Digging for Gold: A Story of California

Chapter II · Grant and His Mother

Chapter II of Digging for Gold: A Story of California, “Grant and His Mother,” is here in full — 141 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Horatio, Jr. Alger • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for Digging for Gold: A Story of California

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

“Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?

Why is to-day any different from ordinary days?”

“I am sixteen to-day, mother!”

“So you are, Grant.

Narrator

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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

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Chapter II Reading 1/28

Digging for Gold: A Story of California

Chapter II · Grant and His Mother

Chapter II of Digging for Gold: A Story of California, “Grant and His Mother,” is here in full — 141 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

“Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

Line 2

His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?

/hɪz ˈmʌðər lʊkt ʌp frʌm ðə ˈteɪbəl wer ʃiː wɑːz ˈkʌtɪŋ aʊt paɪ krʌst ənd æskt ɪn sərˈpraɪz wʌt duː juː miːn ɡrænt/

Line 3

Why is to-day any different from ordinary days?”

Line 4

“I am sixteen to-day, mother!”

Line 5

“So you are, Grant.

/soʊ juː ɑːr ɡrænt/

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.

crust noun US /krʌst/

the outer layer of the Earth

From this reading “His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?”

cutting noun US /ˈkʌtɪŋ/

the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film

From this reading “His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?”

deposited verb US /dəˈpɑːzɪtɪd/

past form of “deposit” — put, fix, force, or implant

From this reading ““Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.”

Grant verb US /ɡrænt/

let have

From this reading ““Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.”

ordinary noun US /ˈɔːrdəneri/

a judge of a probate court

From this reading “Why is to-day any different from ordinary days?””

pie noun US /paɪ/

dish baked in pastry-lined pan often with a pastry top

From this reading “His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?”

sixteen adjective US /sɪkˈstiːn/

being one more than fifteen

From this reading ““I am sixteen to-day, mother!””

stove noun US /stoʊv/

a kitchen appliance used for cooking food

From this reading ““Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.”

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.

behind the stove preposition + article + noun counted as “behind … stove”

In this reading ““Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.”

entered the kitchen verb + article + noun counted as “enter … kitchen”

In this reading ““Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.”

with an armful preposition + article + noun counted as “with … armful”

In this reading ““Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.”

looked up verb + adjective counted as “look up”

seek information from

In this reading “His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?”

from the table preposition + article + noun counted as “from … table”

In this reading “His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?”

in surprise preposition + noun

In this reading “His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?”

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.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading “I am sixteen to-day, mother!”

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Why is to-day any different from ordinary days?”

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading “So you are, Grant.

armfulnoun

the quantity that can be contained in the arms

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

boxnounUS /bɑːks/

a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

Colburn

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

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

crustnounUS /krʌst/

the outer layer of the Earth

From this reading His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?

cuttingnounUS /ˈkʌtɪŋ/

the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film

From this reading His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Why is to-day any different from ordinary days?”

depositedverbUS /dəˈpɑːzɪtɪd/

past form of “deposit” — put, fix, force, or implant

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

differentadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfərənt/

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading Why is to-day any different from ordinary days?”

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?

enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?

GrantverbUS /ɡrænt/

let have

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “I am sixteen to-day, mother!”

importantadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɔːrtənt/

of great significance or value

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

kitchennounUS /ˈkɪtʃən/

a room equipped for preparing meals

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

meanverbUS /miːn/

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?

MothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

ordinarynounUS /ˈɔːrdəneri/

a judge of a probate court

From this reading Why is to-day any different from ordinary days?”

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?

pienounUS /paɪ/

dish baked in pastry-lined pan often with a pastry top

From this reading His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?

sixteenadjectiveUS /sɪkˈstiːn/

being one more than fifteen

From this reading “I am sixteen to-day, mother!”

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “So you are, Grant.

stovenounUS /stoʊv/

a kitchen appliance used for cooking food

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

surprisenounUS /sərˈpraɪz/

the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?

tablenounUS /ˈteɪbəl/

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

to-day

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

From this reading Why is to-day any different from ordinary days?”

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?

WhynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading Why is to-day any different from ordinary days?”

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

woodnounUS /wʊd/

the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees

From this reading “Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box behind the stove.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust, and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant?

Chapter 2 of Digging for Gold: A Story of California by Horatio, Jr. Alger holds 141 sentences, grouped into 29 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 2 of Digging for Gold: A Story of California contain?

Chapter 2 holds 141 sentences of Digging for Gold: A Story of California, unabridged, divided into 29 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Digging for Gold: A Story of California by Horatio, Jr. Alger exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 141 sentences, grouped into 29 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 Digging for Gold: A Story of California?

Work through the 29 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 29 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.

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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.

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Yes. All 4804 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #53095 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #53095, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 400 minutes of reading across 961 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Digging for Gold: A Story of California

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Chapter II · Grant and His Mother

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Vocabulary met early in Digging for Gold: A Story of California