UNIT V
14. ‘GOING OUT FOR A WALK
’ ‘Going out for a walk’ is a humorous essay by Max Beerbohm. He questions the idea that walking is a productive mental exercise. The brain shuts off when one goes walking for walking’s sake. He tells the story of a man who walks and reads every signs and the inscription on them and chatters meaninglessly. Beerbohm says that only when he is back inside that his brain restarts. Walking for exercise is to be done moderately. He will not go for a walk on three situations-when people do not want to see him out, when he does not wish to see them out and when has no business to do away from home.
15. GOOSEBERRIES
Ivan Ivanich tells a story about his brother, Nicholai to Bourkin and Aliokhin. The brother pursues happiness in his own way. Ivan became a veterinary surgeon. Their father, Tchimsha Himalayasky died and left them a small estate. Their father’s estate went to pay his debts. They lived like peasant’s children and spend in the fields and woods, minded horses, barked the lime trees, fished and so on. Nicholai was not satisfied and wanted to own a country estate with a farmhouse, river, garden, mill and mill-pond. He also dreamed of garden-walls, flowers, fruits, nests, carp in the pond etc. He even married a rich widow only to get the money to buy the estate. He planted twenty gooseberry bushes. Ivan never agreed with him. One day Ivanich visited the Nicholai. He is now a real landowner. Nicholai gave him meal and fresh gooseberries. It was unripe and sour but Nicholai found them delicious, because they were his own fruits. Now Ivan found it difficult to live in town. Because peace and quiet of the town oppressed him. Now Ivan found it difficult to live in town. Because peace and quiet of the town oppressed him. Now it was dreadful the sight of a happy family, sitting round a table, having tea. He was an old man then and was no good for struggle. Ivan at the end realized that his past attitude was wrong. He thus, asked forgiveness from God.
16. TO SLEEP
I have thought of a flock of sheep, the sound of rain, bees murmuring, the fall of rivers, winds, water and pure sky. Still I lie sleepless. Soon I must hear the melodies of small birds from my orchard trees and cuckoo’s melancholy cry. Two nights more I lay awake without winning sleep. Sleep, you do not run away from me this night also. Without you the morning’s wealth is nothing. You are the barrier between day and day. You are the dear mother of fresh thoughts and joyous health.
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