The Generous Willow Tree Chapter Notes | English Class 3 ICSE PDF Download

Introduction

This chapter tells a simple story about two trees, a willow and a bamboo, and a small plant that needs help. It teaches us about kindness and how being helpful to others can make a big difference. The willow tree shows a caring nature, while the bamboo acts proud and selfish. The story shows how the little plant grows with the willow's support and becomes beautiful, teaching us an important lesson about helping others.

Key Points

This story is about a kind willow tree and a proud bamboo tree growing side by side.

• People admire the bamboo’s beauty but pay no attention to the old willow.
• A small, weak plant appears and asks the bamboo for help to grow stronger.
• The bamboo refuses to help and moves away from the plant.
• The willow tree kindly offers its branches for the plant to climb.
• The plant grows tall on the willow and covers it with green shoots.
• The bamboo thinks the plant’s buds are ugly and might be harmful.
• The buds bloom into beautiful, sweet-smelling flowers after a rain.
• The owner of the land admires the willow and the flowering vine.
• The bamboo is cut down so everyone can see the vine’s beauty.

Explanation

The story begins with a humble willow tree growing next to a tall, proud bamboo tree. Many people notice the bamboo's beauty because it stands straight and strong, but no one pays attention to the old willow with its drooping branches. 

One morning, after a gentle rain, a tiny, shy plant with a weak stem appears between them. This little plant looks hopefully at the bamboo for support, but the bamboo proudly refuses, saying it does not want the plant to hold onto its trunk or beautiful branches. The plant begs to cling to the bamboo until it grows stronger, but the bamboo moves away and tells it to stay back.

The willow saw the plant struggling and softly told it to climb on its branches and offers its branches for support. At first, the tiny plant still looks longingly at the bamboo, wishing for its help, but eventually, it creeps over the grass to the willow. The plant begins to climb, and its slender vine slowly reaches the top of the tree. 

Over time, it grows many lovely green shoots, and people start stopping to enjoy its beauty. When early autumn arrives, large buds appear on the vine. The bamboo sees these buds and calls them ugly, worrying that they might be a disease that could harm all the trees in the country. The willow, however, stays quiet about the bamboo's comment but kindly comforts the vine, knowing the buds are something special.

That night, a gentle rain falls, and the next morning, the sun shines brightly. The green buds burst into beautiful, sweet-scented flowers, covering the willow tree from top to bottom with bright colors. The owner of the land is amazed by this sight and calls his friends to see the wonder. 

They all look in surprise at the richly colored blossoms. The owner then tells his workers to clear the space around the willow tree and orders them to cut down the bamboo so everyone can see the vine's beauty. The head worker mentions that the bamboo is a fine tree, but the owner says there are many other bamboos, while no one has ever seen a vine with such lovely blossoms on a willow. So, the workers cut down the proud bamboo, leaving the willow and the flowering vine to be admired by many people.

Message

The story teaches us to be kind and helpful to others. The willow tree shows that supporting someone in need can lead to happiness and beauty. The bamboo's pride and selfishness lead to its loss. It reminds us that kindness is more valuable than being proud.

New Words with Meanings

• Humble: Not proud, simple.
• Drooping: Hanging downwards.
• Timid: Shy and afraid.
• Delicate: Weak and easy to break.
• Pleadingly: In a requesting way.
• Cling: Hold on tightly.
• Drew away: Moved away.
• Longingly: In a way that shows you really want something.
• Slender: Slim.
• Blossom: Flower.
• Crown: Head (here).
• Decked: Decorated.