Notes For All Chapters English Moments Class 9
Toto monkey is bought
The narrator’s Grandfather bought a monkey from a tonga-driver. He cost him Rs. five. It was Toto. Grandfather bought him to keep in his private zoo.
Toto is described
Toto was a pretty monkey. He had mischief in his shining eyes. His teeth were white like pearls. His hands were dried-up. His fingers were quick. His tail served as a third hand.
Toto is kept ip a secret place
The narrator’s Grandmother fussed when his Grandfather added a new animal to his zoo. So Toto was kept in a secret place. It was a little closet. It opened into the narrator’s bedroom. Toto was kept tied to a peg.
Toto’s mischiefs
A few hours later, the narrator found a change in his bedroom. Toto had removed the ornamental paper from the walls. He had also pulled out the peg. He also tore up the narrator’s school blazer. Grandfather seemed pleased with Toto’s mischiefs.
Toto is transferred to servants’ quarters
Toto was now transferred to a big cage. It was in the servants’ quarters. There Grandfather’s other animals lived sociably. These were a tortoise, a pair of rabbits, a squirrel, a pet goat. The monkey didn’t allow them to sleep peacefully. Grandfather had to leave Dehradun. He had to collect Ris pension from Saharanpur.
Toto travels with Grandfather secretly
Grandfather got a big black canvas kit-bag. He put Toto into it. Toto couldn’t take his hands out of this bag. It was too strong for him to bite. Toto remained in the bag as far as Saharanpur. Grandfather was coming out of the railway station. Toto grinned at the ticket- collector at the gate. The ticket-collector was taken aback. He told Grandfather that he had a dog with him. So he would have to pay Rs. three as fare for this ‘dog’. In vain, argued the Grandfather that Toto was not a dog. He had his pet tortoise with him also. So he asked the ticket-collector how much he should pay for it: The ticket-collector said that it was not a dog. So there was no charge for that.
Toto is finally accepted in the house
Finally, Toto was accepted in the house. Grandfather gave Toto a comfortable place in the stable. There Toto got Nana, the family female donkey, as a companion. But Toto continued teasing her. They could never become friends.
Toto at mischief again
In winter Grandfather gave Toto a large bowl of warm water. It was for him to bathe in. Toto would sit inside the bowl. Then he would apply soap on his body and rub all over. When the water became cold, he would come out of it. Then he would run to the kitchen fire. There he would warm himself. If anyone laughed at him, he would refuse to bathe.
Toto nearly boiled himself alive
Once Toto nearly boiled himself alive. There was a large kitchen kettle left on the fire. It was to boil for tea. Toto decided to remove the lid. He found the water warm to bathe. He got in. Just then the water began to boil. Toto raised himself a little. But he sat down again. He continued jumping up. Grandmother came there. She took him out of the kettle.
Toto’s mischiefs continue
Toto always made mischiefs. He tore things to pieces. He tore up the dresses of the aunt of the narrator. One day, the narrator found Toto eating rice on the dining table. Grandmother screamed. Toto threw a plate at her. One of the narrator’s aunts rushed forward. Toto threw a glass of water at her face. When Grandfather came, Toto ran out with the dish of pullao in his hand. He ran up to the branches of the jackfruit tree. He threw the dish at Grandmother when she screamed at him.
Toto is sold back to his original owner
Toto caused much loss to the family. Dishes were broken. Clothes, curtains, wall papers were torn. The family couldn’t bear this. So Grandfather sold Toto back to the tonga-driver for only three rupees.
Good