Chapter 1: A Letter to God

by Gregorio López y Fuentes

Page No. 5 – Oral Comprehension Check

Q1. What did Lencho hope for?
Ans. Lencho hoped for a good shower of rain to nourish his ripe cornfield, as it was the only requirement left for a successful harvest.

Q2. Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like ‘new coins’?
Ans. Lencho compared the raindrops to coins because they promised prosperity and wealth. The big drops were imagined as ten-cent pieces and the smaller ones as five-cent pieces. For him, rain symbolised money, since it would result in a rich harvest.

Q3. How did the rain change? What happened to Lencho’s fields?
Ans. At first, it rained beautifully, but soon strong winds blew and large hailstones fell. Within an hour, Lencho’s fields were completely destroyed—crops, flowers, and trees were ruined.

Q4. What were Lencho’s feelings when the hail stopped?
Ans. Lencho was deeply saddened. He realised that nothing was left, and his family would starve that year.

Page No. 6 – Oral Comprehension Check

Q1. Who or what did Lencho have faith in? What did he do?
Ans. Lencho had absolute faith in God. He wrote a letter to God, requesting one hundred pesos to re-sow his field and sustain his family until the next harvest.

Q2. Who read the letter?
Ans. A postman discovered the letter and showed it to the postmaster, who then read it.

Q3. What did the postmaster do then?
Ans. The postmaster admired Lencho’s unshakable faith and decided to help him. He collected money from his employees and friends, contributed part of his own salary, and sent Lencho seventy pesos in the name of God.

Page No. 7 – Oral Comprehension Check

Q1. Was Lencho surprised to find a letter for him with money in it?
Ans. No, Lencho was not surprised. His faith in God was so strong that he firmly believed God would reply to his request.

Q2. What made him angry?
Ans. Lencho became angry because the money was only seventy pesos instead of one hundred. He thought the post office employees had stolen the remaining thirty pesos.

Page No. 7 – Thinking About the Text

Q1. Who does Lencho have complete faith in? Which sentences in the story tell you this?
Ans. Lencho had complete faith in God. Sentences that prove this are:

“It was during the meal, just as Lencho had predicted, big drops of rain began to fall.”
“It’s during the night only one hope remained: the help of God, whose eyes see everything.”
“Such was his confidence — but he became angry when he counted the money.”

Q2. Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter ‘God’?
Ans. The postmaster sent money to Lencho to preserve his faith in God. He was moved by Lencho’s innocent belief. He signed as ‘God’ so that Lencho would remain convinced that his prayer had been answered.

Q3. Did Lencho try to find out who had sent the money to him? Why/Why not?
Ans. No, Lencho did not try to find out. His faith was so unquestioning that he assumed God had sent it. He believed no human could intervene.

Q4. Who does Lencho think has taken the rest of the money? What is the irony in the situation?
Ans. Lencho thought the post office employees had stolen the remaining thirty pesos. The irony is that these very employees had collected the money out of kindness, but Lencho considered them thieves.

Q5. Are there people like Lencho in the real world? What kind of a person would you say he is?
Ans. Yes, some people still possess blind, unquestioning faith. Lencho is simple, innocent, hardworking, and naive, but also ungrateful and unquestioning.

Q6. There are two kinds of conflict in the story: between humans and nature, and between humans themselves. How are these conflicts illustrated?
Ans.

Humans vs. Nature: Lencho’s crops were destroyed by the hailstorm, showing man’s helplessness against natural calamities.
Humans vs. Humans: Lencho doubted and insulted the very people who helped him, showing mistrust among humans.

Extra Questions & Answers

Short Answer Type

Why did Lencho compare raindrops with coins?
Because they promised wealth. A good harvest meant money, so raindrops were “new coins.”
Why was Lencho’s family sorrowful after the hailstorm?
Because all their crops were destroyed, leaving them with nothing to eat or sell.
What did the postmaster admire in Lencho?
He admired Lencho’s unquestioning faith in God.
Why did Lencho call the post office employees ‘a bunch of crooks’?
He thought they had stolen part of the money God had sent him.
What is the main irony in the story?
The helpers were mistaken as thieves by the man they tried to support.

Long Answer Type

Q1. Describe Lencho’s faith in God. How did it affect his actions?
Ans. Lencho had absolute faith in God. When a hailstorm destroyed his crops, he did not despair completely but turned to God as his only hope. He wrote a letter asking for one hundred pesos, convinced that God would send it. His faith was so strong that he was neither surprised when he received money nor grateful to the post office employees who had helped him. Instead, he believed God had sent the money, but the postal workers had stolen a part of it. His blind faith made him unquestioning and innocent, but also ungrateful. Thus, his actions highlight how faith can give hope but can also blind a person to human kindness.

Q2. The story “A Letter to God” illustrates both kindness and irony. Discuss.
Ans. The story reflects human kindness through the postmaster and his staff, who collected money for Lencho to preserve his faith in God. Their selflessness shows the good side of humanity. However, the story also ends in irony. Lencho, instead of being thankful, accuses these very helpers of being crooks. His blind faith prevents him from seeing the truth. This creates situational irony, where the outcome is opposite to what one expects. Therefore, the story blends kindness with irony, making it deeply thought-provoking.

Summary of the Story

A Letter to God by Gregorio López y Fuentes is a touching short story that explores human faith, simplicity, and irony in life. It is centred around a poor farmer named Lencho, who lived with his family in a solitary house atop a valley. His only wealth was his cornfield, which promised a good harvest. All it required was a timely shower.

Lencho was optimistic and predicted rainfall. His prediction came true as dark clouds appeared, and raindrops fell like a blessing. With excitement, he compared raindrops to new coins, symbolising prosperity. However, this joy was short-lived. The rain turned violent, accompanied by hailstones that destroyed the entire field. In just an hour, all the crops, flowers, and trees were ruined. Lencho and his family were heartbroken as they faced certain starvation.

Despite the devastation, Lencho’s faith in God remained unshaken. He believed that God saw everything and would not let his family die of hunger. Relying on this faith, he decided to write a letter directly to God. In his letter, he requested one hundred pesos to re-sow the field and support his family until the next harvest.

When the letter reached the post office, it surprised the employees. The postmaster, a kind-hearted man, admired Lencho’s innocence and deep faith. He decided to respond, not to break Lencho’s trust. With the help of his staff, friends, and part of his own salary, he collected seventy pesos. Though it was not the full amount, he placed it in an envelope, signed it as “God,” and sent it to Lencho.

The next Sunday, Lencho eagerly checked for a reply. Seeing the money, he was not astonished; instead, his confidence grew stronger. However, upon counting, he grew angry. He was certain that God would never make a mistake and would have sent the entire hundred pesos. Therefore, he concluded that the post office employees had stolen thirty pesos. With great conviction, he wrote another letter to God, complaining and requesting that the remaining money be sent directly to him, not through the “crooks” at the post office.

The story ends with dramatic irony. The very people who helped Lencho were accused of dishonesty. This highlights the irony of blind faith—while faith can inspire noble actions, it can also blind one to reality.

The story beautifully portrays two conflicts: between humans and nature, and between humans themselves. On one hand, Lencho’s helplessness before natural calamity reflects the vulnerability of farmers. On the other, his mistrust of human helpers highlights the lack of faith between people.

Through Lencho, the author paints a portrait of a man both admirable and flawed. His unwavering faith is inspiring, but his inability to recognise kindness makes him appear naive and ungrateful.

Thus, A Letter to God is not merely about a farmer’s plea but a universal tale of hope, faith, generosity, and irony. It reminds us that while faith sustains us, it must be accompanied by gratitude and understanding.

✒️ Biography of Gregorio López y Fuentes

Gregorio López y Fuentes (1897–1966) was a distinguished Mexican writer, journalist, and novelist, celebrated for his powerful portrayals of rural life and the struggles of common people. Born in Veracruz, Mexico, López y Fuentes grew up in an environment that deeply influenced his literary themes. His keen observations of farmers, indigenous communities, and the effects of social inequalities shaped his writings.

He began his career as a journalist, contributing to Mexican newspapers and magazines, where he refined his craft of storytelling. Journalism gave him access to real struggles of rural Mexico, particularly the plight of peasants who often suffered from poverty, illiteracy, and natural calamities. His transition from journalism to literature allowed him to give voice to these neglected sections of society.

One of his defining qualities as a writer was his ability to blend realism with compassion. His stories often reflected the harsh realities of Mexican rural life while also emphasising universal themes of hope, faith, and human resilience. In A Letter to God, his most famous short story, López y Fuentes captured the innocence of a farmer who believed so strongly in divine help that he mistook human kindness for God’s intervention.

Apart from short stories, López y Fuentes authored several novels, many of which dealt with the Mexican Revolution and its impact on ordinary people. His works such as Campamento and Tierra reflected the turmoil of social transformation. His writing style was simple, direct, and powerful, enabling him to reach a broad audience.

López y Fuentes was also recognised for his humanitarian approach. His writings were not just creative expressions but also social commentaries. They often highlighted the injustice, inequality, and exploitation faced by peasants. Through his works, he became a chronicler of rural Mexico during a time of great political and economic change.

Throughout his career, he received acclaim not only in Mexico but also internationally. His works were translated into several languages, making him one of the most widely read Mexican authors of his time. His ability to blend local colour with universal human emotions gave his stories a timeless appeal.

Gregorio López y Fuentes passed away in 1966, but his legacy endures. His stories, particularly A Letter to God, are still read worldwide as lessons in faith, irony, and the human condition. By portraying ordinary men like Lencho, he immortalised the struggles and hopes of countless farmers. His writings remind us of the fragile balance between human resilience, faith, and reality.

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