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Ballads of a Cheechako

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Ballads of a Cheechako is here in full — 196 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Robert W. (Robert William) Service • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for Ballads of a Cheechako

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

A hole gaped in the river ice; the spray flashed--that was all.

A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

Narrator

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.

Chapter II Reading 1/39

Ballads of a Cheechako

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Ballads of a Cheechako is here in full — 196 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/39 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

Line 2

Line 3

Line 4

A hole gaped in the river ice; the spray flashed--that was all.

Line 5

A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

All words in this reading · 56

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.

a

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

From this reading She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

all

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

From this reading A hole gaped in the river ice; the spray flashed--that was all.

an

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

From this reading She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

and

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

From this reading She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

ball

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

From this reading She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

bird

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

black

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

blinding

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

bounded

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

From this reading She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

bright

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

carromed

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

From this reading She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

crag

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

From this reading She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

dight

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

down

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

From this reading She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

fall

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

From this reading She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

feet

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

From this reading She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

flashed

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

From this reading A hole gaped in the river ice; the spray flashed--that was all.

for

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

From this reading She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

fox

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

frail

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

From

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

From this reading She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

gaped

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

From this reading A hole gaped in the river ice; the spray flashed--that was all.

gay

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

glittering

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

hole

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

From this reading A hole gaped in the river ice; the spray flashed--that was all.

hundred

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

From this reading She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

ice

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

From this reading A hole gaped in the river ice; the spray flashed--that was all.

in

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

From this reading A hole gaped in the river ice; the spray flashed--that was all.

joy

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

land

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

like

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

From this reading She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

mail

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

man

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

nigh

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

From this reading She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

of

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

piercing

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

river

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

From this reading A hole gaped in the river ice; the spray flashed--that was all.

rolled

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

From this reading She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

sang

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

She

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

From this reading She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

skin

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

slid

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

snow

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

From this reading She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

so

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

spray

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

From this reading A hole gaped in the river ice; the spray flashed--that was all.

spring

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

sweet

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

that

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

From this reading A hole gaped in the river ice; the spray flashed--that was all.

the

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

From this reading A hole gaped in the river ice; the spray flashed--that was all.

through

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

From this reading She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

timber

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

From this reading She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

to

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

From this reading She rolled for nigh an hundred feet; she bounded like a ball; From crag to crag she carromed down through snow and timber fall; .

trail

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

was

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

From this reading A hole gaped in the river ice; the spray flashed--that was all.

with

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

wondrous

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

From this reading A bird sang for the joy of spring, so piercing sweet and frail; And blinding bright the land was dight in gay and glittering mail; And with a wondrous black fox skin a man slid down the trail.

Chapter 2 of Ballads of a Cheechako by Robert W. (Robert William) Service holds 196 sentences, grouped into 40 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 2 of Ballads of a Cheechako contain?

Chapter 2 holds 196 sentences of Ballads of a Cheechako, unabridged, divided into 40 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Ballads of a Cheechako by Robert W. (Robert William) Service exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 196 sentences, grouped into 40 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 2 of Ballads of a Cheechako?

Work through the 40 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 40 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Ballads of a Cheechako

Common questions about reading Ballads of a Cheechako by Robert W. (Robert William) Service on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Ballads of a Cheechako?

Yes. All 738 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #259 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Ballads of a Cheechako is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #259, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Ballads of a Cheechako take to read?

About 61 minutes of reading across 148 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Ballads of a Cheechako section by section

How to work through Ballads of a Cheechako section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 4 chapters of Ballads of a Cheechako to begin.
Read one section

Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in Ballads of a Cheechako

Words and structures a reader meets early in Ballads of a Cheechako, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

British-born: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ballads of a Cheechako; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Canadian: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ballads of a Cheechako; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Poet--: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ballads of a Cheechako; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Italicized: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ballads of a Cheechako; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.