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Ballads of a Cheechako
Ballads of a Cheechako

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Ballads of a Cheechako is here in full — 177 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Ballads of a Cheechako
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Farewell!" we cried to our dearests; little we cared for their tears.
"Farewell!" we cried to the humdrum and the yoke of the hireling years; Just like a pack of school-boys, and the big crowd cheered us good-bye.
Never were hearts so uplifted, never were hopes so high.
The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.
And one man wanted a castle, another a racing stud; A third would cruise in a palace yacht like a red-necked prince of blood.
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.

Ballads of a Cheechako

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Ballads of a Cheechako is here in full — 177 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Farewell!" we cried to our dearests; little we cared for their tears.
Line 2
"Farewell!" we cried to the humdrum and the yoke of the hireling years; Just like a pack of school-boys, and the big crowd cheered us good-bye.
Line 3
Never were hearts so uplifted, never were hopes so high.
Line 4
The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.
Line 5
And one man wanted a castle, another a racing stud; A third would cruise in a palace yacht like a red-necked prince of blood.

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.

Blood noun US /blʌd/

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading “And one man wanted a castle, another a racing stud; A third would cruise in a palace yacht like a red-necked prince of blood.”

All words in this reading · 80

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 "Farewell!" we cried to the humdrum and the yoke of the hireling years; Just like a pack of school-boys, and the big crowd cheered us good-bye.

and

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to the humdrum and the yoke of the hireling years; Just like a pack of school-boys, and the big crowd cheered us good-bye.

another

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

From this reading And one man wanted a castle, another a racing stud; A third would cruise in a palace yacht like a red-necked prince of blood.

big

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to the humdrum and the yoke of the hireling years; Just like a pack of school-boys, and the big crowd cheered us good-bye.

bloodnounUS /blʌd/

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading And one man wanted a castle, another a racing stud; A third would cruise in a palace yacht like a red-necked prince of blood.

cared

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to our dearests; little we cared for their tears.

castle

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

From this reading And one man wanted a castle, another a racing stud; A third would cruise in a palace yacht like a red-necked prince of blood.

cheered

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to the humdrum and the yoke of the hireling years; Just like a pack of school-boys, and the big crowd cheered us good-bye.

cried

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to our dearests; little we cared for their tears.

crowd

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to the humdrum and the yoke of the hireling years; Just like a pack of school-boys, and the big crowd cheered us good-bye.

cruise

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

From this reading And one man wanted a castle, another a racing stud; A third would cruise in a palace yacht like a red-necked prince of blood.

dearests

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to our dearests; little we cared for their tears.

do

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

ever

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

every

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

Farewell

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to our dearests; little we cared for their tears.

flitted

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

for

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to our dearests; little we cared for their tears.

fortune

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

gold

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

good-bye

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to the humdrum and the yoke of the hireling years; Just like a pack of school-boys, and the big crowd cheered us good-bye.

got

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

gouging

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

hearts

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

From this reading Never were hearts so uplifted, never were hopes so high.

high

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

From this reading Never were hearts so uplifted, never were hopes so high.

hireling

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to the humdrum and the yoke of the hireling years; Just like a pack of school-boys, and the big crowd cheered us good-bye.

hopes

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

From this reading Never were hearts so uplifted, never were hopes so high.

humdrum

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to the humdrum and the yoke of the hireling years; Just like a pack of school-boys, and the big crowd cheered us good-bye.

Hurled

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

in

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

it

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

Just

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to the humdrum and the yoke of the hireling years; Just like a pack of school-boys, and the big crowd cheered us good-bye.

like

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to the humdrum and the yoke of the hireling years; Just like a pack of school-boys, and the big crowd cheered us good-bye.

little

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to our dearests; little we cared for their tears.

man

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

From this reading And one man wanted a castle, another a racing stud; A third would cruise in a palace yacht like a red-necked prince of blood.

nearer

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

Never

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

From this reading Never were hearts so uplifted, never were hopes so high.

nuggets

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

of

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to the humdrum and the yoke of the hireling years; Just like a pack of school-boys, and the big crowd cheered us good-bye.

one

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

From this reading And one man wanted a castle, another a racing stud; A third would cruise in a palace yacht like a red-necked prince of blood.

our

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to our dearests; little we cared for their tears.

out

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

pack

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to the humdrum and the yoke of the hireling years; Just like a pack of school-boys, and the big crowd cheered us good-bye.

palace

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

From this reading And one man wanted a castle, another a racing stud; A third would cruise in a palace yacht like a red-necked prince of blood.

past

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

planned

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

plums

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

prince

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

From this reading And one man wanted a castle, another a racing stud; A third would cruise in a palace yacht like a red-necked prince of blood.

racing

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

From this reading And one man wanted a castle, another a racing stud; A third would cruise in a palace yacht like a red-necked prince of blood.

red-necked

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

From this reading And one man wanted a castle, another a racing stud; A third would cruise in a palace yacht like a red-necked prince of blood.

river

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

sand

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

school-boys

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to the humdrum and the yoke of the hireling years; Just like a pack of school-boys, and the big crowd cheered us good-bye.

screw

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

shiny

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

shores

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

so

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

From this reading Never were hearts so uplifted, never were hopes so high.

spectral

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

stud

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

From this reading And one man wanted a castle, another a racing stud; A third would cruise in a palace yacht like a red-necked prince of blood.

tears

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to our dearests; little we cared for their tears.

the

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to the humdrum and the yoke of the hireling years; Just like a pack of school-boys, and the big crowd cheered us good-bye.

their

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to our dearests; little we cared for their tears.

There

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

third

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

From this reading And one man wanted a castle, another a racing stud; A third would cruise in a palace yacht like a red-necked prince of blood.

thumbs

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

to

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to our dearests; little we cared for their tears.

uplifted

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

From this reading Never were hearts so uplifted, never were hopes so high.

us

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to the humdrum and the yoke of the hireling years; Just like a pack of school-boys, and the big crowd cheered us good-bye.

wanted

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

From this reading And one man wanted a castle, another a racing stud; A third would cruise in a palace yacht like a red-necked prince of blood.

we

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to our dearests; little we cared for their tears.

we'd

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

were

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

From this reading Never were hearts so uplifted, never were hopes so high.

what

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

when

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

whirl

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

with

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

From this reading The spectral shores flitted past us, and every whirl of the screw Hurled us nearer to fortune, and ever we planned what we'd do-- Do with the gold when we got it--big, shiny nuggets like plums, There in the sand of the river, gouging it out with our thumbs.

would

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

From this reading And one man wanted a castle, another a racing stud; A third would cruise in a palace yacht like a red-necked prince of blood.

yacht

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

From this reading And one man wanted a castle, another a racing stud; A third would cruise in a palace yacht like a red-necked prince of blood.

years

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to the humdrum and the yoke of the hireling years; Just like a pack of school-boys, and the big crowd cheered us good-bye.

yoke

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

From this reading "Farewell!" we cried to the humdrum and the yoke of the hireling years; Just like a pack of school-boys, and the big crowd cheered us good-bye.

Chapter 4 of Ballads of a Cheechako by Robert W. (Robert William) Service holds 177 sentences, grouped into 36 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 4 of Ballads of a Cheechako contain?

Chapter 4 holds 177 sentences of Ballads of a Cheechako, unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 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 177 sentences, grouped into 36 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 4 of Ballads of a Cheechako?

Work through the 36 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 36 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 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 4 chapters of Ballads of a Cheechako 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 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.