Hi, Class 9 friends! This guide is for the sweet and touching story "The Bond of Love" from your Beehive textbook. It’s a real-life tale about a baby animal and the family that loved it like their own child. We’ll explain everything with easy words, like a big brother telling a story. Let’s begin!
About the Author
Kenneth Anderson was a famous hunter and writer born in 1910 in India. His father was Scottish, and he grew up in the jungles of South India. He loved animals and nature, even though he hunted sometimes to keep people safe. Later, he stopped hunting and started writing books to show how wonderful wild animals are. His stories are full of adventure, kindness, and respect for nature. "The Bond of Love" is from his book Jungle Omnibus. He passed away in 1974, but his tales still teach us to care for all living things.
What’s the Story About?
One hot day, the author and his friends were walking in the sugarcane fields near Mysore. Suddenly, their dogs started barking at something in the grass. It was a tiny baby sloth bear, only a few months old, scared and alone. Its mother was nowhere. The friends caught the little bear easily because it was weak and hungry.
The author decided to keep it. He named the baby bear Bruno. At first, Bruno was very small – he drank milk from a bottle, just like a human baby! He slept in the author’s bed, played with the family dogs, and even rode on the back of the big dog, Baba. Everyone loved him.
Bruno grew fast. Soon he was big and strong, but still gentle and playful. He loved eating everything – rice, porridge, fruits, meat, even curry! The family kept him on a chain in the house compound so he wouldn’t run away or scare neighbours.
One day, Bruno accidentally drank poison (meant for rats) kept in the garage. He became very sick and weak. The author quickly called the vet, who gave Bruno two shots to save his life. Bruno got better in a few hours – what a relief!
Another time, Bruno broke into the kitchen and drank a whole drum of old engine oil. Everyone was worried, but guess what? It didn’t harm him at all – he just burped happily!
As Bruno grew bigger, neighbours got scared. The author’s wife loved Bruno like her own son, but they knew he needed more space. Sadly, they sent him to the Mysore zoo. The wife cried for days. She missed Bruno so much that she visited the zoo often. Bruno recognized her, stood on his hind legs, and hugged her through the bars!
After three months, the wife begged to bring Bruno back. The zoo officer agreed because Bruno was not eating well. They built a special island home for him in their garden – with water all around, a wooden box to sleep in, and a tall tree to climb. Bruno was brought back in a cage on a truck. When the cage opened, he rushed to the wife, hugged her tight, and licked her face with joy. Both cried happy tears.
From then on, Bruno lived happily with the family again. The wife fed him by hand, and they spent hours together. The story shows that love is stronger than rules – and animals can love us back just like family.
Who’s Who in the Story
- The Author (Kenneth Anderson): The man who found Bruno and took care of him. He is kind, brave, and loves animals. He tells the whole story.
- The Author’s Wife: The heart of the story! She loves Bruno like her baby. She feeds him, plays with him, cries when he leaves, and fights to bring him back.
- Bruno (Baba): The baby sloth bear who becomes part of the family. Cute, naughty, and full of love. He grows big but stays gentle with his family.
- The Dogs: Two family pets – one big (Baba, the dog), one small. They play with Bruno and become his friends.
- The Vet: The animal doctor who saves Bruno from poison with two injections.
- The Zoo Officer: The kind man who lets Bruno return home after seeing the wife’s love.
Themes and Moral
This story teaches us big lessons through a small bear:
- Love Without Limits: The wife loves Bruno not as a pet, but as her child. Love doesn’t care if it’s a human or animal.
- Animals Have Feelings: Bruno remembers his family, gets sad in the zoo, and jumps with joy when back home. Animals feel love, pain, and happiness just like us.
- Family is Made by Love: Bruno is not born in the family, but love makes him a true member. A family is where your heart feels safe.
- Kindness Saves Lives: Quick help from the vet and care from the family saved Bruno twice. A little kindness goes a long way.
The Moral: Love is the strongest bond. Treat animals with care and respect – they can love you back more than you expect. Never break a heart that trusts you.
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are the main words explained with simple examples:
- Sloth bear: A type of bear found in Indian jungles. It has long lips to suck ants and a slow walk. Bruno is a baby sloth bear.
- Compound: The open area around a house, like a courtyard. Bruno was tied in the compound with a long chain.
- Porridge: Soft food made by boiling rice or oats in milk. Bruno loved porridge with sugar.
- Barium carbonate: A white poison powder kept to kill rats. Bruno drank it by mistake and fell sick.
- Antidote: Medicine that stops poison. The vet gave Bruno two antidote injections.
- Island: A piece of land with water all around. Bruno’s new home was a small island in the garden.
- Hind legs: Back legs of an animal. Bruno stood on his hind legs to hug the wife.
- Phrase: "Out of the blue": Suddenly, without warning. Bruno drank poison out of the blue – no one expected it.
- Phrase: "Tears of joy": Happy crying. The wife and Bruno had tears of joy when they met again.
That’s it, friends! Read the chapter, imagine Bruno hugging you, and smile. Love every living thing – that’s the real lesson. See you in the next guide! 🐻❤️