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A Cry in the Wilderness
A Cry in the Wilderness

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of A Cry in the Wilderness is here in full — 406 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for A Cry in the Wilderness
Context Illustration Reading 1/81 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Speakin' 'bout air--I can't see much difference 'twixt good air most anywheres.
Take it, now, up in New England, up north where I was raised, you can't get better nowheres.
Thet comes drorrin' through the mountains and acrosst the Lake, an' it can't be beat."
I made no reply for I feared he would ask me if I knew "New England up north".
He turned to look at me, evidently surprised at my short silence.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Cry in the Wilderness

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of A Cry in the Wilderness is here in full — 406 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Speakin' 'bout air--I can't see much difference 'twixt good air most anywheres.
Line 2
Take it, now, up in New England, up north where I was raised, you can't get better nowheres.
Line 3
Thet comes drorrin' through the mountains and acrosst the Lake, an' it can't be beat."
Line 4
I made no reply for I feared he would ask me if I knew "New England up north".
/aɪ meɪd noʊ rɪˈplaɪ fɔːr aɪ fɪrd hiː wʊd æsk miː ɪf aɪ nuː nuː ˈɪŋɡlənd ʌp nɔːrθ/
Line 5
He turned to look at me, evidently surprised at my short silence.
/hiː tɜːrnd tuː lʊk æt miː ˈevədəntli sərˈpraɪzd æt maɪ ʃɔːrt ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

beat verb US /biːt/

come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

From this reading “Thet comes drorrin' through the mountains and acrosst the Lake, an' it can't be beat."”

bout noun US /baʊt/

(sports) a division during which one team is on the offensive

From this reading “"Speakin' 'bout air--I can't see much difference 'twixt good air most anywheres.”

difference noun US /ˈdɪfərəns/

the quality of being unlike or dissimilar

From this reading “"Speakin' 'bout air--I can't see much difference 'twixt good air most anywheres.”

evidently adverb US /ˈevədəntli/

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading “He turned to look at me, evidently surprised at my short silence.”

feared verb US /fɪrd/

past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading “I made no reply for I feared he would ask me if I knew "New England up north".”

Lake noun US /leɪk/

a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land

From this reading “Thet comes drorrin' through the mountains and acrosst the Lake, an' it can't be beat."”

mountains noun US /ˈmaʊntənz/

plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading “Thet comes drorrin' through the mountains and acrosst the Lake, an' it can't be beat."”

surprised adjective US /sərˈpraɪzd/

taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment

From this reading “He turned to look at me, evidently surprised at my short silence.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

look at verb + particle

take into consideration for exemplifying purposes

In this reading “He turned to look at me, evidently surprised at my short silence.”

short silence adjective + noun

In this reading “He turned to look at me, evidently surprised at my short silence.”

evidently surprised adverb + adjective

In this reading “He turned to look at me, evidently surprised at my short silence.”

get better verb + adjective

In this reading “Take it, now, up in New England, up north where I was raised, you can't get better nowheres.”

All words in this reading · 59

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

acrosst

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thet comes drorrin' through the mountains and acrosst the Lake, an' it can't be beat."

airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading "Speakin' 'bout air--I can't see much difference 'twixt good air most anywheres.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Thet comes drorrin' through the mountains and acrosst the Lake, an' it can't be beat."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Thet comes drorrin' through the mountains and acrosst the Lake, an' it can't be beat."

anywheres

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Speakin' 'bout air--I can't see much difference 'twixt good air most anywheres.

askverbUS /æsk/

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading I made no reply for I feared he would ask me if I knew "New England up north".

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He turned to look at me, evidently surprised at my short silence.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Thet comes drorrin' through the mountains and acrosst the Lake, an' it can't be beat."

beatverbUS /biːt/

come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

From this reading Thet comes drorrin' through the mountains and acrosst the Lake, an' it can't be beat."

betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading Take it, now, up in New England, up north where I was raised, you can't get better nowheres.

boutnounUS /baʊt/

(sports) a division during which one team is on the offensive

From this reading "Speakin' 'bout air--I can't see much difference 'twixt good air most anywheres.

can't

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Speakin' 'bout air--I can't see much difference 'twixt good air most anywheres.

comesnounUS /kʌmz/

plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract

From this reading Thet comes drorrin' through the mountains and acrosst the Lake, an' it can't be beat."

differencenounUS /ˈdɪfərəns/

the quality of being unlike or dissimilar

From this reading "Speakin' 'bout air--I can't see much difference 'twixt good air most anywheres.

drorrin

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thet comes drorrin' through the mountains and acrosst the Lake, an' it can't be beat."

EnglandnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlənd/

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading Take it, now, up in New England, up north where I was raised, you can't get better nowheres.

evidentlyadverbUS /ˈevədəntli/

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading He turned to look at me, evidently surprised at my short silence.

fearedverbUS /fɪrd/

past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading I made no reply for I feared he would ask me if I knew "New England up north".

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I made no reply for I feared he would ask me if I knew "New England up north".

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Take it, now, up in New England, up north where I was raised, you can't get better nowheres.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading "Speakin' 'bout air--I can't see much difference 'twixt good air most anywheres.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading I made no reply for I feared he would ask me if I knew "New England up north".

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "Speakin' 'bout air--I can't see much difference 'twixt good air most anywheres.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading I made no reply for I feared he would ask me if I knew "New England up north".

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Take it, now, up in New England, up north where I was raised, you can't get better nowheres.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Take it, now, up in New England, up north where I was raised, you can't get better nowheres.

knewverbUS /nuː/

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading I made no reply for I feared he would ask me if I knew "New England up north".

LakenounUS /leɪk/

a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land

From this reading Thet comes drorrin' through the mountains and acrosst the Lake, an' it can't be beat."

lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading He turned to look at me, evidently surprised at my short silence.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading I made no reply for I feared he would ask me if I knew "New England up north".

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I made no reply for I feared he would ask me if I knew "New England up north".

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading "Speakin' 'bout air--I can't see much difference 'twixt good air most anywheres.

mountainsnounUS /ˈmaʊntənz/

plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading Thet comes drorrin' through the mountains and acrosst the Lake, an' it can't be beat."

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading "Speakin' 'bout air--I can't see much difference 'twixt good air most anywheres.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading He turned to look at me, evidently surprised at my short silence.

NewadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Take it, now, up in New England, up north where I was raised, you can't get better nowheres.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading I made no reply for I feared he would ask me if I knew "New England up north".

northnounUS /nɔːrθ/

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Take it, now, up in New England, up north where I was raised, you can't get better nowheres.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Take it, now, up in New England, up north where I was raised, you can't get better nowheres.

nowheres

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Take it, now, up in New England, up north where I was raised, you can't get better nowheres.

raisedadjectiveUS /reɪzd/

located or moved above the surround or above the normal position

From this reading Take it, now, up in New England, up north where I was raised, you can't get better nowheres.

replynounUS /rɪˈplaɪ/

a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation

From this reading I made no reply for I feared he would ask me if I knew "New England up north".

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading "Speakin' 'bout air--I can't see much difference 'twixt good air most anywheres.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading He turned to look at me, evidently surprised at my short silence.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading He turned to look at me, evidently surprised at my short silence.

Speakin

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Speakin' 'bout air--I can't see much difference 'twixt good air most anywheres.

surprisedadjectiveUS /sərˈpraɪzd/

taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment

From this reading He turned to look at me, evidently surprised at my short silence.

TakeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading Take it, now, up in New England, up north where I was raised, you can't get better nowheres.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Thet comes drorrin' through the mountains and acrosst the Lake, an' it can't be beat."

Thet

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thet comes drorrin' through the mountains and acrosst the Lake, an' it can't be beat."

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Thet comes drorrin' through the mountains and acrosst the Lake, an' it can't be beat."

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading He turned to look at me, evidently surprised at my short silence.

turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/

moved around an axis or center

From this reading He turned to look at me, evidently surprised at my short silence.

twixt

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Speakin' 'bout air--I can't see much difference 'twixt good air most anywheres.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Take it, now, up in New England, up north where I was raised, you can't get better nowheres.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Take it, now, up in New England, up north where I was raised, you can't get better nowheres.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Take it, now, up in New England, up north where I was raised, you can't get better nowheres.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading I made no reply for I feared he would ask me if I knew "New England up north".

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Take it, now, up in New England, up north where I was raised, you can't get better nowheres.

Chapter 4 of A Cry in the Wilderness by Mary E. (Mary Ella) Waller holds 406 sentences, grouped into 82 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 4 of A Cry in the Wilderness contain?

Chapter 4 holds 406 sentences of A Cry in the Wilderness, unabridged, divided into 82 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of A Cry in the Wilderness by Mary E. (Mary Ella) Waller exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 406 sentences, grouped into 82 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 4 of A Cry in the Wilderness?

Work through the 82 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 82 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading A Cry in the Wilderness

Common questions about reading A Cry in the Wilderness by Mary E. (Mary Ella) Waller on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Cry in the Wilderness?

Yes. All 7395 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #34396 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Cry in the Wilderness is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #34396, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Cry in the Wilderness take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1479 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Cry in the Wilderness section by section

How to work through A Cry in the Wilderness section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 18 chapters of A Cry in the Wilderness to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in A Cry in the Wilderness

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Cry in the Wilderness, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Cry in the Wilderness; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Wood-carver
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Cry in the Wilderness; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Lympus
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Cry in the Wilderness; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Flamsted
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Cry in the Wilderness; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.