Maharashtra Board Class 5 English Balbharti Unit One Chapter 5 The Twelve Months PDF Download

5. The Twelve Months

Once upon a time, in a faraway country, there lived a mother who had two daughters. One was her own child, the other was her stepdaughter. She was very fond of her own daughter, but she hated her stepdaughter. The only reason was that Marouckla, the stepdaughter, was prettier than her own daughter, Helena.

The gentle-hearted Marouckla did not know how beautiful she was, and so she could never make out why her mother was always so cross with her.

Marouckla had to do all the housework, tidying up the cottage, cooking, washing, spinning, weaving and sewing. She liked work and she did it all without a word of complaint while Helena spent the time adorning herself and lazing about. Even then, Helena and her mother scolded and rated and abused Marouckla every day. They envied her so much that one day, they decided to throw her out in the freezing cold to get rid of her.

"Go, Marouckla, and get me some violets from the forest; I want to wear them and to smell them," said Helena.

"But, my dear sister, it is impossible to find violets in the snow," said poor Marouckla.

"How dare you argue when I tell you to do something? Off you go at once, and if you don't bring me violets from the forest I'll kill you!" said Helena threateningly.

The stepmother caught hold of Marouckla, turned her out of the door, and slammed it to after her.

Marouckla went into the forest weeping bitterly. The snow lay deep, and there wasn't a human footprint to be seen. Marouckla wandered about for a long time, tortured by hunger and trembling with cold.

At last, she saw a light in the distance. She went towards the glow, which came from the top of a mountain. A big fire was burning there, and round the fire were twelve stones with twelve men sitting on them. Three of them had snow-white beards, three were not so old, and three were still younger. The three youngest were the handsomest of them all. They were not speaking, but all sitting silent. These twelve men were the twelve months. Great January sat highest of all; his hair and beard were as white as snow, and in his hand he held a club.

Marouckla was frightened. She stood still for a time in terror, but, growing bolder, she went up to them and said, "Please, kind sirs, let me warm my hands at your fire."

Great January nodded, and asked her, "Why have you come here, my dear little girl? What are you looking for?"

"I am looking for violets," answered Marouckla.

"This is no time to be looking for violets, for everything is covered with snow," answered Great January.

Teacher's Note

This story teaches us that hard work and kindness are rewarded. In India, we have many folk tales like this that show good people always win in the end.

Exam Trick

Remember the twelve men are the twelve months. Great January is the tallest and oldest. This will help you answer questions about who gave Marouckla help.

Points to Remember

Marouckla's stepmother hated her because she was more beautiful.
Marouckla did all the housework without complaining.
The stepmother sent her into the snowy forest to find violets.
Marouckla found twelve months sitting around a big fire on a mountain.
Great January is the oldest and most powerful month.

The image shows Marouckla standing at the fire with the twelve months sitting around it in the snowy forest.

"Yes, I know; but my sister Helena and my stepmother said that I must bring them some violets from the forest. If I don't bring them, they'll kill me. Tell me, fathers, please tell me where I can find them."

Great January stood up and went to one of the younger months - it was March - and, giving him the club, he said, "Brother, take the high seat."

March took the high seat upon the stone and waved the club over the fire. The fire blazed up, the snow began to melt, the trees began to bud, and the ground was at once covered with grass. It was springtime.

The violets began to bloom among their little leaves, and before Marouckla had time to think, so many of them had sprung up that they looked like a blue cloth spread out on the ground.

Teacher's Note

The twelve months use magic to change the seasons. In real life, seasons change slowly over months. This story shows how the months have power over nature.

Exam Trick

Remember: March brings spring and flowers. When March waves the club, violets grow. This helps you remember what each month does in the story.

Points to Remember

March is the month that brings spring.
The club has magic power over the seasons.
When March waves the club, snow melts and flowers grow.
Violets bloom when spring comes.
The seasons change when different months take the high seat.

"Now, pick them quickly, Marouckla!" commanded March.

Marouckla picked them joyfully till she had a big bunch. Then she thanked the months with all her heart and scampered merrily home.

Helena and the stepmother wondered when they saw Marouckla bringing the violets. They opened the door to her, and the scent of violets filled all the cottage.

"Where did you get them?" asked Helena sulkily.

"They are growing under the bushes in a forest on the high mountains."

Helena snatched all the flowers and did not give even a single one to her sister.

The next day, she called to her sister and said, "Go, Marouckla, and get me some strawberries from the forest."

"Alas! dear sister, where could I find any strawberries in this hard winter?" said Marouckla.

"How dare you argue? Go at once and get me the strawberries, or I'll kill you!" said the stepmother, catching hold of Marouckla and pushing her out of the door and shut it after her.

Marouckla went to the forest weeping bitterly. The snow was lying deep, and there wasn't a human footprint to be seen anywhere. She wandered about for a long time, tortured by hunger and trembling with cold. At last, she saw the light she had seen the other day. Overjoyed, she went towards it. She came to the great fire with the twelve months sitting round it.

"Please, kind sirs, let me warm my hands at the fire."

Great January nodded, and asked her, "Why have you come again, and what are you looking for here?"

"I am looking for strawberries. My sister Helena and my stepmother bade me bring some strawberries, and if I don't, they will kill me. Tell me, fathers, tell me, please, where I can find them."

Great January arose. He went over to the month sitting opposite to him - it was June - and handed the club to him, saying, "Brother, take the high seat."

June took the high seat upon the stone and swung the club over the fire. The fire shot up, and its heat melted the snow in a moment. The ground was all green, the trees were covered with leaves, the birds began to sing, and the forest was filled with all kinds of flowers. It was summer. The ground under the bushes was covered with white starlets, the starry blossoms were turning into strawberries every minute. They ripened at once, and before Marouckla had time to think, there were so many of them that it looked as though a red carpet had been spread on the ground.

"Pick them at once, Marouckla!" commanded June.

Teacher's Note

June brings summer and strawberries grow. In India, summer is very hot and fruits grow quickly. This story shows how June's power makes strawberries grow fast.

Exam Trick

Remember: June = Summer = Strawberries. When June takes the high seat, it becomes hot and red strawberries grow. This pattern helps you predict what other months will do.

Points to Remember

June is the summer month that brings heat and growth.
Strawberries grow when summer comes.
Each month has special power over nature.
The magic club passes from one month to another.
Marouckla gets what she needs from the months who help her.

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