The Cherry Tree Chapter Notes | English Class 4 ICSE PDF Download

Introduction

The Cherry Tree is a simple and beautiful story about a young boy named Rakesh who plants a cherry seed and watches it grow into a tree over several years. The story is set in Mussoorie, where Rakesh lives with his grandfather, a retired forest ranger. It follows Rakesh’s journey from a small boy to a growing child, alongside the tree’s development through different seasons and challenges. The tale emphasizes the love and care they both give to the tree, showing how it becomes a special part of their lives. This story is a lovely lesson about nature, patience, and the bond between Rakesh and his grandfather.

Key Points

The story is about Rakesh, a six-year-old boy, who plants a cherry seed after eating cherries from the Mussoorie bazaar.

• Rakesh lives with his grandfather, a retired forest ranger, in a cottage on the outskirts of Mussoorie.
• Rakesh’s parents live in a village and send him to Mussoorie for better schooling.
• The cherry tree faces challenges like a goat eating its leaves, a woman accidentally cutting it with a scythe, and surviving cold Himalayan winters, but still grows strong.
• Rakesh and his grandfather work together to care for the tree, which grows tall and bears cherries after several years.
• The tree and Rakesh grow together, showing how time changes both the boy and the plant.
• Rakesh and his grandfather feel a special connection to the tree because they planted it with their own hands.

Explanation

Rakesh, a six-year-old boy, loves eating cherries he buys from the Mussoorie bazaar. These cherries, brought from the Kashmir Valley, are a mix of sweet and sour. After eating most of them on his walk home, only three cherries remain by the time he reaches his grandfather’s cottage. He shares one with his grandfather and eats the other two, saving the last seed. 

Curious if cherry seeds are lucky, he asks his grandfather, who suggests planting it for good luck. Rakesh plants the seed in a soft corner of the garden and forgets about it after playing cricket. During the harsh Himalayan winter, the garden turns bare, and Rakesh and his grandfather spend evenings by a charcoal fire, sharing stories and reading newspapers. 

The next spring, Rakesh is surprised to find a small, rooted cherry tree. His grandfather advises watering it, and Rakesh adds pebbles around it for privacy. At first, the tree grows slowly, but after a week, he notices it has grown an inch. The monsoon rains help the tree reach two feet, though a goat eats its leaves, leaving only the stem and two branches. 

Grandfather comforts Rakesh, saying cherry trees are tough. New leaves grow, but a woman cutting grass accidentally cuts the tree in half with her scythe. Despite their worries, the tree survives and sprouts new shoots by summer. Rakesh, now eight, helps his parents in the village during the monsoon and returns to find the tree taller. 

A praying mantis and a caterpillar visit, and Rakesh handles them kindly, letting the mantis stay and moving the caterpillar to dry leaves. The tree bends under winter snow but blooms with a pink blossom on Rakesh’s ninth birthday. Over the years, it grows taller than Rakesh and even his grandfather, bearing small sour cherries. 

One afternoon, Rakesh finds his grandfather resting under the tree’s shade, and they enjoy the evening sounds together. Rakesh wonders why this tree is so special, and his grandfather explains it’s because they planted it themselves, leading Rakesh to reflect on the joy of creation.

Message

This story teaches us the value of patience, care, and hard work in growing something from a tiny seed into a big tree. It shows that even when faced with difficulties, like a goat or a cut, the tree can survive with love and attention. The close relationship between Rakesh and his grandfather teaches us how teamwork can create something meaningful. It also encourages us to respect and care for nature, understanding that growth takes time and effort.

New Words with Meanings

• Outskirts: The outer parts of a town or city.
• Terraced: Having a series of flat areas like steps.
• Forest Ranger: An officer who guards the forest.
• Promptly: Immediately.
• Tang: A strong taste.
• Yielding: Not rigid.
• Haunches: The upper part of the legs.
• Plodded: Walked with slow, heavy steps.
• Scythe: A crescent-shaped tool used for cutting crops.
• Foliage: Leaves.
• Praying Mantis: A grasshopper-like insect.
• Gazed: Looked at something for a long time with admiration.
• Reclining: Leaning back.
• Nightjar: A nocturnal bird.
• Cicada: A large insect that produces a high-pitched noise.
• Scrambling: Made way clumsily.