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A Little Girl in Old San Francisco
A Little Girl in Old San Francisco

Chapter VII

Chapter 7 of A Little Girl in Old San Francisco is here in full — 227 sentences across 46 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for A Little Girl in Old San Francisco
Context Illustration Reading 1/45 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A TASTE OF GAYETY May was beautiful enough to make the heart leap for joy.
Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.
Bees were busy enough with their bustle and humming, birds were singing everywhere.
Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.
Oh, how enchanting it all was.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Little Girl in Old San Francisco

Chapter VII

Chapter 7 of A Little Girl in Old San Francisco is here in full — 227 sentences across 46 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/45 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A TASTE OF GAYETY May was beautiful enough to make the heart leap for joy.
Line 2
Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.
Line 3
Bees were busy enough with their bustle and humming, birds were singing everywhere.
/biːz wɜːr ˈbɪzi ɪˈnʌf wɪð ðer ˈbʌsəl ənd ˈhʌmɪŋ bɜːrdz wɜːr ˈsɪŋɪŋ ˈevriwer/
Line 4
Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.
Line 5
Oh, how enchanting it all was.

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.

bugs noun US /bʌɡz/

plural of “bug” — general term for any insect or similar creeping or crawling invertebrate

From this reading “Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.”

dazzle verb US /ˈdæzəl/

to cause someone to lose clear vision, especially from intense light

From this reading “Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.”

iridescent adjective US /ˌɪrəˈdesənt/

varying in color when seen in different lights or from different angles

From this reading “Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.”

lizards noun US /ˈlɪzərdz/

plural of “lizard” — relatively long-bodied reptile with usually two pairs of legs and a tapering tail

From this reading “Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.”

poppies noun US /ˈpɑːpiz/

plural of “poppy” — annual or biennial or perennial herbs having showy flowers

From this reading “Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.”

spikes noun US /spaɪks/

plural of “spike” — a transient variation in voltage or current

From this reading “Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.”

Squirrels noun US /ˈskwɜːrəlz/

plural of “squirrel” — a kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail

From this reading “Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.”

wooed verb US /wuːd/

past form of “woo” — seek someone's favor

From this reading “Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.”

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.

among the ferns preposition + article + noun counted as “among … fern”

In this reading “Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.”

clambered over verb + particle counted as “clamber over”

In this reading “Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.”

heart leap noun + noun

In this reading “A TASTE OF GAYETY May was beautiful enough to make the heart leap for joy.”

stood up verb + adjective

In this reading “Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.”

flung out verb + adjective counted as “fling out”

In this reading “Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.”

came out verb + adjective counted as “come out”

appear or become visible; make a showing

In this reading “Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.”

with joy preposition + noun

In this reading “Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.”

on the stones preposition + article + noun counted as “on … stone”

In this reading “Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.”

All words in this reading · 85

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 A TASTE OF GAYETY May was beautiful enough to make the heart leap for joy.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.

airnounUS /er/

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

From this reading Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Oh, how enchanting it all was.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

beautifuladjectiveUS /ˈbjuːtəfəl/

delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration

From this reading A TASTE OF GAYETY May was beautiful enough to make the heart leap for joy.

BeesnounUS /biːz/

plural of “bee” — any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species

From this reading Bees were busy enough with their bustle and humming, birds were singing everywhere.

birdsnounUS /bɜːrdz/

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading Bees were busy enough with their bustle and humming, birds were singing everywhere.

blood-redadjective

of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

blossomsnounUS /ˈblɑːsəmz/

plural of “blossom” — reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

bugsnounUS /bʌɡz/

plural of “bug” — general term for any insect or similar creeping or crawling invertebrate

From this reading Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.

bushesnounUS /ˈbʊʃəz/

plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

bustlenounUS /ˈbʌsəl/

a rapid active commotion

From this reading Bees were busy enough with their bustle and humming, birds were singing everywhere.

busyadjectiveUS /ˈbɪzi/

actively or fully engaged or occupied

From this reading Bees were busy enough with their bustle and humming, birds were singing everywhere.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.

clamberedverbUS /ˈklæmbərd/

past form of “clamber” — climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

dancenounUS /dæns/

an artistic form of nonverbal communication

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

dazzleverbUS /ˈdæzəl/

to cause someone to lose clear vision, especially from intense light

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

enchantingadjectiveUS /enˈtʃæntɪŋ/

capturing interest as if by a spell

From this reading Oh, how enchanting it all was.

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading A TASTE OF GAYETY May was beautiful enough to make the heart leap for joy.

everywhereadverbUS /ˈevriwer/

to or in any or all places

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

fernsnounUS /fɜːrnz/

plural of “fern” — any of numerous flowerless and seedless vascular plants having true roots from a rhizome and fronds that uncurl upward; reproduce by spores

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

flungverbUS /flʌŋ/

inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

flyingadjectiveUS /ˈflaɪɪŋ/

moving swiftly

From this reading Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A TASTE OF GAYETY May was beautiful enough to make the heart leap for joy.

GAYETY

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

From this reading A TASTE OF GAYETY May was beautiful enough to make the heart leap for joy.

goldenadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊldən/

having the deep slightly brownish color of gold

From this reading Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.

greennounUS /ɡriːn/

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.

grewverbUS /ɡruː/

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

harmlessadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrmləs/

not causing or capable of causing harm

From this reading Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading A TASTE OF GAYETY May was beautiful enough to make the heart leap for joy.

hillocks

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

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

how

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

From this reading Oh, how enchanting it all was.

hummingnounUS /ˈhʌmɪŋ/

a humming noise

From this reading Bees were busy enough with their bustle and humming, birds were singing everywhere.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

iridescentadjectiveUS /ˌɪrəˈdesənt/

varying in color when seen in different lights or from different angles

From this reading Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Oh, how enchanting it all was.

joynounUS /dʒɔɪ/

the emotion of great happiness

From this reading A TASTE OF GAYETY May was beautiful enough to make the heart leap for joy.

leapnounUS /liːp/

a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards

From this reading A TASTE OF GAYETY May was beautiful enough to make the heart leap for joy.

leavesnounUS /liːvz/

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

liliesnounUS /ˈlɪliz/

plural of “lily” — any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.

lizardsnounUS /ˈlɪzərdz/

plural of “lizard” — relatively long-bodied reptile with usually two pairs of legs and a tapering tail

From this reading Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading A TASTE OF GAYETY May was beautiful enough to make the heart leap for joy.

Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading A TASTE OF GAYETY May was beautiful enough to make the heart leap for joy.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A TASTE OF GAYETY May was beautiful enough to make the heart leap for joy.

OhnounUS /oʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading Oh, how enchanting it all was.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

pinknounUS /pɪŋk/

a light shade of red

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

poppiesnounUS /ˈpɑːpiz/

plural of “poppy” — annual or biennial or perennial herbs having showy flowers

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

rabbitsnounUS /ˈræbəts/

plural of “rabbit” — any of various burrowing animals of the family Leporidae having long ears and short tails; some domesticated and raised for pets or food

From this reading Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.

raysnounUS /reɪz/

plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)

From this reading Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.

Rose-bushes

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

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

scudded

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

From this reading Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

sentnounUS /sent/

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

shotnounUS /ʃɑːt/

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.

silkenadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlkən/

having a smooth, gleaming surface reflecting light

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

singingnounUS /ˈsɪŋɪŋ/

the act of singing vocal music

From this reading Bees were busy enough with their bustle and humming, birds were singing everywhere.

spikesnounUS /spaɪks/

plural of “spike” — a transient variation in voltage or current

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

SquirrelsnounUS /ˈskwɜːrəlz/

plural of “squirrel” — a kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail

From this reading Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.

stonesnounUS /stoʊnz/

plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.

stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

sunned

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

From this reading Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.

TASTEverbUS /teɪst/

To perceive flavor through the mouth.

From this reading A TASTE OF GAYETY May was beautiful enough to make the heart leap for joy.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A TASTE OF GAYETY May was beautiful enough to make the heart leap for joy.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading Squirrels and rabbits scudded about, little harmless lizards came out and sunned themselves on the stones, and great flying iridescent bugs that shot across the air with golden and green rays.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A TASTE OF GAYETY May was beautiful enough to make the heart leap for joy.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A TASTE OF GAYETY May was beautiful enough to make the heart leap for joy.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Bees were busy enough with their bustle and humming, birds were singing everywhere.

windnounUS /waɪnd/

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

wooedverbUS /wuːd/

past form of “woo” — seek someone's favor

From this reading Rose-bushes sent up spikes of pink and blood-red blossoms or clambered over hillocks, lilies stood up among the ferns and bushes, and the poppies that grew everywhere seemed to dance with joy, as they flung out their silken leaves in a dazzle, wooed by the wind.

Chapter 7 of A Little Girl in Old San Francisco by Amanda M. Douglas holds 227 sentences, grouped into 46 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 7 of A Little Girl in Old San Francisco contain?

Chapter 7 holds 227 sentences of A Little Girl in Old San Francisco, unabridged, divided into 46 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 7 of A Little Girl in Old San Francisco by Amanda M. Douglas exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 227 sentences, grouped into 46 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 7 of A Little Girl in Old San Francisco?

Work through the 46 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 46 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 7 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 7 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 Little Girl in Old San Francisco

Common questions about reading A Little Girl in Old San Francisco by Amanda M. Douglas on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Little Girl in Old San Francisco?

Yes. All 6421 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #42582 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Little Girl in Old San Francisco is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #42582, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Little Girl in Old San Francisco take to read?

About 535 minutes of reading across 1285 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Little Girl in Old San Francisco section by section

How to work through A Little Girl in Old San Francisco section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 20 chapters of A Little Girl in Old San Francisco 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 Little Girl in Old San Francisco

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Little Girl in Old San Francisco, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Https
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Little Girl in Old San Francisco; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Century
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Little Girl in Old San Francisco; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Queen
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Little Girl in Old San Francisco; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Western
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Little Girl in Old San Francisco; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.