The Tinkling Bells — Class 4 English (CBSE)
From the current Class 4 English Santoor textbook, Unit 1: My Land, Chapter 2. A warm story that shows how honesty brings its own reward.
1. Chapter at a glance
- Text type: A story with a moral.
- Main characters: Chinna, his mother Kamala, his grandfather, his pet goat Tara, a fruit seller, and Chacha the shopkeeper.
- Main theme: Honesty — doing the right thing even when it is hard.
- What to notice while reading: Chinna's choice when he is given extra money by mistake.
2. The Story
Chinna had a little pet goat named Tara, and he wished to buy her pretty tinkling bells. His grandfather kindly gave him some money for them. But on the way, Chinna lost the money and came home sad. His mother, Kamala, comforted him gently.
A little later, Chinna went to buy fruit. The fruit seller gave him his change — but by mistake handed him ten rupees extra. For a moment, Chinna thought of keeping it. Then he remembered what was right. He returned the extra ten rupees to the seller.
When his mother heard how honest Chinna had been, she was very proud. She gave him money to buy the tinkling bells from Chacha, the shopkeeper. Tara wore her new bells, and they tinkled happily — a reward for Chinna's honesty.
3. Summary
Chinna wants tinkling bells for his goat Tara. He loses the money his grandfather gave him, and his mother Kamala comforts him. Later, a fruit seller accidentally gives Chinna ten rupees too much. Though tempted, Chinna returns the extra money. Proud of his honesty, his mother gives him money to buy the bells. The story shows that doing the right thing is rewarded.
4. Theme and values
- Honesty — returning what is not ours.
- Integrity — doing right even when no one is watching.
- Reward of good character — honesty earns trust and happiness.
Link the value to the action: Chinna shows honesty because he returns the extra ten rupees instead of keeping it.
5. New words and meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| tinkling | making light, ringing sounds |
| change | money returned after paying |
| honest | truthful; not cheating or stealing |
| tempted | feeling a wish to do something you should not |
| proud | pleased and happy about something good |
6. Let Us Think (comprehension)
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What did Chinna want to buy, and for whom? He wanted to buy tinkling bells for his pet goat, Tara.
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What happened to the money his grandfather gave him? Chinna lost it on the way and came home sad.
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What mistake did the fruit seller make? The fruit seller gave Chinna ten rupees extra in his change.
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What did Chinna do with the extra money? He returned the extra ten rupees to the fruit seller.
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How was Chinna's honesty rewarded? His mother was proud and gave him money to buy the bells for Tara.
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What lesson does the story teach? That honesty is the right choice and it brings its own reward.
7. Language and grammar practice
Past tense verbs
| Now | Before (past) |
|---|---|
| buy | bought |
| lose | lost |
| give | gave |
| return | returned |
Antonyms (opposites)
| Word | Opposite |
|---|---|
| honest | dishonest |
| lost | found |
| sad | happy |
| right | wrong |
8. Writing and speaking practice
- Writing: Write 5–6 lines about a time you were honest.
- Speaking: Tell the story in your own words using first, next, then, finally.
9. Common mistakes
- Mistake: Saying Chinna kept the extra money. Fix: Chinna returned the extra ten rupees — that is the whole point.
- Mistake: Forgetting the characters' names. Fix: Chinna (boy), Tara (goat), Kamala (mother), Chacha (shopkeeper).
- Mistake: One-word answers for why/how questions. Fix: Use a full sentence with because or so.
10. Practice set
- What did Chinna want to buy, and for whom?
- What mistake did the fruit seller make?
- What did Chinna do with the extra money?
- How was his honesty rewarded?
- Write the past tense of buy, lose, and give.
- Write 5–6 lines about a time you were honest.
11. Answer key
- Tinkling bells for his pet goat, Tara.
- He gave Chinna ten rupees extra in change.
- He returned the extra ten rupees.
- His mother gave him money to buy the bells.
- bought, lost, gave.
- Answers will vary — check for the honest act and how it felt.
12. Fun activity
Honesty Box
Draw a small "Honesty Box". Inside, write two honest things you can do this week (for example, returning a borrowed pencil, telling the truth).
13. Quick revision
- Unit 1: My Land · Chapter 2 · a story about honesty.
- Chinna returns the extra ten rupees the fruit seller gave by mistake.
- His honesty is rewarded with money to buy Tara's bells.
- Theme: honesty and doing the right thing.
- Characters: Chinna, Tara, Kamala, Chacha.
Unit 1: My Land
This chapter is part of Unit 1: My Land. The three chapters in this unit are:
- Chapter 1: Together We Can — a poem about teamwork
- Chapter 2: The Tinkling Bells — a story about honesty
- Chapter 3: Be Smart, Be Safe — about road safety
