WBBSE 10 English Chapter 1 Father's Help Summary

1. Swami woke up and realised that it was Monday morning. He did not want to go to school because he wished to stay at home. At 9 o’clock, he told his mother that he had a headache. His mother kindly allowed him to stay at home so he lay on the bench in her room.

2. Swami’s father saw him at home and asked why he was not in school. Swami said that he had a headache, but his father did not believe him. He told Swami to get dressed and go to school. Swami then tried to find another excuse to stay at home.

3. Swami told his father that he was already late and that his teacher, Samuel, would scold him. He described Samuel as a very angry teacher who especially disliked students coming late. Swami also said that even the headmaster was afraid of Samuel.

4. Swami’s father decided to write a long letter to the headmaster about Samuel. He sealed the letter in an envelope and gave it to Swami, telling him to deliver it to the headmaster. Swami became worried because he was not sure whether everything he had said about Samuel was true.  

5. On his way to school, Swami started feeling guilty. He thought about Samuel and realised that the teacher was not really a bad man. In fact, Samuel was often friendly with him and seemed to care about him. Swami became confused and felt sorry for his teacher.

6. When Swami reached the classroom, he was half an hour late. He expected Samuel to become angry and scold him, but Samuel calmly asked why he was late. Swami said that he had a headache. Samuel told him that his father was right to send him to school, which made Swami feel even more guilty.

7. Samuel checked the students’ homework and asked Swami why he had not done his work. Swami again blamed his headache. He expected Samuel to punish him, but Samuel remained calm and simply told him to sit down. Swami now felt that Samuel was actually a good and kind teacher.

8. At 4:30, when school ended, Swami took the letter and went to the headmaster’s room. However, the room was locked. The peon told him that the headmaster had gone on leave for a week. Swami then ran home without delivering the letter.

9. When Swami reached home, his father understood that he had not delivered the letter. Swami explained that the headmaster was on leave. His father took the letter from him and tore it up. He warned Swami not to come to him for help if Samuel scolded him again. Swami’s attempt to avoid school had finally created a bigger problem for him.

10. The story teaches us that we should always tell the truth and not make excuses to avoid our work. Swami’s lie created a bigger problem for him. We should always be honest, responsible, and careful before blaming others.