FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET
CHAPTER -1 A TRIUMPH OF SURGERY By James Herriot
James Herriot stops his car and sees the poor health of Mrs Pumphrey’s dog, Tricki.
He advises Mrs Pumphrey to put Tricki on a strict diet and make him exercise daily.
Mrs Pumphrey continues to overfeed Tricki, which worsens his condition.
She calls Herriot for help on noticing Tricki’s deteriorating health.
Herriot decides to hospitalise Tricki for a fortnight to treat him.
Tricki’s hospitalisation left Mrs Pumphrey and the helpers at home in tears.
Tricki was kept on a strict diet in the hospital. His diet was increased according to the improvements he showed.
Mrs Pumphrey’s anxiousness about Tricki’s health went away on learning that Tricki was convalescing satisfactorily.
She started to send eggs, wine and brandy for Tricki to enrich his blood and improve his health.
These items were instead enjoyed by James Herriot and his partner.
Tricki was transformed from a weak fat dog to a hard-muscled and agile one.
James Herriot calls Mrs Pumphrey to come and take Tricki home
1. “Herriot is dutiful doctor who cared for other’s emotions more than his personal interests.” Prove the statement.
In the lesson "A Triumph of Surgery," James Herriot is a veterinarian, he knew exactly what was causing Tricki's illness. Still, he didn't want to tell Mrs. Pumphrey since he didn't want to add to her worry. He appeared to be a nobleman with a compassionate nature who sympathised after seeing a sick dog exacerbated by its bad food habits. As an experienced veterinary doctor, he expected Tricki to become unwell as a result of its poor eating habits. And when things became worse, he didn't blame Mrs. Pumphrey for feeding Tricki unhealthy meals and failing to exercise him on a regular basis. Instead, he gently advised her that, given the situation, Tricki needed to be admitted to the hospital. Mrs. Pumphrey was likewise reassured by his assurance that Tricki will be cured shortly. Despite the fact that he did not follow Tricki's prescription, he kept an eye on him in the hospital and made plans to cure him. When Tricki was finally cured, he cheerfully returned it to Mrs. Pumphrey as promised.
2. Do you think there are also parents like Mrs Pumphrey? Give reasons for your answer.
Yes, there are many parents like Mrs Pumphrey. It is not just the concern they have for their child's health, it is also their over affection which makes them over feed their children the amount and the type of food which they shouldn't.
CHAPTER -2 THE THIEF STORY By Ruskin Bond
Anil was 25 years old writer but a very careless person. He was struggling to write for earning money to run his life.
One day Anil befriends Hari. Anil promised Hari that he would teach him how to write, add numbers and how to cook tasty food. Now both were living together happily.
One day Hari saw Anil keeping a bundle of notes under the mattress.
That night Hari stole the bundle of notes and ran away from there for the railway station to board a train to Lucknow. But, he missed it. Suddenly it started raining and Hari Singh was completely wet.
There was a conflict in his mind. He did not want to betray the faith of Anil.. He felt guiltier as he had cheated an innocent person.
Hari Singh had a change of heart. He decided to return to Anil and keep the money under the pillow.
The next morning, Anil offered Hari Singh Rs. 50 and told him he would now be paid regularly
He realized that the note was still wet from the rain last night. Hari got to know that Anil had come to know about his misdeed but there was no sadness, anger or guilt in his mind.
Moral : Human values and relations are important in life and such values can change a person too.
The Thief by Ruskin Bond, is based on the theme of friendship, betrayal, aspirations, connection, trust, guilt, change, kindness, loyalty, revenge and honesty.
1. Love, human sympathy and education can transform even a thief. Anil brings such a change in Hari Singh. How?
Education, love and sympathy can transform even a thief. This is true in the case of Hari Singh as earlier, he used to easily cheat people. But after he met Anil he changed a lot. Anil taught him various skills like reading and writing. He groomed him and made him a better person. Even after stealing money from Anil, Hari Singh decided to return the stolen money because Hari thinks that Anil will react to the theft by showing a touch of sadness. This sadness would not be for the loss of money but for the loss of trust. He also thought that by using the skills Anil taught him, he will be able to earn much more money than what he was stealing at that point of time. He didn't want to betray Anil because it was the first time someone had trusted him this much. This tells us that Hari Singh's heart has changed and he had become a better person.
2. How did Hari Singh come into contact with Anil? Hari Singh breached Anil’s trust in him .Why did Anil not only forgive him but also promised to pay him regularly?
As we know Hari Singh was an thief. Hari Singh first met anil when he was watching a wrestling match. Anil had trust on the thief. he had give him the key if his room the thief could come and go in the room according to his own . Hari steals money from anol by making him to be trusted. but , he couldn't run away with that money because the trust of anil on Hari made . Hari to come back and keep the money in the same place. In this way Anil started paying him regularly.
CHAPTER 3 : FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET by H G Wells
The story is about a scientist named Griffin who had discovered a rare drug that made him invisible.
One day two boys noticed the footprints of someone (Griffin) and followed those until those became invisible.
First, Griffins entered a mall, wore some warm clothes and ate cold meat and drank some coffee.
Later he went to a grocery store but in the morning when some of the store assistants had seen him, he quickly threw away all the clothes he was wearing and became invisible again.
He then decided to steal clothes from a theatre company and stole bandages for his face, dark glasses, false nose and a hat for covering himself.
He then hit the shopkeeper and stole all his money. Soon he realized that London is too crowded to live like this, he came to stay at an inn at the Iping village.
There he stole money from people and also hit the landlord and his wife Mrs and Mr Hall.
Then the village constable Mr Jaffers was asked for help. Mr. Jaffers. The constable also found out that he would have to arrest a man who did not have a head.
They were unable to catch Griffin as he removed all his clothes and became invisible. He even knocked out Jaffers as he tried to catch him.
1. What extraordinary things happened at the inn?
At the inn, Mrs Hall and her husband went into the scientist's room on finding its door open. However, he was not seen in the room, but Mrs Hall heard a sniff and the hat on the bedpost leapt up and dashed into her face. Then the bedroom chair sprang into the air and pushed them both out of the room.
2. Griffins was not a true scientist as he misused his scientific discovery. Substantiate by giving two incidents from the story.
Griffin misused his scientific discovery and it is noticeable in these two incidents. Firstly after attempts of being ejected by his landlord, he set the house on fire in revenge. He had done this conveniently after taking some rare drugs that made him as transparent as a sheet of glass. The second incident occurs after he gets caught sleeping in a London store. To find warmth and wear clothes, he attacks and robs money from a storekeeper. Then he books a room at an inn and requests that he is not to be disturbed. Here a series of unusual events take place. First the landlord and his wife enter the scientist's room in his absence to investigate. They find his bedclothes cold, his clothes and hat lying about the room. Suddenly she hears a sniff close to her ears and the hat flies into her face. The bedroom chair comes to life and charges at her legs. Then it pushes Mr. and Mrs. Hall out of the room and locks the door. Thus, we see how the brilliant scientist misuses his scientific discovery.
3. What makes you think that Griffin was a lawless person?
Yes, we can say that Griffin was a lawless person. He didn't follow the law and order of the country as he thought of having his revenge by setting out fire in his landlord's property. He didn't believe in observing law. He robbed a shopkeeper of all the money he could find.
CHAPTER 6 – THE MAKING OF A SCIENTIST by Robert W. Peterson
At the age of 22, Richard. H. Ebright excited the world of science with a new theory on cells
Richards scientific career started with butterflies, he collected butterflies when he was in Kindergarten.
His mother encouraged his interest in learning, took him on trips, bought telescopes, microscopes, cameras and other equipments.
His father died very young and his mother became his only companion and motivator.
By the time Richard was in the 2nd grade, he had collected 25 species of butterflies found around his hometown.
His mother gifted him a children's book called The Travels of Monarch X.
The book described how Monarch butterflies migrated to Central America and opened the world of science for Richard Ebright.
Ebright raised a flock of butterflies in his basement .He sent tagged butterflies to Dr Urquhart, the writer of the book .
In the 7th grade, he entered the County Science Fair and lost .
He wrote to Dr Urquhart for new ideas and received many suggestions for experiments.
The next year, his science fair project was to test the theory that Viceroy butterflies copied Monarch butterflies. The project was placed 1st in the Zoology division and the 3rd overall in the County Science Fair.
In his 2nd year in high school, Richard Ebright discovered an unknown insect hormone.
He and his friend showed that tiny gold spots on butterflies produced a hormone that was necessary for the butterfly's full development.
This project won Ebright 1st place in the county fair and an entry into the International Science and Engineering Fair.
He grew cells from a monarch butterfly's wing in a culture, was able to identify the hormone’s chemical structure, showed how the cell can 'read' the blueprint of its DNA .
Richard graduated from Harvard with highest honours, 2nd in his class of 1,516.
His other interests-was a champion debater, good canoeist, and an expert photographer.
Richard had a great admiration for his social studies teacher, Richard .A. Weiherer, who opened his mind to new ideas.
He was competitive but not in a bad sense. He wanted to be the best.
The Travels Monarch X opened the world of science to him and he never lost his scientific curiosity after that.
Main ingredients in making of a scientist our curiosity, first-rate mind and will to win for the right reasons.
1. Explain the importance of mother in a child's life with reference to the chapter' The Making of a Scientist’ and your own ideas.
Richard Ebright's mother helped him by encouraging his interest in learning. She took him on trips, bought him telescopes, microscopes, cameras, mounting materials and other equipments, and helped him in many other ways. If he did not have anything to do, she found things for him to learn.
2. Who were the important people in Richard Ebright's life and why?
Frederick A Urquhart , who inspired him to study butterflies, were quite important in Albright's life, Also, Ridded A. Weathered, Albright's Social Studies teacher opened Albright's mind to new ideas and praised him for his handwork and indomitable spirit.
3. What are the essential qualities for becoming a scientist?
The author mentions three qualities that go into the making of a scientist—a first-rate mind, curiosity, and the will to win for the right reasons.
CHAPTER-5 THE NECKLACE by Guy De Maupassant
Matilda, an ordinary woman, unhappy with her monotonous simple life, dreams of grandeur all the time.
M. Loisel, Matilda’s husband, is satisfied with what he has. He is also happy being a clerk.
Loisels get invited to a ball at the Minister of Public Instruction’s place.
Loisel thinks that his wife would be happy to know about the invitation to the ball.
Matilda is displeased and refused to go as she does not have a dress to wear to the ball.
Her husband offers to buy her a dress for four hundred francs.
Matilda buy a good dress but is still unhappy as she has no jewel to complement the beautiful dress.
Her husband suggests borrowing jewels from her friend, Mme Forestier.
Mme Forestier lends Matilda a diamond necklace.
Matilda becomes a celebrity at the ball party as everyone admires her beauty.
Unfortunately, the couple discovers the necklace is lost as they reach home.
M Loisel contacts the police, cab offices, advertises to award the finder of the necklace but to no avail. They decide to buy a new necklace to replace it.
M Loisel collects 18000 francs and they borrow eighteen thousand more to pay for the necklace.
The couple spends ten years to pay back the debt, working day and night and suffering from dire poverty.
Ten years of poverty and misery render them old and weary.
M Loisel meets Mme Forestier one day and narrates the story of the necklace.
Mme Forestier informs her necklace was worth just five hundred Francs. The story focuses that one should be content and satisfied with their belongings and not crave for expensive items that are not within their economical capabilities. Extreme desire for lavish items leads to unhappiness and loss of peace of mind.
1. What did Matilda often dream of?
Matilda would often dream of all the delicacies, luxuries, elegant dinners, marvellous dishes, rich silver, beautiful dresses, jewels, adoration and a life of glory. She would escape into her dreams from the dullness of her very humble existence.
2. Describe Mme Loisel’s success at the ball.
On the day of the ball, Mme Lisle was a great success. Mme Loisel was the centre of attention at the ball. Her beauty, her grace, her joy and the gorgeous smile captivated all.. She looked the prettiest of all elegant, gracious, smiling and full of joy.
3. What was the cause of Matilda’s ruin? How could she avoid it?
She was always dissatisfied and unhappy, craving for all the delicacies and luxuries of life. She could have avoided it by accepting her fate and like her husband, been happy, contented, satisfied and lived the life she was destined to live
CHAPTER- 8 BHOLI by K. A. Abbas
The story is about a little girl named Sulekha who was called ‘Bholi’ for being as simpleton.
Her father Ramlal was always worried about her as she stammered and had pockmarks on her face.
One day, at the request of the Tehsildar of their village Ramlal agreed to send Bholi to school.
In the school, Bholi met a teacher who was very kind and polite to her. She encouraged her to study and speak with confidence. This filled hope in Bholi.
Years passed and Bholi’s parents decided to marry her to a lame old man who was a widower but was rich and had not demanded any dowry.
On the wedding day, the groom demanded dowry of Rs.5000 as Bholi had pock marks on her face.
Bholi could not bear all this and refused to marry a greedy old man. People accused her of being shameless. The marriage ceremony ended without Bholi getting married.
Her father was surrounded by grief as now no one would marry her and what would she do in future.
To this, she replied that she would take care of her parents when they grew old and would teach in her school. Her teacher, who was quietly watching all this, felt proud of her decision.
The major theme of the story Bholi is the impact of family on children. Bholi is a little girl who fails to develop self-confidence because of her parents’ attitude towards her. The story hints at why family support and emotional security are essential for proper development of a child. Also, disabled children must be given encouragement, love and, education like their normal counterparts.
1. Why was Ramlal worried about his daughter Bholi and not about his other children?
Ramlal was worried about Bholi because she had neither good looks nor intelligence. She stammered also she had pox marks on her face. Ramlal worried about her that nobody would marry her.
2. How does Bholi’s teacher play an important role in changing Bholi’s course of life?
Bholi's teacher played an important role in changing the course of her life. She was polite and friendly which touched her heart. She encouraged Bholi every time and was affectionate towards her. She asked Bholi to put aside her fear of not being able to speak properly.
3. How significant is the education,that Bholi received, to her life and decisions?
After years of gaining education and with the help of her teacher, Bholi turned into a confident girl. She no longer stammered and could speak properly. She even had the courage to refuse marrying the lame old man because he was greedy and asked money from her father to marry her.
