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Father Damien
Father Damien

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Father Damien is here in full — 190 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Father Damien
Context Illustration Reading 1/38 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SYDNEY, _February_ 25, 1890.
Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and conversed; on my side, with interest.
You may remember that you have done me several courtesies, for which I was prepared to be grateful.
But there are duties which come before gratitude, and offences which justly divide friends, far more acquaintances.
Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Father Damien

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Father Damien is here in full — 190 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SYDNEY, _February_ 25, 1890.
Line 2
Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and conversed; on my side, with interest.
Line 3
You may remember that you have done me several courtesies, for which I was prepared to be grateful.
Line 4
But there are duties which come before gratitude, and offences which justly divide friends, far more acquaintances.
Line 5
Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

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.

Remember verb US /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading “You may remember that you have done me several courtesies, for which I was prepared to be grateful.”

All words in this reading · 80

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.

1890

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

From this reading SYDNEY, _February_ 25, 1890.

25

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

From this reading SYDNEY, _February_ 25, 1890.

a

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

absolve

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

acquaintances

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

From this reading But there are duties which come before gratitude, and offences which justly divide friends, far more acquaintances.

and

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

From this reading Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and conversed; on my side, with interest.

are

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

From this reading But there are duties which come before gratitude, and offences which justly divide friends, far more acquaintances.

B

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

be

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

From this reading You may remember that you have done me several courtesies, for which I was prepared to be grateful.

before

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

From this reading But there are duties which come before gratitude, and offences which justly divide friends, far more acquaintances.

bonds

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

bread

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

But

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

From this reading But there are duties which come before gratitude, and offences which justly divide friends, far more acquaintances.

come

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

From this reading But there are duties which come before gratitude, and offences which justly divide friends, far more acquaintances.

conversed

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

From this reading Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and conversed; on my side, with interest.

courtesies

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

From this reading You may remember that you have done me several courtesies, for which I was prepared to be grateful.

divide

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

From this reading But there are duties which come before gratitude, and offences which justly divide friends, far more acquaintances.

document

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

done

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

From this reading You may remember that you have done me several courtesies, for which I was prepared to be grateful.

duties

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

From this reading But there are duties which come before gratitude, and offences which justly divide friends, far more acquaintances.

dying

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

far

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

From this reading But there are duties which come before gratitude, and offences which justly divide friends, far more acquaintances.

father

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

February

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

From this reading SYDNEY, _February_ 25, 1890.

filled

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

for

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

From this reading You may remember that you have done me several courtesies, for which I was prepared to be grateful.

friends

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

From this reading But there are duties which come before gratitude, and offences which justly divide friends, far more acquaintances.

from

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

Gage

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

grateful

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

From this reading You may remember that you have done me several courtesies, for which I was prepared to be grateful.

gratitude

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

From this reading But there are duties which come before gratitude, and offences which justly divide friends, far more acquaintances.

H

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

had

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

have

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

From this reading Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and conversed; on my side, with interest.

he

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

I

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

From this reading You may remember that you have done me several courtesies, for which I was prepared to be grateful.

if

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

in

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

interest

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

From this reading Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and conversed; on my side, with interest.

is

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

It

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

From this reading Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and conversed; on my side, with interest.

justly

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

From this reading But there are duties which come before gratitude, and offences which justly divide friends, far more acquaintances.

lay

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

letter

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

may

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

From this reading Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and conversed; on my side, with interest.

me

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

From this reading You may remember that you have done me several courtesies, for which I was prepared to be grateful.

met

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

From this reading Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and conversed; on my side, with interest.

more

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

From this reading But there are duties which come before gratitude, and offences which justly divide friends, far more acquaintances.

my

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

From this reading Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and conversed; on my side, with interest.

nurse

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

occur

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

From this reading Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and conversed; on my side, with interest.

of

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

offences

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

From this reading But there are duties which come before gratitude, and offences which justly divide friends, far more acquaintances.

on

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

From this reading Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and conversed; on my side, with interest.

prepared

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

From this reading You may remember that you have done me several courtesies, for which I was prepared to be grateful.

probably

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

From this reading Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and conversed; on my side, with interest.

rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading You may remember that you have done me several courtesies, for which I was prepared to be grateful.

Reverend

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

sat

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

several

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

From this reading You may remember that you have done me several courtesies, for which I was prepared to be grateful.

side

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

From this reading Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and conversed; on my side, with interest.

sight

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

Sir

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

From this reading Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and conversed; on my side, with interest.

starving

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

SYDNEY

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

From this reading SYDNEY, _February_ 25, 1890.

that

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

From this reading Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and conversed; on my side, with interest.

the

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

there

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

From this reading But there are duties which come before gratitude, and offences which justly divide friends, far more acquaintances.

to

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

From this reading Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and conversed; on my side, with interest.

up

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

visited

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

From this reading Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and conversed; on my side, with interest.

was

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

From this reading You may remember that you have done me several courtesies, for which I was prepared to be grateful.

we

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

From this reading Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and conversed; on my side, with interest.

when

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

which

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

From this reading You may remember that you have done me several courtesies, for which I was prepared to be grateful.

with

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

From this reading Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and conversed; on my side, with interest.

would

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

yet

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

you

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

From this reading Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and conversed; on my side, with interest.

Your

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

From this reading Your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a- dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude.

Chapter 1 of Father Damien by Robert Louis Stevenson holds 190 sentences, grouped into 38 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 Father Damien contain?

Chapter 1 holds 190 sentences of Father Damien, unabridged, divided into 38 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Father Damien by Robert Louis Stevenson exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 190 sentences, grouped into 38 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 Father Damien?

Work through the 38 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 38 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 Father Damien

Common questions about reading Father Damien by Robert Louis Stevenson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Father Damien?

Yes. All 190 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #281 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Father Damien is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #281, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Father Damien take to read?

About 15 minutes of reading across 38 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Father Damien section by section

How to work through Father Damien section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of Father Damien 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 Father Damien

Words and structures a reader meets early in Father Damien, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Sydney
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Father Damien; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
February
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Father Damien; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Probably
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Father Damien; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Occur
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Father Damien; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.