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A Soldier's Son
A Soldier's Son

Chapter IX · A Second Visit to the Cottage

Chapter IX of A Soldier's Son, “A Second Visit to the Cottage,” is here in full — 94 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for A Soldier's Son
Context Illustration Reading 1/18 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The next Sunday evening when Carol entered the shoemaker’s cottage, he was not alone as before.
"This is my daughter, Mrs. Scott, Master Carol, and her little girl," he said to Carol.
"We thought, maybe, you wouldn’t object if she listened to the reading too.
She cannot often go to church, because the little girl has been subject to epilepsy since she was two years old.
She’s just turned eight now.
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 Soldier's Son

Chapter IX · A Second Visit to the Cottage

Chapter IX of A Soldier's Son, “A Second Visit to the Cottage,” is here in full — 94 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/18 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The next Sunday evening when Carol entered the shoemaker’s cottage, he was not alone as before.
Line 2
"This is my daughter, Mrs. Scott, Master Carol, and her little girl," he said to Carol.
/ðɪs ɪz maɪ ˈdɔːtər ˈmɪsɪz skɑːt ˈmæstər ˈkærəl ənd hɜːr ˈlɪtəl ɡɜːrl hiː sed tuː ˈkærəl/
Line 3
"We thought, maybe, you wouldn’t object if she listened to the reading too.
Line 4
She cannot often go to church, because the little girl has been subject to epilepsy since she was two years old.
Line 5
She’s just turned eight now.

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.

Carol noun US /ˈkærəl/

joyful religious song celebrating the birth of Christ

From this reading “The next Sunday evening when Carol entered the shoemaker’s cottage, he was not alone as before.”

cottage noun US /ˈkɑːtədʒ/

a small house with a single story

From this reading “The next Sunday evening when Carol entered the shoemaker’s cottage, he was not alone as before.”

eight adjective US /eɪt/

being one more than seven

From this reading “She’s just turned eight now.”

epilepsy noun US /ˈepəlepsi/

a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by loss of consciousness and convulsions

From this reading “She cannot often go to church, because the little girl has been subject to epilepsy since she was two years old.”

maybe adverb US /ˈmeɪbi/

by chance

From this reading “"We thought, maybe, you wouldn’t object if she listened to the reading too.”

reading noun US /ˈriːdɪŋ/

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading “"We thought, maybe, you wouldn’t object if she listened to the reading too.”

Scott noun US /skɑːt/

award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)

From this reading “"This is my daughter, Mrs. Scott, Master Carol, and her little girl," he said to Carol.”

Sunday noun US /ˈsʌndeɪ/

first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

From this reading “The next Sunday evening when Carol entered the shoemaker’s cottage, he was not alone as before.”

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.

two years noun + noun

In this reading “She cannot often go to church, because the little girl has been subject to epilepsy since she was two years old.”

little girl adjective + noun

a youthful female person

In this reading “"This is my daughter, Mrs. Scott, Master Carol, and her little girl," he said to Carol.”

All words in this reading · 57

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.

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading The next Sunday evening when Carol entered the shoemaker’s cottage, he was not alone as before.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "This is my daughter, Mrs. Scott, Master Carol, and her little girl," he said to Carol.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The next Sunday evening when Carol entered the shoemaker’s cottage, he was not alone as before.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading She cannot often go to church, because the little girl has been subject to epilepsy since she was two years old.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She cannot often go to church, because the little girl has been subject to epilepsy since she was two years old.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The next Sunday evening when Carol entered the shoemaker’s cottage, he was not alone as before.

cannot

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

From this reading She cannot often go to church, because the little girl has been subject to epilepsy since she was two years old.

CarolnounUS /ˈkærəl/

joyful religious song celebrating the birth of Christ

From this reading The next Sunday evening when Carol entered the shoemaker’s cottage, he was not alone as before.

churchnounUS /tʃɜːrtʃ/

one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship

From this reading She cannot often go to church, because the little girl has been subject to epilepsy since she was two years old.

cottagenounUS /ˈkɑːtədʒ/

a small house with a single story

From this reading The next Sunday evening when Carol entered the shoemaker’s cottage, he was not alone as before.

daughternounUS /ˈdɔːtər/

a female human offspring

From this reading "This is my daughter, Mrs. Scott, Master Carol, and her little girl," he said to Carol.

eightadjectiveUS /eɪt/

being one more than seven

From this reading She’s just turned eight now.

enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading The next Sunday evening when Carol entered the shoemaker’s cottage, he was not alone as before.

epilepsynounUS /ˈepəlepsi/

a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by loss of consciousness and convulsions

From this reading She cannot often go to church, because the little girl has been subject to epilepsy since she was two years old.

eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading The next Sunday evening when Carol entered the shoemaker’s cottage, he was not alone as before.

girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

From this reading "This is my daughter, Mrs. Scott, Master Carol, and her little girl," he said to Carol.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading She cannot often go to church, because the little girl has been subject to epilepsy since she was two years old.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading She cannot often go to church, because the little girl has been subject to epilepsy since she was two years old.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The next Sunday evening when Carol entered the shoemaker’s cottage, he was not alone as before.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading "This is my daughter, Mrs. Scott, Master Carol, and her little girl," he said to Carol.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "We thought, maybe, you wouldn’t object if she listened to the reading too.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "This is my daughter, Mrs. Scott, Master Carol, and her little girl," he said to Carol.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading She’s just turned eight now.

listenedverbUS /ˈlɪsənd/

past form of “listen” — hear with intention

From this reading "We thought, maybe, you wouldn’t object if she listened to the reading too.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading "This is my daughter, Mrs. Scott, Master Carol, and her little girl," he said to Carol.

MasternounUS /ˈmæstər/

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading "This is my daughter, Mrs. Scott, Master Carol, and her little girl," he said to Carol.

maybeadverbUS /ˈmeɪbi/

by chance

From this reading "We thought, maybe, you wouldn’t object if she listened to the reading too.

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading "This is my daughter, Mrs. Scott, Master Carol, and her little girl," he said to Carol.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "This is my daughter, Mrs. Scott, Master Carol, and her little girl," he said to Carol.

nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading The next Sunday evening when Carol entered the shoemaker’s cottage, he was not alone as before.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The next Sunday evening when Carol entered the shoemaker’s cottage, he was not alone as before.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading She’s just turned eight now.

objectnounUS /ˈɑːbdʒekt/

a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow

From this reading "We thought, maybe, you wouldn’t object if she listened to the reading too.

oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/

many times at short intervals

From this reading She cannot often go to church, because the little girl has been subject to epilepsy since she was two years old.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading She cannot often go to church, because the little girl has been subject to epilepsy since she was two years old.

readingnounUS /ˈriːdɪŋ/

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading "We thought, maybe, you wouldn’t object if she listened to the reading too.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "This is my daughter, Mrs. Scott, Master Carol, and her little girl," he said to Carol.

ScottnounUS /skɑːt/

award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)

From this reading "This is my daughter, Mrs. Scott, Master Carol, and her little girl," he said to Carol.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "We thought, maybe, you wouldn’t object if she listened to the reading too.

She's

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

From this reading She’s just turned eight now.

shoemaker's

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

From this reading The next Sunday evening when Carol entered the shoemaker’s cottage, he was not alone as before.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading She cannot often go to church, because the little girl has been subject to epilepsy since she was two years old.

subjectnounUS /səbˈdʒekt/

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading She cannot often go to church, because the little girl has been subject to epilepsy since she was two years old.

SundaynounUS /ˈsʌndeɪ/

first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

From this reading The next Sunday evening when Carol entered the shoemaker’s cottage, he was not alone as before.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The next Sunday evening when Carol entered the shoemaker’s cottage, he was not alone as before.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading "This is my daughter, Mrs. Scott, Master Carol, and her little girl," he said to Carol.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading "We thought, maybe, you wouldn’t object if she listened to the reading too.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "This is my daughter, Mrs. Scott, Master Carol, and her little girl," he said to Carol.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading "We thought, maybe, you wouldn’t object if she listened to the reading too.

turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/

moved around an axis or center

From this reading She’s just turned eight now.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading She cannot often go to church, because the little girl has been subject to epilepsy since she was two years old.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The next Sunday evening when Carol entered the shoemaker’s cottage, he was not alone as before.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "We thought, maybe, you wouldn’t object if she listened to the reading too.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The next Sunday evening when Carol entered the shoemaker’s cottage, he was not alone as before.

wouldn't

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

From this reading "We thought, maybe, you wouldn’t object if she listened to the reading too.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading She cannot often go to church, because the little girl has been subject to epilepsy since she was two years old.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "We thought, maybe, you wouldn’t object if she listened to the reading too.

Chapter 9 of A Soldier's Son by Maude Mary Butler holds 94 sentences, grouped into 19 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 9 of A Soldier's Son contain?

Chapter 9 holds 94 sentences of A Soldier's Son, unabridged, divided into 19 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 9 of A Soldier's Son by Maude Mary Butler exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 94 sentences, grouped into 19 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 9 of A Soldier's Son?

Work through the 19 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 19 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 9 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 9 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 Soldier's Son

Common questions about reading A Soldier's Son by Maude Mary Butler on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Soldier's Son?

Yes. All 2665 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #39538 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Soldier's Son is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #39538, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Soldier's Son take to read?

About 222 minutes of reading across 533 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Soldier's Son section by section

How to work through A Soldier's Son section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 27 chapters of A Soldier's Son 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 Soldier's Son

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Soldier's Son, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Boston
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Soldier's Son; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Children
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Soldier's Son; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Years
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Soldier's Son; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Science
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Soldier's Son; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.