My Financial CareerClass 9 English Chapter 4 Notes – Maharashtra Board

Summary: My Financial Career

The narrator admits that banks make him nervous — the clerks, the counters and even the sight of money. But his salary has been raised to fifty dollars a month, so he decides he must put it in a bank.

Thinking that opening an account needs the manager, he asks the accountant to see the manager 'alone'. The manager, alarmed, takes him into a private room and locks the door, thinking he is a detective with a secret. When the narrator says he only wants to open an account, the manager guesses he must be very rich.

The narrator confesses he will deposit fifty-six dollars and fifty a month. The manager, now cold, loudly hands him over to the accountant. Flustered, the narrator walks into the bank's safe instead of out of the room.

He deposits the money, then wants to take out six dollars, but by mistake writes fifty-six on the cheque. Too embarrassed to explain, he pretends he meant to withdraw everything and acts like a short-tempered man.

Asked how he wants the money, he says 'in fifties' and then 'in sixes'. He rushes out as the whole bank roars with laughter. Since then he keeps his cash in his trouser pocket and his savings in silver dollars in a sock.

Key points to remember

• Author: Stephen Leacock, a Canadian humorist
• Narrated in the first person; the humour comes from the narrator's nervousness
• 'Rattled' — the bank makes him nervous; 'a hesitating jay' — someone who talks foolishly
• His salary was raised to fifty dollars a month; he brought fifty-six dollars
• Mistake 1: asking to see the manager 'alone' — the manager thinks he is a detective
• The manager then thinks he is a young Gould or Baron Rothschild's son — very rich
• Mistake 2: stepping into the safe instead of leaving the room
• Mistake 3: writing fifty-six instead of six on the cheque
• He withdraws everything and asks for 'fifties' and 'sixes'
• The bank staff burst into laughter as he leaves
• Ending: he keeps cash in his pocket and savings in a sock — an unwise decision
• Message (in fun): nervousness and ignorance can make simple tasks difficult

My Financial Career – Notes

1. The story in simple words

• Fear of banks: everything in a bank makes the narrator nervous; the moment he steps in, he behaves foolishly.
• The 'secret' meeting: he asks the accountant, a tall and cool man, for the manager, and adds 'alone'. Then he asks the manager to see him alone too. The worried manager locks them in a private room and asks if he is from Pinkerton's, a detective agency.
• The 'rich' customer: when he says he wants to open an account, the relieved manager thinks he is a millionaire's son. Hearing it is only fifty-six dollars, the manager coldly and loudly passes him to the accountant.
• Into the safe: confused, he says good morning and walks into the open iron safe; the manager orders him out.
• Deposit and cheque: he pushes the crumpled ball of money at the accountant as if doing a magic trick, signs the book, then writes a cheque — for fifty-six dollars instead of six.
• The escape: too embarrassed to correct it, he takes all his money, asking for it in fifties and sixes, and runs out to a roar of laughter.

2. Character of the narrator

• Diffident and timid — he 'shambled in' and looked timidly at the clerks; his voice sounded gloomy (sepulchral).
• Unusual behaviour — asking for the manager 'alone', walking into the safe, poking money at the clerk like a conjuror.
• Ignorant about banking — he thinks the manager must open accounts and does not know how to write a cheque or what 'How will you have it?' means.
• Nervous and careless — he writes fifty-six for six and cannot think clearly; 'the bank swam before my eyes'.
• Economical — he wants to save part of his small salary and keeps his savings carefully, even if in a sock.

3. Sources of humour

• Exaggeration: everything in the bank 'rattles' him.
• Misunderstanding: the manager thinks he is first a detective, then a millionaire.
• Situational comedy: walking into the safe; asking for money 'in sixes'.
• Self-mockery: the narrator laughs at himself — 'an irresponsible idiot', 'an idiot hope'.
• Irony: he goes to save money in a bank and ends up keeping it in a sock.

4. Is his final decision wise?

• No. Money kept in a pocket or a sock can be lost or stolen and earns no interest.
• A bank keeps money safe, pays interest and allows easy payments.
• His decision comes from embarrassment, not good sense — which is exactly what makes it funny.

5. Banking words

• account, deposit, withdraw, cheque (US 'check'), cheque-book, savings, interest, loan.
• accountant, cashier, clerk, manager, wicket (counter window), safe (vault).
• deposit slip, passbook, ATM, net banking, mobile banking, UPI, IFSC, branch.

Words and phrases to know

Key terms

My Financial Career – Flashcards

Read the question, answer it in your head, then tap the card to check. 20 cards.

My Financial Career – MCQ Quiz

15 questions. Tap an option — you will see at once if it is right and why.

How to study My Financial Career

⏱ About 25 minutes

1. Read (10 min)
   Read the story aloud and enjoy each blunder — 'alone', the safe, the cheque, 'in sixes'.
2. Learn (8 min)
   Learn the narrator's traits with examples, the word meanings and the antonyms from the lesson.
3. Practise (7 min)
   Answer the 'Try it yourself' questions, take the quiz and play 🎮 Play.