The Verger (Panorama--Lesson 3)

The Verger

About the author

William Somerset Maugham was a British playwright, novelist and author of numerous short stories. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highest-paid author during the 1930s. He grew up in a home which was highly influenced by many artistic and literary people of that time. He came from a family of lawyers but studied literature and philosophy and later on, medicine. He wrote his first novel ‘Liza of Lambeth’ which was based on the consequences of adultery. It sold out so rapidly that Maugham gave up medicine to write full time. He received numerous awards during his lifetime for his work in the field of literature.

Summary

‘The verger’ is a story with an unexpected twist. The hero, though illiterate, does not lack worldly wisdom. When he loses his job, since he cannot read or write, he overcomes his handicap in a startling manner. The writer highlights the strength of human spirit that can triumph over all obstacles, through sheer courage and determination.

Albert Edward Foreman started his career as a page boy and then worked as a footman and a butler. He later became a verger and he loved his profession very much. He took pride in his position and enjoyed the reputation he got from people. He was pointed out by the new Vicar for his illiteracy. The vicar gave him an opportunity to learn to read and write but Foreman refused to. So he had to lose his job. Foreman was now in a sorrowful mood while walking home from church. He was worried about leading his life further. He couldn’t read or write; he lost his job; he knew no other work; and he didn’t want to go back to domestic service. He was in deep thought that he didn’t notice the route and took a wrong turn. He entered a lane where there were many shops.

Foreman felt the need to smoke but to his surprise, he didn’t find a single shop selling tobacco. He checked the lane twice and wondered how profitable it would be if someone started a tobacco shop there. He now had a new idea. He thought about it all night and had gone to that lane again the next morning. He found a vacant shop to let and took it. He started his life as a tobacconist and newsagent. It ran very well and the next year, Foreman took another shop in a lane where there was no tobacco shop. He put a manager in there. He then started walking the streets of London and wherever he noticed that there was no tobacco shop, he started one. In 10 years, he became the owner of 10 shops and was earning with two hands.

One Monday, as he had gone to bank to deposit money, the bank manager suggested him to invest some of his deposited money in shares and stocks. He said that Foreman had a good sum of saved money, nearly 30,000 pounds, which could be invested for high interest rate. Foreman said that he knew nothing about the shares and expressed that the money would be safe in the bank. He also reveals that he didn’t know to write or read and that he had learned to write his name only when he entered the business.

The banker was shocked to know that a man who had never studied was able to earn so much in life. He was all praises to Foreman and asked him what Foreman would have become, had he been a literate. Foreman replied that he would have become the Verger of St. Peter’s church.

                                                                                                                                           

Comprehension Questions

1.      What was Albert Foreman's profession?

A.    Albert foreman was the Verger of St. Peter's church, Neville Square. He had been working as a verger for 16 years. He started his career as a page boy. Then he became first footman from the fourth and then worked as a butler in aristocratic houses. Foreman took pride in being Verger of the sophisticated church, St. Peter’s, Neville Square.

2.      What kind of person is Albert Foreman?

A.    Albert Foreman was a sincere worker, who did his duty well. He was so honest and gave long and faithful services at St. Peter’s church. He never caused any inconvenience to others. He fulfilled his duties to the satisfaction of everybody concerned.

Foreman held himself high during difficult times. He didn’t allow the vicar to put him down. He knew his value and hence didn’t accept the proposal of learning to read and write. Though he didn’t like the vicar, he spoke in respect to him and didn’t express his dislike or dissatisfaction. He remained silent and humble when actually he felt like being humiliated.

He identified his strength and became a successful businessman. All in all, we can say that Foreman is a man with great self-respect. He is a polite man who is able to compose himself.

3.      What are Foreman’s feelings about the new vicar?

A.    Foreman never liked the new vicar. He thought they made a mistake when they gave him St Peter’s. The vicar was not a man suitable for the classy people that come to the St. Peter’s church. The new vicar is not yet adjustable to the fashionable congregation. He also interferes in every issue which makes Foreman impatient.

4.      Why does the new vicar want Foreman to leave his position?

A.    The new vicar says that a reputed church like St. Peter’s cannot have an illiterate verger. He says that they can’t take the risk of some accident that might happen because of verger’s ignorance. It’s the matter of church’s reputation. So the vicar wants Foreman to learn to read and write. But as Foreman is reluctant to learn, the vicar has asked him to leave his position. He strongly believes that an illiterate cannot be a verger of a reputed church.

5.      What happens when Foreman walks out of the church?

A.    Foreman is occupied with thoughts. He didn’t know what is going to come. He has no enough money; he lost his job; he is not sure of his future; he finds that he is ill-treated for being an illiterate. In this state of mind, he locks the church door and starts walking slowly across the square. He is so sad that he doesn’t go the lane he has to go. He takes a wrong turn and keeps walking with a heavy heart. He finds himself in a long street filled with shops on either side.

A little later, he searches for a cigarette shop but doesn’t find one. It then strikes to him that he can start a business of selling tobacco.

6.      How does Foreman expand his business?

A.    Foreman starts his life as a tobacconist after he gets relieved as a verger. In a year, he is able to make good money and he starts another shop in another lane. He appoints a manger there. Then he thinks that he can run more shops if he is able to run more than one. So, whenever he finds time, he walks the long lanes of London searching a street where there is no tobacco shop. Then he starts another shop there. This way, he is able to expand his business. He becomes the owner of ten shops in a span of ten years.

7.      Narrate the discussion between the bank manager and Foreman.

A.    The bank manager suggests Foreman to invest in stocks as there is huge money in his account. But Foreman says that he knows nothing about stocks and shares. The bank manager offers him help. He tells that he would select the stocks for Foreman and he just has to sign. But Foreman expresses his doubt about how he would know what he is going to sign. The banker says that he simply has to read and write.  Foreman reveals that he doesn’t know how to read. The bank manager is surprised that Foreman, being an illiterate, is able to earn a fortune. He likes to know what he would have become, had he been educated. Foreman replies that he would have been a verger to the St. Peter’s Neville church.