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Four American poets
Four American poets

Chapter XXIII

Chapter 23 of Four American poets is here in full — 46 sentences across 10 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Sherwin Cody • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Four American poets
Context Illustration Reading 1/9 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.
This was as long ago as 1688, or thereabouts.
In this house, which is still standing, the poet John Greenleaf Whittier was born, December 17, 1807.
His father was nearly fifty at the time of his birth, and twenty-one years older than his mother.
His grandfather was about the same age when his father was born, and his great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were equally old at the births of their sons.
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Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Four American poets

Chapter XXIII

Chapter 23 of Four American poets is here in full — 46 sentences across 10 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/9 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.
Line 2
This was as long ago as 1688, or thereabouts.
Line 3
In this house, which is still standing, the poet John Greenleaf Whittier was born, December 17, 1807.
Line 4
His father was nearly fifty at the time of his birth, and twenty-one years older than his mother.
/hɪz ˈfɑːðər wɑːz ˈnɪrli ˈfɪfti æt ðə taɪm ʌv hɪz bɜːrθ ənd ˈtwentiwɔːn jɪrz ˈoʊldər ðæn hɪz ˈmʌðər/
Line 5
His grandfather was about the same age when his father was born, and his great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were equally old at the births of their sons.

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.

births noun US /bɜːrθs/

plural of “birth” — the time when something begins (especially life)

From this reading “His grandfather was about the same age when his father was born, and his great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were equally old at the births of their sons.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
December noun US /dɪˈsembər/

the last (12th) month of the year

From this reading “In this house, which is still standing, the poet John Greenleaf Whittier was born, December 17, 1807.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
farmer's noun US /ˈfɑːrmərz/

possessive form of “farmer” — a person who operates a farm

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
homestead noun US /ˈhoʊmsted/

the home and adjacent grounds occupied by a family

From this reading “A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
log verb US /lɔːɡ/

enter into a log, as on ships and planes

From this reading “A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thereabouts adverb US /ˌðerəˈbaʊts/

near that time or date

From this reading “This was as long ago as 1688, or thereabouts.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
twenty-one noun US /ˈtwentiwɔːn/

the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty and one

From this reading “His father was nearly fifty at the time of his birth, and twenty-one years older than his mother.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Whittier noun US /ˈwɪtiər/

United States poet best known for his nostalgic poems about New England (1807-1892)

From this reading “A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

twenty-one years noun + noun

In this reading “His father was nearly fifty at the time of his birth, and twenty-one years older than his mother.”

878 times in 426,211 chapters
log house verb + noun

In this reading “A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.”

814 times in 426,211 chapters
put up verb + adjective

place so as to be noticed

In this reading “A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.”

27,400 times in 426,211 chapters
same age adjective + noun

In this reading “His grandfather was about the same age when his father was born, and his great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were equally old at the births of their sons.”

1,677 times in 426,211 chapters
grew old verb + adjective counted as “grow old”

In this reading “A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.”

2,982 times in 426,211 chapters
fine house adjective + noun

In this reading “A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.”

1,490 times in 426,211 chapters
at the time preposition + article + noun counted as “at … time”

simultaneously

In this reading “His father was nearly fifty at the time of his birth, and twenty-one years older than his mother.”

57,842 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 74

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.

1688

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

From this reading This was as long ago as 1688, or thereabouts.

Pending verification
17

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

From this reading In this house, which is still standing, the poet John Greenleaf Whittier was born, December 17, 1807.

Pending verification
1807

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

From this reading In this house, which is still standing, the poet John Greenleaf Whittier was born, December 17, 1807.

Pending verification
AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading His grandfather was about the same age when his father was born, and his great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were equally old at the births of their sons.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
agenounUS /eɪdʒ/

how long something has existed

From this reading His grandfather was about the same age when his father was born, and his great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were equally old at the births of their sons.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
agoadverbUS /əˈɡoʊ/

in the past

From this reading This was as long ago as 1688, or thereabouts.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading This was as long ago as 1688, or thereabouts.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading His father was nearly fifty at the time of his birth, and twenty-one years older than his mother.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
birthnounUS /bɜːrθ/

the time when something begins (especially life)

From this reading His father was nearly fifty at the time of his birth, and twenty-one years older than his mother.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
birthsnounUS /bɜːrθs/

plural of “birth” — the time when something begins (especially life)

From this reading His grandfather was about the same age when his father was born, and his great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were equally old at the births of their sons.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bornadjectiveUS /bɔːrn/

brought into existence

From this reading In this house, which is still standing, the poet John Greenleaf Whittier was born, December 17, 1807.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BOYnounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
builtadjectiveUS /bɪlt/

(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
DecembernounUS /dɪˈsembər/

the last (12th) month of the year

From this reading In this house, which is still standing, the poet John Greenleaf Whittier was born, December 17, 1807.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
equallyadverbUS /ˈiːkwəli/

to the same degree (often followed by “as”)

From this reading His grandfather was about the same age when his father was born, and his great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were equally old at the births of their sons.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FARMER'SnounUS /ˈfɑːrmərz/

possessive form of “farmer” — a person who operates a farm

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading His father was nearly fifty at the time of his birth, and twenty-one years older than his mother.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fiftynounUS /ˈfɪfti/

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five

From this reading His father was nearly fifty at the time of his birth, and twenty-one years older than his mother.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fineadjectiveUS /faɪn/

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
grandfathernounUS /ˈɡrændfɑːðər/

the father of your father or mother

From this reading His grandfather was about the same age when his father was born, and his great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were equally old at the births of their sons.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
great-grandfather

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

From this reading His grandfather was about the same age when his father was born, and his great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were equally old at the births of their sons.

Pending verification
great-great-grandfather

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

From this reading His grandfather was about the same age when his father was born, and his great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were equally old at the births of their sons.

Pending verification
Greenleaf

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

From this reading In this house, which is still standing, the poet John Greenleaf Whittier was born, December 17, 1807.

Pending verification
grewverbUS /ɡruː/

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His father was nearly fifty at the time of his birth, and twenty-one years older than his mother.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
homesteadnounUS /ˈhoʊmsted/

the home and adjacent grounds occupied by a family

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In this house, which is still standing, the poet John Greenleaf Whittier was born, December 17, 1807.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading In this house, which is still standing, the poet John Greenleaf Whittier was born, December 17, 1807.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading In this house, which is still standing, the poet John Greenleaf Whittier was born, December 17, 1807.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
logverbUS /lɔːɡ/

enter into a log, as on ships and planes

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading This was as long ago as 1688, or thereabouts.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
marriedadjectiveUS /ˈmerid/

joined in matrimony

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

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

From this reading His father was nearly fifty at the time of his birth, and twenty-one years older than his mother.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nearlyadverbUS /ˈnɪrli/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading His father was nearly fifty at the time of his birth, and twenty-one years older than his mother.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading His father was nearly fifty at the time of his birth, and twenty-one years older than his mother.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
olderadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldər/

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading His father was nearly fifty at the time of his birth, and twenty-one years older than his mother.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading This was as long ago as 1688, or thereabouts.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
poetnounUS /ˈpoʊət/

a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)

From this reading In this house, which is still standing, the poet John Greenleaf Whittier was born, December 17, 1807.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
presentverbUS /ˈprezənt/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading His grandfather was about the same age when his father was born, and his great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were equally old at the births of their sons.

Velmora curated lexicon
sonsnounUS /sʌnz/

plural of “son” — a male human offspring

From this reading His grandfather was about the same age when his father was born, and his great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were equally old at the births of their sons.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
standingadjectiveUS /ˈstændɪŋ/

having a supporting base

From this reading In this house, which is still standing, the poet John Greenleaf Whittier was born, December 17, 1807.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading In this house, which is still standing, the poet John Greenleaf Whittier was born, December 17, 1807.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading His father was nearly fifty at the time of his birth, and twenty-one years older than his mother.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading His grandfather was about the same age when his father was born, and his great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were equally old at the births of their sons.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thereaboutsadverbUS /ˌðerəˈbaʊts/

near that time or date

From this reading This was as long ago as 1688, or thereabouts.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This was as long ago as 1688, or thereabouts.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThomasnounUS /ˈtɑːməs/

United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading His father was nearly fifty at the time of his birth, and twenty-one years older than his mother.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
twenty-onenounUS /ˈtwentiwɔːn/

the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty and one

From this reading His father was nearly fifty at the time of his birth, and twenty-one years older than his mother.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
well-to-doadjective

in fortunate circumstances financially; moderately rich

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading His grandfather was about the same age when his father was born, and his great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were equally old at the births of their sons.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading In this house, which is still standing, the poet John Greenleaf Whittier was born, December 17, 1807.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WhittiernounUS /ˈwɪtiər/

United States poet best known for his nostalgic poems about New England (1807-1892)

From this reading A FARMER’S BOY The first Thomas Whittier, after he married, built a log house, not far from the present Whittier homestead; but when he grew old and became well-to-do he put up what was then a fine house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading His father was nearly fifty at the time of his birth, and twenty-one years older than his mother.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 23 of Four American poets by Sherwin Cody holds 46 sentences, grouped into 10 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 23 of Four American poets contain?

Chapter 23 holds 46 sentences of Four American poets, unabridged, divided into 10 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 23 of Four American poets by Sherwin Cody exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 46 sentences, grouped into 10 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 23 of Four American poets?

Work through the 10 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 10 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 23 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 23 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 Four American poets

Common questions about reading Four American poets by Sherwin Cody on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Four American poets?

Yes. All 1981 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #76822 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Four American poets is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #76822, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Four American poets take to read?

About 165 minutes of reading across 397 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Four American poets section by section

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Vocabulary met early in Four American poets

Words and structures a reader meets early in Four American poets, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Sherwin
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Four American poets; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Four American poets; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Short
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Four American poets; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Story
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Four American poets; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.