Chapter 1 of Down the River is here in full — 113 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Down the River is here in full — 113 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
BUCK BRADFORD AND HIS TYRANTS. AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE RIVERDALE STORIES," ETC. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by WILLIAM T. ADAMS. In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. DOWN THE RIVER.
Chapter 1 of Down the River is here in full — 113 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/22 · 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.
American Revolutionary leader and patriot; an organizer of the Boston Tea Party and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1722-1803)
From this reading “Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by WILLIAM T. ADAMS.”
United States printer (born in England) whose press produced the first American prayer book and the New York City's first newspaper (1663-1752)
From this reading “BUCK BRADFORD AND HIS TYRANTS.”
to strive with determination
From this reading “BUCK BRADFORD AND HIS TYRANTS.”
possessive form of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading “In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.”
the legislature of the United States government
From this reading “Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by WILLIAM T. ADAMS.”
a state in New England; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading “In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.”
an organization of military vessels belonging to a country and available for sea warfare
From this reading “AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE RIVERDALE STORIES," ETC.”
plural of “tyrant” — a cruel and oppressive dictator
From this reading “BUCK BRADFORD AND HIS TYRANTS.”
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by WILLIAM T. ADAMS.
to or in a foreign country
From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE RIVERDALE STORIES," ETC.
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by WILLIAM T. ADAMS.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by WILLIAM T. ADAMS.
American Revolutionary leader and patriot; an organizer of the Boston Tea Party and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1722-1803)
From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by WILLIAM T. ADAMS.
North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776
From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE RIVERDALE STORIES," ETC.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BUCK BRADFORD AND HIS TYRANTS.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE RIVERDALE STORIES," ETC.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE RIVERDALE STORIES," ETC.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE RIVERDALE STORIES," ETC.
United States printer (born in England) whose press produced the first American prayer book and the New York City's first newspaper (1663-1752)
From this reading BUCK BRADFORD AND HIS TYRANTS.
to strive with determination
From this reading BUCK BRADFORD AND HIS TYRANTS.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by WILLIAM T. ADAMS.
possessive form of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.
the legislature of the United States government
From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by WILLIAM T. ADAMS.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.
a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading DOWN THE RIVER.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by WILLIAM T. ADAMS.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE RIVERDALE STORIES," ETC.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading BUCK BRADFORD AND HIS TYRANTS.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by WILLIAM T. ADAMS.
a state in New England; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.
an organization of military vessels belonging to a country and available for sea warfare
From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE RIVERDALE STORIES," ETC.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE RIVERDALE STORIES," ETC.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading DOWN THE RIVER.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE RIVERDALE STORIES," ETC.
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE RIVERDALE STORIES," ETC.
a base found in DNA (but not in RNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine
From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by WILLIAM T. ADAMS.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE RIVERDALE STORIES," ETC.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by WILLIAM T. ADAMS.
plural of “tyrant” — a cruel and oppressive dictator
From this reading BUCK BRADFORD AND HIS TYRANTS.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by WILLIAM T. ADAMS.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE RIVERDALE STORIES," ETC.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by WILLIAM T. ADAMS.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE RIVERDALE STORIES," ETC.
Chapter 1 of Down the River by Oliver Optic holds 113 sentences, grouped into 23 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 1 holds 113 sentences of Down the River, unabridged, divided into 23 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Down the River by Oliver Optic exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 113 sentences, grouped into 23 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 23 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 23 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 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.
Common questions about reading Down the River by Oliver Optic on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3859 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #24283 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #24283, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 321 minutes of reading across 772 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Down the River section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 26 chapters of Down the River 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 Down the River, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
