Class 4 English NCERT Book Chapter 5 The Old Stag

 Page 1


Let us Read
5
 The Old STag In a lush forest lived an old stag who was known for his 
kindness. Each day, he warmly greeted 
his fellow animals and birds. Though 
the forest offered plenty of food, 
the stag preferred staying on 
a small hillock with tender grass.
 The hillock was 
covered in soft, green grass, 
which the old stag enjoyed. 
Every day, he would come 
down to meet his friends, 
and all the animals 
and birds loved him.
Chapter 5.indd   43 13-Mar-25   3:56:49 PM
Page 2


Let us Read
5
 The Old STag In a lush forest lived an old stag who was known for his 
kindness. Each day, he warmly greeted 
his fellow animals and birds. Though 
the forest offered plenty of food, 
the stag preferred staying on 
a small hillock with tender grass.
 The hillock was 
covered in soft, green grass, 
which the old stag enjoyed. 
Every day, he would come 
down to meet his friends, 
and all the animals 
and birds loved him.
Chapter 5.indd   43 13-Mar-25   3:56:49 PM
  The animals wished him a speedy recovery and left. 
However, before they went back into the forest, the animals 
ate the fresh green grass growing on the hillock. 
 One day, the stag fell ill. He 
struggled to reach the hillock. 
The stag knew that fresh, 
healthy food and proper rest 
would help him to get well soon, 
so he ate the tender grass and 
decided to rest for a while.
 The old stag could not go down 
the hillock to greet his friends. 
His friends were worried. When they learnt that the stag 
was unwell, they came to check on him.
 “Dear stag! How are you?” asked a deer. 
 “Too weak to come down and meet you all,” 
replied the stag.
 “Get well soon, dear stag!” 
said the deer.
Chapter 5.indd   44 13-Mar-25   3:56:49 PM
Page 3


Let us Read
5
 The Old STag In a lush forest lived an old stag who was known for his 
kindness. Each day, he warmly greeted 
his fellow animals and birds. Though 
the forest offered plenty of food, 
the stag preferred staying on 
a small hillock with tender grass.
 The hillock was 
covered in soft, green grass, 
which the old stag enjoyed. 
Every day, he would come 
down to meet his friends, 
and all the animals 
and birds loved him.
Chapter 5.indd   43 13-Mar-25   3:56:49 PM
  The animals wished him a speedy recovery and left. 
However, before they went back into the forest, the animals 
ate the fresh green grass growing on the hillock. 
 One day, the stag fell ill. He 
struggled to reach the hillock. 
The stag knew that fresh, 
healthy food and proper rest 
would help him to get well soon, 
so he ate the tender grass and 
decided to rest for a while.
 The old stag could not go down 
the hillock to greet his friends. 
His friends were worried. When they learnt that the stag 
was unwell, they came to check on him.
 “Dear stag! How are you?” asked a deer. 
 “Too weak to come down and meet you all,” 
replied the stag.
 “Get well soon, dear stag!” 
said the deer.
Chapter 5.indd   44 13-Mar-25   3:56:49 PM
 “The grass is so tender 
and nice,” said an 
elephant. 
 “I have never eaten 
such juicy green leaves,” 
said a giraffe.
  Word soon spread about the tender green grass. Soon, 
all the animals who came to visit the stag feasted on the 
tender grass. Anyone who came to visit the stag would also 
eat the grass.
 Soon, there was not much 
grass left for the old stag to 
eat. He started becoming 
weaker as days passed. His 
friends felt ashamed. They 
realised how their greed had 
made them forget about  
their friend, the 
old stag. 
They understood 
that not much 
grass was left for 
the stag to eat 
and recover. The 
animals decided 
to find food 
elsewhere in the 
Chapter 5.indd   45 13-Mar-25   3:56:50 PM
Page 4


Let us Read
5
 The Old STag In a lush forest lived an old stag who was known for his 
kindness. Each day, he warmly greeted 
his fellow animals and birds. Though 
the forest offered plenty of food, 
the stag preferred staying on 
a small hillock with tender grass.
 The hillock was 
covered in soft, green grass, 
which the old stag enjoyed. 
Every day, he would come 
down to meet his friends, 
and all the animals 
and birds loved him.
Chapter 5.indd   43 13-Mar-25   3:56:49 PM
  The animals wished him a speedy recovery and left. 
However, before they went back into the forest, the animals 
ate the fresh green grass growing on the hillock. 
 One day, the stag fell ill. He 
struggled to reach the hillock. 
The stag knew that fresh, 
healthy food and proper rest 
would help him to get well soon, 
so he ate the tender grass and 
decided to rest for a while.
 The old stag could not go down 
the hillock to greet his friends. 
His friends were worried. When they learnt that the stag 
was unwell, they came to check on him.
 “Dear stag! How are you?” asked a deer. 
 “Too weak to come down and meet you all,” 
replied the stag.
 “Get well soon, dear stag!” 
said the deer.
Chapter 5.indd   44 13-Mar-25   3:56:49 PM
 “The grass is so tender 
and nice,” said an 
elephant. 
 “I have never eaten 
such juicy green leaves,” 
said a giraffe.
  Word soon spread about the tender green grass. Soon, 
all the animals who came to visit the stag feasted on the 
tender grass. Anyone who came to visit the stag would also 
eat the grass.
 Soon, there was not much 
grass left for the old stag to 
eat. He started becoming 
weaker as days passed. His 
friends felt ashamed. They 
realised how their greed had 
made them forget about  
their friend, the 
old stag. 
They understood 
that not much 
grass was left for 
the stag to eat 
and recover. The 
animals decided 
to find food 
elsewhere in the 
Chapter 5.indd   45 13-Mar-25   3:56:50 PM
46
Santoor  Grade 4
forest and not disturb the hillock. Some of them 
also brought fresh leaves for their friend. 
 It rained well that week. The grass soon grew 
back, and the old stag had enough food once again. 
Slowly, the old stag recovered from the illness. 
The animals learnt the most important lesson:
“Nature has enough for everybody. But we need to 
use its resources wisely.”
	 – 	 Adapted 	 fr om 	The Panchatantra
New w Ord S
lush  stag hillock
tender sheltering recovery
Chapter 5.indd   46 13-Mar-25   3:56:51 PM
Page 5


Let us Read
5
 The Old STag In a lush forest lived an old stag who was known for his 
kindness. Each day, he warmly greeted 
his fellow animals and birds. Though 
the forest offered plenty of food, 
the stag preferred staying on 
a small hillock with tender grass.
 The hillock was 
covered in soft, green grass, 
which the old stag enjoyed. 
Every day, he would come 
down to meet his friends, 
and all the animals 
and birds loved him.
Chapter 5.indd   43 13-Mar-25   3:56:49 PM
  The animals wished him a speedy recovery and left. 
However, before they went back into the forest, the animals 
ate the fresh green grass growing on the hillock. 
 One day, the stag fell ill. He 
struggled to reach the hillock. 
The stag knew that fresh, 
healthy food and proper rest 
would help him to get well soon, 
so he ate the tender grass and 
decided to rest for a while.
 The old stag could not go down 
the hillock to greet his friends. 
His friends were worried. When they learnt that the stag 
was unwell, they came to check on him.
 “Dear stag! How are you?” asked a deer. 
 “Too weak to come down and meet you all,” 
replied the stag.
 “Get well soon, dear stag!” 
said the deer.
Chapter 5.indd   44 13-Mar-25   3:56:49 PM
 “The grass is so tender 
and nice,” said an 
elephant. 
 “I have never eaten 
such juicy green leaves,” 
said a giraffe.
  Word soon spread about the tender green grass. Soon, 
all the animals who came to visit the stag feasted on the 
tender grass. Anyone who came to visit the stag would also 
eat the grass.
 Soon, there was not much 
grass left for the old stag to 
eat. He started becoming 
weaker as days passed. His 
friends felt ashamed. They 
realised how their greed had 
made them forget about  
their friend, the 
old stag. 
They understood 
that not much 
grass was left for 
the stag to eat 
and recover. The 
animals decided 
to find food 
elsewhere in the 
Chapter 5.indd   45 13-Mar-25   3:56:50 PM
46
Santoor  Grade 4
forest and not disturb the hillock. Some of them 
also brought fresh leaves for their friend. 
 It rained well that week. The grass soon grew 
back, and the old stag had enough food once again. 
Slowly, the old stag recovered from the illness. 
The animals learnt the most important lesson:
“Nature has enough for everybody. But we need to 
use its resources wisely.”
	 – 	 Adapted 	 fr om 	The Panchatantra
New w Ord S
lush  stag hillock
tender sheltering recovery
Chapter 5.indd   46 13-Mar-25   3:56:51 PM
47
The Old Stag
A. Answer the following.
 1. Why was the old stag popular?
 2. Why did the old stag not go down the hillock 
to meet his friends?
 3. Why did the green cover of the hillock slowly 
vanish?
 4. Did the animals realise their mistake towards 
the end? What did they do?
Let us Think
B. Think and Discuss.
 1. Did the animals do the right 
thing in the end? Why do you 
think so?
 2. What would happen to the 
green plants around us if each 
one of us thought only of our 
own needs?
Let us Learn
A. Match the words to their meaning.
 1. Lush forest    cool resting place
 2. Tender grass    green and dense woods/forest
 3. Shaded spot   quick healing
 4. Healthy food   delicate young grass
 5. Speedy recovery   nourishing wholesome food
Chapter 5.indd   47 13-Mar-25   3:56:52 PM