Chapter 14 of Charred Wood is here in full — 299 sentences across 60 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XIV
Chapter 14 of Charred Wood is here in full — 299 sentences across 60 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously. "Wake up," he called. "Will you come with me to Washington? When is there a train connecting with the Congressional Limited? Father Murray wants to catch that."
Chapter 14 of Charred Wood is here in full — 299 sentences across 60 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/59 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
of or relating to congress
From this reading “When is there a train connecting with the Congressional Limited?”
-ing form of “connect” — connect, fasten, or put together two or more pieces
From this reading “When is there a train connecting with the Congressional Limited?”
-ing form of “doze” — sleep lightly or for a short period of time
From this reading “THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.”
incapable of being explained or accounted for
From this reading “THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.”
a large entrance or reception room or area
From this reading “THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.”
British classical scholar (born in Australia) who advocated the League of Nations and the United Nations (1866-1957)
From this reading “Father Murray wants to catch that."”
in a quiet and tranquil manner
From this reading “THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.”
with vigor; in a vigorous manner
From this reading “THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When is there a train connecting with the Congressional Limited?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "Wake up," he called.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Father Murray wants to catch that."
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Will you come with me to Washington?
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.
of or relating to congress
From this reading When is there a train connecting with the Congressional Limited?
-ing form of “connect” — connect, fasten, or put together two or more pieces
From this reading When is there a train connecting with the Congressional Limited?
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.
-ing form of “doze” — sleep lightly or for a short period of time
From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Father Murray wants to catch that."
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Wake up," he called.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.
incapable of being explained or accounted for
From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When is there a train connecting with the Congressional Limited?
small in range or scope
From this reading When is there a train connecting with the Congressional Limited?
a large entrance or reception room or area
From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Will you come with me to Washington?
used to form the superlative
From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.
British classical scholar (born in Australia) who advocated the League of Nations and the United Nations (1866-1957)
From this reading Father Murray wants to catch that."
in a quiet and tranquil manner
From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.
done under pressure
From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.
chosen in preference to another
From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Father Murray wants to catch that."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.
in or at that place or location
From this reading When is there a train connecting with the Congressional Limited?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Will you come with me to Washington?
create by training and teaching
From this reading When is there a train connecting with the Congressional Limited?
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Wake up," he called.
with vigor; in a vigorous manner
From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.
be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading "Wake up," he called.
plural of “want” — a state of extreme poverty
From this reading Father Murray wants to catch that."
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.
the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading "Will you come with me to Washington?
at the time that
From this reading THE INEXPLICABLE Saunders, having selected the most comfortable chair in the hotel lobby, was dozing placidly when Mark rushed in, and shook the detective vigorously.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Will you come with me to Washington?
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Will you come with me to Washington?
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Will you come with me to Washington?
Chapter 14 of Charred Wood by Francis Clement Kelley holds 299 sentences, grouped into 60 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.
Chapter 14 holds 299 sentences of Charred Wood, unabridged, divided into 60 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 14 of Charred Wood by Francis Clement Kelley exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 299 sentences, grouped into 60 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.
Work through the 60 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 60 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 14 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.
Common questions about reading Charred Wood by Francis Clement Kelley on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4435 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #16585 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #16585, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 369 minutes of reading across 887 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Charred Wood section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 23 chapters of Charred Wood to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Charred Wood, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
