In the story 'A Letter to God' by G.L. Fuentes (NCERT Class 10 First Flight, Chapter 1), Lencho's happiness changed into concern because of a sudden hailstorm that destroyed his entire crop. He was initially happy and hopeful when he saw rain clouds approaching, as his cornfield desperately needed rain. However, within minutes, hailstones fell and destroyed the crops completely, leaving him and his family with nothing. His joy turned into deep sorrow and concern for how his family would survive.
Story: 'A Letter to God' by G.L. Fuentes — NCERT Class 10 First Flight, Chapter 1.
Lencho was happy seeing rain coming — his cornfield needed water desperately.
He compared rain drops to coins: 'big drops are ten-cent pieces, small drops are five-cent pieces.'
A sudden hailstorm destroyed his entire crop in less than an hour.
Concern: the crop was wiped out — no food or income for the year.
Lencho had deep faith in God and wrote a letter asking for 100 pesos.
The postmaster and employees collected 70 pesos and sent it to Lencho.
Irony: Lencho suspected the post office employees had stolen 30 pesos and wrote a second letter to God.
Lencho was a poor farmer who worked hard on his fields. Before the hail:
• His corn crop was ripe and ready for harvest — the family depended entirely on this crop • The valley was dry and the crop desperately needed water • When Lencho looked at the horizon, he saw rain clouds building up • He predicted rain: 'Now we will truly get some water, woman.' • He was happy and filled with hope — the approaching rain was exactly what his fields needed • He compared the large drops of rain to new coins: 'The big drops are ten-cent pieces and the little drops are five-cent pieces.'
This happiness was the happiness of a farmer who sees his livelihood saved — rain meant a good harvest, which meant food and income for his family.
The rain was followed suddenly by large hailstones:
• While it was raining, the wind began to blow hard • Then hailstones began to fall — 'like new silver coins' • The hailstones continued to fall for over an hour on the valley, the house, the hillside, and the cornfield • The entire crop was destroyed: — Not a single leaf remained on the trees — The corn was completely ruined — The flowers were beaten off the plants — The field was covered in white hail, 'like snow'
Lencho's reaction: • His soul was filled with 'an overwhelming sorrow' • He said: 'Everything was covered by locusts. Not even this did the corn do — it has been destroyed. We'll have no corn this year.' • He compared the hail to a plague of locusts — meaning total destruction • His family would have nothing to eat for the year • All the hard work he had put into his field was wiped out in an hour
The contrast: • Happy → Concerned: Rain (hope, life) → Hail (destruction, despair) • The same sky that brought hope within minutes brought total ruin • Lencho had gone from counting his blessings to facing starvation
After the destruction, Lencho's only hope was God:
• Lencho had deep, unshakeable faith in God • He decided to write a letter to God asking for 100 pesos to re-sow his field and to survive until the next harvest • He wrote: 'God, if you don't help me, my family and I will go hungry this year.' • He posted the letter addressed to God
The postmaster's response: • The postmaster was moved by Lencho's faith • He collected money from the post office employees and sent Lencho 70 pesos • Lencho was angry when he received only 70 — he suspected the post office employees had stolen 30 pesos and wrote a second letter to God asking Him not to send the money through the post office employees
Theme of the story: • Faith: Lencho's unquestioning belief in God is the central theme • Irony: Lencho's faith is beautiful but blind — he suspects the very people who helped him • Goodness of strangers: The postmaster and employees acted with kindness without expecting anything in return
Lencho was happy when he saw rain approaching — his crop needed water and the rain meant a good harvest. His happiness changed into concern when a sudden hailstorm followed the rain and destroyed his entire cornfield within an hour. Not a single leaf or flower remained. The crop he depended on for food and income was completely ruined, leaving him worried about how his family would survive the coming year.
Lencho's crop was destroyed by a hailstorm. After the rain started, a strong wind blew in and hailstones began to fall for over an hour. The entire cornfield was ruined — no leaves, no flowers, and no corn remained. The field looked as if it were covered in snow. Lencho compared the destruction to a plague of locusts.
Lencho was happy because his corn crop was ripe and needed rain badly. When he saw rain clouds approaching from the northeast, he was filled with hope. He even compared the raindrops to coins — 'the big drops are ten-cent pieces and the little drops are five-cent pieces' — showing how much the rain meant to his livelihood.
Lencho wrote a letter to God asking for 100 pesos to re-sow his field and to survive until the next harvest. He had firm faith that God would help him. He posted the letter, addressed simply to 'God.' The postmaster, moved by his faith, collected 70 pesos from post office employees and sent it to Lencho. However, Lencho was angry to receive only 70 pesos and wrote a second letter suspecting the post office employees had stolen the rest.
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