About the Author
E.V. Lucas was an English writer who lived from 1868 to 1938. He wrote many funny stories, books for children, and simple tales about everyday life. He liked to share ideas in an easy way that makes people smile and think. This story comes from his book of short stories called *The Thursday Island*. Lucas wanted kids to learn good lessons through fun reading.
What’s the Story About?
This story is about a special school that is not like any normal school you know. The writer, who is also the main person telling the story, hears a lot of good things about Miss Beam's school. He gets very curious and decides to visit it one day. When he reaches there, he sees children playing in the garden. One girl has her eyes covered with bandages, and a boy is holding her hand to help her walk. The writer thinks she is really blind and feels sad for her.
But then Miss Beam, the kind teacher who runs the school, comes and explains everything. She says this school teaches children in a very different way. Every child in the school has to spend one day each term feeling what it is like to have problems with their body. For example:
- On blind day, their eyes are bandaged so they cannot see. Other kids guide them everywhere.
- On deaf day, cotton is put in their ears so they cannot hear.
- On lame day, they have to walk with a stick or crutches because they pretend their leg hurts.
- On injured day, one arm is tied up so they cannot use it.
- On dumb day, they cannot speak at all and have to use signs to talk.
Miss Beam says the main goal of the school is not just to teach reading, writing, or maths. Instead, it is to make children kind and helpful to others. By going through these tough days themselves, they learn to feel sorry for people who really have these problems in life. They become more careful and do not take their own good health for granted. The other children take turns helping the one who is having a hard day that week. This way, everyone learns to share and care.
The writer talks to the girl with bandaged eyes. She tells him her name is Millie, and she is the head girl of the school. Millie says being blind for a day is very scary at first. She bumps into things and feels lost without seeing colors or faces. But her friends help her a lot, like telling her where to step or what is around. She also talks about her friends, like Anita who has curly red hair and is on crutches that day, and Peter the old gardener who always smiles. Millie says she misses her home a bit but loves the school because it makes her a better person.
At the end, the writer sees how happy and strong the children are. He feels like he does not want to leave this place. Miss Beam smiles and says her way of teaching works because the children grow up to be thoughtful grown-ups who help others in the world.
The story shows how facing small troubles can teach big lessons about life and friendship.
Who’s Who in the Story
- Miss Beam: The wise and caring teacher who starts and runs this special school. She explains the rules and why they help children grow kind hearts.
- The Writer (Narrator): The main person who visits the school. He is curious and learns a lot from what he sees and hears.
- Millie: A smart girl in the school who is the head girl. On the day the writer visits, she has her eyes bandaged for blind day. She shares her feelings openly.
- The Boy: A helpful classmate who guides Millie around the garden so she does not fall.
- Anita: Millie's friend with curly red hair. She is on lame day that week and uses crutches to walk.
- Peter: The old gardener at the school. He is kind and always ready to help the children.
Themes and Moral
Themes
- Kindness and Helping Others: The story shows how important it is to help friends who are facing problems, just like the children do in the school.
- Learning by Doing: Instead of just reading books, the kids learn real lessons by trying hard things themselves. This makes them remember better.
- Being Thankful for What We Have: By pretending to lose their sight or hearing for a day, children start to value their eyes, ears, and strong body more.
Moral
The big lesson of the story is: "Try to understand others' pain by feeling it yourself, and you will become a kinder and stronger person." It teaches us not to laugh at people with troubles but to hold their hand and walk with them. This way, we all make the world a nicer place.
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are some key words and short phrases from the story. I have explained them in very simple words, like what you hear at home or school.
- Bandage: A soft cloth wrapped around a hurt part of the body to protect it, like when you fall and hurt your knee.
- Blind: When someone cannot see anything, like if it is too dark or eyes are closed tight.
- Lame: When a leg hurts so much that walking is hard, and you need a stick to help.
- Deaf: When ears do not work, so you cannot hear sounds, voices, or music.
- Dumb: When you cannot talk with words, but you can still use hands to show what you mean.
- Crutch (or crutches): Long sticks with pads on top that help people walk when their legs are weak or hurt.
- Thoughtful: When you think about how others feel and try to make them happy, not just yourself.
- Misfortune: Bad luck or a sad thing that happens, like getting sick or losing something.
- Take for granted: To think something good will always be there without saying thanks, like clean water at home.
- Guide someone: To show the way to a person who cannot see or find the path alone, by holding their hand.