The Old Woman Who Told Tales | SSC Completing Story
SSC English First Paper | Completing Story
The Old Woman Who Told Tales
The Old Woman Who Told Tales is an SSC-level completing story about a kind schoolboy, a poor old woman, and the power of compassion, storytelling, and human dignity.
Completing Story: The Old Woman Who Told Tales
One day, a schoolboy named Arif was returning home from school. On the way, he saw an old woman begging beside the road. Arif asked her why she was begging. In reply, she told him that she had once been one of the richest women in a town far away. It was a beautiful place with a small population. She had lived a comfortable life there for many years. Unfortunately, fate had brought her to the streets, and she could no longer afford even a small piece of bread.
As she said this, tears filled her eyes. The sight made Arif feel deeply sorry for her. Since the weather was cold, he asked whether she would like to have a cup of warm tea. The offer brought a smile to the woman's wrinkled face. Near the dying river stood an old tea stall that Arif often visited. He gently helped the woman stand up and took her there.
When Arif went to the counter to order two cups of tea, the tea-stall owner looked at the woman and said, “Your companion tells the strangest tales. No one knows where she came from, but she has told a thousand different stories to everyone who has listened to her.” Arif was surprised to hear this. He took the cups of tea and returned to the woman, who was waiting quietly at a corner of the stall.
After taking a slow sip of tea, the old woman began to tell Arif how she had lost all her money in a terrible fire. She had escaped with her life, but her house, savings, and possessions had been destroyed. She had no close relatives to support her, so she began begging on the streets. However, she had not lost her imagination or her love of stories. She told tales to make people smile and to keep hope alive in her lonely heart.
Arif listened to her in astonishment. Her stories were full of wisdom, humour, and lessons about life. He realised that the woman was not merely a beggar; she was a talented storyteller who had suffered great misfortune. He promised to visit her again and tell his classmates about her. The next day, Arif brought some food and invited a few friends to listen to her stories.
The children were delighted by her tales. The tea-stall owner also began giving her a cup of tea every day. Gradually, people from the neighbourhood came to hear her stories and offered her food, clothes, and small amounts of money. They did not pity her as a helpless person; instead, they respected her talent and treated her with dignity. Arif's simple act of kindness changed the old woman's life.
From that day onward, the old woman became known as the finest storyteller in the town. Arif remained her sincere friend. He learned that a person should never be judged by appearance or present condition. Kindness can discover hidden talent, restore hope, and bring people together. Thus, a small act of compassion turned a lonely beggar into a respected storyteller.
Moral of the Story
We should never judge a person by appearance, poverty, or present circumstances. A kind word and a small act of help can restore someone’s hope and dignity. True kindness recognises the value and talent hidden in every human being.
Why This Completing Story Is Useful for SSC Students
This model story demonstrates how to develop a narrative from a given opening. It follows a clear sequence: Arif meets the old woman, offers her tea, learns about her past, discovers her storytelling ability, and helps her regain respect in the community. The conclusion connects the events with a suitable moral, which is an important feature of a good completing story.
Important writing techniques
- Follow the given opening carefully and continue the story naturally.
- Use past tense consistently for events that happened in the past.
- Use dialogue briefly to make the narrative lively and realistic.
- Arrange events in logical order and connect paragraphs with suitable transition words.
- Give the story a complete ending instead of stopping after the main incident.
- Write a moral that directly reflects the central lesson of the story.
Important Vocabulary
| Word or phrase | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| beg | To ask people for money or food because one is poor | The homeless man had to beg for food. |
| fate | The events that happen to a person, often beyond personal control | Fate changed her comfortable life completely. |
| wrinkled | Having lines or folds on the skin, usually because of age | The old woman's wrinkled face showed years of experience. |
| astonishment | A feeling of great surprise | Arif listened to the tale in astonishment. |
| misfortune | An unfortunate event or difficult condition | The fire brought great misfortune to the family. |
| dignity | The quality of being worthy of respect | Every person deserves to live with dignity. |
| compassion | Sympathy and concern for someone who is suffering | Arif showed compassion towards the old woman. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Arif?
Arif was a kind schoolboy who met an old woman while returning home from school and offered to buy her a cup of warm tea.
Why was the old woman begging?
She had lost her house, money, and possessions in a terrible fire. As she had no close relatives to support her, she was forced to beg on the streets.
What did Arif discover about the old woman?
Arif discovered that she was a talented storyteller. Her tales were full of wisdom, humour, and valuable lessons about life.
What is the moral of “The Old Woman Who Told Tales”?
The moral is that we should not judge people by their appearance or poverty. Kindness can restore hope, reveal hidden talent, and help a person live with dignity.
Study Tip for SSC Candidates
After reading the model answer, try to rewrite the story in your own words without looking at the text. Make sure that your version has an introduction, a connected sequence of events, a clear ending, and a relevant moral. Finally, check your use of tense, articles, prepositions, punctuation, and paragraphing. Understanding the storyline is more useful than memorising every sentence.
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