letter to God. He wrote that the post office employees were a bunch of crooks. The story does not tell us what the postmaster felt when he received the second letter. Perhaps he felt shocked. It is possible that he realized that sometimes even good intentions are misunderstood. I think he met Lencho and explained everything to him. He told him that the post-office employees were not a bunch of crooks. In fact, they were kind and helpful. They had collected money to help him.

QUES:

Write the story of Lencho’s faith in God.

Or

Write a brief summary of the story ‘A Letter to God’.

Ans. Lencho was a simple farmer. He was very hard-working. But one year, his harvest was completely destroyed by the hailstorm. He had firm faith in God. He wrote a letter to God asking for a hundred pesos. The postmaster saw the letter. He decided to help Lencho. He collected money from his employees. He gave some part of his own salary also. But the money was less than what Lencho had asked for. The postmaster put the money into an envelope and addressed it to Lencho. Next Sunday Lencho came to collect his letter. When he counted the money he became angry. He wrote another letter to God. He asked God to send him the rest of the money. But he asked God not to send the money through the mail as the employees of the post-office were a bunch of crooks.

QUES:

Lencho described the post-office employees as a ‘bunch of crooks’. Were they really a bunch of crooks? How would you describe them?

Ans. A crook is a person who cheats others. He earns his living by dishonest means. Lencho requested God for a hundred pesos. He received a letter in the mail. When he opened it he found seventy pesos in it. He thought that the post-office employees had taken the rest of thirty pesos. So he called them a bunch of crooks. But in fact, they were kind and generous people. They did not want to shake Lencho ‘s faith in God. So they raised money to help him. But they could not raise a hundred pesos. So they put seventy pesos in an envelope and addressed it to Lencho. The post-office employees were good people. They did an act of kindness and Charity. It was wrong for Lencho to call them a bunch of crooks

Writing a letter to God and addressing it `To God’ shows the writer’s unshaken faith in God. He was a simple man not distrusting that such a letter could reach God. His innocence and firm belief in God’s mercy even deeply impressed and influenced the postmaster who decided to answer his letter. He didn’t want to shake the writer’s faith in God. He collected and sent 70 pesos as help signing the letter with one word, ‘God’. Lencho had so much faith in God and His mercy that he didn’t show any surprise when he received the money sent to him. He wrote another letter requesting Him to send the rest of the money immediately but not through the postal mail as the post office employees was a ‘bunch of crooks’.

QUES:

Why did the postmaster and his employees decide to help Lencho? Was their effort appreciated by the receiver of that help?

Ans. Lencho was a simple-hearted farmer who had tremendous faith in God. The heavy hailstones destroyed his corn. There was only one hope — help from God. So, Lencho wrote a letter to God describing his and his family’s miserable condition. He requested for a hundred pesos to help in sowing the crop and living till the next crop came. The postmaster himself, a generous man, first laughed at the idea of Lencho’s having a correspondence with God. However, he soon became serious. He was highly impressed by Lencho’s unshaken faith in God. He didn’t want to break his faith in God. So he decided to answer the letter and help Lencho. He needed something more than goodwill. He asked his employees to collect money for this cause. He also contributed a part of his salary. All in all, they collected 70 pesos. The postmaster put the money in an envelope and mailed it to Lencho. He wrote a single word as a signature, God. Ironically, this noble act of charity by the postmaster and employees was not appreciated by Lencho. On the contrary, he called them ‘a bunch of crooks’ who embezzled the remaining 30 pesos. He never knew who were the real helpers. He only wrote God not to send the remaining 30 pesos through the mail as the post office employees were a ‘bunch of crooks’.

QUES:

Who does Lencho think has taken the rest of the money? Describe the ironical ending of the story.

Ans. Lencho’s faith in God was complete and unshaken. When he lost all hopes, he looked towards God for help. And he was sure that God would come to the help of a simple man of clear conscience like him. So, when he saw the money, he was not at all surprised as he had been waiting for it. But when he counted the money, he became angry. He was sure that someone had stolen thirty pesos out of the hundred sent by God. Who could be they except the employees at the post office? Therefore, he wrote a second letter to God to send him the rest of the money immediately. He asked Him not to send the money through the mail as the post office employees were a ‘bunch of crooks.’

 The situation at the end becomes quite ironical. It is ironical that men who collected pesos to help Lencho were called `a bunch of crooks, by him. He couldn’t know till the end who had really sent that money.

QUES:

Give a character sketch of the Postmaster in your own words. Don’t you think that he should have deserved a better recognition and appreciation of his act of charity?

Ans. It takes all kinds of people to make this world. The postmaster has all that is good in human thinking and behaviour. He has a thorough understanding of a sharp, sympathetic and sensitive mind. He knows how the mind of a God fearing rustic like Lencho works. He is sensitive and sympathetic to human feelings. He doesn’t want to break the deep faith of the writer in God. The fat and friendly postmaster had a large heart too. First, he laughed at the man who wanted to have a direct correspondence with God. But he soon became serious. After reading the letter, he was deeply moved and impressed by Lencho’s faith in God.

He knew that merely goodwill was not sufficient. The farmer needed financial help. So he collected a sum of 70 pesos from his employees. He also contributed a part of his salary. He did so as to keep Lencho’s faith in God. He wrote a single word as a signature: God.

It is ironical that a simpleton like Lencho could never know his real benefactor. Nor did he ever try to know how and from whom he received those seventy pesos. Naturally, his work of charity deserved better recognition and appreciation from the receiver. Ironically, the postmaster and his employees who had sent seventy pesos were called ‘a bunch of crooks’ by Lencho.

Draw a character sketch of Lencho, the farmer in about 120-150 words.

 Ans. Lencho was a simple man as farmers usually are everywhere. He was a man of limited means and earned his living by farming his fields. His older sons helped him in farming activities. His wife did the same but also managed the kitchen and other household works. Lencho was highly religious. So was his wife. He had an unshaken faith in God. He believed that God always helps people with a clear conscience. Therefore, when he lost all hopes and he and his family were on the verge of starvation, he looked towards God for help. His deep faith in God even impressed the postmaster who decided to help him. He was strong and sturdy like an ox. Not only that, he worked day and night in the fields. Being a farmer, he had a deep knowledge about the weather, the winds and the rains of his region.

He was simple-hearted. He was rustic inhabit and thoughts. He was a little educated to write a letter. He shows his innocence by trying to have a correspondence with God directly. He wrote ‘To God’ on the top of the envelope and posted the letter into the mail-box.

While he had an unshaken faith in God, he mistrusted easily the motives of men. He could never know and nor did he ever try to know who had sent him those seventy pesos to help him. It is quite ironical that he abused his helpers by calling them ‘a bunch of crooks’.

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