Page 38 - Success Plus English Language and Literature Class 10

A Letter to God

The Author

Gregorio López y Fuentes (1895–1966) was a Mexican Americans, farmers and labourers with deep insight.
journalist, novelist and poet. He began writing during His writing is seen as humorous and representative
the Mexican Revolution and was one of the principal of Mexico. Gregorio López y Fuentes’s most famous
chroniclers of the civil conflict. He wrote for the works include Campamento, Tierra, ¡Mi general! and El
newspaper El Universal under the pseudonym Tulio Indio. He won the National Prize of Arts and Sciences
F. Peseenz. His works portray the lives of Native in 1935.

Introduction

Many people believe in God and hold a strong faith think of an extrasensory form of communication –
that God listens to our prayers. They feel that just by means other than human senses or physical
wishing for something dearly under one’s breath or interaction. Have you heard of such possibilities?
requesting for it at places of worship is all we have to This is the story of a man who tries to contact God
do to reach God. in his own naive way and waits for the results. Was he
Can you think of other ways to reach God or successful in his efforts? Why or why not?
establish contact with Him? Most probably you would

Summary

At the outset, the author’s description of plan in order to not disappoint him and sets
the house and surroundings of the story’s about collecting the money. But times are hard,
protagonist creates a pleasant picture. In the and he is able to accumulate only a part of the
house at the top of a low hill in a vast valley a amount with the help of his co-workers. After
seasoned farmer named Lencho lives with his a week when Lencho arrives at the post office,
wife and children. Lencho’s cornfield always a postman hands to him the destined reply,
promises a good harvest, but now it lies in as Lencho likes to believe. While counting the
desperate need of some rain. True to Lencho’s money, Lencho angrily remarks that God could
hopeful prediction, the rain comes but quickly not have made a mistake by sending him less
grows into a devastating hailstorm that destroys than he asked for. Then and there he takes to
Lencho’s crops and leaves his family destitute. writing another letter to God. Complaining
A man of unshakable faith but a simpleton, about the pilferage at the post office, he insists
Lencho writes a letter to God stating his that the rest of the money be sent to him
requirement of one hundred pesos and posts it. through another source immediately because
Lencho’s letter is brought to the attention of the he doesn’t believe the post office workers are
postmaster of the town. Touched by the farmer’s trustworthy, scrupulous people.
faith in God, the kind postmaster devises a

191