JKBOSE 9th Class English Solutions chapter – 21THE LAST LEAF

A girl named Johnsy catches pneumonia. Her bed was near the window which overlooked the brick wall of the opposite house. A very old ivy vine climbed halfway up the brick wall. It was winter and its leaves were falling. A strange idea took hold of Johnsy’s mind. She began to think that when the last ivy leaf fell, she would also pass away. Her condition went from bad to worse with the falling of each leaf from the ivy. Her friend, Sue, tried her best to get this foolish idea out of Johnsy’s mind, but in vain. When only one leaf was left on the ivy, Johnsy began to prepare herself for death. Then Sue thought of a plan to save the life of her friend. When Johnsy was asleep at night, Sue went to an old painter named Behrman. It was raining hard and the last ivy leaf fell during the night. Behrman painted on the wall a leaf in green colour, which looked exactly like the real leaf.

Next morning when Johnsy woke up, she began to wait for the last leaf to fall. But the leaf didn’t fall even after the next two days and two nights. It filled Johnsy with a new hope. Her condition began to improve. When she was completely out of danger, Sue told her that the last leaf was not the real leaf, but a mere painting by Behrman. She also told her that Behrman had worked in rain during the night and had caught pneumonia. He died the next day.

Behrman had desired all his life to paint a masterpiece, but had never been able to begin it. But the last leaf that he painted before his death, really proved his masterpiece.

जॉइसी नाम की एक लड़की को न्यूमोनिया हो जाता है। उसका बिस्तर उस खिड़की के पास था जो सामने वाले घर की ईंट की दीवार की दिशा में खुलती थी । एक बहुत पुरानी सिरपेंचे की लता ईंट की दीवार की आधी दूर ऊपर तक चढ़ी हुई थी। शरद ऋतु थी और उसके पत्ते झड़ रहे थे। जॉहसी के दिमाग में एक अजीब विचार घर कर गया । वह सोचने लगी कि जब सिरपेंचे का आखिरी पत्ता गिरेगा तो वह भी मर जाएगी। सिरपेंचे से प्रत्येक पत्ते के गिरने के साथ उसकी हालत बद से बदतर होती गई। उसकी सहेली स्यू ने जॉइसी के दिमाग से यह मूर्खतापूर्ण विचार निकालने की बहुत कोशिश की किन्तु सब व्यर्थ गया। जब सिरपेंचे पर केवल एक पत्ता रह गया तो जॉइसी स्वयं को मृत्यु के लिए तैयार करने लगी। तब स्यू ने अपनी सहेली की जान बचाने के लिए एक योजना सोची। रात को जब जॉहसी सोई हुई थी तो स्यू बरमैन नाम के एक बूढ़े चित्रकार के पास गई। जोरों की वर्षा हो रही थी और रात को सिरपेंचे का आखिरी पत्ता गिर गया। बरमैन ने दीवार पर एक पत्ते को हरे रंग में पेंट कर दिया जो बिल्कुल असली पत्ते की भांन्ति प्रतीत होता था।

अगली सुबह जॉह्रसी जागी तो वह आखिरी पत्ते के गिरने की प्रतीक्षा करने लगी । परन्तु अगले दो दिन और दो रातों के बाद भी पत्ता नहीं गिरा। इसने जॉह्रसी के मन में एक नई आशा भर दी । उसकी हालत सुधरने लगी। जब वह पूरी तरह से खतरे से बाहर हो गई तो स्यू ने उसे बताया कि वह आखिरी पत्ता असली पत्ता नहीं था, बल्कि मात्र बरमैन के द्वारा की हुई चित्रकारी थी । उसने उसे यह भी बताया कि रात को बरमैन ने वर्षा में काम किया था और इसलिए उसे न्यूमोनिया हो गया था। अगले दिन वह मर गया।

बरमैन ने जीवन भर एक उत्तम चित्र बनाने की इच्छा की थी, लेकिन वह उसे बनाना कभी आरम्भ नहीं कर पाया था । किन्तु अपनी मृत्यु के पहले उसने जो आखिरी पत्ते की चित्रकारी की थी, वास्तव में वही उसकी अति उत्तम कलाकृति सिद्ध हुई।

(Page 102) Sue and Johnsy, two young artists, shared a small flat. The flat was on the third storey of an old house.

Johnsy fell very seriously ill in November. She had pneumonia. She would lie in her bed without moving, just gazing out of the window. Sue, her friend, became very worried.

She sent for the doctor. Although he came every day, there was no change in Johnsy’s condition.

(A) (i) The names of two young artists were ………….. and ………..  .

(ii) The two artists shared a flat which was on the ………. floor of a house.

(B) Choose the most appropriate options:

(i) What happened to Johnsy in November ?

(a) She fell from stairs.    (b) She felt very happy.

(c) She fell ill.                   (d) She felt something seriously.

(ii) Pneumonia is …………. .

(a) a serious disease   (b) the name of a medicine

(c) a form of art          (d) a kind of plant with round leaves.

(iii) ‘She sent for the doctor’ means …….. .

(a) she sent the doctor home

(b) she took Johnsy to the doctor

(c) she asked the doctor to come

(d) she sent Johnsy to the doctor.

(C) Where did Sue and Johnsy live ?

(D) How would Johnsy behave during her illness ?

(E) Write from the passage a word that means ‘looking steadily at something’.

(A) (i) Sue, Johnsy (ii) third.

(B) (i) (c) She fell ill. (ii) (a) a serious disease. (c) she asked the doctor to come.

(C) Sue and Johnsy lived in a small flat.

(D) She lay in her bed still, only looking out of the window.

(E) gazing.

(Page 103) Suddenly Sue heard Johnsy whisper something. She quickly rushed to the bed and heard Johnsy counting backwards. She was looking out of the window and was saying, “Twelve !” After some time, she whispered “eleven”, then “ten”, then “nine”, “eight”, “seven”. Sue anxiously looked out of the window. She saw an old ivy creeper climbing half-way up the brick wall opposite their window. In the strong wind outside, the creeper was shedding its leaves.

1. What did Sue hear suddenly ?

2. What did Sue do when she heard Johnsy whispering something ?

3. What did Sue see when she looked out of the window ?

4. What was happening to the ivy creeper ?

1. Johnsy had been lying on her bed without speaking anything. Now Sue suddenly heard her whispering some words.

2. She rushed to Johnsy’s bed and she heard Johnsy counting backwards — ‘eleven’ and so on.

3. She saw an old ivy creeper climbing up the brick wall opposite their window.

4. In the strong wind outside, the creeper was shedding its leaves.

ale to (Page 104) They tiptoed into the room as Johnsy was sleeping. Sue drew the curtains together and they went to the next room. She peeped out through the window. There was only one leaf on the creeper. It was raining heavily and an icy-cold wind was blowing. It seemed as though the leaf would fall any minute now. Behrman did not say a word. He went back to his room.

(A) (i) Who does the word, ‘They’, in the first line refer to ?

(ii) Where did Behrman live ?

(iii) What did Sue see when she peeped through the window ?

(B) Choose the most appropriate options :

(i) What did Sue do when she tiptoed into Johnsy’s room ?

(a) She drew down the curtains.

(b) She went to the next room.

(c) She peeped out of the window.

(d) All of the above.

(ii) At that time, weather was such that ……….

(a) it was raining heavily (b) an icy-cold wind was blowing

(c) both (a) and (b)          (d) the leaf was fluttering fast.

(iii) What did Behrman do ?

(a) He shouted loudly.              (b) He spoke nothing.

(c) He went back to his room.  (d) Both (b) and (c).

(C) What seemed to be the fate of the last leaf ?

(A) (i) This word refers to Sue and Behrman, an old unsuccessful painter.

(ii) He lived on the ground floor of the building in which Sue and Johnsy were living.

(iii) She saw that only one leaf had remained on the ivy creeper. The rest had fallen to the ground.

(B) (i) (d) All of the above. (ii) (c) both (a) and (b) (iii) (d) Both (b) and (c).

(C) It seemed that the last leaf would fall any minute as the strong wind was still blowing.

(Page 104) In the evening, there was another storm but the leaf did not fall Johnsy lay for a long time looking at the leaf. Then she called out to Sue. “I have been a bad girl. You have looked after me so lovingly and I have not 1 cooperated with you. I have been depressed and gloomy. The last leaf has shown me how wicked I have been. I have realised that it is a sin to want to die.”

1. Who were Sue and Johnsy ?

2. What happened in the evening ?

3. What surprised Johnsy ?

4. What was Johnsy sorry for ?

5. What lesson did Johnsy learn from the last leaf ?

1. They were very fast friends and lived in the upper floor of a building.

2. In the evening, another storm came and the ivy creeper started shaking violently.

3. She was surprised to see that in spite of the storm, the last leaf did not fall. It remained on the creeper.

4. She was sorry that although Sue had cared for her so lovingly, she had not cooperated with her.

5. She realized that she had been very wicked. She also realised that it is a sin to want to die.

(Page 105) The next morning, Sue came and sat on Johnsy’s bed. Taking Johnsy’s hand in hers she said, “I have something to tell you. Mr. Behrman died of pneumonia this morning. He was ill for only two days. The first day the janitor found him on his bed. His clothes and shoes were wet and he was shivering. He had been out in that stormy night.”

(A) (i) What did Sue do next morning ?

(ii) What information did Sue give to Johnsy ?

(iii) What did the janitor find the first day ?

(B) Choose the most appropriate options:

(i) Sue told Johnsy that Mr Behrman………..

(a) was suffering from pneumonia   (b) was a very kind man.

(c) had met the janitor                      (d) had died in the morning.

(ii) The janitor had seen Mr Behrman ………… .

(a) dead                           (b) suffering from pneumonia

(c) outside in the storm   (d) painting a leaf on a wall.

(iii) In that stormy night, Mr Behrman …….. .

(a) went out in the storm               (b) took his paints and brush

(c) painted an ivy leaf on the wall  (d) all of these three.

(C) What had made the old painter so ill ?

(A) (i) She went to Johnsy’s room and sat lovingly on her bad.

(ii) She told Johnsy that Mr Behrman, the old painter, had died that very morning.

(iii) He found the painter lying listlessly on his bed. His clothes and shoes were wet and he was shivering.

(B) (i) (d) had died in the morning (ii) (b) suffering from pneumonia (iii) (d) all of these three.

(C) He had been out in the stormy night when a chilly wind was blowing. He caught pneumonia which finally killed him.

(Page 105) Then they found a ladder and a lantern still lighted lying near his bed. There were also some brushes and green and yellow paints on the floor near the ladder. “Johnsy dear,’ said Sue, “look out of the window. Look at that ivy leaf. Haven’t you wondered why it doesn’t flutter when the wind blows? That’s Behrman’s masterpiece. He painted it the night the last leaf fell.”

1. What did Sue and Johnsy find in Behrman’s room ?

2. What other things, were there near the old painter’s bed ?

3. What, according to Sue, had Johnsy not noticed ?

4. Why did the leaf not flutter ?

5. What proved to be Behrman’s masterpiece ?

1. They found a ladder and a lantern still lighted near his bed.

2. There were also some brushes and green and yellow paints on the floor and a ladder.

3. Johnsy had not noticed that the leaf did not flutter even when the wind blew.

4. The leaf did not flutter because it was not a real leaf. It was a painting of the leaf done by a real artist’s hands.

5. The painting of an ivy leaf on the wall proved to be his masterpiece. Even Johnsy, who herself was a painter, could not know that it was not a real leaf.

Ans.— Johnsy was suffering from pneumonia. But her illness was more psychological than physical. She had lost all interest in life. She was certain that she was going to die. So, no medicine could help her. It was only her desire to live that could cure her.

Ans.— Teenagers are generally very imaginative. Once a thing gets into their mind, it becomes difficult to take it away. Therefore, it is important that teenagers should always think positively. Johnsy is also a teenager. The idea of death gets into her mind. She can’t get rid of it easily. Sue has to make her think positively.

Ans.— Behrman’s dream is to paint a masterpiece. This dream does come true, but only with his death. He paints an ivy leaf on a wall. He works in the cold winter rain. He catches pneumonia and dies. His painting proves a masterpiece. Even Johnsy, who is herself an artist, can’t know that it is not a real leaf.

Ans.— Behrman paints an ivy leaf on a wall. This painting proves a masterpiece. Johnsy is herself an artist. Even she can’t know that it is not a real leaf. That is why we can call it a masterpiece. It is because of this masterpiece that Johnsy regains her will to live.

1. Make up one’s mind (to decide)—Have you made up your mind which college to join ?

2. Out of work (without a job)—She had been out of work for a year.

3. By leaps and bounds (very rapidly)—Her health is improving by leaps and bounds.

4. Pour out worries (give an account of worries freely and fully) — She poured out her worries to me over a cup of coffee.

5. Shed leaves (drop leaves)—Most trees shed their leaves in autumn.

6. Look after (take care of)—Parents look after their children with love.

7. Take after (have the same looks)—She takes after her mother.

8. Tiptoe into (to walk in carefully and quietly on tiptoe)—She tiptoed into the room to see whether the children had slept or not.

9. Draw the curtain (pull it across the window)—Please draw the curtain.

10. Raise the curtain (to bring into open)—The inquiry has raised the curtain from all their fishy deals.

Ans.— Once I was travelling by a night bus from Delhi to Agra. My mother was also with me. It was midnight. Suddenly, the bus collided with another bus. It was a head-on collision. The driver was killed on the spot. I was sitting two rows behind the driver. I had stretched my legs on the opposite seat. My feet got jammed. The right leg was badly wounded. It was put in plaster. But it was a mistake. The wounds should have been left open. After some time gangrene set in. My whole body turned blue. It became a question of my life. To save my life, the right leg had to be amputated. It was the saddest moment of my life. I had always desired to be a dancer in Bharatanatyam. But now I felt my whole world had fallen apart.

Ans.— Everyone has moments of depression and dejection in life. It is very important to overcome the feelings of depression and dejection. Or, they can cripple us physically as well as mentally. I too have experienced such moments in my life. But I never let them linger on for long. I always make conscious efforts to overcome them and derive new strength from them.

During my last final exams, I had my physics paper on the 17th, but somehow I had noted it down as 19th in my notebook. I was well-prepared for the

paper and was full of confidence. But when I reached the exam hall on the morning of 19th, I got the biggest shock of my life. The paper had already taken place two days before. My fate was sealed. I was bound to fail in the exam. My friends and parents showed all sympathy for me and tried to encourage me. But I was so dejected and depressed, I could not eat or sleep for two days. But then I said to myself, “No, what is use of my pining and grieving? What has happened has happened. It can’t be repaired. I should take this as something for the better. After all, this is not the end of life. Exams happen after every six months and I can fare better the next time.” With these positive thoughts, I brought myself to a normal state of mind. There was a Bollywood blockbuster running in one of the theatres and I went to see it with one of my friends. Back home, it was as if nothing had happened. I was on my daily routine as ever.