NCERT Textbook: The Talkative Barber | English Marigold Class 5 PDF Download

 Page 1


The T alkative Barber
Read this story about a man who cannot stop talking.
In the city of Cashgar, lived a barber who was a great 
talker. Once the Sultan called the barber to shave 
his head. The barber started talking non-stop 
instead of shaving him. The Sultan got angry.
“When are you going to stop talking and begin to 
do your work?”
The Barber replied, “You do me an injury by 
calling me a chatterer. For, everyone says I am very 
quiet. I have six brothers whom you might call 
chatterers. Their names are Bacbone (buk-bon), 
Bakbarea (buk-buria), Bakbac (buk-buk), Alcouz 
(ul-kooz), Alnaschee (ul-nashi) and Schacabac( sha-
ka-bak). One is humpbacked, one is toothless, one 
is half blind, one is quite blind, one is deaf and the 
other has a defect in his speech and they are all 
great talkers, but I am the youngest of my family, 
and I  am very quiet and sparing with words.” 
Long long ago a Sultan, whose name was 
Shahriar, ruled over a large kingdom. His 
queen was a good storyteller. Each night she 
would tell a story to the king. She narrated 
ancient Persian and Arabic folk stories. This is 
one of the stories, from the . Arabian Nights
9 6
Reprint 2024-25
Page 2


The T alkative Barber
Read this story about a man who cannot stop talking.
In the city of Cashgar, lived a barber who was a great 
talker. Once the Sultan called the barber to shave 
his head. The barber started talking non-stop 
instead of shaving him. The Sultan got angry.
“When are you going to stop talking and begin to 
do your work?”
The Barber replied, “You do me an injury by 
calling me a chatterer. For, everyone says I am very 
quiet. I have six brothers whom you might call 
chatterers. Their names are Bacbone (buk-bon), 
Bakbarea (buk-buria), Bakbac (buk-buk), Alcouz 
(ul-kooz), Alnaschee (ul-nashi) and Schacabac( sha-
ka-bak). One is humpbacked, one is toothless, one 
is half blind, one is quite blind, one is deaf and the 
other has a defect in his speech and they are all 
great talkers, but I am the youngest of my family, 
and I  am very quiet and sparing with words.” 
Long long ago a Sultan, whose name was 
Shahriar, ruled over a large kingdom. His 
queen was a good storyteller. Each night she 
would tell a story to the king. She narrated 
ancient Persian and Arabic folk stories. This is 
one of the stories, from the . Arabian Nights
9 6
Reprint 2024-25
“Give him three pieces 
of gold,” the Sultan cried, 
losing all patience, “and send 
him away. I will not be 
shaved today.”
“My Master,” cried the 
Barber, “it was not I who 
came to seek you, it was 
you who ordered me to 
come. So I will not quit 
your house till I have 
shaved you.”
He then began narrating 
another story, which lasted half an hour.
“Stop making your fine speeches and let me go 
quickly. I have an affair of the greatest importance. I have 
to go out at noon,” said the Sultan.
Marigold
9 7
Reprint 2024-25
Page 3


The T alkative Barber
Read this story about a man who cannot stop talking.
In the city of Cashgar, lived a barber who was a great 
talker. Once the Sultan called the barber to shave 
his head. The barber started talking non-stop 
instead of shaving him. The Sultan got angry.
“When are you going to stop talking and begin to 
do your work?”
The Barber replied, “You do me an injury by 
calling me a chatterer. For, everyone says I am very 
quiet. I have six brothers whom you might call 
chatterers. Their names are Bacbone (buk-bon), 
Bakbarea (buk-buria), Bakbac (buk-buk), Alcouz 
(ul-kooz), Alnaschee (ul-nashi) and Schacabac( sha-
ka-bak). One is humpbacked, one is toothless, one 
is half blind, one is quite blind, one is deaf and the 
other has a defect in his speech and they are all 
great talkers, but I am the youngest of my family, 
and I  am very quiet and sparing with words.” 
Long long ago a Sultan, whose name was 
Shahriar, ruled over a large kingdom. His 
queen was a good storyteller. Each night she 
would tell a story to the king. She narrated 
ancient Persian and Arabic folk stories. This is 
one of the stories, from the . Arabian Nights
9 6
Reprint 2024-25
“Give him three pieces 
of gold,” the Sultan cried, 
losing all patience, “and send 
him away. I will not be 
shaved today.”
“My Master,” cried the 
Barber, “it was not I who 
came to seek you, it was 
you who ordered me to 
come. So I will not quit 
your house till I have 
shaved you.”
He then began narrating 
another story, which lasted half an hour.
“Stop making your fine speeches and let me go 
quickly. I have an affair of the greatest importance. I have 
to go out at noon,” said the Sultan.
Marigold
9 7
Reprint 2024-25
When he saw that the Sultan was really angry with 
him, the Barber said, “O Master, do not be angry, I will 
begin to shave you.” Saying this, he washed the Sultan’s 
head and began to shave. But he had not touched him 
even  four times with the razor, when he stopped and 
said, “My Master, you are acting hastily in this matter.”
“Go on shaving me, speak no more”, ordered the 
Sultan.
“Be patient,” said the barber, “perhaps you have not 
considered well what you were going to do. I wish you 
would tell me what this matter of great importance is all 
about and then I will give you my opinion on it.”
“Finish shaving at once,” the Sultan exclaimed. But, 
instead of doing this, the Barber left the Sultan half-
shaved to go and see what time it was.“ My patience is 
exhausted,” the Sultan cried. 
“Be calm, my Master and you shall be shaved in a 
moment,” said the Barber and saying this, he continued 
shaving the Sultan. But while he was doing this, he could 
not help talking.
“If you could inform me what this important affair is, I 
would give more advice, which you might find useful,” he 
said.
The Sultan was completely fed up by now and decided 
to satisfy the barber.  He told him that he was giving a 
feast to some friends at noon which was why he was in a 
hurry to leave.
When the barber heard the Sultan mention a feast he 
exclaimed, “That reminds me. Yesterday, I invited four or 
five friends to come to my house today. But I had quite 
forgotten it and have not made any preparations 
9 8
Reprint 2024-25
Page 4


The T alkative Barber
Read this story about a man who cannot stop talking.
In the city of Cashgar, lived a barber who was a great 
talker. Once the Sultan called the barber to shave 
his head. The barber started talking non-stop 
instead of shaving him. The Sultan got angry.
“When are you going to stop talking and begin to 
do your work?”
The Barber replied, “You do me an injury by 
calling me a chatterer. For, everyone says I am very 
quiet. I have six brothers whom you might call 
chatterers. Their names are Bacbone (buk-bon), 
Bakbarea (buk-buria), Bakbac (buk-buk), Alcouz 
(ul-kooz), Alnaschee (ul-nashi) and Schacabac( sha-
ka-bak). One is humpbacked, one is toothless, one 
is half blind, one is quite blind, one is deaf and the 
other has a defect in his speech and they are all 
great talkers, but I am the youngest of my family, 
and I  am very quiet and sparing with words.” 
Long long ago a Sultan, whose name was 
Shahriar, ruled over a large kingdom. His 
queen was a good storyteller. Each night she 
would tell a story to the king. She narrated 
ancient Persian and Arabic folk stories. This is 
one of the stories, from the . Arabian Nights
9 6
Reprint 2024-25
“Give him three pieces 
of gold,” the Sultan cried, 
losing all patience, “and send 
him away. I will not be 
shaved today.”
“My Master,” cried the 
Barber, “it was not I who 
came to seek you, it was 
you who ordered me to 
come. So I will not quit 
your house till I have 
shaved you.”
He then began narrating 
another story, which lasted half an hour.
“Stop making your fine speeches and let me go 
quickly. I have an affair of the greatest importance. I have 
to go out at noon,” said the Sultan.
Marigold
9 7
Reprint 2024-25
When he saw that the Sultan was really angry with 
him, the Barber said, “O Master, do not be angry, I will 
begin to shave you.” Saying this, he washed the Sultan’s 
head and began to shave. But he had not touched him 
even  four times with the razor, when he stopped and 
said, “My Master, you are acting hastily in this matter.”
“Go on shaving me, speak no more”, ordered the 
Sultan.
“Be patient,” said the barber, “perhaps you have not 
considered well what you were going to do. I wish you 
would tell me what this matter of great importance is all 
about and then I will give you my opinion on it.”
“Finish shaving at once,” the Sultan exclaimed. But, 
instead of doing this, the Barber left the Sultan half-
shaved to go and see what time it was.“ My patience is 
exhausted,” the Sultan cried. 
“Be calm, my Master and you shall be shaved in a 
moment,” said the Barber and saying this, he continued 
shaving the Sultan. But while he was doing this, he could 
not help talking.
“If you could inform me what this important affair is, I 
would give more advice, which you might find useful,” he 
said.
The Sultan was completely fed up by now and decided 
to satisfy the barber.  He told him that he was giving a 
feast to some friends at noon which was why he was in a 
hurry to leave.
When the barber heard the Sultan mention a feast he 
exclaimed, “That reminds me. Yesterday, I invited four or 
five friends to come to my house today. But I had quite 
forgotten it and have not made any preparations 
9 8
Reprint 2024-25
for them.” The Sultan who was at the mercy of the 
Barber, was ready to do anything to be rid of him.
“Be quick and finish your work,” the Sultan replied, 
“and you shall have all the food that has been prepared 
for me today.”
“Please show me the food so that I may judge if it is 
enough for my five friends.”
“I have enough food for you!” the Sultan exclaimed. 
But he ordered that all the food prepared for his feast be 
brought in.
The Barber looked over the food and said “This is very 
good but I shall want some fruit for the dessert also.”  
The Sultan, in desperation, since his head was half 
shaved, ordered that the fruits should also be brought in.
Marigold
9 9
Reprint 2024-25
Page 5


The T alkative Barber
Read this story about a man who cannot stop talking.
In the city of Cashgar, lived a barber who was a great 
talker. Once the Sultan called the barber to shave 
his head. The barber started talking non-stop 
instead of shaving him. The Sultan got angry.
“When are you going to stop talking and begin to 
do your work?”
The Barber replied, “You do me an injury by 
calling me a chatterer. For, everyone says I am very 
quiet. I have six brothers whom you might call 
chatterers. Their names are Bacbone (buk-bon), 
Bakbarea (buk-buria), Bakbac (buk-buk), Alcouz 
(ul-kooz), Alnaschee (ul-nashi) and Schacabac( sha-
ka-bak). One is humpbacked, one is toothless, one 
is half blind, one is quite blind, one is deaf and the 
other has a defect in his speech and they are all 
great talkers, but I am the youngest of my family, 
and I  am very quiet and sparing with words.” 
Long long ago a Sultan, whose name was 
Shahriar, ruled over a large kingdom. His 
queen was a good storyteller. Each night she 
would tell a story to the king. She narrated 
ancient Persian and Arabic folk stories. This is 
one of the stories, from the . Arabian Nights
9 6
Reprint 2024-25
“Give him three pieces 
of gold,” the Sultan cried, 
losing all patience, “and send 
him away. I will not be 
shaved today.”
“My Master,” cried the 
Barber, “it was not I who 
came to seek you, it was 
you who ordered me to 
come. So I will not quit 
your house till I have 
shaved you.”
He then began narrating 
another story, which lasted half an hour.
“Stop making your fine speeches and let me go 
quickly. I have an affair of the greatest importance. I have 
to go out at noon,” said the Sultan.
Marigold
9 7
Reprint 2024-25
When he saw that the Sultan was really angry with 
him, the Barber said, “O Master, do not be angry, I will 
begin to shave you.” Saying this, he washed the Sultan’s 
head and began to shave. But he had not touched him 
even  four times with the razor, when he stopped and 
said, “My Master, you are acting hastily in this matter.”
“Go on shaving me, speak no more”, ordered the 
Sultan.
“Be patient,” said the barber, “perhaps you have not 
considered well what you were going to do. I wish you 
would tell me what this matter of great importance is all 
about and then I will give you my opinion on it.”
“Finish shaving at once,” the Sultan exclaimed. But, 
instead of doing this, the Barber left the Sultan half-
shaved to go and see what time it was.“ My patience is 
exhausted,” the Sultan cried. 
“Be calm, my Master and you shall be shaved in a 
moment,” said the Barber and saying this, he continued 
shaving the Sultan. But while he was doing this, he could 
not help talking.
“If you could inform me what this important affair is, I 
would give more advice, which you might find useful,” he 
said.
The Sultan was completely fed up by now and decided 
to satisfy the barber.  He told him that he was giving a 
feast to some friends at noon which was why he was in a 
hurry to leave.
When the barber heard the Sultan mention a feast he 
exclaimed, “That reminds me. Yesterday, I invited four or 
five friends to come to my house today. But I had quite 
forgotten it and have not made any preparations 
9 8
Reprint 2024-25
for them.” The Sultan who was at the mercy of the 
Barber, was ready to do anything to be rid of him.
“Be quick and finish your work,” the Sultan replied, 
“and you shall have all the food that has been prepared 
for me today.”
“Please show me the food so that I may judge if it is 
enough for my five friends.”
“I have enough food for you!” the Sultan exclaimed. 
But he ordered that all the food prepared for his feast be 
brought in.
The Barber looked over the food and said “This is very 
good but I shall want some fruit for the dessert also.”  
The Sultan, in desperation, since his head was half 
shaved, ordered that the fruits should also be brought in.
Marigold
9 9
Reprint 2024-25
New Words
chatterer : someone who talks a lot
defect  : a fault 
opinion :  what a person feels about a person, thing or subject
exhausted : tired and fed up 
dessert  : a sweet dish served after the main meal
examine : to look at something very carefully
at length : at a stretch
The Barber left off shaving 
the Sultan to examine 
each dish separately. 
This took up half 
an hour. 
The Sultan 
stamped his feet 
impatiently 
but the 
Barber did 
not hurry.   
At length, 
however, he again took up the razor but after a few 
minutes of work, stopped suddenly and  cried, “ I 
never knew that you were so generous.”
Marigold
1 0 0
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