Chapter 2 of Fame and Fortune is here in full — 210 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
Chapter 2 of Fame and Fortune is here in full — 210 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
INTRODUCTION TO MERCANTILE LIFE. Frank Whitney was indeed surprised to find the ragged boot-black of a year before so wonderfully changed. He grasped Dick's hand, and shook it heartily. "Uncle," he said, "this is Dick. Isn't he changed?"
Chapter 2 of Fame and Fortune is here in full — 210 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/42 · 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.
possessive form of “dick” — someone who is a detective
From this reading “He grasped Dick's hand, and shook it heartily.”
past form of “grasp” — hold firmly
From this reading “He grasped Dick's hand, and shook it heartily.”
with gusto and without reservation
From this reading “He grasped Dick's hand, and shook it heartily.”
the act of beginning something new
From this reading “INTRODUCTION TO MERCANTILE LIFE.”
of or relating to the economic system of mercantilism
From this reading “INTRODUCTION TO MERCANTILE LIFE.”
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading “Frank Whitney was indeed surprised to find the ragged boot-black of a year before so wonderfully changed.”
United States inventor of the mechanical cotton gin (1765-1825)
From this reading “Frank Whitney was indeed surprised to find the ragged boot-black of a year before so wonderfully changed.”
(used as an intensifier) extremely well
From this reading “Frank Whitney was indeed surprised to find the ragged boot-black of a year before so wonderfully changed.”
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 Frank Whitney was indeed surprised to find the ragged boot-black of a year before so wonderfully changed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He grasped Dick's hand, and shook it heartily.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Frank Whitney was indeed surprised to find the ragged boot-black of a year before so wonderfully changed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Frank Whitney was indeed surprised to find the ragged boot-black of a year before so wonderfully changed.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading Frank Whitney was indeed surprised to find the ragged boot-black of a year before so wonderfully changed.
someone who is a detective
From this reading "Uncle," he said, "this is Dick.
possessive form of “dick” — someone who is a detective
From this reading He grasped Dick's hand, and shook it heartily.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Frank Whitney was indeed surprised to find the ragged boot-black of a year before so wonderfully changed.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading Frank Whitney was indeed surprised to find the ragged boot-black of a year before so wonderfully changed.
past form of “grasp” — hold firmly
From this reading He grasped Dick's hand, and shook it heartily.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He grasped Dick's hand, and shook it heartily.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He grasped Dick's hand, and shook it heartily.
with gusto and without reservation
From this reading He grasped Dick's hand, and shook it heartily.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Frank Whitney was indeed surprised to find the ragged boot-black of a year before so wonderfully changed.
the act of beginning something new
From this reading INTRODUCTION TO MERCANTILE LIFE.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Uncle," he said, "this is Dick.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Isn't he changed?"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He grasped Dick's hand, and shook it heartily.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading INTRODUCTION TO MERCANTILE LIFE.
of or relating to the economic system of mercantilism
From this reading INTRODUCTION TO MERCANTILE LIFE.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Frank Whitney was indeed surprised to find the ragged boot-black of a year before so wonderfully changed.
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading Frank Whitney was indeed surprised to find the ragged boot-black of a year before so wonderfully changed.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Uncle," he said, "this is Dick.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading He grasped Dick's hand, and shook it heartily.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Frank Whitney was indeed surprised to find the ragged boot-black of a year before so wonderfully changed.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading Frank Whitney was indeed surprised to find the ragged boot-black of a year before so wonderfully changed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Frank Whitney was indeed surprised to find the ragged boot-black of a year before so wonderfully changed.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Uncle," he said, "this is Dick.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading INTRODUCTION TO MERCANTILE LIFE.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading "Uncle," he said, "this is Dick.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Frank Whitney was indeed surprised to find the ragged boot-black of a year before so wonderfully changed.
United States inventor of the mechanical cotton gin (1765-1825)
From this reading Frank Whitney was indeed surprised to find the ragged boot-black of a year before so wonderfully changed.
(used as an intensifier) extremely well
From this reading Frank Whitney was indeed surprised to find the ragged boot-black of a year before so wonderfully changed.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading Frank Whitney was indeed surprised to find the ragged boot-black of a year before so wonderfully changed.
Chapter 2 of Fame and Fortune by Horatio, Jr. Alger holds 210 sentences, grouped into 42 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 2 holds 210 sentences of Fame and Fortune, unabridged, divided into 42 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of Fame and Fortune by Horatio, Jr. Alger exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 210 sentences, grouped into 42 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 42 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 42 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 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.
Common questions about reading Fame and Fortune by Horatio, Jr. Alger on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3601 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #21632 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #21632, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 300 minutes of reading across 721 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Fame and Fortune section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 23 chapters of Fame and Fortune 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 Fame and Fortune, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
