The Adventures of Toto by Ruskin Bond

SUMMARY

He has described how his grandfather was fond of animals and one day he bought a monkey from a Tonga-driver for a sum of five rupees. The grandfather saw Toto tied up to a feeding-trough and he looked very ill and ugly. As the grandfather had his own private zoo he decided to keep the little monkey in it. Toto was kept in a little closet which opened into the narrator’s room. Toto’s presence was kept top secret as grandmother abhorred animals. Gradually grandmother accepted Toto in the house. Toto used his tail as a third hand. He used it to hang from a branch and for scooping up any delicacy that might be out of reach of his hands. Once, when grandfather was going out of station, he decided to take Toto along with him. A big black canvas kit bag was used for Toto so that he could not escape from it but the ticket collector saw him and grandfather had to pay the fare for Toto too. When Toto was left in the stable to stay along with Nana, the family donkey, he fastened the donkey’s ear with his sharp little teeth. Once Toto nearly boiled himself alive by jumping into the large kitchen kettle that had been left on the fire to boil for tea. It was grandmother who came to his rescue and saved him. As days passed by, Toto’s pernicious activities did not lessen. He became more mischievous. He damaged everything on which he laid his hands. He scared the visitors by tearing holes in their dresses. One day he crossed the limits by picking up a dish of pullao and running on a branch to eat it. When scolded he threw the plate and broke it. Soon grandfather realized that Toto was not the type of pet to be kept in the house. He found the Tonga-driver, and sold Toto back to him for rupees three only and heaved a sigh of relief.

KEY POINTS

1. This story shows that the narrator’s grandfather was very fond of animals.

2.Grandfather bought Toto that was a monkey from a tonga driver for five rupees.

3. Toto’s arrival in the house was kept a secret from grandmother.

4. Toto was a pretty monkey. He was very naughty and disturbing.

5. Once he was to accompany grandfather to Saharanpur in a canvas bag.

6. He popped his head out from the bag and came in the notice of the ticket collector. Grandfather had to pay three rupees as a fine.

7. Toto was given a comfortable home in the stable.

8. He always troubled Nana which was the family donkey in the stable.

9. He always enjoyed a warm water bath in cold winter evening.

10. The family members found it difficult to adjust with him.

11. Finally, grandfather decided to return Toto to the tonga driver for three rupees.