HANDY ANDY AT THE POST OFFICEStd X – English

LESSON 1 - Samuel Lover

Pre-reading task

Oh! Mother, I’m so ugly. My dear! Still you are so cute. Look at the one who is reading this!

• Share another joke in your group. Ask your friends what caused laughter.• List out the factors in each of the incidents which made you laugh.• Now read the story and find out how Handy Andy makes you laugh.• [‘Handy Andy’ is a novel by Samuel Lover and the present lesson is adapted

from it. Handy Andy is one of the most famous comic creations in English literature. Andy Rooney has the singularly ingenious knack of doing everything the wrong way. Disappointment awaits on all affairs in which he bears a part. So Andy Rooney deserves the nickname Handy Andy.]

The Story

• From the day he was born, Andy Rooney was a mischievous troublemaker. When he was old enough to work, his mother took him to Squire Egan of Merryvale Hall, who hired him as a stableboy. His literal mind and naive ways frequently caused his superiors great agitation.

• The whimsical aspects of Andy Rooney, popularly known as Handy Andy. He is the servant of Squire Egan and has an unrivalled faculty of doing everything the wrong way. The rivalry of Squire Egan and Squire O’Grady and the blunders of Andy give rise to many amusing incidents.

• One day, Squire Egan sent Andy to the post office to get a letter. Thinking the postage unduly high, Andy stole two other letters in order to get his money’s worth. The Squire’s letter was from Murtough Murphy, an attorney, and it concerned a forthcoming election for a county seat held….

GLOSSARY

1. Ingenious: skillful in inventing; cleverness, quickness of ideas2. Squire: a landlord.3. Confound: confuse. 4. Ignorant: lacking in knowledge. 5. Brisk: quick and active.6. Impertinent: being disrespectful to an elderly person. 7. Contempt: lack of respect.8. Goose: a silly person 9. Scrap of a thing: a silly thing. 10. Taunt: make fun of someone in order to hurt

About the Author

• Samuel Lover (1797-1868) was an Irish novelist and song writer. His ballad and the novel developed out of it, ‘Rory O’ More’ deals with the tragic events in Ireland in 1798. He is always remembered for his humorous novel, Handy Andy.

• This novel depicts the whimsical aspects of Andy Rooney, popularly known as Handy Andy. He is the servant of Squire Egan and has an unrivalled faculty of doing everything the wrong way. The rivalry of Squire Egan and Squire O’Grady and the blunders of Andy give rise to many amusing incidents. Lover published his ‘SONGS & BALLADS’ in 1839.

B - VOCABULARY

• 1. Match the words in list A with their opposites in list B

A B

remember inferior

arrive buy

vanish forget

superior narrow

sell appear

broad depart

Excercise

• 2. Use the following idioms and phrases in sentences of your own:a) to play a trick b) to make an appearancec) to have one’s way d) be fond ofe) to make a visit f) in spite of

• 3. Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the words given in brackets.

1. The time of _________ (arrive) of the train was announced.2. We all looked at the railway track in ________ (curious).3. The train ______ (arrive). The station master _______ (direct)

us to get into S 12 compartment.4. We______________ (thank) the station master and got into the

compartment.

Excercise

• 4. The word ‘cheat’ has two meanings. As a verb it means to deceive somebody e.g.

This shopkeeper always cheats the customers.The same word ‘cheat’, as a noun, means a personwho deceives others.’ e.g. This shopkeeper is acheat.

• Use the following words in sentences, first as verbs and then as nouns.

(a) trouble (b) thought (c) question (d) produce (e) pay (f) ride (g) visit (h) murder (i) answer(j) appeal

Excercise

• 1. Reported Speech(i) Read the following versions, A and B.

A. “You could give it if you liked; but you’re fond of asking impertinent questions because you think I’m simple”.B. Andy told the postmaster that he could give it if he liked, but he was fond of asking impertinent questions because the postmaster thought that Andy was simple.Now find out the changes that happened from ‘A’ to ‘B’• - Discuss in your groups why the changes are made.• Note: The teacher now elicits from the class the rules for

changing simple statements into reported speech.

Excercise

(ii) Change the following statements into reported speech following the rules discussed above:

a) “I’ve come for that letter,” he said.b) “The master’s in a hurry,” said Andy.c) “I’m glad to hear it,” said the post master.d) “That old cheat wanted to charge double for it,” said Andy.

2. The Simple Present Tense:i) He is an engineer. (Present status)ii) His father writes poetry. (Habitual action)iii) Ashoka gives up war after winning a battle. (Historic present)iv) Mr. Jagadeesh teaches us English in the first period on Mondays. (Timetabled actions)v) The Prime Minister visits our place on 1st October. (Scheduled future action)

Excercise

Mr. Vishwanath is an engineer. He gets up early in the morning and goes for a walk. He is very health conscious. He believes that ‘Health is wealth’. He works at BHEL. He returns home at 5 pm. He visits the market on Sundays.• What do the underlined words indicate? Classify them under the

given headings.• Habitual action :• Present status :• Planned action :

(b) Describe your daily routine to your friend.(c) What are your activities on a Monday, according to your

time-table?

D. COMPREHENSION AND COMPOSITION

I Four alternatives are given below each question. Put a (a) mark against the correct choice that best answers the question.• 1. The squire sent Andy to the town to

a) get some gunpowderb) get a letter for him from the post officec) get some vegetablesd) post a letter

• 2. The postmaster refused to give Andy any letter becausea) there was no letter for himb) he did not know who Andy wasc) there was no letter for the squired) Andy was not ready to pay him eleven pence.

D. COMPREHENSION AND COMPOSITION3. Andy refused to pay eleven-pence to the postmaster as postage because

a) he had only four penceb) he had seen the postmaster giving Mr. Durfy a bigger letter for four pencec) he had no money at alld) it was a very small letter.

4. Andy took away two letters from the heap becausea) he thought that they were worth eleven-penceb) the squire had asked him to bring two more lettersc) the letters were addressed to his masterd) the postmaster refused to give him any letter.

5. “He came into the squire’s presence, his face beaming with delight.” What made him feel delighted?

a. At last he got the letter for the squire.b. He had not paid any money to the postmaster.c. The postmaster had given him the letter for four pence.d. He had brought two extra letters and tricked the postmaster.

II. Answer the following in two or three sentences each.

• 1. What was Andy’s excuse for not asking the squire where to go?

• 2. Why did the squire send Andy to the town?• 3. What made Andy think that the postmaster was very

curious?• 4. How did Andy show his contempt for the postmaster’s

‘impertinence?’• 5. Why did the postmaster call Andy’s master ‘a goose?’• 6. Why did Andy come back to the squire without a letter?• 7. What was the postmaster doing when Andy made a second

visit to the post office?• 8. Why was the squire puzzled to see Andy happy?

III. Answer each of the following in a paragraph.

• 1. Imagine you are Andy. Briefly narrate to Squire Egan what happened at the post office when you went there the first time.

• 2. Describe Andy’s second visit to the post office.• 3. What trick did Andy play on the postmaster? Why did he do so?• 4. Pick out five instances that depict Andy’s simplicity.

• IV. a) Visit a post office in your area. Find out and make a list of the people who work there, the facilities available and the functions performed.

• b) Write a letter to your friend describing your visit to the post office using the words from your list. Also mention the purpose of your visit.

E. GROUP WORK

Who do we care for? We care for• 1. our dear ones - family and friends.• 2. the weak, the old and the ailing.• 3. people who are sad and lonely• 4. birds and animals• 5. the environment

Form small groups of 4-5. Each group should select one of the five topics. Discuss, collect relevant material - stories, poems, pictures, newspaper headlines, and clippings. The leader of each group should present the material collected to the class.

LESSON

“Ride into the town, and see if there’s a letter for me,’’ said the squire one day to our hero.

“Yes, sir.” “You know where to go?”“To the town, sir.”

“But do you know where to go in the town?”“No, sir.”

“And why don’t you ask, you stupid thief?”“Sure I’d find out, sir.”

“Didn’t I often tell you to ask what you’re to do, when you don’t know?”

“ Yes, sir.”“And why don’t you?”

“I don’t like to be troublesome, sir.”“Confound you!” said the squire, though he could not help laughing at Andy’s excuse for

remaining in ignorance.“Well,” continued he, “go to the post-office.

You know the post office, I suppose?”“Yes, sir, where they sell gunpowder.”

“You’re right for once,” said the squire, for his Majesty’s postmaster sold gunpowder.

“Go then to the post office, and ask for a letter for me. Remember, not gunpowder, but

a letter.”“Yes, sir,” said Andy, who got on his hack and trotted away to the post office. On arriving at the shop of the postmaster (for that person

carried on a brisk trade in groceries and linen),Andy went to the counter and said, “I want a

letter, sir, if you please.”“Who do you want it for?” said the

postmaster. Andy thought the postmaster was very curious. What business did he have with a private letter? Why should he know who it was for? So Andy thought the coolest contempt he

could throw upon the impertinence of the postmaster was to repeat his demand.

“I want a letter, sir, if you please.”“And who do you want it for?” repeated the

postmaster.“What’s that to you?” said Andy.

The postmaster, laughing at his simplicity, told him he could not tell what letter to give him

unless he told him the direction.“The directions I got was to get a letter here,

that’s the directions.”“Who gave you those directions?”

“The master.”“And who’s your master?”

“What is that to you?”“Why, you stupid rascal! If you don’t tell me

his name how can I give you the letter?”“You could give it, if you liked; but you’re fond of asking impertinent questions, because you

think I’m simple.”“Get out! Your master must be as great a

goose as yourself, to send such a messenger.”“Is it squire Egan you dare to say goose?” cried

Andy.“Oh, Squire Egan’s your master, then?”

“Yes; have you anything to say against it?”“Only that I never saw you before.”

“Then you’ll never see me again if I have my way.”

“I won’t give you any letter for the squire, unless I know you’re his servant. Is there any

one in the town who knows you?”“Plenty,” said Andy, “it’s not everyone who is

as ignorant as you!” Just at this moment a person who knew Andy came into the shop, who told the postmaster that he might give

Andy the squire’s letter.“Have you one for me?” “Yes, sir,” said the postmaster, producing one, “four-pence.”

The gentleman paid the four-pence postage, and left the shop with his letter.

“Here’s a letter for the squire,” said the postmaster. “You’ve to pay me eleven-pence

postage.”“What should I pay eleven-pence for?”

“For postage.”“To the devil with you! Didn’t I see you give

Mr. Durfy a letter for four-pence this minute, and a bigger letter than this? And now you

want me to pay eleven-pence for this scrap of a thing.

Do you think I’m a fool?”

“No; but I’m sure of it,” said the postmaster.

“Well, you’re welcome to be sure; but don’t delay me now; here’s four-pence

for you, and give me the letter.”“Go along, you stupid thief’, said the postmaster taking up the letter, and

going to serve a customer with a mousetrap. While this person and many

others were served, Andywalked up and down the shop, every now and then putting his head in the middle of the customers, and saying;”

“Will you give the letter?”He waited for about half an hour, in spite

of the taunts of the postmaster, and at last left, when he found it impossible to

get common justice for his master.The squire in the meantime was getting impatient for his return, and when Andy made his appearance asked if there was

a letter for him.

“There is, sir,” said Andy. Then give it to me.”

“I haven’t it, Sir.” “What do you mean?”

“He wouldn’t give it to me, Sir.”“Who wouldn’t give it to you?”

“That old cheat beyond in the town - wanting to charge double for it.”

“Maybe it’s a double letter. Why the devil didn’t you pay what he asked, sir?”“Arrah, sir, why would I let you be

cheated? It’s not a double letter at all; not above half the size of one Mr.Durfy

got before my face for four-pence.”“You’ll provoke me to break your neck some day, you vagabond! Ride back for your life, you fool! And pay whatever

he asks, and get me the letter.”“Why sir, I tell you he was selling them before my face for four-pence a piece.”

“Go back, you scoundrel! Or I’ll horsewhip you; and if you’re longer than an hour, I’ll have you ducked in the horse

pond!”Andy vanished, and made a second visit to the post office. When he arrived, two

persons were getting letters. The postmaster was selecting the letters for each from a large parcel that lay before

him on the counter.At the same time many customers were

waiting to be served.“I’m come for that letter,” said Andy.

“I’ll attend to you by-and-by.”“The master’s in a hurry.”

“Let him wait till his hurry’s over.”“He’ll murder me if I’m not back soon.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

While the postmaster went on with such provoking answers to these appeals for hurry, Andy’s eye caught the heap of letters which lay on the counter; so while the weighing of soap and tobacco was going on, he managed

to take off two letters from the heap, and waited patiently enough till it was the great

man’s pleasure to give him the letter directed to his master.

Then Andy on his hack, and, in triumph at his trick on the postmaster, rattled along the road

homeward as fast as thebeast could carry him. He came into the squire’s presence, his face beaming with

delight, and an air of superiority in hismanner. His master was puzzled until he

pulled out three letters from his pocket and said, “Look at that!” He next slapped them down under his fist on the table before the

squire, saying ,“Well! If he did make me pay eleven-pence, by God, I bought your honour the worth of your

money anyhow!”