One day, the narrator’s grandfather was walking down the forest path. His party was at a distance. He found a little tiger and brought him home. Grandfather was the only successful member of the hunting party. The narrator’s grandmother named the tiger cub, Timothy. She brought him up on bottle-milk. Later he was put on a diet of raw mutton and cod liver oil. Afterwards, he was put on the diet of pigeons and rabbits also.Toto, the monkey pulled the cub’s tail. Toto climbed up the curtain when Timothy lost his temper. He and a mongrel puppy were Timothy’s companions. When the narrator came to live with Grandfather, he became one of the tiger’s favourites. Initially, Timothy was afraid of the puppy. But finally the puppy was allowed to crawl and rest on his back. Timothy’s favourite amusement was to stalk his playmate. He also made a dash at the narrator’s feet. He pretended to bite his ankles. After sometime, he was of full size. Sometimes he pulled hard at his chain. The narrator kept up with him with great difficulty. He reclined on a long sofa in the drawing-room. He snarled at everybody. He had clean habits. He would scrub his face with his paws like a cat. He slept in the cook’s quarters. He preferred to be taken out in the morning for a walk. He grew less friendly when he became six months old. He also started eating small animals.A change came over him. He became less friendly, in fact more dangerous Then the grandfather took him to Lucknow. Timothy and grandfather travelled in a first class compartment. In Lucknow the grandfather presented him to the 200. After six months the grandfather went to see Timothy. He stroked the tiger’s forehead, tickled his ears and smacked him across the mouth. The tiger licked Grandfather’s hands. It sprang away only when a leopard in the next cage snarled at him. Many people watched the scene. A keeper of the zoo called the tiger bad tempered. He had no knowledge about the owner of the tiger. Grandfather wished the tiger to be transferred to some other cage. A leopard in the next cage would constantly rush at Timothy. However, he could not meet the superintendent. The Grandfather returned to the tiger’s cage. To say goodbye, he stroked and slapped the tiger. Another keeper observed him with alarm. He also recognised the Grandfather. He informed the Grandfather about Timothy’s death of pneumonia. He also informed the Grandfather that the dangerous tiger was trapped only last month. The tiger was still licking Grandfather’s arm. He was smelling fresh food. Grandfather somehow withdrew his hand from the cage. He gave the keeper a scornful look and bade the tiger “Goodnight’.
Comprehension Check (Page 60)
Question 1:
“He had the distinction of being the only member of the party to have bagged any game.., The phrase in italics means
(i) Grandfather was the most distinguished member of the party.
(ii) Grandfather was, the only spoftsperson in the party.
(iii) Grandfather was the only successful member of the hunting party.
Mark the right answer.
Answer:
(iii) Grandfather was the only successful member of the hunting party.
Question 2:
Complete the following sentences.
(i) Toto climbed up the curtains when_______________________________________
(ii)_____________________________________________________________________________________ :_____________________________ .______________________________________________
_________________________________________________________ , I became one of the tiger’s favourites.
(iii) Timothy had clean habits,_________________________________________________________
Answer:
(i) Timothy lost his temper.
(ii) When I came to live with my Grandfather.
(iii) he would scrub his face with his paws exactly like a cat.
Comprehension Check (Page 64)
Question 1:
Grandmother’s prophecy was that the tiger
(i) would prefer Mahmoud’s bed to sleep in.
(ii) and the cook would disappear together from the house.
(iii) would one day make a meal of Mahmoud.
Mark the right answer.
Answer:
(iii) would one day make a meal of Mahmoud.
Question 2:
When Timothy was about six months old, a change came over him.
The phrase in italics means that
(i) Timothy had grown to his full size.
(ii) Timothy grew more friendly.
(iii) Timothy grew less friendly, in fact more dangerous.
Answer:
(iii) Timothy grew less friendly, in fact more dangerous.
Question 3:
Write “True ’ or ‘False ’ against each of the following statements.
(i) Timothy and Grandfather went to Lucknow in a special compartment.___________.
(ii) The compartment in which Grandfather and Timothy travelled had no other passenger ___________.
(iii) Timothy and Grandfather travelled in a first class compartment._________________.
(iv)All passengers in the compartment thought that Timothy was a well-fed and civilized tiger. _________________.
Answer:
(i) False (ii) True (iii) True (iv) False
Question 4:
Grandfather suggested that Timothy should be put in another cage. The reason was that
(i) the tiger had become very bad tempered.
(ii) a leopard, in the next cage would constantly rush at Timothy.
(iii) the cage was too small for a full grown tiger,
Answer:
(ii) a leopard in the next cage would constantly rush at Timothy.
Question 5:
The tiger was still licking his arm, with increasing relish The phrase in italics suggests that Timothy
(i) was good natured.
(ii) recognised an old friend.
(iii) smelt fresh food.
Answer:
(iii) smelt fresh food.
Exercise (Page 65)
Answer the following questions:
Question 1:
Where was the tiger cub hiding when Grandfather found him?
Answer:
The tiger cub was hiding among the intricate roots of a banyan tree in the Terai jungle near Dehra.
Question 2:
(i) What did Toto do to entertain Timothy?
(ii) What did he do when Timothy lost his temper?
Answer:
(i) Toto used to pull Timothy by the tail.
(ii) Toto climbed up the curtain if Timothy lost his temper.
Question 3:
“I became one of the tiger’s favourites.” Who is T in the statement? Why did he think so?
Answer:
T stands for the narrator, Ruskin Bond. He thought so because Timothy would come closer to him, roll over on his feet and pretended to bite his ankles.
Question 4:
Where was Timothy most comfortable during the day? Where was he during the night?
Answer:
During the day, Timothy was most comfortable on the long sofa in the drawing room. He slept at night in the cook’s quarters.
Question 5:
What was Grandmother’s prophecy about the cook? Did it come true?
Answer:
Grandmother’s prophecy was that Timothy would one day kill the cook Mahmoud, and make a meal of him. No, it did not come true.
Question 6:
What made Grandfather decide to transfer Timothy to the zoo?
Answer:
When Timothy was about six months old, he grew less friendly and more dangerous. He chased the cats and ate up hens. He also followed Mahmoud with evil intentions. So Grandfather decided to shift him away to Lucknow zoo.
Question 7:
Why did Grandfather want Timothy to be put in another enclosure?
Answer:
Grandfather saw the leopard in the next cage rushing at and frightening Timothy every now and then. So he suggested the keeper to shift Timothy to some other cage.
Question 8:
What shocked Grandfather in the end?
Answer:
Grandfather was shocked to learn from the keeper that Timothy had died two months ago, and the tiger in the cage was very dangerous.
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