NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Prose 1: A Letter to God

The postmaster read Lencho’s letter addressed to God.

Lencho had eagerly waited for a downpour or even just a light shower for his ripe cornfields, knowing that it was crucial for a successful harvest. He understood the importance of sufficient rainfall in ensuring the growth and yield of his crops. With his hopes pinned on the sky, Lencho awaited the arrival of the much-needed rain to nourish his fields and bring forth a bountiful harvest.

Lencho likened the raindrops to “new coins,” comparing the larger drops to ten-cent pieces and the smaller ones to five-cent pieces. With his crops ripe and ready for harvest, Lencho’s hopes for prosperity rested on the rain. He saw the rainfall as a form of wealth, symbolized by the “new coins” falling from the sky. Each raindrop represented an opportunity for his fields to thrive and for him to secure a successful harvest, thus bringing him the prosperity he longed for.

As the rain began to pour down, Lencho’s hopes soared, but they were soon dashed by the sudden arrival of a strong wind. Accompanying the rain were very large hailstones, resembling frozen pearls, which pelted down mercilessly from the sky. The hailstorm raged on for an hour, wreaking havoc on Lencho’s corn fields. The force of the storm not only destroyed his precious crops but also washed away the delicate flowers from the plants, leaving behind a scene of devastation. In an instant, Lencho’s dreams of a prosperous harvest were shattered by the destructive power of nature.

Once the hailstones ceased their relentless assault, Lencho’s heart sank with grief and despair. Surveying the aftermath of the storm, he came to a stark realization: everything he had worked so hard for had been destroyed by the merciless hailstorm. With his crops ruined, Lencho knew that there would be nothing left to sustain his family for the entire year.

The weight of this bleak reality settled heavily upon him as he contemplated the uncertain and difficult future that lay ahead for his loved ones. In that moment of anguish, Lencho could only imagine the hardships and struggles that awaited his family in the wake of such devastating loss.

Despite the devastation he faced, Lencho’s unwavering faith in God remained steadfast. He held firm to the belief that God’s watchful eyes saw all, even the deepest thoughts and intentions of one’s heart. With this profound trust in divine providence, Lencho decided to reach out to God in a heartfelt letter. In his letter, he humbly requested a hundred pesos, explaining that this sum was needed to sow his field that had been ravaged by the destructive hailstorm. In his earnest plea, Lencho expressed his faith that God would hear his prayers and provide for him in his time of need, placing his trust entirely in the benevolence and mercy of the Almighty.

No, Lencho was not surprised to find a letter for him with money in it. In fact, he was deeply disappointed and disillusioned when he opened the letter and discovered that it contained only a small amount of money.

Lencho had expected to receive a hundred pesos, which he believed was necessary to sow his fields and secure his family’s livelihood for the year. However, when he counted the money and found that it was far less than what he had requested, his disappointment turned to anger and disbelief.

Lencho felt betrayed by God, whom he had trusted to provide for him in his time of need, and he questioned how such a small sum could possibly help him recover from the devastation of the hailstorm.

When Lencho counted the money, he discovered that there were only seventy pesos instead of the hundred pesos he had asked God for. He was sure that God wouldn’t make a mistake or refuse his request. So, he thought that the post office workers must have taken the thirty pesos missing from the envelope.

Lencho’s unwavering faith in God shines through in these sentences:

1. Despite their solitude, everyone in the house clung to a single hope: help from God.

2. Throughout the night, Lencho’s thoughts were consumed by one hope: God’s help. He believed that God could see everything, even the deepest parts of one’s soul.

3. Lencho’s plea to God in his letter reflected his deep faith: “God, if you don’t help me, my family and I will go hungry this year.”

4. Lencho addressed the envelope with a simple yet profound “To God,” showing his belief that God would receive his message.

5. Lencho was certain that God wouldn’t make mistakes or refuse his request.

6. In his letter, Lencho expressed his trust in God’s goodness and asked for the remaining money, as only seventy pesos had reached him. He believed that God would provide for his needs.

The postmaster was touched by Lencho’s unwavering faith in God, so he devised a plan to help him without shattering that faith. He gathered money from his coworkers and friends, then signed the letter as ‘God’. This way, the postmaster hoped to convey to Lencho that God had indeed sent him the money and had even personally signed the letter. It was a thoughtful gesture intended to support Lencho while preserving his strong belief in divine intervention.

Lencho didn’t attempt to discover who had sent him the money because he firmly believed that it was a gift from God. He never doubted for a moment that anyone other than God could have been the sender. His faith in the Almighty was unshakeable, and he trusted that nothing escaped God’s notice. Lencho was convinced that God knew about the hardships he was facing and had answered his plea for help. Therefore, he gratefully accepted the money, seeing it as a direct response to his prayers for deliverance from his difficult circumstances.

The irony in this situation lies in the fact that Lencho, while maintaining unwavering faith in God, ends up suspecting the post office employees of theft. These employees, moved by Lencho’s faith and wanting to help him without undermining his belief in God’s intervention, gathered money to send him. However, Lencho’s trust in God’s ability to deliver the exact amount requested leads him to accuse the very people who tried to aid him.

This highlights the paradoxical nature of human faith and perception, where trust in divine providence can sometimes overshadow rational judgment and gratitude towards fellow human beings. Despite their benevolent intentions, Lencho’s suspicion reflects the complexity of human beliefs and the unforeseen consequences of unwavering faith.

Lencho’s character in the story exemplifies a unique blend of naivety, faith, and intelligence. While he may appear naive due to his unquestioning trust in God and his simplistic belief that God would send him money without an address, he demonstrates a certain level of intelligence and literacy. Writing a letter to God showcases his ability to communicate effectively, and his confident expectation of receiving help from God suggests a deep faith and optimism.

Despite his naive and unquestioning nature, Lencho’s actions reveal a resilience and resourcefulness. He is not portrayed as stupid, but rather as a person who approaches life with a childlike innocence and unwavering faith. While it may be rare to encounter individuals with such profound faith and simplicity in the real world, Lencho serves as a reminder of the power of belief and the complexity of human nature.

1. A violent tropical storm in which strong winds move in a circle: _c_ _y_ c _l_ _o_ _n_ _e_

2. An extremely strong wind: _g_ a _l_ _e_

3. A violent tropical storm with very strong winds: _t_ _y_ p _h_ _o_ _o_ _n_

4. A violent storm whose centre is a cloud in the shape of a funnel: _t_ _o_ _r_ n _a_ _d_ _o_

5. A violent storm with very strong winds, especially in the western Atlantic Ocean: _h_ _u_ r _r_ _i_ _c_ _a_ _n_ _e_

6. A very strong wind that moves very fast in a spinning movement and causes a lot of damage: _w_ _h_ _i_ _r_ l _w_ _i_ _n_ _d_

1. I often go to Mumbai, which is the commercial capital of India.

2. My mother, who cooks very well, is going to host a TV show on cooking.

3. These sportspersons, whose performance has been excellent, are going to meet the President.

4. Lencho prayed to God, whose eyes see into our minds.

5. This man, whom I trusted, cheated me.

1. The trees lost all their leaves.

Not a leaf remained on the trees.

2. The letter was addressed to God himself.

It was nothing less than a letter to God.

3. The postman saw this address for the first time in his career.

Never in his career as a postman had he seen that address.