A Letter to God
Chapter Sketch
The story recounts the hard life and extreme faith in God of a poor farmer (Lencho) who has lost his crop due to heavy rain and hailstones. It was the only source ot income to fulfil his tamily’s desires. He firmly believes that God will help him in such a situation and would not let him and his family die due to hunger. He writes a letter to God to seek help. Some kind employees of the post office helped him. So, the story tells us to have faith in God and never lose hope in adverse situations.
About the Characters
Lencho →A poor farmer who lives on the crest of a low hill with his family. He was a firm believer of God. He is innocent, hopetul, caring and responsible.
Postmaster →A fat, amiable fellow who helped Lencho to retain his faith in God. He gave a part of his salary in the charity for Lencho on behalt of God.
Post Office Employees →Pecple who helped Lencho on postmaster’s call. They laughed at Lencho when they saw the letter but helped him in his need. Lencho called them a bunch of crooks.
OVERVIEW OF THE CHAPTER
Lencho’sHope of Good Harvest:
Lencho was a farmer who lived on the crest of a low hill with his family, His was the anly house in the entire valley. His field was full of ripe corn and easily visible from the house. He was eageriy waiting tor a good rain to have a good harvest so he could earn money for his family.
Turning of Lencho’s Hope into Despair:
As Lencho hoped, it started raining at the time of supper which gave Lencho a ray of hope. He was extremely happy to see that. He compared the raindrops as silver coins which shaws his joy But soon his joy turned into despair as the rain changed into hailstones which ruined the crops. The field had been covered with snow like a layer of white salt. Lencho was Worried for his family.
Lencho’s Firm Belief in God:
Though Lencho was a poor farmer and had lost all his crops, he had firm faith in God. He found in God his last hope and decided to write a letter to God for help. He asked God to send him a hundred pesos so that he can sow his field again and support his tamily unti the new crops were harvested. He also wrote that if God didn’t help him, his family would die with hunger.
The Postmaster’s Reaction to Lencho’s Letter:
After reading Lencho’s letter to God, the postmaster laughed but soon realised that Lencho had firm faith in God and his belief should not be shaken. So, he decided to help Lencho with the help of his post office employees. He collected seventy pesos and handed the envelope to Lencho himself in which he also contributed a part of his salary.
Lencho Gets Angry at Receiving Less Money:
Lencho became angry when he saw seventy pesos in the envelope as he demanded a hundred pesos. He did not believe that God could do so and send Lnless money. So, he decided to write a letter again tor the rest of money This time he requested God not to send the rest of the money through the letter because he thought that the post office employees were ‘bunch of crooks who might have stolen his money.
Chapter Highlights
- Lencho’s hope of good rain to have a good crops.
- It rains but the rain soon changes into hailstones.
- Lencho has tirm taith in God.
- Lencho writes a letter to God to help him.
- Lencho asks God to send him hundred pesos.
- Postmaster and other employees laugh at Lencho’s letter to God.
- Postmaster decides to help Lencho in his problem.
8 Postmaster wants every employee to help in this noble deed. - Postmaster collects seventy pesos and gives the envelope to Lencho himself.
- Lencha gets angry after getting seventy pesos amount as he had asked for hundred pesos.
- Lencho calls the employees of post office a ‘bunch of crooks’ as he thinks that they have stolen the rest of amount.
- Lencho again writes a letter to God to send him rest of the money
- Lencho has firm faith in the magnanimity of God; and God never betrays the trust of a believer.
WORD MEANINGS
entire →completely
valley →a low area of land between hills or mountains
crest →a top ot a mountain or hill
ripe →developed to the point of readiness for harvesting and eating
Corn →a kind of grain
downpour →a heavy fall of rain
shower →drizzle
intimately →in a private and personal way
Supper →an evening meal, typically a light or informal one
God willing →by grace of God
predict →guess
approaching →Coming close to someone or something
pleasure → a feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment
satisfied →pleased
expression →the action of making known one’s thoughts or feelings
regard →consider or think of in a specitied way
draped →covered with something (cloth)
curtain → a piece of material suspended at the top to forma screen
hailstones →pellet of hails
resemble →have a similar appearance to or qualities in common with someone or something
exposing →making visible by uncovering it
frozen →covered or rigid with ice quickly →at a fast speed
hillside →inclined side of hill
destroyed →ruined
plague →an unusually large number of insects infesting a place and,causing damage
locust →insects which fly in big swarms (group) and destroy crops
solitary →done or existing alone
upset →unhappy: disappointed or worried
instructed →Order someone to do something especially in a formal way
Conscience →an inner sense ot right and wrong
daybreak →dawn
peso →Currency of several Latin
SOW →plant the seeds of a crop
envelope →paper cover to mail letter
heartily →loudly
amiable →having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner
serious →thoughtful
tapping →to hit in gentle strokes
correspandence →letters sent or received
evident →clearly sfeen or understood
resolution →a firm decision to do or not to do something
charity →help or money given to those in need
contentment →a state of happiness and satistaction
deed →a brave or noble act
slightest →quiteless
confidence →firm trust
deny →refuse
wrinkling →a slight line or fold in something. especially fabric or the skin of the face
lick →to strike with tongue gently
affixed →attached to something else
blow →cause to move
bunch →a number of things. typically of the same kind
crooks →dishonest people or criminals