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Abroad at Home
Abroad at Home

Chapter XXI

Chapter 21 of Abroad at Home is here in full — 254 sentences across 51 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Julian Street • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Abroad at Home
Context Illustration Reading 1/50 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.
I quote a portion of it:
Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.
Pike County means more to Missouri than Missouri does to Pike.
Do you remember "Jim Bludso of the 'Prairie Belle'"?
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.

Abroad at Home

Chapter XXI

Chapter 21 of Abroad at Home is here in full — 254 sentences across 51 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/50 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.
Line 2
I quote a portion of it:
/aɪ kwoʊt ə ˈpɔːrʃən ʌv ɪt/
Line 3
Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.
Line 4
Pike County means more to Missouri than Missouri does to Pike.
/paɪk ˈkaʊnti miːnz mɔːr tuː məˈzʊri ðæn məˈzʊri dʌz tuː paɪk/
Line 5
Do you remember "Jim Bludso of the 'Prairie Belle'"?

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.

hams noun US /hæmz/

plural of “ham” — meat cut from the thigh of a hog (usually smoked)

From this reading “Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inviting adjective US /ˌɪnˈvaɪtɪŋ/

attractive and tempting

From this reading “PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Louisiana noun US /luːˌiːziˈænə/

a state in southern United States on the Gulf of Mexico; one of the Confederate states during the American Civil War

From this reading “PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Missouri noun US /məˈzʊri/

a midwestern state in central United States; a border state during the American Civil War, Missouri was admitted to the Confederacy without actually seceding from the Union

From this reading “Pike County means more to Missouri than Missouri does to Pike.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pike noun US /paɪk/

a broad highway designed for high-speed traffic

From this reading “PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
poker noun US /ˈpoʊkər/

fire iron consisting of a metal rod with a handle; used to stir a fire

From this reading “PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
quote verb US /kwoʊt/

repeat a passage from

From this reading “I quote a portion of it:”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Rhine noun US /raɪn/

United States parapsychologist (1895-1980)

From this reading “Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

red apples noun + noun counted as “red apple”

In this reading “Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.”

457 times in 426,212 chapters
big red adjective + noun

In this reading “Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.”

1,123 times in 426,212 chapters
old country adjective + noun

the country of origin of an immigrant

In this reading “Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.”

2,479 times in 426,212 chapters

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
applesnounUS /ˈæpəlz/

plural of “apple” — fruit with red or yellow or green skin and sweet to tart crisp whitish flesh

From this reading Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
BellenounUS /bel/

a young woman who is the most charming and beautiful of several rivals

From this reading Do you remember "Jim Bludso of the 'Prairie Belle'"?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Bludso

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

From this reading Do you remember "Jim Bludso of the 'Prairie Belle'"?

Pending verification
capons

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

From this reading Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.

Pending verification
countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CountynounUS /ˈkaʊnti/

(United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government

From this reading Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Do you remember "Jim Bludso of the 'Prairie Belle'"?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

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

From this reading Pike County means more to Missouri than Missouri does to Pike.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
estatesnounUS /ɪˈsteɪts/

plural of “estate” — everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities

From this reading Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
famousadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪməs/

widely known and esteemed

From this reading Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fineadjectiveUS /faɪn/

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hamsnounUS /hæmz/

plural of “ham” — meat cut from the thigh of a hog (usually smoked)

From this reading Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
invitingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvaɪtɪŋ/

attractive and tempting

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Jim

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

From this reading Do you remember "Jim Bludso of the 'Prairie Belle'"?

Pending verification
leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
letternounUS /ˈletər/

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LouisnounUS /ˈluːɪs/

United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion for 12 years (1914-1981)

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LouisiananounUS /luːˌiːziˈænə/

a state in southern United States on the Gulf of Mexico; one of the Confederate states during the American Civil War

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
meansnounUS /miːnz/

thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

From this reading Pike County means more to Missouri than Missouri does to Pike.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
milesnounUS /maɪlz/

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MissourinounUS /məˈzʊri/

a midwestern state in central United States; a border state during the American Civil War, Missouri was admitted to the Confederacy without actually seceding from the Union

From this reading Pike County means more to Missouri than Missouri does to Pike.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MonounUS /moʊ/

an indefinitely short time

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Pike County means more to Missouri than Missouri does to Pike.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

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

From this reading Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PIKEnounUS /paɪk/

a broad highway designed for high-speed traffic

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
POKERnounUS /ˈpoʊkər/

fire iron consisting of a metal rod with a handle; used to stir a fire

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
portionnounUS /ˈpɔːrʃən/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading I quote a portion of it:

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PrairienounUS /ˈpreri/

a treeless grassy plain

From this reading Do you remember "Jim Bludso of the 'Prairie Belle'"?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
quoteverbUS /kwoʊt/

repeat a passage from

From this reading I quote a portion of it:

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rareadjectiveUS /rer/

not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness

From this reading Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
receivedadjectiveUS /rəˈsiːvd/

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rednounUS /red/

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading Do you remember "Jim Bludso of the 'Prairie Belle'"?

Velmora curated lexicon
RhinenounUS /raɪn/

United States parapsychologist (1895-1980)

From this reading Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/

a partly sheltered anchorage

From this reading Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rocknounUS /rɑːk/

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
scenerynounUS /ˈsiːnəri/

the painted structures of a stage set that are intended to suggest a particular locale

From this reading Louisiana is in Pike County, a county famous for its big red apples, miles of rock roads, fine old estates, Rhine scenery, capons, rare old country hams, and poker.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
St

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

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

Pending verification
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Pike County means more to Missouri than Missouri does to Pike.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
townnounUS /taʊn/

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
visitverbUS /ˈvɪzɪt/

go to see a place, as for entertainment

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading PIKE AND POKER It was before we left St. Louis that I received a letter inviting us to visit in the town of Louisiana, Mo.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Do you remember "Jim Bludso of the 'Prairie Belle'"?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 21 of Abroad at Home by Julian Street holds 254 sentences, grouped into 51 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 21 of Abroad at Home contain?

Chapter 21 holds 254 sentences of Abroad at Home, unabridged, divided into 51 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 21 of Abroad at Home by Julian Street exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 254 sentences, grouped into 51 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 21 of Abroad at Home?

Work through the 51 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 51 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 21 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 21 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 Abroad at Home

Common questions about reading Abroad at Home by Julian Street on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Abroad at Home?

Yes. All 6105 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #35965 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Abroad at Home is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #35965, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Abroad at Home take to read?

About 508 minutes of reading across 1221 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Abroad at Home section by section

How to work through Abroad at Home section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of Abroad at Home 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 Abroad at Home

Words and structures a reader meets early in Abroad at Home, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Fifth
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Abroad at Home; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Anniversary
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Abroad at Home; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Edition
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Abroad at Home; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Illustrated
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Abroad at Home; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.