the verger short story essay

The Verger By W. Somerset Maugham- Summary and Questions Answers

Table of Contents

Summary of The Verger

Maugham’s short story “The Verger” is a tale about a simple man Albert Edward Foreman. He has been a verger in St. Peter’s Neville Square Church, doing his duties with great enjoyment and dedication. The new vicar dismisses the verger for being illiterate. While he is roaming around the London street in a distressed mood he tries to buy a cigarette. As there is no tobacco shop nearby, an idea strikes him. He sets up a tobacco shop with the meagre amount he has got in his savings. He develops his business with full dedication which leads to success. Within ten years he opens ten new tobacco shops in London city. He saves 30000 pounds in bank savings account.

When the manager advises Foreman to invest the amount in safe securities he reveals that he does not know how to read and write. When the manager asks in surprise if he were a literate what would be his position. He humbly answers that he would be a verger in St. Peter’s Neville Square church.

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Elaboration of points

Maugham’s short story “The Verger” is a tale about a simple man Albert Edward Foreman. He has been a verger in St. Peter’s Neville Square Church, doing his duties with great enjoyment and dedication. His routine work is disturbed with the arrival of new vicar in the church. He wants everything to be perfect and when he comes to know that Foreman is an illiterate he immediately takes action. The vicar feels that things like ability to read and write reflect the good character of St. Peter’s.

Foreman’s impeccable record doesn’t help him to retain his job. The vicar is ready to offer Foreman three month grace period to become a literate. But he refuses the proposal saying that he cannot learn to read and write at this age.

The vicar announces that the parish has decided to quit him from the service because Foreman is not literate. For Foreman, this decision of the priest is a great blow he has never anticipated. After his appointment sixteen years ago as a verger he had thought that the appointment was for life. But suddenly he becomes unemployed after a long service of sixteen years.He doesn’t want to demean himself by accepting any domestic services other than the divine church service.

When Foreman leaves the church he is very much upset and deeply distressed. He, instead of heading towards his home, takes a wrong turning. He walks along the long road deeply thinking about his next move. He has got a meagre amount of money but not enough to meet all his family requirements without doing anything.He is a non-smoker but when he feels distressed and tired, he enjoys a cigarette. He feels like having a cigarette which would comfort him. He cannot find a cigarette shop in the long street. It sounds strange to him. He thinks that a tobacco shop in such a place would be profitable. His plan comes to execution the very next day. He rents a suitable shop and starts his tobacco business. It goes well. He makes profit and within ten years he opens ten branches throughout London. He becomes a great businessman and bank balance rises up to thirty thousand pounds.

One-day the manager of the bank advises him to invest his amount in some safe securities. Albert says that he does not want to take risk and want his money safe in the bank. Moreover he does not know how and in which securities he can invest. The manager replies that he is there to look after his investment and the only thing he has to do is put his signature. After setting up the business, Albert has learnt to sign. He asks the manager how he could know where he is investing. The manager says that he can read the document and then put his signature on that. Albert confesses that he is an illiterate.

The manager is astonished at his confession. Without knowing how to read or write Albert has amassed a huge sum. What he could have done if he were a literate and educated. But Albert humbly answers him that if he knows to read and write he would bea verger at St. Peter’s Neville Square and nothing more.

Questions and Answers

1. How long had Albert Edward Foreman been verger at St Peter’s when he was asked to step down? Ans:- Albert Edward Foreman had been a verger at St Peter’s, Neville Square for a great many years. He had been there for sixteen years when he was asked to step down.

2. Why was the verger asked to step down? Do you think this was a fair decision? Give reasons for your answer .

Ans:- The Verger asked to step down because he was illiterate. He could neither read nor write. It was an unfair decision. His sixteen years of services speaks volumes for it. He had served the church sixteen years to the situations of everybody without knowing reading or writing. According to last Vicar, knowing or not knowing these things did not make any difference as far as Verger was concerned.

3. What was Foreman’s reply when the vicar asked him to learn to read and write?

Ans:-When the vicar asked Foreman to learn to read and write, he replied with an apology that it was of no good in learning, reading and writing. He was too old a dog to learn new tricks. He had lived a good many years without knowing to praise himself. He added by saying that self-praise was no recommendation. He further said that he would not mind saying that he had done his duty satisfactorily enough to please the merciful providence and so did not want to learn reading and writing then.

4. Why had Foreman never learnt to read or write? How had he managed in life? Ans:- Foreman had never learnt to read or write because he thought that he had no knack for it. Since he was busy with one thing and another, he never seemed to have the time. He had never really found the want of it. Also, he thought that learning these things are wasting of time, something useful might be done instead. He man-aged in life with the help of his wife and pictures in the papers. Since his wife was quite a scholar, she wrote his letters and for news, he made out from the pictures in the papers.

5. What did the verger do when he left the church after his meeting with the vicar? Ans:- When he left the church after his meeting with the vicar, he strolled across the square. Having lost in sad thoughts, he took the wrong turning and walked along slowly. He wanted to smoke but found no shop selling cigarettes. An idea struck him. The next day he found a shop to let in that street and that he took and set up in business as tobacconist and newsagent.

6. What had Foreman done before he became a verger? Why did he not want to go back to that employment? Ans:-Foreman had been in service in very good houses. Starting as a page-boy in the household of a merchant-price, he had risen by done degrees from the position of fourth to the first footman, for a year he had been single-handed butler to a widowed peeress and, till the vacancy occurred butler with two men at St Peter’s, with two men under him in the house of a retired ambassador. He did not want to go back to domestic service because he had been his own master for so many years in the church. Going back to domestic service was like demeaning himself by accepting a situation.

7. What happened in the course of ten years? Ans:-In twenty-four hours since his leaving from the St. Peter’s, Neville Square, Albert Edward Foreman set up in business as a tobacconist and newsagent. He moved around looking for streets that hadn’t got tobacconist in them. We have found them he took shops to let to run his business. Thus in the course of ten years, he had acquired no less than ten shops and he was making money hand over first.

B. Think and answer in 100-150 words.

1. Albert Foreman became rich and successful despite not knowing how to read and write. Does this disprove the importance of reading and writing? Explain with reasons. Ans:- The story ‘the verger’ ends with a staggering twist. Mr Foreman despite of being illiterate could build up and important business I and amass a fortune of thirty thousand pounds. He said if he knew reading and writing, he would still be a poor verger in a church. When we count Foreman’s success strong we really feel like negating education. But if we analyze how he succeeded, we can very well see that it is situations and circumstances which bring success. Foreman’s ouster saddened him. While walking depressed, he takes the wrong road. That is the turning point. Had he taken his usual road, his condition would change from bad to worse. In the wrong road he takes, he finds the street having no shops selling tobacco. It strikes his mind with, the idea of opening shops selling tobacco and his succeeds in life because they are learned. The other one is just a coincidence. Most people below poverty live in the world are unlearned ones.

2. Write a note on the character and appearance of Albert Foreman. Ans:-Albert Foreman is a man of self-respect. He has confidence in his capabilities. He is not obsequious. He is honest, truthful and polite but does not allow others to take him for a ride. He is hardworking and true to his job. In any field he worked, that is, from domestic service to church service he did not work appreciatively. He is more practical-minded.

He doesn’t undertake missions which he finds either useless or he cannot do it. His ingenuousness and ingenuity work for his success. He knew how to grab opportunities. He was tall, spare, grave and dignified. He looked, if not like a duke, at least like an actor of the old school who specialized in duke’s parts. He had tack, firmness and self-assurance. His character was unimpeachable.

C. The verger spoke English in the manner of domestics and poorer people of London, that is, with a Cockney accent. Thus he dropped all his ‘Hs. Rewrite these sentences in proper English.

(Cockney accent)

1. ‘Don’t ‘e know I want my tea?’ Ans:-‘Don’t you know I want my tea?’

2. ‘All this ‘ustle. But give ‘im time, he’ll learn.’ Ans:- ‘All this bustle. But give him time, he will learn.’

3. shall be ‘appy to ‘and in my resignation.’ Ans:-‘I shall be happy hand in my resignation.’

4. ‘It didn’t make no difference. He always said there was a great deal too much education in the world for ‘is taste.’ Ans:- ‘It didn’t make no difference. He always said there was a great deal too much education in the world for his taste.’

5. ‘I didn’t seem to ‘ave the knack for it.’

Ans:- ‘I didn’t seem to have the knack for it.’

6. ‘I’d ‘ave to leave it all in your ‘ands.’ Ans:- ‘I have to leave it in your hands.’

7. ‘But ‘ow should I know what I was signing’? Ans:-‘But how should I know what I was signing?’

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The Sitting Bee

Short Story Reviews

The Verger by W. Somerset Maugham

In The Verger by W. Somerset Maugham we have the theme of appearance, opportunity, dedication, independence and humility. Taken from his Collected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Maugham may be exploring the theme of appearance. Albert Edward doesn’t like wearing his new verger’s gown for christenings. He prefers to keep it for weddings and funerals. Considering it more appropriate to wear the new gown for these occasions. This may be important as Maugham may be suggesting that appearance is important to Albert Edward. Similarly the vicar seems to think appearance is important too. Things like being able to read and write set a standard that the vicar believes everybody should attain. This may also be significant as it suggests that the vicar believes that the ability to read and write reflects on the good character of St. Peter’s. Since Albert Edward can’t read or write and the fact that he is not prepared to learn goes against what the vicar thinks is good for St. Peter’s. It also doesn’t help Albert Edward that he has never been in trouble with the authorities of the church and that he has an impeccable record. As a representative of St. Peter’s the vicar doesn’t believe that Albert Edward is good enough. He does not have the skills that the vicar thinks a verger must have.

Maugham may also be exploring the theme of opportunity. Rather than being downcast about the fact that he has lost his job. Albert Edward turns his loss into an opportunity by deciding to set up a tobacconists and newsagents. From defeat Albert Edward manages to grasp victory and eventually owns ten shops. Which in many ways shows the dedication that Albert Edward has. It is this same dedication that had previously made him a successful verger. Once focused Albert Edward appears to throw all his energies into whatever effort (verger or shop owner) he is undertaking. It is as though Albert is driven not by profit but by a desire to be the best that he can be. Even if he can’t read and write. It may also be a case that Maugham is attempting through Albert Edward’s success to ridicule the vicar. Someone who appears to be aloof and disconnected from those around him. What the vicar considers to be important is not necessarily the same for others. Something that is noticeable by the fact that Albert Edward resigns his position from the church.

Though some critics might suggest that being a verger is an important role in the church. That it has an element of prestige. It is not the same as being self-sufficient something that Albert now is with his ten shops. From being answerable to others (the vicar) Albert Edward has become his own boss. Answerable to nobody but himself. Which is a dramatic change in circumstances for Albert Edward and again it is probably important to remember that Albert Edward achieved everything he has without being able to read or write. If anything Albert Edward has been an underdog throughout the story. Answerable to others. Forced to resign and still managing to make a success out of his life. The fact that the vicar also gave Albert Edward an ultimatum which Albert Edward decided against following shows that Albert Edward has an independent streak. He does not conform just because he is told to by the vicar. Rather Albert submits his resignation and continues on with the rest of his life. If anything Albert Edward remains undefeated.

It may also be significant that Albert Edward does not allow the success he has go to his head. If anything he remains as humble as he was when he was a verger. Where others might use their success to live a dissolute life. This is not the case with Albert Edward. How humble Albert might actually be is noticeable by his reply to the bank manager when the bank manger wonders how successful Albert could have been if he did know how to read or write. By telling the bank manager that he would be the verger of St. Peter’s Albert Edward manages to show humility. He has not forgotten where he came from nor does he wish to change his past. It is as though Albert Edward despite having to resign from a position he enjoyed holds no animosity towards anybody (the vicar). Albert Edward is living a satisfied life whereas others may not be as fortunate as Albert Edward. He has shown ingenuity and flexibility in his life. Something that the vicar was unable to do. If anything the vicar lived by a set of rigid rules that Albert Edward did not comply with nor did he wish to comply with. Albert Edward has made a success out of his life and remained humble throughout. Whereas the vicar may have been driven by his own inflated ego.

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30 comments

Summary text.

Although brought up in a Christian background I can almost say the man was a humanist.

Thanks for the comment Rob.

Thank you for your good and simple way of language. It will help me a lot for my semester exams.

Thanks so much it was so useful for me and very easy to understand and it was really very helpful for my semester exam.

Very helpful for my semester exams which are happening tommorow 🙂

Thank u for this type of summary writing which I couldn’t get a piece of knowledge even by reading book

ತುಂಬಾ ಸಹಾಯವಾಯಿತು ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು ಸರ್

Good and simple essay very helpful thank you

It’s very easy and simple to understand but You miss a paragraph (What or where he was working before a Verger)

Good point. Before he was a Verger Albert Edward worked in service (possibly as a young servant or cook’s hand).

Television- Roald Dahl

Thank u very much.

Can I know what is the moral of the above story?

Perhaps Maugham is suggesting that good things happen to people who adapt to change and persevere. While at the same time not changing their beliefs.

really helpful……this will help me in my exam tomorrow.

Thanks for the analysis. But I would like to know more about one thing that is been told in the story that education is not everything, worldly experience also have an important role.

Do you know what year this story takes place?

i would like the whole text itself and questions which were asked on the text.like others the summary of the text is hepful

I lost my notes today my examination…. This note very useful thank you so much

Can you tell me what is the tone in this story?

Thanks so much

Thank u so much… Love u

Thanks for the posting, I have been searching for it for long time.

What is the slang that Foreman said?

what had Albert foreman’s previous emploment history been, before becoming verger of St.Peter’s?

Hey is it possible for you to do a summary of The mother of a Traitor?

what is the message of the story or what lesson does the story teach you about life? about people?

William Somerset Maugham (born Jan. 25, 1874, Paris, France—died Dec. 16, 1965, Nice), English novelist, playwright, and short-story writer whose work is characterized by a clear unadorned style, cosmopolitan settings, and a shrewd understanding of human nature.

Maugham was orphaned at the age of 10; he was brought up by an uncle and educated at King’s School, Canterbury. After a year at Heidelberg, he entered St. Thomas’ medical school, London, and qualified as a doctor in 1897. He drew upon his experiences as an obstetrician in his first novel, Liza of Lambeth (1897), and its success, though small, encouraged him to abandon medicine. He traveled in Spain and Italy and in 1908 achieved a theatrical triumph—four plays running in London at once—that brought him financial security. During World War I he worked as a secret agent. After the war he resumed his interrupted travels and, in 1928, bought a villa on Cape Ferrat in the south of France, which became his permanent home.

His reputation as a novelist rests primarily on four books: Of Human Bondage (1915), a semi-autobiographical account of a young medical student’s painful progress toward maturity; The Moon and Sixpence (1919), an account of an unconventional artist, suggested by the life of Paul Gauguin; Cakes and Ale (1930), the story of a famous novelist, which is thought to contain caricatures of Thomas Hardy and Hugh Walpole; and The Razor’s Edge (1944), the story of a young American war veteran’s quest for a satisfying way of life. Maugham’s plays, mainly Edwardian social comedies, soon became dated, but his short stories have increased in popularity. Many portray the conflict of Europeans in alien surroundings that provoke strong emotions, and Maugham’s skill in handling plot, in the manner of Guy de Maupassant, is distinguished by economy and suspense. In The Summing Up (1938) and A Writer’s Notebook (1949) Maugham explains his philosophy of life as a resigned atheism and a certain skepticism about the extent of man’s innate goodness and intelligence; it is this that gives his work its astringent cynicism.

The text under study is a short sory called “The Verger” which tells us about Albert Edward Foreman who has been the verger of St. Peter’s, Neville Square for 16 years. One day the new vicar is appointed and Forman is fired because of his ignorance: he can’t read and write. Walking along the street with his sad thoughts about what he should do now he decided to buy cigarettes, but there are no tobacco shops in the street. An idea comes in his mind, he opens a tobacco shop in this street. During a short period of time it successes and he had a lot of money and number of shops.

This story has an introduction in which we meet Albert himself and the new vicar, a succession of actions shows us Forman’s dismissal, his idea to open tobacco shop, his becoming a succesful businessman, and his visit to the bank. The climax comes in the moment he is proved to be unable to read when he is proposed to sign the agreement in order to invest his money. The denoument is the Forman’s reply that he would be the verger of St. Peter’s, Naville Square to manager’s question about what he would be now if he could read.

This text is about churchwarden who is devoted to his work. In the text we can find a lot of church terms, such as verger’s gown, vicar, vestry,font, chancel etc.

The author’s purpose is to show that illiteracy is not equal to intelligence.

The story is told from the 3d person singular, the author is just a narrator, his tone is impassive and detatched. The mood of the text is peaceful.

This text is written in belles-lettres style. The bookish words prevail there. For ex, complacence, dignified, vacant, lamentalle, etc.

But in the dialogues there are contracted forms (I’ve, you’d, etc) to create the atmosphere of real conversation.

In Albert’s speech the author employs simple words and contractions to show his simple character. He uses wrong words and doesn’t know grammar and it is presented in his speech. (don’t he know I want my tea?, all this hustle, in me head)

As this is a narration, the author uses the Past Simple and Past Perfect tenses.

Compound sentences are principally met in the text produsing the effect of measured and neat ralation.

At the lexical level the author reveal the idea using methaphors to show the depth of Foreman’s sadness when he loses his favourite work (the blow inflicted upon him; his heart was heavy) (he sighed as he thought of all ceremonies his gown had seen); - as it says at the beginning of the story he is proud of his gowns, keeps him in tidy and pleasant condition, can’t throw them, neatly holds them in the wardrobe, etc, that is why the author personificates it.

Exaggeration used in the vicar’s speech (the most amazing thing I ever heard, the highest opinion both of your character and of your capacity) shows his character, he try to hide his attitude to Foreman’s illiteracy, he thinks Foreman doesn’t deserve to be the verger of the church.

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Analysis of "The verger" by William Somerset Maugham. (Text of story in Vietnamese).

Analysis: The verger

1. introduction.

It's a short story from Cosmopolitans published in 1936.

William Somerset Maugham (se pronounce Mom) is an English writer, but he lived until he was 10 in Paris and he then travelled a lot. Because of his travel he acquired a cosmopolitan outlook. He wrote novels and short stories which Rain is the best know. Other major works are The Moon and Sixpence, Cakes and Ales and Razor’s Edge.

Albert Edward Foreman is a verger since sixteen years. He like his job and do it as good as he can. Recently the vicar has died and a new one had been appointed. Albert Edward regretted his predecessor because the new one always wanted to control everything. The vicar has a special talent, which is to make babies stop crying when he is holding them. He wants to talk to Foreman. He is surprised to see the two churchwardens with him. He seems for him, that the two men did what the vicar want, but don’t agreed with him. Before being a verger, Foreman was a servant in very good houses. The vicar told Foreman, that he has heard that he couldn’t read or write. Foreman confirms it. The vicar told him, that it is impossible to have a verger who cannot read and write. Foreman doesn’t want to learn, so he will have to go. He was polite until he was outside of the church, there he became sad. He doesn’t want to be servant again, because now he has been his own master. He wants a cigarette but cannot found a shop anywhere. The next day he opens a little shop and set up a business as a tobacconist and newsagent. Albert Edward did very well. With the time he opens more shops and becomes richer. One day the banker told him, that he should invest all his money. The only thing he has to do is to sign the transfers, but because he can’t read that becomes a problem. The banker is very surprised to see that this successful man can’t read or write. He is wondering what he would now been, if he could read and write. Albert Edward answered that he would be a verger.

4. Analysis

- Albert Edward was a very good verger and just because he can’t read or write they dismiss him. When he could make this job without this capacity, why should they change the verger?

- The vicar wasn’t right with Albert Edward and so he did right to left his job. But on the other side, it would have been an opportunity for him to learn writing and reading.

- Albert Edward is very lucky, because if he couldn’t read or write, he couldn’t have been long at school and so it was a bit of luck, that he could make his shops run, but he has probably a certain talent.

- This story makes us thinking about the importance of a good education. It’s certain that we need it, but the moral is, that the most important he what we did with our knowledge.

- It’s an ironic story. First it’s tragic and at the end funny.

- Albert is a very calm person, not stupid, even if he can’t write and read

- The vicar work in a fashionable church. He wants to make it more fashionable, but he didn’t see the spiritual sight of it. It’s not important for him. He is frightened of a scandal, but Albert is a good verger.

5. Conclusion

What struck you especially in the passage.

The Verger by Somerset Maugham

This is a short story with a point to make. It’s a tale your granddad might tell, with a moral twist, but a charming one that slips by you almost unawares.

The precisely drawn character of the Verger is a joy– a fastidious former butler who keeps his worn-out verger’s gowns in brown paper in the bottom of his wardrobe and thinks he has a job for life. The new vicar discovers he is illiterate, and the verger chooses to leave rather than change his ways. The ramifications of his decision build to the final smile of the last line.

Truyện ngắn “Thầy quản giáo đường” (The Verger) dưới đây thu hút độc giả bằng nghệ thuật lạ hóa được dẫn dắt qua tình huống nghịch lý không biết chữ vẫn thành công trong cuộc sống ở giáo đường cũng như kinh doanh. Dí dỏm, hài hước, đặc biệt cách kết thúc bằng tiếng cười mỉa hình như ông muốn người đọc khám phá một kiểu người thông minh bẩm sinh với kỹ năng sống tuyệt vời. Xử lý nghệ thuật bằng cách chọn điểm nhìn bên trong nhân vật chính phối kết với những hội thoại dí dỏm ngầm cũng là một nét thú vị của văn W.S Maugham.

TCSH

Thầy quản giáo đường

C hiều hôm ấy, có lễ rửa tội diễn ra tại Nhà thờ Thánh Peter, Quảng trường Neville, và thầy quản nhà thờ Albert Edward Foreman vẫn còn vận chiếc áo choàng quản giáo đường của ông trên mình. Ông vẫn để dành tấm áo mới của ông, với những nếp gấp còn nguyên vẹn và cứng đơ như thể nó được may từ chất đồng lưu niên, chứ không phải bằng len dệt từ lông lạc đà alpaca Nam Mỹ, nó chỉ chuyên dùng vào dịp các buổi cưới xin, ma chay (Nhà thờ Thánh Peter, Quảng trường Neville, là một nhà thờ được tầng lớp thượng lưu ái mộ những cuộc lễ này lắm!) và hiện giờ ông chỉ mặc chiếc áo hạng thứ mà thôi. Ông vận chiếc áo này, vẻ tự mãn, vì nó là biểu tượng trang nghiêm của chức vị ông, và nếu không mặc nó (đó là những khi ông phải cởi nó ra để về nhà), thì ông có cái cảm giác khó chịu là trang phục chưa được chỉn chu cho lắm. Ông chịu khó giữ gìn nó, ông tự tay là nó, gấp nó rất cẩn thận. Trong 16 năm ông làm thầy quản tại nhà thờ này, ông đã có một lô những chiếc áo như vậy, mà ông cũng không nỡ lòng nào quẳng chúng đi khi chúng đã sờn cũ. Lô áo ấy, đầy đủ không thiếu một chiếc, được gói gọn gàng bằng giấy dầu, nằm trong các ô kéo dưới cùng của chiếc tủ đứng kê trong phòng ngủ nhà ông.

Thầy quản lặng lẽ làm việc, luôn chân, luôn tay, hết thay chiếc nắp gỗ ván sơn đậy trên bình nước thánh bằng đá cẩm thạch, lại chuyển đi một chiếc ghế mới được kê thêm cho một bà già ốm yếu, hom hem…, đoạn ông đợi cho cha sở xong xuôi mọi việc trong căn phòng áo lễ để ông có thể vào dọn dẹp trong đó rồi ra về. Ngay lúc ấy, ông trông thấy cha sở bước qua thánh đường, quỳ gối trước ban thờ chính, đoạn bước xuống lối đi giữa hai dãy ghế, nhưng ông vẫn còn vận chiếc áo choàng hành lễ của ông.

“Ông ta vẫn còn quanh quẩn ở đây để làm cái quái gì thế nhỉ?” Thầy quản tự hỏi, “ông ấy không biết là đã đến giờ mình phải về nhà uống trà rồi sao?”

This is a preview of the whole essay

Mãi tới gần đây cha sở mới được bổ nhiệm về nhà thờ này, một con người hoạt bát, da dẻ hồng hào, ngoài 40, nhưng Albert Edward vẫn còn tiếc luyến người tiền nhiệm của ông ta, vị cha sở trước kia, đó là một thầy tu thuộc trường phái cổ, ông giảng các bài thuyết pháp một cách chậm rãi bằng một giọng sang sảng và thường xuyên đi dự tiệc với những giáo dân thuộc dòng dõi quý tộc. Ông ấy thích cứ giữ nguyên mọi thứ trong nhà thờ, ông cũng không bao giờ gắt gỏng om sòm; ông không giống vị cha sở mới đến này, người chỉ thích chõ mũi vào tất cả mọi chuyện. Tuy vậy, Albert Edward là người biết chịu đựng. Nhà thờ Thánh Peter tọa lạc giữa một giáo xứ ôn hòa, giáo dân là lớp người rất ngoan đạo. Vị cha sở mới này từ Khu Đông tới và người ta không kỳ vọng ông ta sẽ có thể hòa nhập ngay lập tức với tất cả lối sống dè dặt, kín đáo của đám con chiên quý tộc này.

“Làm cái quái gì mà cứ nhặng xị ngậu cả lên!”, thầy quản Albert Edward tự nhủ. “Thôi được, cứ để cho ông ta có thời gian, rồi ông ta sẽ tự rút ra được những bài học kinh nghiệm cho bản thân mình.”

Khi cha sở bước xuống lối đi giữa hai hàng ghế, ông dừng lại ở khoảng cách đủ để nói với thầy quản mà không cần phải cao giọng quá mức cần thiết tại nơi thờ tự tôn nghiêm này.

“Foreman, ông hãy vào phòng áo lễ một phút, tôi có chuyện muốn nói với ông”.

“Vâng, thưa cha”.

Viên cha sở chờ cho ông theo kịp rồi cả hai cùng bước ngược lối đi.

“Tôi cho là buổi lễ rửa tội diễn ra rất tốt đẹp, thưa cha. Đứa bé nín khóc ngay lúc cha bế nó, trông thật ngộ nghĩnh”.

“Tôi nhận thấy chúng thường nín bặt,” cha sở nói, hơi nhếch mép cười. “Xét cho cùng, tôi đã làm biết bao lần như thế với chúng rồi”.

Niềm kiêu hãnh vẫn bị ghìm nén đối với cha sở là hầu như ông có thể làm cho một đứa bé đang khóc thút thít phải nín bặt bằng cái cách ông bế bổng nó lên, và ông cũng không phải là không thấy sự thán phục vui vui mà các bà mẹ và các cô hầu quan sát ông nhẹ nhàng ôm đứa bé vào chỗ thụng của chiếc áo tế. Thầy quản biết cứ tâng bốc ông ta là ông ta sẽ hài lòng.

Viên cha sở tiến trước thầy quản vào phòng áo lễ. Albert Edward hơi ngạc nhiên khi thấy có cả hai uỷ viên quản lý tài sản của giáo hội cũng có mặt trong đó. Ông không hề trông thấy hai người này vào từ lúc nào. Họ nhã nhặn gật đầu chào ông.

“Xin chào cha giám! Xin chào cha giám!”, ông chào từng người một.

Cả hai đều là những người luống tuổi, đã là uỷ viên quản lý tài sản ngay từ khi Albert Edward vào làm quản nhà thờ này. Giờ đây họ ngồi tại một chiếc bàn ăn rất đẹp mà nhiều năm trước đây, cha sở cũ đã đem từ xứ Italia xa xôi về. Cha sở ngồi xuống chiếc ghế trống. Albert Edward đứng đối diện với ba người, chiếc bàn ngăn đôi giữa ông một bên và ba người kia một bên, hơi thấp thỏm, bứt rứt, phân vân không biết có chuyện gì. Ông vẫn còn nhớ cái lần người đánh đàn organ gặp rắc rối và bọn họ đã ra sức bưng bít, ỉm mọi chuyện đi. Trong một nhà thờ như Nhà thờ Thánh Peter, Quảng trường Neville, họ không thể để cho có chuyện xì-căng-đan được. Trên khuôn mặt đỏ hồng của cha sở là một vẻ mặt nhân từ, cương quyết, nhưng hai người kia thể hiện nét mặt hơi bối rối trông thấy.

“Hẳn là ông ta đã cằn nhằn, rầy la họ gì đây,” Albert Edward tự nhủ, “hẳn ông ta đã buộc họ làm điều gì đó, mà họ không muốn đây. Đúng là như thế, ngẫm mà xem mình nói chớ có sai”.

Nhưng những ý nghĩ của ông không hiện lên khuôn mặt in đậm những nét sáng sủa, phương phi của ông. Ông đứng đó, với thái độ tôn kính, nhưng không khúm núm, xun xoe. Ông đã bắt đầu cuộc đời đi làm, ở toàn những nơi tốt cả, trước khi ông được bổ nhiệm vào chức vị này trong giáo hội, vả lại cách đi đứng, cư xử của ông không hề có điểm gì chê trách được. Thọat đầu, ông làm chú tiểu đồng tại tư thất một hoàng thân là thương gia, ông đã tiến dần lên chức người hầu thứ tư, rồi thứ nhất, trong một năm; ông đã đơn thương độc mã làm quản gia cho một phu nhân huân tước goá chồng; rồi cho đến trước khi vào làm việc tại Nhà thờ Thánh Peter này, ông còn làm quản gia, với hai người giúp việc dưới quyền, tại nhà một viên đại sứ về hưu. Ông cao, gầy, từ tốn và nghiêm nghị. Trông ông, nếu không giống một công tước thì ít nhất cũng giống một diễn viên thuộc trường phái cổ, chuyên đóng các vai công tước. Ông khéo xử sự, cương quyết và tự tin. Tính cách của ông không bắt bẻ vào đâu được.

Cha sở nhanh chóng đi ngay vào vấn đề.

“Ông Foreman ạ, chúng tôi có nhận được một tin không lấy gì làm vui cho lắm phải nói với ông. Ông đã ở đây nhiều năm và tôi cho rằng các vị ủy viên đây đều đồng ý với tôi rằng ông đã làm tròn trách nhiệm ở cương vị của ông khiến tất cả mọi người có liên quan đều cảm thấy hài lòng”.

Cả hai vị uỷ viên đều gật đầu tán thưởng.

“Nhưng hôm nọ, tôi được biết một điều vô cùng khác thường và tôi cảm thấy có nhiệm vụ phải truyền đạt lại thông tin đó cho hai quý vị đây. Tôi kinh ngạc khi biết tin là ông không hề biết đọc, cũng chẳng biết viết nữa”.

Nét mặt của thầy quản nhà thờ không hề lộ vẻ gì bối rối, lúng túng cả.

“Cha sở trước đây cũng đã biết chuyện này, thưa cha”, Albert Edward đáp. “Cha ấy nói điều đó chẳng hề chi. Cha luôn luôn nói rằng thiên hạ ngày nay biết quá nhiều chữ nghĩa, không hợp với sở thích của cha”.

“Đây là điều đáng kinh ngạc nhất mà tôi chưa hề được nghe thấy bao giờ”, vị trưởng viện thốt lên. “Có phải ông đã làm thầy quản nhà thờ này 16 năm trời mà chưa bao giờ học đọc, học viết không?”

“Tôi bắt đầu đi làm hồi tôi 12 tuổi, thưa cha. Thoạt đầu, một người đầu bếp cố dạy tôi học, nhưng hình như tôi không có năng khiếu học hành, thế rồi hết việc này tiếp đến việc khác, tôi không còn có thời giờ nữa. Mà tôi cũng chưa bao giờ thực sự thấy có nhu cầu cần phải học cả. Tôi cho rằng nhiều người trong đám thanh niên ngày nay lãng phí quá nhiều thời gian vào việc đọc sách vô bổ, trong khi họ có thể làm những việc khác có ích hơn”.

“Thế ông không muốn biết tin tức à?” một vị uỷ viên quản lý lên tiếng hỏi. “Ông không bao giờ thấy cần phải viết một bức thư ư?”

“Không ạ, thưa ngài, tôi vẫn phấn đấu làm tốt mọi việc mà chẳng cần chữ nghĩa gì cả. Và những năm gần đây cho tới giờ, người ta đăng đầy hình ảnh trên các báo chí, chỉ cần xem những hình ảnh đó là tôi có thể biết được khá rõ những gì đang diễn ra. Nhà tôi là một người được học hành; nếu tôi muốn viết một bức thư, bà ấy lại viết giúp tôi. Tôi có cá cược gì đâu mà cần đến chữ nghĩa”.

Hai vị uỷ viên bối rối liếc nhìn vị cha sở, rồi cùng cúi gằm xuống bàn.

“Thế này nhé, ông Foreman ạ, tôi đã trao đổi kỹ vấn đề này với các vị đây và cả hai đều hoàn toàn nhất trí với tôi rằng tình hình như vậy là không ổn, không thể được. Tại một giáo đường như Nhà thờ Thánh Peter, Quảng trường Neville, chúng tôi không thể để có tình trạng một thầy quản không biết đọc biết viết được”.

Khuôn mặt gầy, tai tái của Albert Edward bỗng đỏ bừng, ông cảm thấy khó chịu trên đôi chân của ông, nhưng ông vẫn không đáp lại.

“Thông cảm với tôi, ông Foreman, tôi không có gì phàn nàn về ông cả. Ông hoàn thành công việc của mình rất xuất sắc. Tôi đánh giá cao nhất về cả tính cách lẫn năng lực của ông; nhưng chúng tôi không có quyền cho phép mình liều lĩnh, nhỡ có chuyện gì đó có thể xảy ra do tình trạng mù chữ đáng tiếc của ông gây nên thì nguy to. Đây vừa là vấn đề cẩn trọng vừa là nguyên tắc nữa”.

“Thế ông không thể học được à, ông Foreman?” vị trưởng viện hỏi.

“Không ạ, thưa cha, tôi e rằng tôi không thể học được, nhất là vào lúc này. Cha thấy đấy, tôi không còn trẻ như xưa kia nữa, và nếu như hồi còn trẻ tôi đã không thể nhét chữ vào đầu mình, thì bây giờ chắc tôi khó có thể học được”.

“Chúng tôi không muốn đối xử khắt khe với ông, ông Foreman ạ”, cha sở nói. “Nhưng tôi và hai vị uỷ viên quản lý đây đã quyết định rồi. Chúng tôi sẽ cho ông 3 tháng để học, và cuối thời gian 3 tháng đó, nếu ông vẫn không đọc và viết được, thì tôi e rằng ông sẽ phải thôi việc”.

Trước đây, Albert Edward không hề ưa vị cha sở mới này. Ông cho rằng người ta đã phạm một sai lầm khi họ bổ nhiệm ông ta về Nhà thờ Thánh Peter. Vì ông ta không phải là “típ” người mà họ mong muốn với một giáo đoàn quý phái, sang trọng như thế này. Giờ đây, Albert Edward ưỡn thẳng người. Ông biết giá trị của mình và ông sẽ không cho phép mình bị người khác o ép. “Tôi rất lấy làm tiếc, thưa cha. Tôi e rằng như thế không ổn. Tôi đã có tuổi rồi, không thể học hành được nữa. Tôi đã sống bao nhiêu năm nay mà không cần biết đọc, biết viết. Tôi cũng không muốn ngợi ca mình; tự khen là điều không nên. Nhưng tôi không ngại nói rằng tôi đã hoàn thành nhiệm vụ của mình trong trạng thái mà ý Chúa đã đặt tôi trong đó; cho dù bây giờ tôi có khả năng học được đi chăng nữa, thì tôi cũng không biết là tôi có còn muốn học nữa hay không”.

“Trong trường hợp đó, ông Foreman à, tôi e rằng ông sẽ phải ra đi thôi”.

“Vâng, thưa cha, tôi hiểu rất rõ điều đó. Tôi rất vui được làm điều đó, ngay khi cha tìm được người thế chân tôi, tôi sẽ xin nghỉ ngay”.

Tuy vậy, khi Albert Edward đóng cửa, với thái độ lễ phép thường lệ, sau lưng cha sở và hai vị uỷ viên quản lý, ông không còn giữ được cái vẻ thản nhiên điềm tĩnh mà ông đã thể hiện lúc đột nhiên ông bị giáng một đòn chí mạng nữa, giờ đây đôi môi ông run lên. Ông chậm rãi quay trở lại phòng áo lễ rồi treo chiếc áo choàng của ông lên đúng cái móc dành cho nó. Ông thở dài não nuột khi ông nghĩ tới những đám tang lớn, những đám cưới sang trọng mà ông đã từng được chứng kiến. Ông thu dọn mọi thứ, khoác áo, tay cầm mũ, rồi bước xuống lối đi giữa hai hàng ghế. Đoạn ông khoá trái cửa nhà thờ sau lưng ông. Ông đi bộ ngang qua quảng trường, nhưng giữa những ngổn ngang, suy nghĩ buồn rầu, ông đã không đi theo con đường dẫn ông về nhà, nơi có ấm trà đặc, thơm nóng, đang chờ đợi ông, ông đã rẽ nhầm đường. Ông chậm rãi bước dọc theo dãy phố. Trái tim ông nặng trĩu. Ông không biết rồi đây ông sẽ làm gì với chính bản thân ông nữa. Ông không thể hình dung nổi cái ý nghĩ quay trở lại cuộc sống gia đình; sau khi ông làm chủ bản thân ông trong bao nhiêu năm ấy, bởi vì cho dù vị cha sở và các uỷ viên quản lý có thể nói những gì họ muốn đi chăng nữa, nhưng chính ông mới là người thực sự điều hành Nhà thờ Thánh Peter, Quảng trường Neville, cho nên ông khó có thể hạ mình bằng cách chấp nhận tình trạng như vậy. Ông đã tiết kiệm được một món tiền kha khá, nhưng không đủ để cứ dựa vào đó mà sống không cần làm gì cả, trong khi giá sinh hoạt dường như mỗi năm một đắt đỏ hơn. Trước kia ông chưa bao giờ phải bận tâm suy nghĩ đến những vấn đề như vậy. Các thầy quản Nhà thờ Thánh Peter, giống như những đức giáo hoàng của Thành Roma, là những người phụng sự Chúa tại vị suốt đời. Ông vẫn thường mường tượng ra cái cảnh cha sở nhắc đến công lao lâu năm, trung thành và tính cách gương mẫu của ông quản nhà thờ quá cố của họ, ông Quản Albert Edward Foreman, trong bài giảng đạo tại buổi lễ ban chiều ngày Chúa nhật đầu tiên sau khi ông qua đời. Ông lại thở dài não nuột.

Albert Edward là người không hay hút thuốc lá, đồng thời cũng là người tuyệt đối không uống rượu, nhưng chỉ trong một phạm vi nào đó thôi, có nghĩa là ông cũng thích có một cốc bia trong bữa cơm chiều, và khi nào thấm mệt, ông cũng tự cho phép mình được thưởng thức một điếu thuốc lá. Chính lúc này đây, một điếu thuốc có thể an ủi ông, có thể làm cho ông cảm thấy khuây khỏa, mà ông lại không đem theo thuốc bên mình, cho nên ông nhìn quanh xem có hiệu bán thuốc lá nào không để ông mua một bao Gold Flake. Nhưng ông không tìm ra được một cửa hiệu nào gần đó, và vì thế ông lại tiếp tục đi xa hơn chút nữa. Đó là một dãy phố dài, có đủ các loại cửa hàng, cửa hiệu, nhưng tuyệt nhiên không hề có một hiệu nào bán thuốc lá cả.

“Lạ thật!”, Albert Edward thầm thốt lên.

Để bảo đảm cho chắc chắn, ông đi đi lại lại dọc suốt dãy phố ấy một lần nữa. Không, không còn nghi ngờ gì nữa về chuyện này. Ông dừng bước, vừa nhìn quanh vừa suy nghĩ. “Mình không thể là người duy nhất đi dọc con đường dài ngoẵng này muốn có được một điếu thuốc để hút”, ông tự nhủ. “Mình chẳng cần phân vân, hồ nghi gì, nhưng chắc chắn người nào có được một cửa hiệu nho nhỏ ở đây thì kiếm tiền phải biết. Chỉ cần bán thuốc lá và bánh kẹo thôi”.

Ông chợt giật mình.

“Đó là một ý nghĩ hay”, ông tự nhủ. ‘Thật lạ là những ý tưởng hay thường nảy ra trong óc ta khi ta ít ngờ tới nhất”.

Ông quay gót, trở về nhà uống trà.

“Chiều nay, mình có vẻ trầm ngâm, ít nói, Albert”, vợ ông nhận xét.

“Mình đang suy nghĩ”, ông đáp.

Ông cân nhắc, cứu xét đủ mọi góc cạnh của vấn đề, rồi ngày hôm sau ông lại đi dọc theo dãy phố ấy một lần nữa, và may mắn thay, ông tìm thấy một cửa hiệu nhỏ cho thuê, đúng như mong muốn, trong kế hoạch của ông. Hai mươi bốn giờ sau, ông thuê luôn cửa hiệu đó, và một tháng sau ông vĩnh viễn rời Nhà thờ Thánh Peter, Quảng trường Neville. Albert Edward Foreman mở cửa hiệu kinh doanh thuốc lá và bán báo. Vợ ông cho rằng đó là một bước sa cơ, xuống dốc dễ sợ, sau khi đã làm quản Nhà thờ Thánh Peter, nhưng ông đáp ta phải chuyển biến theo thời cuộc, “thời thế, thế thời, thời phải thế”, nhà thờ ngày nay không còn như xưa nữa, và do đó, của thiên ta phải trả địa thôi.

Albert Edward làm ăn rất phát đạt. Ông kiếm được nhiều tới mức sau một năm gì đó, ông chợt nảy ý nghĩ ông có thể thuê thêm một cửa hiệu nữa và mướn người quản lý. Ông tìm kiếm một đường phố dài khác mà không có một hiệu bán thuốc lá nào, và khi đã tìm được rồi, với một cửa hiệu cho thuê, ông thuê liền và mở cửa hàng bán luôn. Cửa hiệu này cũng thành công. Rồi ông lại chợt nảy ý nghĩ, nếu ông có thể quản hai cửa hiệu, thì chắc hẳn ông cũng có thể quản nửa tá cửa hàng, và thế là ông bắt đầu cuộc săn lùng khắp thủ đô Luân-Đôn; bất cứ khi nào ông thấy có một đường phố dài, không có cửa hàng bán thuốc lá, lại có cửa hiệu cho thuê là ông thuê liền. Trong vòng mười năm, ông đã mở có đến một chục cửa hiệu, và công việc kinh doanh của ông hái ra tiền. Cứ mỗi sáng thứ hai hàng tuần, ông lại làm một vòng tới các cửa hiệu của ông, để thu gom số tiền kiếm được trong tuần, rồi đem gửi nhà băng.

Một buổi sáng, khi ông tới ngân hàng để gửi tiền gồm một bọc toàn tiền giấy và một túi nặng đựng toàn tiền đồng, thì người thủ quỹ nói giám đốc ngân hàng muốn gặp ông. Ông được dẫn vào văn phòng và viên giám đốc bắt tay ông.

“Ông Foreman, tôi muốn trao đổi với ông về số tiền ông gửi tại ngân hàng chúng tôi. Ông có biết chính xác số tiền đó lên đến bao nhiêu rồi không?”

“Không chính xác tới từng đồng, thưa ông, nhưng tôi cũng có thể ang áng tổng số tiền ấy của tôi là bao nhiêu”.

“Không kể số tiền ông gửi sáng nay, thì tổng số lên tới hơn ba mươi ngàn bảng Anh rồi. Đó là một khoản tiền rất lớn ký gửi tại ngân hàng; tôi thiết nghĩ ông nên đem số tiền đó đưa vào đầu tư thì hơn”.

“Tôi không muốn liều lĩnh chuốc lấy rủi ro, thưa ông. Tôi biết cứ gửi ngân hàng là an toàn hơn cả”.

“Ông không việc gì phải lăn tăn, lo lắng gì hết. Chúng tôi sẽ chuyển cho ông một danh mục liệt kê toàn những cổ phiếu tuyệt đối an toàn. Chúng sẽ đem lại cho ông một lãi suất cao hơn ngân hàng chúng tôi có thể trả cho ông”.

Một thoáng bối rối hiện trên khuôn mặt quắc thước của ông. “Tôi chưa bao giờ giao dịch có dính dáng đến cổ phiếu với chứng khoán cả; tôi xin gửi gắm tất cả trong tay các ông”, ông nói.

Viên giám đốc ngân hàng mỉm cười. “Chúng tôi xin lo liệu mọi thứ, ông đừng lo. Tất cả những gì mà ông phải làm lần sau ông tới là chỉ phải ký vào các giấy chuyển khoản mà thôi”.

“Tôi có thể làm điều đó được thôi”, Albert nói, giọng không quả quyết lắm. “Nhưng làm thế nào tôi biết được là tôi ký những giấy tờ gì?”

“Tôi cho rằng hẳn ông phải biết đọc chứ”, viên giám đốc ngân hàng nói, có vẻ hơi sẵng giọng một chút.

Ông Foreman mỉm nụ cười hiền hòa, xoa dịu.

“Vâng, thưa ông, chính thế đấy. Vấn đề là ở chỗ ấy đấy. Tôi không biết đọc. Tôi biết, chuyện này nghe có vẻ hơi khôi hài, nhưng thực tế là như vậy đấy. Tôi không biết đọc mà cũng chẳng biết viết, chỉ ký mỗi tên tôi thôi, mà tôi cũng chỉ học ký mỗi tên tôi khi tôi bước vào kinh doanh”.

Viên giám đốc ngạc nhiên tới mức ông ta nhổm ngay dậy khỏi ghế ông ta đang ngồi.

“Đây là chuyện lạ đời nhất mà tôi chưa từng nghe thấy bao giờ”.

“Ông thấy đấy, thưa ông, vấn đề là như thế này, tôi không có cơ hội được học hành cho tới khi đã quá muộn và rồi tôi cũng không muốn học nữa. Tôi có hơi cứng đầu cứng cổ, bướng bỉnh tí chút thôi”.

Viên giám đốc trân trân nhìn ông, như thể ông là một con quái vật thời tiền sử vậy.

“Ý ông muốn nói rằng ông đã xây dựng cả cái cơ ngơi kếch xù này, gom góp được cả một gia tài ba mươi ngàn bảng Anh, mà lại không biết đọc biết viết gì, có đúng thế không ạ? Lạy Chúa lòng lành, ông ơi, nếu như ông biết đọc, biết viết thì giờ đây ông đã làm nên đến gì rồi nhỉ?”.

“Tôi có thể trả lời cho ông biết ngay, thưa ông”, ông Foreman nói, mỉm nụ cười trên khuôn mặt vẫn còn nét quý tộc của ông. “Tôi sẽ làm thầy quản giáo đường của Nhà thờ Thánh Peter, Quảng trường Neville, thế thôi!”

--------------------

Somerset Maugham's story "The Verger" describes a simple, unlettered man who worked as a cathedral custodian. The bishop was a kind and wonderful man who appreciated the ways that the verger served and made life easier for the clergy. But one day a new bishop was appointed who was annoyed that he could not leave notes about work that needed to be done, because the verger was illiterate.

The bishop spoke harshly to the verger and mistreated him. One day, he insisted that the verger learn to read and write. Since his job depended on the whim of his superior, he went to night school but did not succeed, and the bishop fired him.

To support his family, the verger sold newspapers on the streets. He developed a following of faithful customers who enjoyed his warm greeting and refreshing banter. Soon he saved enough money to purchase a broken-down newsstand where he could sell magazines and candy as well as newspapers. As time passed, he prospered and purchased other newsstands until he became quite wealthy and a respected businessman.

When he retired, he sold his business. At the attorney's office, he signed the contract for the sale with his characteristic "X" since he had never mastered written language. "You are quite remarkable," the attorney stated. "You managed to build this successful business from nothing in spite of the fact that you cannot read or write. Think of where you might have been if you had learned those skills."

"I know exactly where I'd be," the man replied. "I would still be a verger."

If, the pivotal word in Maugham's story, conveys irony, but plays a different but important role in this week's Torah portion, Behukotai: "If you follow My laws and faithfully observe My commandments..." (Leviticus 26:3). Here, the word if establishes a conditional relationship between obedience and reward. This casuistic text highlights a fundamental doctrine of Bible theology: If Israel observes God's commandments, then "I will grant your rains in their season, so the earth shall yield its produce and the trees of the field their fruit. Your threshing shall overtake the vintage, and your vintage shall overtake the sowing; you shall eat your fill of bread and dwell securely in your land. I will grant peace in the land..." (Leviticus 26:2-4).

Focusing on the casuistic nature of the word if, Jewish theologian Mordecai Kaplan suggested that Judaism is neither pessimistic nor optimistic, but rather, it is "ifistic." History has taught Jews to take an active role in securing their future. If Jews play an active role in their destiny, then they will reap the rewards of freedom, liberty and independence.

But some utilize this word only to express regret: "If only I had done this," living with the "should haves," "could haves," "would haves," and "if onlys" of their lives. Kaplan said that Judaism is ifistic because he believed that when presented with choice, with a list of possibilities, Jews do best not to sit, wait for action or lament what could have been or even what was. In place of a passive role in history, Kaplan urges Jews to take an active role that empowers Jews to look toward the future rather than wallow in the pity of an unhappy past.

If is a powerful word when it animates and motivates. If, for example, we want to find a deeper sense of spirituality, then we must begin a search. If we do not want to feel apart from the Jewish community, then we have to join in the activities of a synagogue and other cultural and social institutions. If we want to harvest the fruits of our labors, then we have to plant seeds with care. If, the first word of Behukotai, is a powerful word that instructs a student of Torah how to be empowered.

Analysis of "The verger" by William Somerset Maugham. (Text of story in Vietnamese).

Document Details

Author Type Student
Word Count 5747
Page Count 10
Level International Baccalaureate
Subject World Literature
Type of work Homework assignment

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The Verger Questions Answers Class 12 |Summary AHSEC

The verger questions and answers class 12 book alternative English ahsec . All the textual question answers of the verger are written here and also get the verger summary and critical analysis , ncert solution with verger comprehension questions. This lesson is written by William Somerset Maugham.

Table of Content

1. Summary

2. Textual Question Answer

3. Previous year's paper Solutions

The verger summary

Albert Edward Foreman was the verger (i.e. an official who acts as a caretaker and attendant in a church) of St. Peter's, Neville Square. That afternoon there had been a christening at the church. Foreman was still wearing this verger's gown. He had on his second-best dress as he kept the new one for funerals and weddings. Foreman always wore this official gown with much complacency as it was the dignified symbol of his office. Without it, he felt somewhat insufficiently dressed. He loved his official gown so much that he stocked all the old gowns that he had used during his service as a verger. When they were worn out, he neatly wrapped them up in brown paper and kept them in the bottom drawers of the wardrobe in his bedroom.

When the christening was over the verger busied himself quietly with his works. He replaced the wooden cover on the marble font and took away a chair that had been brought for an infirm old lady. Then he waited for the vicar to finish off his work. This vicar was newly appointed. He was a red-faced energetic man in his early forties. Albert Edward still missed the former vicar, a clergyman of the old school who preached leisurely sermons in a silvery voice. He never complained about the things in the church. He liked things the way they were. But the new vicar was quite different from the former one. He wanted to have his finger in every pie. But Albert Edward was tolerant. The neighborhood of St. Peter's was very good. The parishioners (i.e. the people who attend the church) of the church were a very nice class of people. The new vicar had come from the East End and he could not be expected to get adjusted at once to the discreet ways of his fashionable congregation. Albert hoped that the new vicar would learn with time.

The vicar had a walk down the aisle and asked the verger to meet him in the vestry. The verger accompanied the vicar to the vestry. Edward was surprised to find the two churchwardens there. Being sight uneasy Albert Edward wondered what the matter was. The vicar told Albert Edward that he was quite surprised to discover that he (Albert) could neither read nor write. He further said that he had no complaint to make against Albert Edward. He had been doing his work quite satisfactorily, and he had the highest opinion both of his character and of his capacity. But still, he could not have an illiterate verger at a church like St. Peter's Neville Square. The vicar asked Edward Albert whether he could learn now. He would give him three months' time to learn to read and write, and if he fails to do so within this time he would have to leave his job. Edward Albert told the vicar that at this age it was not possible for him to learn; he had lived a good many years doing his duty without knowing how to, read and write. So the verger told the vicar that he would be happy to hand in his resignation as soon as they find someone to take his place.

After that Edward came out walking along the street with a heavy heart. He felt like having a cigarette, though he was not a regular smoker. He looked about him for a shop where he could buy a packet of Gold Flakes. But he did not find a single shop selling cigarettes on that long street. He thought that if he opened a shop of cigarettes there he could really do well. So he discussed the matter with his wife and left the job of verger; and opened a cigarette shop on that street. His business did very well and in a course of ten years, he opened ten shops on different streets in London. Albert was making money hand over fist. Every Monday he deposited the week's earnings in the bank. One day the manager of the bank advised Foreman to invest the money which was a little over thirty thousand pounds. He even assured that the bank would help Foreman to choose the securities, only he would have to sign the transfer. But when Foreman asked the manager how would he know what he was signing, the manager replied that of course, he could read the papers. Foreman disclosed that he was an illiterate man, neither he could write nor read. Hearing this, the manager was taken aback. He was shocked to know that a man who could have a mass fortune of thirty thousand pounds was an illiterate man.

The verger questions answer class 12

A. answer the following question in one or two words.

1. Where was St. Peter's Church located? Ans: St. Peter's Church was located at Neville Square .

2. What was the name of the verger of St. Peter's Church? Ans: The name of the verger of St. Peter's Church was Albert Edward Foreman.

3. Who were in the vestry besides the verger and the vicar? Ans: Besides the verger and the vicar, the two Churchwardens were in the vestry.

4. At what age did the verger begin working? Ans: At the age of twelve.

5. What did the verger want to buy while walking in the street? Ans: While walking on the street the verger wanted to buy a packet of Gold Flake cigarettes.

B. Answer the following question in a few words.

1. What was the discovery that astonished the vicar? (2017) Ans: The discovery that astonished the vicar was that Albert Edward Foreman who served the Prestigious St. Peter's Church could neither read nor write.

2. What occupation did the verger take up after resigning from the church? Ans: After resigning from the church, the verger took up the profession of tobacconist and newsagent.

3. What impression did the verger have about the new vicar? Ans: The verger did not have a good impression of the new vicar as he was fussy and wanted to have his finger in every pie. The verger could not appreciate the new vicar from East End but felt that he would take some time to fall in with the discreet ways of the fashionable congregation of St. Peter's Church.

4. How did the verger treat his grown? (2016, 18, 19, 20, 22) Ans: The verger treated his gowns with much care, pride, and dignity. He wore his gowns with complacency as it was the dignified symbol of his office. He took pains with it, pressed it, and ironed it himself. He even preserved the old worn-out gowns, wrapped neatly up in brown paper, and kept them in the bottom drawers of the wardrobe in his bedroom.

5. What was the verger told by the vicar in the vestry? Ans: In the vestry, the vicar told the verger that he had something unpleasant to say to him. The vicar admitted that the verger had accomplished the duties of the office to the satisfaction of everybody concerned. But he was astonished to find the verger to be an illiterate person. In that case, the verger could not be allowed to continue his job in a prestigious church like St. Peter's. Hence, as the vicar said, the verger must learn to read and write within three months or leave his office.

C. Answer the following question briefly in your own words.

1. What thoughts came to the verger's mind as he sat in the vestry with the vicar and the churchwardens? How did the verger react to the vicar's announcement? Ans: As the verger sat in the vestry with the vicar and the churchwardens, he wondered with slight uneasiness what could be the matter. He noted that the two churchwardens were sitting at the handsome refectory table and he recalled that the table had been bought by the earlier vicar from Italy. He realized that something was bothering the vicar and the two churchwardens. The troubled look of the two churchwardens led the verger to think that the vicar had been nagging them and might have jockeyed them into doing something they did not like it.

The vicar made the announcement that an illiterate verger like Albert Edward Foreman could not be allowed to continue his job in a prestigious church like St. Peter's. Hence the verger must learn to read and write within three months or leave his office. At this, the verger was not at all embarrassed, rather he reacted with confidence. He bluntly expressed his inability to learn reading and writing at this age as he was too old a dog to learn new tricks. Hence he happily offered his resignation saying "as soon as you've found somebody to take my place".

2. In your opinion, what kind of person was the verger? Ans: In my opinion, Albert Edward, was a very confident man. He was quite sure of himself. Even when the vicar told him that he had to leave the job of verger if he did not learn to read and write within three months, he did not feel shattered. Rather he told him that he would not be able to learn to read and write at this old age and that he happily offered his resignation saying "as soon as they found somebody to take his place".

The verger was also a man of great business acumen and common sense. He decided to open a cigarette shop in a street with a shop selling cigarettes, which made him a successful businessman.

3. "The manager stared at him as though he were a prehistoric monster". i. Who is the 'he' referred to in the question? Ans: The 'he' referred to here is Albert Edward Foreman who was once the verger of St. Peter's church and is now a successful businessman.

ii. Explain what made the manager stare at that person. Ans: Being sacked from the job of the verger, Albert Edward Foreman set up a business as a tobacconist and newsagent and in a course of ten years he owned ten shops. He began making money hand over fist. Every Monday he deposited the week's earnings in the bank. One day the manager of the bank advised Foreman to invest the money which was a little over thirty thousand pounds. He even assured that the bank would help Foreman to choose the securities, only he would have to sign the transfer. But when Foreman asked the manager how would he know what he was signing, the manager replied that of course, he could read the papers. Foreman disclosed that he was an illiterate man, neither he could write nor read. Hearing this, the manager was taken aback. He was shocked to know that a man who could a mass fortune of thirty thousand pounds was an illiterate man. That is why the manager stared at Foreman as though he were a prehistoric monster.

D. Give suitable answers to the following.

1. Character sketch of the verger. Ans: William Somerset Maugham has portrayed the character of the verger. Albert Edward Foreman though an illiterate person served as the verger of St. Peter's Neville Square for 16 years. He began his life as a page boy at the age of twelve in the house of a merchant prince. He then rose from fourth to the first footman and later he had been single-handed butler to a widowed peeress. And before being appointed at St. Peter's, Foreman was a butler with two men under him in a retired ambassador's house.

Albert Edward Foreman was a man of confidence and self-respecting nature. When the vicar discovers that the verger could neither read nor write and instruct him to learn reading and writing within three months or leave the job of the verger, he did not feel shattered. Rather he told him that he would not be able to learn to read and write at this old age and that he happily offered his resignation.

Albert Edward Foreman was a realistic and proud man with great business acumen and common sense.

2. Narrate the circumstances under which the verger had to lose his job in St. Peter's church. Ans: Albert Edward Foreman served St. Peter's church as a verger for sixteen years. He accomplished the duties of the office to the satisfaction of everybody concerned. Everything was going on smoothly until the new vicar came.

The new vicar was an educated man. When he came to know that the verger was an illiterate man he was shocked. So, one afternoon the vicar asked the verger to come to the vestry. In the vestry, the verger wondered with slight uneasiness what could be the matter as he found the two churchwardens already sitting there with the vicar. The troubled look of the two churchwardens led the verger to think that the vicar had been nagging them and might have jockeyed them into doing something against their will while he was wondering about the situation, the vicar told the verger that he had something unpleasant to say to him. The vicar admitted that the verger had accomplished the duties of the office to the satisfaction of everybody concerned. But he was astonished to find the verger to be an illiterate person. In that case, the verger could not be allowed to continue his job in a prestigious church like St. Peter's. Hence, as the vicar said, the verger must learn to read and write within three months or leave his office. But the verger refused to take the offer and preferred to resign believing that it was too late now to learn.

It was under these circumstances the verger had to lose his job in St. Peter's church.

Previous Years Paper Notes

English class 12 chapter summary

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Short Story the Verger

Filed Under: Essays Tagged With: English

Essay on the short story “The Verger” by Somerset Maugham

The short story “The Verger” is an example of how a person can be successful en life even though he is illiterate. Anyway, he makes a good use of his creativity. What is more important is how to uses our knowledge correctly. This story was wrote by “William Somerset Maugham, was a British novelist and short story writer, he was among the most popular writer of his era and ones of the highest paid author during 1930. He born in 1874 in France, and died in 1965, by the aged of 91, in France”. (Wikipedia)

The verger is about Albert Edward Foreman, who has been the verger of St. Peter’s Neville Square for sixteen year. One day when a new vicar comes to ST. Peter’s and finds out that Foreman is illiterate, the vicar talk whit him but Foreman is refuses to learn, so the new vicar feels he has no choice but to fire him. When Foreman is coming back home back, lonely and sad, he wants to buy some cigarette but he realize that there no shops around and thinks it will be a good idea to open one. When he comes home, talks about it with his wife, and the next day go back and find a place to rent and set up in business as a tobacconist and newsagent. After a year he opens another shop. In the course of 10 years he is the owner of about ten shops around London. One day Foreman goes to the bank, and the manager recommends that he can invest his money, but when he has to sign a contract, the manager realize that Foreman is illiterate. He is so surprise that he ask Foreman what he would be now if he was able to read and write, Foreman told him he would be the verger of St Peter’s Neville Square.

The Term Paper on Narrative Technique Hemingway Stories Short

Analysis of Hemingway's Narrative Technique as a Short- Story Writer For many years, the narrative technique of Hemingway has been under debate. Writers before him had already achieved works that bear the characteristics of the modern short story, and many of their works could stand today, with those of Hemingway and of writers like Faulkner, as representative short stories of modern times. What ...

The author makes uses of the omniscient third person, because it have free access to felling, thoughts and motivation of each character, and do not interfere in any point of the story.

The clearest setting of this short story is the place, is takes place in London. I can say that the type of conflict is internal, because the character struggles against the circumstances of life faced him (Man Vs. circumstances).

By the end of this story we can find irony, when our character realize what would happened in his life if he had accepted the proposal of the new vicar, he would not be the men who is now.

The main character of this story is a man call Albert Edward Foreman; this person is illiterate but creativity. He is married; he loves his job as a verger. Although he fire from his job, he is determined not to learn read and write because he cannot see the use of this to do his job. Three words characterized his personality: Tact, firmness and self-assurance.

I believe that the message of this amazing short story can be: Believe in yourself, because when Foreman thinks that everything in his life is lost, he fined a new style of life and the way to start again. Another important message is does not matter how literate you are, what is important is to know how to use your opportunities.

Romero, Marta Adriana

2° Año Prof de Ingles IESA

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Class 12 Alternative English Chapter 3 The Verger

Class 12 Alternative English Chapter 3 The Verger Question answer to each chapter is provided in the list so that you can easily browse through different chapters Assam Board HS Class 12 Alternative English Chapter 3 The Verger and select needs one.

Also, you can read the SCERT book online in these sections Solutions by Expert Teachers as per SCERT ( CBSE ) Book guidelines. These solutions are part of SCERT All Subject Solutions . Here we have given Assam Board Class 12 Alternative English Chapter 3 The Verger Solutions for All Subject, You can practice these here.

PROSE ( Section One )

TEXTUAL QUESTION & ANSWERS

A. State whether these sentences are True or False.

1. Albert Edward was a habitual smoker.

Ans: False.

2. Albert Edward was a very particular about his gowns.

3. The churchwardens were young men.

4. The verger learnt to read and write only upon entering into business.

B. Answer these questions in one or two words.

1. For how long had the verger been at St Peter’s?

Ans: For sixteen years.

2. In the course of how many years did Albert Edward own ten shops?

Ans: Ten years.

3. From where did the new vicar hail?

Ans: East End.

4. How much money did Albert Edward have at the bank?

Ans: Thirty thousand pounds.

5. Which brand of cigarettes did the verger want to buy?

Ans: Gold Flake.

6. How much time did the new vicar propose to give the verger to learn reading and writing?

Ans: Three months.

C. Answer these questions in a sentence or two.

1. What did Albert Edward do before he became the verger at St Peter’s?

Ans: The Verger was a page boy in the house of a merchant prince, for a year he served as a single handed butler to a widowed peeress. Then he worked as a butler with two men under him in the house of a retired ambassador and finally he joined St. Peter’s church as a Verger.

2. What did the new vicar discover?

Ans: The new vicar discovered that the verger was illiterate man and was unable to read or write.

3. What is the opinion of the verger regarding the new vicar?

Ans: The verger did not like the new vicar. He thought that the new vicar wanted to control everything according to his own way. The verger regretted his predecessor because the new vicar always wanted to rule every activity of the church.

4. What does the bank manager suggest to Albert Edward?

Ans: The bank manager suggested to Albert Edward that he should invest his money as he had saved a large amount in the bank.

D. Answer these questions briefly.

1. What was the condition put forth by the new vicar to the verger?

Ans: The condition laid down before the Verger by the vicar and the two church wardens was that the Verger must learn letters within three months. Failing to do so, he would lose his job as they could not take the risk of some accident caused due to his lamentable ignorance.

2. Briefly describe the verger’s attitude towards his gowns.

Ans: The Verger was very much fond of his gowns as he considered them dignified symbol of his office. He had never thrown away his old gowns rather he kept them in the bottom drawer of his wardrobe. He used to wrap them in a brown paper. He had a succession of such old gowns, in a complete series.

3. Explain the significance of the following sentence: ‘The vergers of St Peter’s like the Popes of Rome, were there for life’.

Ans: The sentence, “The vergers of St Peter’s like the Popes of Rome, were there for life,” carries significant meaning within the context of the story. The sentence draws a parallel between the vergers of St Peter’s (referring to the church in the story) and the Popes of Rome, who are known for their lifelong tenure. By comparing the two, the sentence elevates the importance and permanence of the verger position. It suggests that being a verger at St Peter’s is a prestigious role, akin to the prestigious and esteemed position of the Pope. The phrase “were there for life” implies that the vergers of St Peter’s committed themselves to the position for their entire lives.

This highlights the dedication and loyalty expected from the vergers, emphasizing their unwavering service and attachment to the church. It further suggests that this commitment is highly valued and esteemed within the church’s traditions. The sentence also indicates a sense of permanence and stability within the institution of the church. Just as the Popes of Rome are known for their lifelong leadership, the verger position is portrayed as a stable, long-term role. This notion aligns with the traditional and unchanging nature often associated with religious institutions, where positions and roles are seen as enduring and resistant to change.

4. How did the manager react upon his discovery that Mr Foreman could neither read nor write?

Ans: In “The Verger” by W. Somerset Maugham, the story revolves around Albert Foreman, a dedicated verger (caretaker of a church) who is dismissed from his job because he cannot read or write. The manager’s reaction to this discovery is not explicitly described in the story, but we can speculate based on the circumstances.

Considering the time period and societal norms when the story was written (1930s), it is likely that the manager would have been shocked or surprised upon learning that Mr. Foreman lacked basic literacy skills. In those days, literacy was considered an essential requirement for most jobs, and the inability to read or write would have been seen as a significant limitation. The manager might have felt a mixture of disappointment, disbelief, and even frustration because Mr. Foreman had been a dedicated employee who had served the church faithfully for many years.

5. Briefly describe the career of Albert Edward.

Ans: In “The Verger” by W. Somerset Maugham, Albert Edward, commonly known as Albert Foreman, is the central character whose career is depicted in the story. Albert is the Verger of St Peter’s Church in Neville Square, London. Albert’s career as being verger spans over sixteen years. During which he faithfully serves the church. He takes pride in his work and is diligent in his duties, maintaining the church premises, overseeing weddings, funerals, and other religious ceremonies. Albert’s commitment and attention to detail earn him a good reputation among the parishioners. However, his career takes an unexpected turn when he discovers that his lack of literacy, the inability to read or write, is deemed unacceptable by the church authorities. The manager dismisses him from his position as the verger due to this perceived deficiency, despite Albert’s long and dedicated service. After being dismissed, Albert refuses to let his lack of education hinder him. He capitalizes on his knowledge of the tobacco business and opens a successful tobacconist’s shop, demonstrating his resourcefulness and ability to adapt to new opportunities outside the church. In summary, Albert Edward, or Albert Foreman, has a devoted career as the verger of St Peter’s Church before his dismissal due to his illiteracy. The story highlights his resilience and entrepreneurial spirit as he transitions into a new chapter of his life.

E. Answer these questions in detail.

1. Describe, in detail, how Albert Edward lost the job of the verger at St Peter’s.

Ans: Albert Edward Foreman served St. Peter’s church as a verger for sixteen years. He accomplished the duties of the office to the satisfaction of everybody concerned. Everything was going on smoothly until the new vicar came.

The new vicar was an educated man. When he came to know that the verger was an illiterate man he was shocked. So, one afternoon the vicar asked the verger to come to the vestry. In the vestry, the verger wondered with slight uneasiness what could be the matter as he found the two churchwardens already sitting there with the vicar. The troubled look of the two churchwardens led the verger to think that the vicar had been nagging them and might have jockeyed them into doing something against their will while he was wondering about the situation, the vicar told the verger that he had something unpleasant to say to him. The vicar admitted that the verger had accomplished the duties of the office to the satisfaction of everybody concerned. But he was astonished to find the verger to be an illiterate person. In that case, the verger could not be allowed to continue his job in a prestigious church like St. Peter’s. Hence, as the vicar said, the verger must learn to read and write within three months or leave his office. But the verger refused to take the offer and preferred to resign believing that it was too late now to learn.

2. Would you consider that the new vicar’s chance discovery of Foreman’s illiteracy was a blessing in disguise for the verger? Write a persuasive answer.

Ans: Yes, the new vicar’s chance discovery of Foreman’s illiteracy can be considered a blessing in disguise for the verger.

Here are some persuasive arguments to support this viewpoint:

(a) Opportunity for Personal Growth: Foreman’s illiteracy, which led to his dismissal as the verger, initially seems like a setback. However, it becomes a catalyst for personal growth. His forced departure from the church compels him to explore new avenues and challenges him to overcome his limitations. This opportunity allows him to tap into his entrepreneurial spirit and open a successful tobacconist’s shop. Through this new venture, Foreman not only achieves financial success but also gains a sense of independence and fulfilment that he might not have experienced while working as a verger.

(b) Liberation from Conventional Constraints: Foreman’s illiteracy, which was deemed unacceptable by the church authorities, actually liberates him from the constraints of traditional employment. The dismissal opens doors to a world beyond the church, where his skills, resourcefulness, and work ethic can flourish in new ways. As a tobacconist, Foreman can utilize his knowledge and expertise in a field that suits his strengths. This newfound freedom allows him to control his own destiny, pursue his own ambitions, and build a prosperous life on his terms.

(c) Unleashing Hidden Potential: Foreman’s illiteracy, while initially perceived as a limitation, ultimately unveils his hidden potential. Had he remained as the verger, he might have continued in his comfortable yet limited role without exploring his untapped talents and aspirations. The unexpected turn of events pushes him out of his comfort zone, compelling him to discover and utilize his entrepreneurial abilities. This newfound path allows Foreman to thrive and showcases his resilience, adaptability, and ability to overcome challenges.

(d) Happiness and Fulfilment: The shift from being a verger to becoming a successful tobacconist brings Foreman a sense of happiness and fulfilment that might have eluded him otherwise. By pursuing a career that aligns with his passions and skills, Foreman experiences a deeper satisfaction in his work and personal life. The journey he embarks on, propelled by the discovery of his illiteracy, and leads him to a life of contentment and accomplishment that he might not have found within the confines of the church.

In conclusion, the new vicar’s chance discovery of Foreman’s illiteracy, although initially viewed as a setback, ultimately becomes a blessing in disguise. It opens doors to new opportunities, frees Foreman from traditional constraints, uncovers his hidden potential, and allows him to find happiness and fulfilment in a new career path. Foreman’s journey exemplifies the power of embracing unexpected changes and turning them into catalysts for personal growth and success.

ADDITIONAL QUESTION & ANSWERS

A. Very Short Answer Type Question:

1. Who is the author of the prose piece, “The Verger”

Ans: William Somerset Mangham is the author of the prose piece “The Verger”.

2. Who is the Verger in the lesson?

Ans: Albert Edward Foreman is the Verger in the lesson.

3. Where does the Verger work?

Ans: The Verger worked at St. Peter’s church at Neville Square.

4. Where is St. peter’s church located?

Ans: St. Peter’s church is located at Neville Square.

5. What was the occasion that particular afternoon?

Ans: That afternoon there had been a christening at St. Peter’s church.

6. What was the Verger’s gown made of?

Ans: The Verger’s gown was made up of alpaca.

7. Who were the people that frequented St. Peter’s, Neville Square?

Ans: The people that frequented St. Peter’s church.

8. For how long had the verger been working at St. Peter’s?

Ans: The Verger had been working for last sixteen years at St. Peter’s church.

9. What is a vestry?

Ans: Vestry is a room attached to a church or chapel used for keeping vestments, vessels and records.

10. Where had the new vicar come from?

Ans: The new vicar had come from the East End.

B. Short Answer Type Question:

1. How do fact and fiction work in Maugham’s work?

Ans: In Maugham’s work fact and fiction are so inter mingled that one could hardly distinguish one from other. The intensely close relationship between the fictional and the real became a characteristics traits in his work.

2. On what occasions did the verger use his new gown?

Ans: The verger used his new gowns for funerals and weddings. He used his second best for christening and other ceremonies. He wore it with complacence as it was the dignified symbol of his office.

3. How did the verger regard his official dress?

Ans: On the Verger regarded his official dress as the dignified symbol of his office. Without it he had the sensation of being somewhat insufficiently clad.

4. On the day of the christening, what did the verger compliment the new video on?

Ans: The day of the christening, what did the verger compliment the new vicar that it was a very nice christening. Even the baby stopped crying when the vicar look him and settled him in the crook of his surpliced arm.

5. Who were awaiting the verger and the vicar in the vestry?

Ans: In the vestry, two church wardens who were elderly men, were awaiting the verger and the vicar.

6. How long had the two church wardens been there at St.

Ans: The two church wardens had been there almost as long as Albert Edward had been verger, ie. They had been there for last sixteen years.

7. Who had brought in the handsome refectory table at the church and from where?

Ans: The old vicar had brought in the handsome refectory table at the church. He had brought it from Italy.

8. What was the expression on the face of the two church wardens and the vicar?

Ans: The vicar’s red face bore an expression of resolute benignity while the two church warden’s face bore an expression that was slightly troubled.

9. Where did the verger head to after his meeting with the two church wardens?

Ans: After his meeting with the two church wardens, Albert Edward walked slowly back to the vestry and hung up his gown. Then he walked down the aisle and locked the church door behind him. But deep in his thought he took the wrong street.

10. How much time is offered to the verger to learn his letters?

Ans: The vicar offered three months time to the verger to learn his letters and if at the end of that time he could not read and write then he would loose his post of verger.

11. Why didn’t Albert Foreman want to go back to doing domestic service?

Ans: Albert Foreman did not want to go back to doing domestic service because he had been his own master for so many years and had run St. Peter’s Neville Square as a Verger. So he could not demean himself by going back to domestic service.

12. What was Albert Foreman looking for in the street where he mistakenly ventured into? Did he find it there?

Ans: Albert Edward Foreman had been looking for a shop in the street where he could buy a packet of Gold Flakes. No he did not find it there.

13. What idea came to Albert Foreman’s mind as he walked along the street looking for cigarettes?

Ans: While walking along the street looking for cigarettes, Albert Edward Foreman did not get it. He found it very strange and thought that he could not be the only man walking along that street and wanted a fag. So he had an idea to start a little shop there of tobacco and sweets.

14. What business did Albert Foreman set up and where?

Ans: Albert Edward Foreman set up in business as a tobacconist and news agent. He set up business of tobacco and sweets. He started it in a long street where there were no tobacconist.

15. What was the reaction of Albert Foreman’s wife to his new venture?

Ans: Albert Edward Foreman wife did not like his new venture. As per her it was a dreadful come down after being verger of St. Peter’s.

16. Why did the manager of the bank want to see Albert Foreman?

Ans: The Verger was making money hand over fist and kept the money in bank. So the manager of the bank wanted to meet the verger to talk with him about the money he had deposited in the bank. He also wanted to suggest him to invest his money as he had saved a large amount in the bank.

17. What did the manager suggest Albert Foreman?

Ans: The manager suggested Albert Foreman to invest a part of his savings on buying securities which would earn a much higher rate of interest. Albert did not want to take the risk. The manager told him that there was no cause for anxiety as they would make out a list of absolutely gilt-edged securities.

C. Long Answer Type Question:

1. Attempt a character sketch of the verger.

Ans: The Verger Albert Edward Foreman was a simple man. He did his duties with honesty and dedication. He had been the verger of St. Peter’s church for sixteen years, doing all the menial and manual duties. He loved his job and there was no complain about him until a new vicar discovered that he could not read and write. But Verger was a man on his own. When vicar told him to learn the letters failing to do which he would lose his job. The verger maintained his dignity and refused vicar’s proposal. He preferred to resign believing that it was too late to learn. He realised that his illiteracy would never interfere with his duties, Foreman than started a tobacco shop and was amazingly successful. Even the banker was astonished to see his calibre without education. He had no less than ten shops. In fact the verger was a strong man who adopted to his problems by becoming successful businessman. Even he did not aspire for social success and led a simple life, though he had enough money to lead a luxurious life. He realised that he was better off being illiterate. He had little learning but plenty of worldly wisdom obtained through intelligent observation of the world.

Verger had practical thinking dedication and capacity to do hard work which strengthened his position. These were the qualities of verger formed wanting in the vicar.

2. Describe the circumstances under which the verger had to lose his job.

Ans: The verger named Albert Edward Foreman was conscientiously carried out his duties in a church for sixteen years. He had ascended to the respectable office of the verger by dint of his dedicated service and hard labour. With the appointment of the new Vicar the eligibility of the Verger was challenged. One day after christening ceremony the new Vicar, summoned the verger to vestry where two churchwardens were waiting for them. At first vicar praised the verger for his sincerity and capability of doing the work. But then he disregarded long years of his dedicated service on the ground that the verger could not read and write. The new 5 vicar was shocked to know that the verger was illiterate. Albert was shocked but he defended himself by saying that the previous vicar did not mind it, Even he could manage everything without education. But the vicar was resolute. He told the verger that he had no right to take the risk of some accident that might happen due to the verger’s lamentable. ignorance. He asked him if he could not learn. The Verger then divided. The Vicar gave the Verger an option to learn the letters failing to do which he would loose his job. Even the verger was resolute. He refused to accept the offer and preferred to resign believing that it was too late to learn at that stage. So the verger resigned from his respectable office due to lack of education in this way he lost his job.

3. What was Albert Foreman’s reply to the question of the bank manager? What does his answer reflect?

Ans: The verger was making money handover fist and kept the money in bank. The bank manager asked Foreman to invest his money. He asked him that for this he had to sign some papers after going through these papers. Verger told him that he was illiterate, he could only write his name and nothing else. The manager then asked him what he have done if he were educated. To this question, verger replied that in that case he would have been the verger of a church.

This answer reflects the irony of the situation. The irony of the situation. The manager expected Albert to be a greater business man had he been literate. While Foreman knew that in that case he would not have lost his job of verger, so he would have been the verger of St. Peter’s church at Neville Square. He was fired from the church on the ground of his illiteracy.

4. Why was Albert Foreman troubled to hear about stocks and shares?

Ans: Albert Foreman was troubled to hear about stocks and shares because he hesitated to invest his money even though the bank manager assured him absolutely gilt-edged securities. As the verger was quite a Simple man he never had anything to do with stock and shares. Moreover he was illiterate, so he could not read the papers related to share market and he could not know what he was signing. He had to leave it all in bank manager’s hand. All these things related to share and stocks troubled him.

5. What are the positive thoughts that come through in the story, The Verger’?

Ans: In the story ‘The Verger’ Somerset Maugham dealt with the circumstances which could bring a change in one’s life. Albert Edward Foreman, the Verger of St. Peter’s Neville Square lost his job on the ground of illiteracy. He had ascended to the respectable office of the verger by dint of his hard labour and dedicated service. Though he lost his job, he set up himself as a tobacconist and amassed a large fortune. The story how practical thinking, dedication and hard work go a long way in strengthening one’s position. The verger was a strong man who adopted to his problem and set up a business empire. In crisis a person must not give up rather he should labour hard with dedication. Little learning but plenty of wordily wisdom obtained through intelligent observation of the world could pave the way to success.

Hi, I’m Dev Kirtonia, Founder & CEO of Dev Library. A website that provides all SCERT, NCERT 3 to 12, and BA, B.com, B.Sc, and Computer Science with Post Graduate Notes & Suggestions, Novel, eBooks, Biography, Quotes, Study Materials, and more.

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3 thoughts on “Class 12 Alternative English Chapter 3 The Verger”

It is very useful for me ….thankyou sir ….as I am a jee aspirant I could not manage my time to write additional questions….but through your website I would be able to cover alternative English thoroughly…it’s a humble request to you if you upload videos on the chapter explanation.

Please don’t use some critical word …. Please use some simple meaning word that can understand easily 🙏🙏🙏

Cortázar’s and Poe’s Short Stories About Houses Essay

Introduction.

House Taken Over by Julio Cortázar is a short magical realism story that follows the story of a young couple gradually losing a familial house. Conversely, The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe is a gothic supernatural horror novel about a haunted house. At first glance, these stories are alike, utilizing similar storytelling instruments and imagery. However, closer examination reveals stark differences in tone, message, and thematic content. Moreover, generic allegiances of both narratives largely determine their intended messages or lack thereof. Despite being seemingly close setting-wise, the two stories diverge more than they relate.

Both stories take place in spacious hereditary houses, haunted or mystically taken over. In House Taken Over, Julio Cortázar assumes the role of the narrator, who lives with his partner, Irene, in a massive empty residency. Likewise, the unnamed protagonist of Poe’s novel visits his old friend residing in an old, haunted mansion. Poe and Cortázar draw vivid pictures of the houses’ internal arrangement and furnishing. In both narratives, the house is enveloped in mystery. This is where the distinctions between the two start to emerge. The house of Usher is a dark, sullen, unfamiliar, quietly terrifying place. Poe is not shy of expressiveness when describing the house’s horrifying atmosphere. The hereditary residency in Cortázar’s story radiates nostalgia and warmth, as the author clearly expresses a longing for that place, evident from the very first sentence of the text: “We liked the house because, apart from its being old and spacious, it kept the memories of great-grandparents, our paternal grandfather, our parents and the whole of childhood” (Pearson Education Inc. 37). Although Cortázar incorporates mystery by never explicitly disclosing who took over the house, he does not emphasize horror as much as Poe.

Another difference between the two stories lies in their core thematic focus. Cortázar’s tale can be viewed as an allegory for the then-current political condition of Argentina. The author dwells significantly on the character of Irene. Through the narrator’s relationship with her, the story conveys its central message – silence before the aggression. If projected to the real-world events of its time, House Taken Over suddenly makes more sense. They who take over the narrator’s house are not mystical entities; rather, they are political oppressors nobody dares to challenge. Both the narrator and Irene choose to live quietly, never attempting to resist the takeover that is not even hostile. In this sense, Cortázar provides a mystical account of a real event. Conversely, Edgar Allan Poe’s story can be interpreted as either an allegory for one’s growing madness, an exploration of the twins’ bonds, or having no connotation. Sharpness and melancholy conveyed through the text justify the novel’s allegiance to the gothic genre. Even the Usher mansion is reminiscent of the respective architectural style with its pointy, tall structures.

In conclusion, Cortázar’s Home Taken Over and Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher employ similar settings yet differ starkly in tone and thematic content. The former, being a work of magic realism, tells a mystical, fictional story of an oppressed young couple that evades resistance at the cost of their wealth and nonchalant existence, illustrating the real-world political turmoil of that time. Conversely, Edgar Allan Poe’s short tale does not have a universally agreed-upon interpretation. The narrative of a haunted house that drives its inhabitants might just be a story for the story’s sake. Both stories have their generic allegiance, either referencing reality or serving no transcendent goal.

Pearson Education Inc. MyPerspectives . Pearson, 2017.

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Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Cortázar’s and Poe’s Short Stories About Houses." May 18, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/cortzars-and-poes-short-stories-about-houses/.

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Five Books That’ll Fit Right Into Your Busy Schedule

A s much as I love falling into a book and letting it consume an entire day, my free time doesn’t always arrive in uninterrupted stretches. Instead, it might be sprinkled throughout a hectic schedule: 10 minutes while I’m waiting at the doctor’s office, another 15 minutes riding the train, 30 minutes before falling asleep. These pockets of idle time could be spent scrolling on TikTok or answering emails, but I find that they are perfect for sneaking in reading—particularly short-story and essay collections, which you can enjoy in starts and stops.

Last month, I revisited the Pulitzer-winning volume Interpreter of Maladies , by Jhumpa Lahiri, and its intimate vignettes of the Indian diaspora. Lahiri’s short fiction focuses on characters, young and old, confronting the pangs of assimilation and alienation; each narrative conjures a rich and vivid world of its own. I decided that a concrete, achievable task would be tackling one story every night. They welcomed me in for a brief stay before releasing me to a dinner reservation, to my unfinished laundry, or to sleep. When reading starts to feel impossible, turn to books that you can work through at your own pace. These five titles can be consumed over days, weeks, or even months—ready for you whenever you want to dive back in.

Cooking as Though You Might Cook Again , by Danny Licht

In the time it takes to boil water for pasta, you can finish several of Licht’s delightful hybrid recipe-essays. The 78-page zine-like book encourages home cooks to view the task of preparing a meal not as a chore but as an act of emotional nourishment. Just as Licht prompts his readers to slow down and appreciate the process of assembling ingredients and letting them meld, his conversational language is best savored unhurriedly. The instructions for the simple Italian-ish dishes—a pot of beans, a creamy lemon risotto, pasta with braised chuck roast—cultivate an intuitive and meditative approach to putting food on the table. “Cooking does not need to be a race to the table, and it does not need to have an upper limit on what is possible or what is delicious or even what is beautiful,” Licht writes. “Instead, it can be a drama in parts, each act vital, and each giving way to the next. It can be like life itself.”

Cursed Bunny , by Bora Chung, translated by Anton Hur

Squeamish readers beware, because no one does body horror like Chung. Her frightening stories force you to sit in discomfort: A family seeks revenge on an unscrupulous businessman through a supernatural bunny lamp that destroys everything around it; a woman begins taking birth-control pills, but they fertilize a surreal, immaculate pregnancy, and she’s forced to look for a husband; a boy escapes Promethean torture at the hands of a monster, only to be further abused by the people who rescue him. For some, the subject matter may actually necessitate taking breaks. Thankfully, moving through the collection at a measured pace allows Hur’s straightforward translation—and the macabre scenarios that Chung creates—to feel fresh on every visit.

[ Read: You can read any of these short novels in a weekend ]

Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self , by Danielle Evans

Deliberately reading Evans’s 2010 debut allows the collection’s tenderness and warmth to wash over you the same way a conversation with an old friend does: Secrets are divulged, and old memories start to creep into the present. Her best stories—“Snakes,” “Virgins,” “Harvest,” and “Robert E. Lee Is Dead”—focus on the complicated and intense relationships between young women, many of whom are Black. Evans’s characters betray and uplift one another, sometimes simultaneously, and are infused with humor and generosity. Some of her plots deal with major coming-of-age milestones, like a first pregnancy or the end of high school. But in her deft hands, a night at the club or a summer with Grandma can also be a defining moment, one whose weight might not be realized until much later.

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat , by Oliver Sacks

During his career as a neurologist, Sacks studied people with the most curious brain abnormalities, such as Dr. P., the titular man who could not accurately identify objects (or other humans). This collection of neurological case studies moves beyond clinical descriptions and focuses on the humanity of Sacks’s patients. The 24 essays are grouped by theme—“Losses,” “Excesses,” “Transports,” and “The World of the Simple”—but they don’t have to be read chronologically, as they are all discrete accounts. Sacks combines explanations of psychological theory, as well as snippets of dialogue between him and his subjects, to create nuanced portraits of people facing extreme medical challenges. What may be abnormal for much of the audience is normal for Sacks’s patients, and seeing through their eyes generates a renewed recognition of the tenacity of the human spirit—a feeling worth sitting with.

[ Read: The adults who treat reading like homework ]

Seventeen Syllables and Other Stories , by Hisaye Yamamoto

Yamamoto’s 1988 collection captures the dignity and disillusionment of the Japanese community in America during and after World War II. Together, the stories create a snapshot of a group during a transitory phase in the United States. But reading them separately, as singular narratives, allows for a greater appreciation of the ordinary people who lived through this sweeping and weighty moment in history. The title story, “Seventeen Syllables,” highlights how the realities of immigration—such as a language barrier and shifting cultural norms—contribute to the divide between a mother and a daughter. Despite being written in the second half of the 20th century, Yamamoto’s stories about anti-Asian racism, sexual harassment, and generational estrangement transcend their period; they could easily be transplanted to the current day, thanks to her ability to make the mess of daily life resonate across the decades.

Five Books That’ll Fit Right Into Your Busy Schedule

michelle lalonde

Broken-hearted wreckage, other works by michelle lalonde....

The Rainbow. Round, or half-round, half in the ground? The Rainbow. Does the same light above

We are but wretched little things small-minded in our finer’ies, selfish in our mine’eries Just wretched little things with our eyes shut tight

I was a child when I had you, it’… too young to be a mother or a frie… I don’t know how to communicate wi… You’ll never understand what I we… To an unwed mother’s home, they di…

Lemon the hands that held the youn… a thorny stock with brittle roots–… grew angry flowers to howl at the… dare thunderstorms with Petaled F… dainty in their Ferocity. Defiant

I put this thing around my body years ago, to keep me warm To help protect me from the bad and those who’d do me harm - See, I learned this lesson long a…

I knew it the minute I opened the… A sparkly blue helmet, I put it r… Like exclamations from its edges,… Framed a grin brighter than the tr… I opened every gift with exuberanc…

A River only runs one way from beginning to end is always the same the direction never changes from start to finish into

Tears wept swept the nation Flooding sorrow at the loss, the Queen is gone, all Hail the King, in station - The end; the making of the last.

I see them up before me gently twinkling through the trees The forest’s wet with winter and the snow’s up to my knees - I stand here, not cold

I sat down under a lonely tree to contemplate the lov-e-ly way it swayed, so laz-i-ly, in the sunny, summer sun. And as I sat, I wondered how

Arms stretched out before me Sun on my face – I am weightless.… but only for a moment The wind rushes past whistling, whipping

Today, we officially became A communist country, our Constitu… ripped of its frame as we watched on our TV’s —The government we trust?

o. k., we’re gonna try it A different way this time– Do what you say For real; Not just for play - Put my soul under your knife

—The Silver Passenger Train— One long picture window of small heads passing parked cars racing by red warning lights and

I’ll start by wishing on a star blazing brightly from afar, or, pitch a penny in a well and swear my reflection never to tell. Or, cross my heart and hope to die

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THE VERGER, by W. Somerset Maugham
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The Verger
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The Verger By W. Somerset Maugham- Summary and Questions Answers
Summary of The Verger. Maugham's short story "The Verger" is a tale about a simple man Albert Edward Foreman. He has been a verger in St. Peter's Neville Square Church, doing his duties with great enjoyment and dedication. The new vicar dismisses the verger for being illiterate. While he is roaming around the London street in a ...
The Verger Summary
Somerset Maugham's short story "The Verger" begins in a fashionable London church called St. Peter's, just after a christening has taken place. The new vicar, recently arrived from a poorer parish ...
Short Story Analysis: The Verger by W. Somerset Maugham
In The Verger by W. Somerset Maugham we have the theme of appearance, opportunity, dedication, independence and humility. Taken from his Collected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Maugham may be exploring the theme of appearance.
PDF The Verger By Somerset Maugham
The vergers of St Peter's, like the popes of Rome, were there for life. He had often thought of the pleasant reference the vicar would make in his sermon at evensong the first Sunday after his death to the long and faithful service, and the exemplary character of their late verger, Albert Edward Foreman. He sighed deeply.
The Verger
Setting. The Verger is set in an unnamed part of London. The story develops over four locations: a fictitious church (St. Peter's, Neville Square) in "a very good neighbourhood", a long city street, the verger's home, and a bank. Over half of the story takes place in the church. In addition to providing the background to the remaining ...
Maugham The Verger
The Verger' is an English short story by Somerset Maugham (1874- 1966), a storyteller, novelist, dramatist and essayist. This short story deals with the theme of the sufferance of a subordinate official under a proud and arbitrary superior official. It is a short story that seems to deal with two episodes of a person.
Describe the character of the verger in W. Somerset Maugham's story
The eponymous verger in Maugham's short story is illiterate, which causes him to lose his job in the church. Despite his abrupt dismissal, there's no sense that not being able to read and write ...
The Verger by W. S. Maugham
The Verger. This story by W Somerset Maugham is about man named Albert who has worked hard as a church official for 16 years. When a new vicar learns Albert cannot read or write, he tells him that he must leave the job. Rather than go home immediately, Albert walks the streets trying to think of what he can do.
The Verger by William Somerset Maugham
The Verger by William Somerset Maugham | Summary & Analysis in English | British Short Story | English LiteratureIn this video you will learn the characters,...
Literacy and Luck: The Verger By William Somerset Summary
Nov 17, 2023. --. " The Verger " is a short story written by W. Somerset Maugham, first published in 1930. Maugham was a British playwright and author, known for his keen observations of human ...
The Verger Summary And Analysis Essay
The Short Story A new vicar has been appointed at St Peter's Church, Neville Square in London. Accompanied by two distinguished churchwardens2, a lord and a general, he has come to see Albert Edward Foreman, the verger. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 The vicar began.
Short Stories Analysis: The Verger, The Happy Prince, The Chameleon, A
In this story, we have seen corruption of the verger as well as the old vicar because he appointed the verger in St Peter, Neville Square even though he couldn't fulfill the obligation to read and write. This can be seen in the following few lines from the story; ''At a church like St Peter Neville square we cannot have a verger neither ...
"The Verger" by William Somerset Maugham Free Essay Example
Essay Sample: William Somerset Maugham (1874-1966) is a well-known English novelist, short-story writer, playwright and essayist. ... The short story "The Verger" is an example of how a person can be successful in life even though he is illiterate. Anyway, he makes a good use of his creativity. What is more important is how to use our ...
Analysis of the Verger by W.S.Maugham
The Verger Analysis. William Somerset Maugham (born Jan. 25, 1874, Paris, France—died Dec. 16, 1965, Nice), English novelist, playwright, and short-story writer whose work is characterized by a clear unadorned style, cosmopolitan settings, and a shrewd understanding of human nature. Maugham was orphaned at the age of 10; he was brought up by ...
Analysis of "The verger" by William Somerset Maugham. (Text of story in
Analysis: The verger 1. Introduction. It's a short story from Cosmopolitans published in 1936. 2. Author. William Somerset Maugham (se pronounce Mom) is an English writer, but he lived until he was 10 in Paris and he then travelled a lot. Because of his travel he acquired a cosmopolitan outlook. He wrote novels and short stories which Rain is ...
The Verger Summary
Summary- The Verger. The Verger, a short story by Maugham, is the story of the unassuming Albert Edward Foreman. He served as a verger at St. Peter's Church in Neville Square, doing his responsibilities with enthusiasm and devotion. The new vicar's entry inside the church interrupts his normal duties. He wants everything to be flawless, so as ...
ESL
Here´s a PPT with information about the author and questions to analyse the short story THE VERGER and some essay writing prompts. Hope you find it useful! Welcome to ESL Printables, the website where English Language teachers exchange resources: worksheets, lesson plans, activities, etc. Our collection is growing every day with the help of ...
PDF The Verger
The verger's face betrayed no sign of embarrassment. "The last vicar knew that, sir," he replied. "He said it didn't make no difference. He always said there was a great deal too much education in the world for 'is taste." "It's the most amazing thing I ever heard," cried the general. "Do you mean to say that you've been verger of
What are the themes in W. Somerset Maugham's works?
William Somerset Maugham had a long literary career, writing from 1897 to the early 1960s. His works include novels, short stories, plays, essays, an autobiography, and nonfiction pieces on travel.
The Verger Questions Answers Class 12 |Summary AHSEC
Ans: The quoted lines are an extract from the short story 'The Verger' written by William Somerset Maugham. The lines are spoken by Albert Edward Foreman, the verger of St Peter's Neville Square, to the new vicar. The new vicar had been recently appointed at St Peter's church. Albert Edward Foreman was the verger of that church for the last ...
Short Story the Verger, Sample of Essays
Essay on the short story "The Verger" by Somerset Maugham. The short story "The Verger" is an example of how a person can be successful en life even though he is illiterate. Anyway, he makes a good use of his creativity. What is more important is how to uses our knowledge correctly. This story was wrote by "William Somerset Maugham ...
Class 12 Alternative English Chapter 3 The Verger
Ans: In "The Verger" by W. Somerset Maugham, Albert Edward, commonly known as Albert Foreman, is the central character whose career is depicted in the story. Albert is the Verger of St Peter's Church in Neville Square, London. Albert's career as being verger spans over sixteen years. During which he faithfully serves the church.
Essay on Short Story the Verger EssayDepot.com
Essay on the short story "The Verger" by Somerset Maugham The short story "The Verger" is an example of how a person can be successful en life even though he is illiterate. Anyway, he makes a good use of his creativity. What is more important is how to uses our knowledge correctly. This story was wrote by "William Somerset Maugham ...
Cortázar's and Poe's Short Stories About Houses Essay
House Taken Over by Julio Cortázar is a short magical realism story that follows the story of a young couple gradually losing a familial house. Conversely, The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe is a gothic supernatural horror novel about a haunted house.
The Outsider (short story)
"The Outsider" is a short story by American horror writer H. P. Lovecraft. Written between March and August 1921, it was first published in Weird Tales, April 1926. In this work, a mysterious individual who has been living alone in a castle for as long as he can remember decides to break free in search of human contact and light.
Tips to answer multiple-choice, short-answer, and essay-type ...
Ensure the essay is well-structured and divided into a minimum of 3-4 paragraphs. Use quotations and examples to support the information you have written. Adhere to the specified time and word limits.
Five Books That'll Fit Right Into Your Busy Schedule
These essay and short-story collections are easy to read at your own pace. ... The 24 essays are grouped by theme—"Losses," "Excesses," "Transports," and "The World of the Simple ...
Verger
Etymology A traditional virge; note the brass ball at the end with a small cross on top. The title of verger arises from the ceremonial rod they traditionally carried known as a virge (from the Latin virga, "branch, staff, rod"; see virgule).The Maces of State used in the House of Lords and the House of Commons of the British Parliament are examples of another modern use of the medieval virge.
The Star Thrower
"The Star Thrower" (or "starfish story") is part of a 16-page essay of the same name by Loren Eiseley (1907-1977), ... The story describes the narrator walking along the beach early one morning in the pre-dawn twilight, when he sees a man picking up a starfish off the sand and throwing it into the sea. The narrator is observant and subtle ...
BROKEN-HEARTED WRECKAGE, by michelle lalonde
This story is a true one, a tragedy of sorts. about the love a girl has for a ship, one. that would never come to port. Every day she stood upon his shore, her parasol in hand and wave, she would, to no avail his ship would never come to land. Days turned into weeks turned into months,