are ruined, asking for a hundred pesos. Does Lencho’s letter reach | Class 10 English Notes

The Beginning of the Story: Lencho's Farm and the Weather

The story opens by describing Lencho's house, the only one in the valley, situated on a low hilltop from where the river and ripe cornfields are visible. The fields are dotted with flowers that promise a good harvest, but the earth needs rain. Lencho, an experienced farmer who knows his fields intimately, watches the sky towards the north-east, hoping for rain. His wife prepares supper, and their children are busy working or playing. As predicted by Lencho, rain begins to fall, accompanied by huge clouds in the north-east. The air is fresh and sweet, and Lencho enjoys feeling the rain on his body. He compares the raindrops to new coins — the big drops like ten-cent pieces and the small ones like five-cent pieces — metaphorically expressing the value of rain to a farmer. However, the rain soon turns into a hailstorm with large hailstones that resemble silver coins. The hail damages the crops severely, leaving the field white as if covered with salt, stripping all leaves and flowers from the plants. Lencho's soul is filled with sadness as he realizes the destruction. He tells his sons that even a plague of locusts would have caused less damage. The night is sorrowful, with thoughts of hunger and loss. Despite the devastation, the family holds onto hope for divine help. This section introduces key themes of nature's power, human vulnerability, and faith.

📊 Diagram: Illustration shows Lencho's house on a hilltop overlooking the valley with the river and cornfields. Another image depicts hailstones falling and children collecting them.

🧪 Activity: Oral comprehension questions about Lencho's hopes, the metaphor of raindrops as coins, the change in weather, and Lencho's feelings after the hailstorm.

🔗 Connection: Leads to Lencho's decision to write a letter to God asking for help, showing his faith and desperation.