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Ben, the Luggage Boy
Ben, the Luggage Boy

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Ben, the Luggage Boy is here in full — 15 sentences across 3 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Horatio, Jr. Alger • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Ben, the Luggage Boy
Context Illustration Reading 1/3 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Captions have been added to the illustration markers for the convenience of some readers.
These have been indicated by an asterisk.
A list of some of the author's other books has been moved from the front papers to the end of the book.
AMONG THE WHARVES.
AUTHOR OF "RAGGED DICK," "FAME AND FORTUNE," "MARK, THE MATCH BOY," "ROUGH AND READY," "CAMPAIGN SERIES," "LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES," ETC.
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.

Ben, the Luggage Boy

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Ben, the Luggage Boy is here in full — 15 sentences across 3 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/3 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Captions have been added to the illustration markers for the convenience of some readers.
/ˈkæpʃənz hæv bɪn ˈædəd tuː ðə ˌɪləˈstreɪʃən ˈmɑːrkərz fɔːr ðə kənˈviːnjəns ʌv sʌm ˈriːdərz/
Line 2
These have been indicated by an asterisk.
/ðiːz hæv bɪn ˈɪndəkeɪtəd baɪ æn ˈæstərɪsk/
Line 3
A list of some of the author's other books has been moved from the front papers to the end of the book.
/ə lɪst ʌv sʌm ʌv ðə ˈɔːθərz ˈʌðər bʊks hæz bɪn muːvd frʌm ðə frʌnt ˈpeɪpərz tuː ðə end ʌv ðə bʊk/
Line 4
AMONG THE WHARVES.
Line 5
AUTHOR OF "RAGGED DICK," "FAME AND FORTUNE," "MARK, THE MATCH BOY," "ROUGH AND READY," "CAMPAIGN SERIES," "LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES," ETC.

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.

asterisk noun US /ˈæstərɪsk/

a star-shaped character * used in printing

From this reading “These have been indicated by an asterisk.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
author's noun US /ˈɔːθərz/

possessive form of “author” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading “A list of some of the author's other books has been moved from the front papers to the end of the book.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
campaign noun US /kæmˈpeɪn/

a race between candidates for elective office

From this reading “AUTHOR OF "RAGGED DICK," "FAME AND FORTUNE," "MARK, THE MATCH BOY," "ROUGH AND READY," "CAMPAIGN SERIES," "LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES," ETC.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Captions noun US /ˈkæpʃənz/

plural of “caption” — taking exception; especially a quibble based on a captious argument

From this reading “Captions have been added to the illustration markers for the convenience of some readers.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
convenience noun US /kənˈviːnjəns/

the state of being suitable or opportune

From this reading “Captions have been added to the illustration markers for the convenience of some readers.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
illustration noun US /ˌɪləˈstreɪʃən/

artwork that helps make something clear or attractive

From this reading “Captions have been added to the illustration markers for the convenience of some readers.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
markers noun US /ˈmɑːrkərz/

plural of “marker” — some conspicuous object used to distinguish or mark something

From this reading “Captions have been added to the illustration markers for the convenience of some readers.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pluck verb US /plʌk/

pull or pull out sharply

From this reading “AUTHOR OF "RAGGED DICK," "FAME AND FORTUNE," "MARK, THE MATCH BOY," "ROUGH AND READY," "CAMPAIGN SERIES," "LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES," ETC.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 48

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading A list of some of the author's other books has been moved from the front papers to the end of the book.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
addedverbUS /ˈædəd/

past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading Captions have been added to the illustration markers for the convenience of some readers.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
AMONGprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading AMONG THE WHARVES.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading These have been indicated by an asterisk.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "RAGGED DICK," "FAME AND FORTUNE," "MARK, THE MATCH BOY," "ROUGH AND READY," "CAMPAIGN SERIES," "LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES," ETC.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
asterisknounUS /ˈæstərɪsk/

a star-shaped character * used in printing

From this reading These have been indicated by an asterisk.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
AUTHORnounUS /ˈɔːθər/

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading AUTHOR OF "RAGGED DICK," "FAME AND FORTUNE," "MARK, THE MATCH BOY," "ROUGH AND READY," "CAMPAIGN SERIES," "LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
author'snounUS /ˈɔːθərz/

possessive form of “author” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading A list of some of the author's other books has been moved from the front papers to the end of the book.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Captions have been added to the illustration markers for the convenience of some readers.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
booknounUS /bʊk/

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading A list of some of the author's other books has been moved from the front papers to the end of the book.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
booksnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading A list of some of the author's other books has been moved from the front papers to the end of the book.

Velmora curated lexicon
BOYnounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading AUTHOR OF "RAGGED DICK," "FAME AND FORTUNE," "MARK, THE MATCH BOY," "ROUGH AND READY," "CAMPAIGN SERIES," "LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading These have been indicated by an asterisk.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
CAMPAIGNnounUS /kæmˈpeɪn/

a race between candidates for elective office

From this reading AUTHOR OF "RAGGED DICK," "FAME AND FORTUNE," "MARK, THE MATCH BOY," "ROUGH AND READY," "CAMPAIGN SERIES," "LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CaptionsnounUS /ˈkæpʃənz/

plural of “caption” — taking exception; especially a quibble based on a captious argument

From this reading Captions have been added to the illustration markers for the convenience of some readers.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
conveniencenounUS /kənˈviːnjəns/

the state of being suitable or opportune

From this reading Captions have been added to the illustration markers for the convenience of some readers.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DICKnounUS /dɪk/

someone who is a detective

From this reading AUTHOR OF "RAGGED DICK," "FAME AND FORTUNE," "MARK, THE MATCH BOY," "ROUGH AND READY," "CAMPAIGN SERIES," "LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading A list of some of the author's other books has been moved from the front papers to the end of the book.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ETC

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "RAGGED DICK," "FAME AND FORTUNE," "MARK, THE MATCH BOY," "ROUGH AND READY," "CAMPAIGN SERIES," "LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES," ETC.

Pending verification
FAMEnounUS /feɪm/

the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed

From this reading AUTHOR OF "RAGGED DICK," "FAME AND FORTUNE," "MARK, THE MATCH BOY," "ROUGH AND READY," "CAMPAIGN SERIES," "LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Captions have been added to the illustration markers for the convenience of some readers.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
FORTUNEnounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃən/

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading AUTHOR OF "RAGGED DICK," "FAME AND FORTUNE," "MARK, THE MATCH BOY," "ROUGH AND READY," "CAMPAIGN SERIES," "LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A list of some of the author's other books has been moved from the front papers to the end of the book.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
frontnounUS /frʌnt/

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading A list of some of the author's other books has been moved from the front papers to the end of the book.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading A list of some of the author's other books has been moved from the front papers to the end of the book.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Captions have been added to the illustration markers for the convenience of some readers.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
illustrationnounUS /ˌɪləˈstreɪʃən/

artwork that helps make something clear or attractive

From this reading Captions have been added to the illustration markers for the convenience of some readers.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
indicatedverbUS /ˈɪndəkeɪtəd/

past form of “indicate” — be a signal for or a symptom of

From this reading These have been indicated by an asterisk.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
listverbUS /lɪst/

give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of

From this reading A list of some of the author's other books has been moved from the front papers to the end of the book.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LUCKnounUS /lʌk/

your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

From this reading AUTHOR OF "RAGGED DICK," "FAME AND FORTUNE," "MARK, THE MATCH BOY," "ROUGH AND READY," "CAMPAIGN SERIES," "LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MARKverbUS /mɑːrk/

attach a tag or label to

From this reading AUTHOR OF "RAGGED DICK," "FAME AND FORTUNE," "MARK, THE MATCH BOY," "ROUGH AND READY," "CAMPAIGN SERIES," "LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
markersnounUS /ˈmɑːrkərz/

plural of “marker” — some conspicuous object used to distinguish or mark something

From this reading Captions have been added to the illustration markers for the convenience of some readers.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MATCHverbUS /mætʃ/

be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics

From this reading AUTHOR OF "RAGGED DICK," "FAME AND FORTUNE," "MARK, THE MATCH BOY," "ROUGH AND READY," "CAMPAIGN SERIES," "LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
movedadjectiveUS /muːvd/

being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion

From this reading A list of some of the author's other books has been moved from the front papers to the end of the book.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Captions have been added to the illustration markers for the convenience of some readers.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading A list of some of the author's other books has been moved from the front papers to the end of the book.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
papersnounUS /ˈpeɪpərz/

writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading A list of some of the author's other books has been moved from the front papers to the end of the book.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PLUCKverbUS /plʌk/

pull or pull out sharply

From this reading AUTHOR OF "RAGGED DICK," "FAME AND FORTUNE," "MARK, THE MATCH BOY," "ROUGH AND READY," "CAMPAIGN SERIES," "LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RAGGEDadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/

being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn

From this reading AUTHOR OF "RAGGED DICK," "FAME AND FORTUNE," "MARK, THE MATCH BOY," "ROUGH AND READY," "CAMPAIGN SERIES," "LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
readersnounUS /ˈriːdərz/

plural of “reader” — a person who enjoys reading

From this reading Captions have been added to the illustration markers for the convenience of some readers.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
READYadjectiveUS /ˈredi/

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading AUTHOR OF "RAGGED DICK," "FAME AND FORTUNE," "MARK, THE MATCH BOY," "ROUGH AND READY," "CAMPAIGN SERIES," "LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ROUGHadjectiveUS /rʌf/

having or caused by an irregular surface

From this reading AUTHOR OF "RAGGED DICK," "FAME AND FORTUNE," "MARK, THE MATCH BOY," "ROUGH AND READY," "CAMPAIGN SERIES," "LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SERIESnounUS /ˈsɪriz/

similar things placed in order or happening one after another

From this reading AUTHOR OF "RAGGED DICK," "FAME AND FORTUNE," "MARK, THE MATCH BOY," "ROUGH AND READY," "CAMPAIGN SERIES," "LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Captions have been added to the illustration markers for the convenience of some readers.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Captions have been added to the illustration markers for the convenience of some readers.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading These have been indicated by an asterisk.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Captions have been added to the illustration markers for the convenience of some readers.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WHARVES

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

From this reading AMONG THE WHARVES.

Pending verification

Chapter 1 of Ben, the Luggage Boy by Horatio, Jr. Alger holds 15 sentences, grouped into 3 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 1 of Ben, the Luggage Boy contain?

Chapter 1 holds 15 sentences of Ben, the Luggage Boy, unabridged, divided into 3 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Ben, the Luggage Boy by Horatio, Jr. Alger exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 15 sentences, grouped into 3 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 1 of Ben, the Luggage Boy?

Work through the 3 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 3 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 Ben, the Luggage Boy

Common questions about reading Ben, the Luggage Boy by Horatio, Jr. Alger on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Ben, the Luggage Boy?

Yes. All 3480 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #28381 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Ben, the Luggage Boy is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #28381, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Ben, the Luggage Boy take to read?

About 290 minutes of reading across 696 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Ben, the Luggage Boy section by section

How to work through Ben, the Luggage Boy section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 26 chapters of Ben, the Luggage Boy 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 Ben, the Luggage Boy

Words and structures a reader meets early in Ben, the Luggage Boy, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Captions
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ben, the Luggage Boy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Added
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ben, the Luggage Boy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Illustration
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ben, the Luggage Boy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Markers
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ben, the Luggage Boy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.