Key details in the story the lost child
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
IT was the festival of spring. From the wintry shades of narrow lanes and alleys emerged a gaily clad humanity. Some walked, some rode on horses, others sat, being carried in bamboo and bullock carts. One little boy ran between his father’s legs,brimming over with life and laughter.
wintry shades of narrow lanes and alleys: in the winter season, the narrow lanes were full of shade.
Emerged: came out
Brimming over: to be full of something
The story is set in the spring season. As the winter season had just ended, all the people came out of their houses. They were cheerful as the chilling cold weather had ended. People conveyed through different modes - foot, horses, bamboo carts and bullock carts. A little child was accompanied by his parents. He ran excitedly and often banged into his father’s legs. He was full of life, excitement and laughter.
“Come, child, come,” called his parents, as he lagged behind, fascinated by the toys in the shops that lined the way.
Lagged behind: was left behind
Fascinated by: attracted to
Lined the way: were set up along the way.
The child was attracted to the toys which were displayed at the various stalls. As he would be left behind, his parents would call him to come with them.
He hurried towards his parents, his feet obedient to their call, his eyes still lingering on the receding toys. As he came to where they had stopped to wait for him, he could not suppress the desire of his heart, even though he well knew the old, cold stare of refusal in their eyes.
Lingering: lasting for a long time
Receding: left behind as he walked ahead
Suppress: put an end to
Cold: without any feelings, emotions
The child was obedient and would walk towards them on being called but his eyes would keep on looking at the toys that he wanted. As he reached them, he couldn't control his desire to buy a toy. He was familiar to the reaction that they would give. He knew that they would stare him indicating denial to buy him the toy. The child knew the emotionless way in which they would stare at him. that toy,” he pleaded.
The child was unable to control his desire any longer. He said that he wanted to buy the toy.
His father looked at him red-eyed, in his familiar tyrant’s way.
Tyrant: a cruel and oppressive ruler
The father’s eyes grew red with anger. He looked at the child just like a cruel ruler who was trying to oppress him.
His mother, melted by the free spirit of the day was tender and, giving him her finger to hold, said, “Look, child, what is before you!”
Melted: became tender and loving
The mother became emotional due to the cheerful mood. Lovingly, she gave her finger to the child to hold and guided him to a place. She asked him to see what was in front of him.
It was a flowering mustard-field, pale like melting gold as it swept across miles and miles of even land. A group of dragonflies were bustling about on their gaudy purple wings, intercepting the flight of a lone black bee or butterfly in search of sweetness from the flowers. The child followed them in the air with his gaze, till one of them would still its wings and rest, and he would try to catch it. But it would go fluttering, flapping, up into the air, when he had almost caught it in his hands. Then his mother gave a cautionary call: “Come, child, come, come on to the footpath.”
Pale: dull, colourless
Gaudy: extremely bright and showyThere was a vast field full of bright yellow - coloured mustard flowers. They seemed like flowing streams of gold and were widespread. A group pf dragonflies, black bees and butterflies buzzed around, sucking the nectar from the flowers. The child looked at them as they flew around. When one of the sat somewhere, he tried to catch them but the tiny creatures would fly away the next instance. The mother called out to him as they started walking down the footpath.
He ran towards his parents gaily and walked abreast of them for a while, being, however, soon left behind, attracted by the little insects and worms along the footpath that were teeming out from their hiding places to enjoy the sunshineAbreast: side by side and facing the same way
Teeming out: to pour or empty out
The child ran towards his parents. He walked next to them but after few steps, he stopped to see the insects who were coming out of the soil. Once again the child was left behind.
“Come, child, come!” his parents called from the shade of a grove where they had seated themselves on the edge of a well. He ran towards them.
Grove: a small wood or group of trees
The parents called him. They sat next to a well under the shady trees. The child once again ran and joined his parents.
Heeded: paid attention to