The Last Leaf Class 9 Notes English Chapter 7

SUMMARY OF THE LESSON

It is a famous story by the renowned writer O. Henry. This story describes the friendship of two female artists Sue and Johnsy and a great sacrifice by an old person named Behrman. Sue and Johnsy both lived in a small flat which was on the third story of an old house. Johnsy fell seriously ill in November when the Artists’ Colony was attacked by Pneumonia. Sue tried her best to nurse her friend but the doctor said that Johnsy had lost her faith and interest in life. Sue tried her level best to make Johnsy take an interest in things around her. She talked about clothes and fashions, but Johnsy did not respond positively. One day Sue found that Johnsy was looking outside and counting something backwards. Sue also anxiously looked out of the window and found an ivy creeper there which was trying to climb halfway up the brick wall. Johnsy had connected her life with this ivy creeper and told Sue that she would also die when the last leaf of this ivy creeper fell.

Sue went to Behrman and told him the whole matter of how Johnsy was convinced that she would die when the last leaf fell. It rained heavily with icy cold winds on the same night and both Sue and Johnsy had a thought that the ivy creeper would lose its last leaf in this awful night. But to their surprise, they found that the last leaf was still hanging there with more beauty and freshness after facing such a night. Now Johnsy realized that she had done a sin to want to die but she got a hope of life from that single leaf.

On the other hand, the next morning Sue informed Johnsy that Mr. Behrman had died of pneumonia. He remained ill for only two days. The first day the janitor found him on his bed shivering in wet clothes and shoes. Then, they found a ladder, a lantern still lighted, some brushes and green-yellow paints lying near his bed. Then Johnsy asked Sue to look outside carefully and think why the leaf was not fluttering while the wind was blowing. In fact, it was the masterpiece of Behrman which he painted on the same night when the last leaf fell. Thus the old man sacrificed his life for the sake of a girl who had lost her faith and hope in life.

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