Maharashtra Board Class 9 English Unit Four Chapter 4.4 My Financial Career PDF Download

4.4 My Financial Career

Warming Up!

When you open a savings account at bank you need to fill up Deposit forms/slips. Observe the following forms and fill up your details.

Use separate slips for depositing cash, instruments drawn on his Bank, clearing instruments and outstanding instruments.

Dear Customer, please help us in serving you better. Kindly update your address and contact details on the reverse of this paying-in-slip.

Contact Details

2. Write in your own words:

(a) Why does the bank need so many details of its customer?

(b) What problems do customers face when they have to make a cash deposit at a bank?

(c) What are the latest modern methods of depositing money in your own or somebody else's account?

3. Make a word web of at least 12 words related to BANKING.

Teacher's Note

Banks keep your personal information safe. This helps them know you and protect your money. Just like your school keeps your roll number and address.

Exam Trick

Remember: Banks ask for address and phone number. These details help them contact you if there is any problem with your account.

Points to Remember

Banks need your full name and address.

You must fill deposit forms correctly.

Keep your account details safe and secret.

Modern banks use online and mobile ways to deposit money.

My Financial Career

WHEN I go into a bank I get rattled. The clerks rattle me; the wickets rattle me; the sight of the money rattles me; everything rattles me.

The moment I cross the threshold of a bank I am a hesitating jay. If I attempt to transact business there I become an irresponsible idiot.

I knew this beforehand, but my salary had been raised to fifty dollars a month, and I felt that the bank was the only place for it.

So I shambled in and looked timidly around at the clerks. I had an idea that a person about to open an account must needs consult the manager.

I went up to a wicket marked 'Accountant.' The accountant was a tall, cool devil. The very sight of him rattled me. My voice was sepulchral.

"Can I see the manager?" I said, and added solemnly, "alone." I don't know why I said 'alone.'

"Certainly," said the accountant, and fetched him.

The manager was a grave, calm man. I held my fifty-six dollars clutched in a crumpled ball in my pocket.

"Are you the manager?" I said. God knows I didn't doubt it.

"Yes," he said.

"Can I see you?" I asked, "Alone?" I didn't want to say 'alone' again, but without it the thing seemed self-evident.

The manager looked at me in some alarm. He felt that I had an awful secret to reveal.

"Come in here," he said, and led the way to a private room. He turned the key.

"We are safe from interruption here," he said; "sit down."

We both sat down and looked at one another. I found no voice to speak.

"You are one of Pinkerton's men, I presume," he said.

Teacher's Note

The narrator is very nervous in the bank. This shows how scary new places and new work can feel. Many children feel this way on the first day of school.

Exam Trick

Remember: The narrator says "alone" twice. This makes the manager think he is a detective. Saying wrong things at the wrong time creates problems.

Points to Remember

The narrator gets nervous in the bank easily.

He thinks only a manager can open an account.

He repeats the word "alone" many times.

The manager thinks he is a detective from Pinkerton's agency.

He had gathered from my mysterious manner that I was a detective. I knew what he was thinking and it made me worse.

"No, not from Pinkerton's," I said, seemingly to imply that I came from a rival agency. "To tell the truth," I went on, as if I had been prompted to lie about it, "I am not a detective at all. I have come to open an account. I intend to keep all my money in this bank."

The manager looked relieved, but still serious; he concluded now that I was a son of Baron Rothschild, or a young Gould.

"A large account, I suppose," he said.

"Fairly large," I whispered. "I propose to deposit fifty-six dollars now, and fifty dollars a month regularly."

The manager got up and opened the door. He called to the accountant.

"Mr. Montgomery," he said, unkindly loud, "this gentleman is opening an account; he will deposit fifty-six dollars. Good morning."

I rose.

A big iron door stood open at the side of the room.

"Good morning," I said, and stepped into the safe.

"Come out," said the manager coldly, and showed me the other way.

I went up to the accountant's wicket and poked the ball of money at him with a quick, convulsive movement, as if I were doing a conjuring trick.

My face was ghastly pale.

"Here," I said, "deposit it." The tone of the words seemed to mean, "Let us do this painful thing while the fit is on us."

He took the money and gave it to another clerk. He made me write the sum on a slip and sign my name in a book. I no longer knew what I was doing. The bank swam before my eyes.

"Is it deposited?" I asked in a hollow vibrating voice.

"It is," said the accountant.

"Then I want to draw a check."

Teacher's Note

The narrator makes a funny mistake. He steps into the safe room by mistake! This shows how confused he is. Even smart people make mistakes when they are very nervous.

Exam Trick

Remember: The narrator says he will deposit fifty-six dollars. He writes this amount carefully. But later he makes a big mistake with the check amount.

Points to Remember

The manager thinks the narrator is a very rich man.

The narrator steps into the safe room by mistake.

He gives the money to the accountant very nervously.

He writes his name in a book to open the account.

He then asks to draw a check from the account.

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