PDF chapter test TRY NOW
“Pa-”
“Yes, son.”
“Pa, do you recollect the doe and the fawn?”
“I can never forget them. The poor doe saved me, that’s certain.”
“Pa, the fawn may be out there yet. It might be hungry and very scared.”
“I suppose so.”
“Pa, I’m a big boy now and don’t need to drink milk. Why don’t I go and see if I can find the fawn?”
“And bring it here?”
“And raise it.”
Penny lay quiet, staring at the ceiling.
“Boy, you’ve got me hemmed in.”
“It won’t take much to raise it, Pa. It’ll soon start eating leaves and acorns.”
“You are smarter than boys of your age.”
Since his thoughts about the fawn were hurting him, Jody decided to tell his father about it. To begin, he asked if his father remembered the doe and the fawn, to which Jody's father graciously replied that the poor doe which had saved his life would be remembered forever.
Jody began to voice his worry about the fawn, which could be hungry and scared because it was alone. When his father agreed, he went on to add that because he was grown up, he didn't need to drink any milk, implying that he could use the milk for the fawn. As a result, Jody might go find the fawn and bring it home to nurture it. Jody's father remained silent for a moment, understanding his son's worry about the motherless fawn that had been abandoned in the forest.
Jody's concern, after all, has a reason. Jody thought they were responsible for the fawn's survival since the doe (the fawn's mother) had been killed to save his father. He tried to persuade his father by explaining why it was that the fawn was to be brought to their house and raised there. Penny fell silent since he was unable to speak. He gazed at the ceiling, telling Jody that he had put his father (Jody's father) in a difficult position where he couldn't say no to his son's request. Penny was aware that he was the cause of the doe's death. Jody tried to persuade his father even more by claiming that rearing the fawn would be simple and that the fawn would soon be eating leaves and acorns. Penny made the remark that Jody was wiser than boys of his age after listening to Jody's worried speech.
Meaning of difficult words:
S.No | Words | Meaning |
1. | Certain | Sure about something without any doubts |
2. | Persuade | To convince somebody to do something |
3. | Gaze | To look at somebody or something for a long time |
4. | Acorns | Small nuts or fruits that grow on oak trees |
5. | Hem in | Confined or restricted without leaving |
6. | Concern | A feeling of worry |
Reference:
National Council of Educational Research and Training (2008). Honeydew. This is Jody's Fawn - Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (pp. 86-93). Published at the Publication Division by the Secretary, National Council of Educational Research and Training, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi.
Register for free to see more content