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A Fool and His Money
A Fool and His Money

Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

Chapter 18 of A Fool and His Money is here in full — 261 sentences across 53 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for A Fool and His Money
Context Illustration Reading 1/52 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I SPEED THE PARTING GUEST Four o'clock in the morning is a graceless hour.
Graveyards may yawn at twelve but even they are content to slumber at four.
I don't believe there is anything so desolate in this world as the mental perspective one obtains at four o'clock.
Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.
The sunrise is a pall!
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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 Fool and His Money

Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

Chapter 18 of A Fool and His Money is here in full — 261 sentences across 53 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/52 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I SPEED THE PARTING GUEST Four o'clock in the morning is a graceless hour.
/aɪ spiːd ðə ˈpɑːrtɪŋ ɡest fɔːr əˈklɑːk ɪn ðə ˈmɔːrnɪŋ ɪz ə ˈɡreɪsləs ˈaʊər/
Line 2
Graveyards may yawn at twelve but even they are content to slumber at four.
/ˈɡreɪvjɑːrdz meɪ jɔːn æt twelv bʌt ˈiːvɪn ðeɪ ɑːr ˈkɑːntent tuː ˈslʌmbər æt fɔːr/
Line 3
I don't believe there is anything so desolate in this world as the mental perspective one obtains at four o'clock.
Line 4
Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.
Line 5
The sunrise is a pall!
/ðə ˈsʌnraɪz ɪz ə pɑːl/

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.

beacons noun US /ˈbiːkənz/

plural of “beacon” — a fire (usually on a hill or tower) that can be seen from a distance

From this reading “Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.”

budding noun US /ˈbʌdɪŋ/

reproduction of some unicellular organisms (such as yeasts) by growth and specialization followed by the separation by constriction of a part of the parent

From this reading “Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.”

graceless adjective US /ˈɡreɪsləs/

lacking graciousness

From this reading “I SPEED THE PARTING GUEST Four o'clock in the morning is a graceless hour.”

Graveyards noun US /ˈɡreɪvjɑːrdz/

plural of “graveyard” — a tract of land used for burials

From this reading “Graveyards may yawn at twelve but even they are content to slumber at four.”

monumental adjective US /ˌmɑːnjəˈmentəl/

relating or belonging to or serving as a monument

From this reading “Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.”

obtains verb US /əbˈteɪnz/

third-person singular of “obtain” — come into possession of

From this reading “I don't believe there is anything so desolate in this world as the mental perspective one obtains at four o'clock.”

Tombstones noun US /ˈtuːmstoʊnz/

plural of “tombstone” — a stone that is used to mark a grave

From this reading “Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.”

yawn verb US /jɔːn/

utter a yawn, as from lack of oxygen or when one is tired

From this reading “Graveyards may yawn at twelve but even they are content to slumber at four.”

All words in this reading · 60

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading I SPEED THE PARTING GUEST Four o'clock in the morning is a graceless hour.

allegedadjectiveUS /əˈledʒd/

declared but not proved

From this reading Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading I don't believe there is anything so desolate in this world as the mental perspective one obtains at four o'clock.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Graveyards may yawn at twelve but even they are content to slumber at four.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading I don't believe there is anything so desolate in this world as the mental perspective one obtains at four o'clock.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Graveyards may yawn at twelve but even they are content to slumber at four.

beaconsnounUS /ˈbiːkənz/

plural of “beacon” — a fire (usually on a hill or tower) that can be seen from a distance

From this reading Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.

believeverbUS /bɪˈliːv/

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading I don't believe there is anything so desolate in this world as the mental perspective one obtains at four o'clock.

brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.

buddingnounUS /ˈbʌdɪŋ/

reproduction of some unicellular organisms (such as yeasts) by growth and specialization followed by the separation by constriction of a part of the parent

From this reading Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Graveyards may yawn at twelve but even they are content to slumber at four.

cheerverbUS /tʃɪr/

give encouragement to

From this reading Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.

comparedverbUS /kəmˈperd/

past form of “compare” — examine and note the similarities or differences of

From this reading Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.

contentnounUS /ˈkɑːntent/

(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something

From this reading Graveyards may yawn at twelve but even they are content to slumber at four.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.

desolateadjectiveUS /ˈdesələt/

providing no shelter or sustenance

From this reading I don't believe there is anything so desolate in this world as the mental perspective one obtains at four o'clock.

don't

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

From this reading I don't believe there is anything so desolate in this world as the mental perspective one obtains at four o'clock.

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading Graveyards may yawn at twelve but even they are content to slumber at four.

experiencesnounUS /ɪkˈspɪriənsɪz/

plural of “experience” — the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities

From this reading Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.

FournounUS /fɔːr/

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading I SPEED THE PARTING GUEST Four o'clock in the morning is a graceless hour.

gettingnounUS /ˈɡetɪŋ/

the act of acquiring something

From this reading Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.

gloriesnounUS /ˈɡlɔːriz/

plural of “glory” — a state of high honor

From this reading Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.

gracelessadjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪsləs/

lacking graciousness

From this reading I SPEED THE PARTING GUEST Four o'clock in the morning is a graceless hour.

GraveyardsnounUS /ˈɡreɪvjɑːrdz/

plural of “graveyard” — a tract of land used for burials

From this reading Graveyards may yawn at twelve but even they are content to slumber at four.

greetverbUS /ɡriːt/

express greetings upon meeting someone

From this reading Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.

GUESTnounUS /ɡest/

a visitor to whom hospitality is extended

From this reading I SPEED THE PARTING GUEST Four o'clock in the morning is a graceless hour.

hournounUS /ˈaʊər/

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading I SPEED THE PARTING GUEST Four o'clock in the morning is a graceless hour.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I SPEED THE PARTING GUEST Four o'clock in the morning is a graceless hour.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I SPEED THE PARTING GUEST Four o'clock in the morning is a graceless hour.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading I SPEED THE PARTING GUEST Four o'clock in the morning is a graceless hour.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Graveyards may yawn at twelve but even they are content to slumber at four.

mentaladjectiveUS /ˈmentəl/

involving the mind or an intellectual process

From this reading I don't believe there is anything so desolate in this world as the mental perspective one obtains at four o'clock.

monumentaladjectiveUS /ˌmɑːnjəˈmentəl/

relating or belonging to or serving as a monument

From this reading Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading I SPEED THE PARTING GUEST Four o'clock in the morning is a graceless hour.

o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/

according to the clock

From this reading I SPEED THE PARTING GUEST Four o'clock in the morning is a graceless hour.

obtainsverbUS /əbˈteɪnz/

third-person singular of “obtain” — come into possession of

From this reading I don't believe there is anything so desolate in this world as the mental perspective one obtains at four o'clock.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading I don't believe there is anything so desolate in this world as the mental perspective one obtains at four o'clock.

over-rated

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

From this reading Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.

pallverbUS /pɑːl/

become less interesting or attractive

From this reading The sunrise is a pall!

PARTINGnounUS /ˈpɑːrtɪŋ/

the act of departing politely

From this reading I SPEED THE PARTING GUEST Four o'clock in the morning is a graceless hour.

perspectivenounUS /pərˈspektɪv/

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading I don't believe there is anything so desolate in this world as the mental perspective one obtains at four o'clock.

regretverbUS /rəˈɡret/

feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about

From this reading Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.

slumbernounUS /ˈslʌmbər/

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading Graveyards may yawn at twelve but even they are content to slumber at four.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I don't believe there is anything so desolate in this world as the mental perspective one obtains at four o'clock.

SPEEDverbUS /spiːd/

move hurridly

From this reading I SPEED THE PARTING GUEST Four o'clock in the morning is a graceless hour.

sunrisenounUS /ˈsʌnraɪz/

the first light of day

From this reading The sunrise is a pall!

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I SPEED THE PARTING GUEST Four o'clock in the morning is a graceless hour.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading I don't believe there is anything so desolate in this world as the mental perspective one obtains at four o'clock.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Graveyards may yawn at twelve but even they are content to slumber at four.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading I don't believe there is anything so desolate in this world as the mental perspective one obtains at four o'clock.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Graveyards may yawn at twelve but even they are content to slumber at four.

TombstonesnounUS /ˈtuːmstoʊnz/

plural of “tombstone” — a stone that is used to mark a grave

From this reading Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.

twelvenounUS /twelv/

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading Graveyards may yawn at twelve but even they are content to slumber at four.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.

vastlyadverbUS /ˈvæstli/

to an exceedingly great extent or degree

From this reading Tombstones are bright beacons of cheer as compared to the monumental regret one experiences on getting up to greet the alleged and vastly over-rated glories of a budding day.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading I don't believe there is anything so desolate in this world as the mental perspective one obtains at four o'clock.

yawnverbUS /jɔːn/

utter a yawn, as from lack of oxygen or when one is tired

From this reading Graveyards may yawn at twelve but even they are content to slumber at four.

Chapter 18 of A Fool and His Money by George Barr McCutcheon holds 261 sentences, grouped into 53 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 18 of A Fool and His Money contain?

Chapter 18 holds 261 sentences of A Fool and His Money, unabridged, divided into 53 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 18 of A Fool and His Money by George Barr McCutcheon exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 261 sentences, grouped into 53 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 18 of A Fool and His Money?

Work through the 53 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 53 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 18 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 18 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 Fool and His Money

Common questions about reading A Fool and His Money by George Barr McCutcheon on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Fool and His Money?

Yes. All 7513 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #6325 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Fool and His Money is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #6325, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Fool and His Money take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1503 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Fool and His Money section by section

How to work through A Fool and His Money section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  2. Read one section

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  3. Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in A Fool and His Money

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Fool and His Money, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Quite
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Fool and His Money; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Uncle
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Fool and His Money; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rilas
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Fool and His Money; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Memory
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Fool and His Money; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.