Chapter 4 of From Canal Boy to President is here in full — 109 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IV
Chapter 4 of From Canal Boy to President is here in full — 109 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION. "I've taught school myself," said Captain Letcher, complacently. "I taught for three winters in Indiana." James, who, even then, had a high opinion of learning, regarded the canal-boat captain with increased respect. "I didn't know that," he answered, duly impressed.
Chapter 4 of From Canal Boy to President is here in full — 109 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/21 · 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.
in a self-satisfied manner
From this reading “"I've taught school myself," said Captain Letcher, complacently.”
in accordance with what is appropriate or suitable for the circumstances
From this reading “"I didn't know that," he answered, duly impressed.”
deeply or markedly affected or influenced
From this reading “"I didn't know that," he answered, duly impressed.”
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading “James, who, even then, had a high opinion of learning, regarded the canal-boat captain with increased respect.”
a state in midwestern United States
From this reading “"I taught for three winters in Indiana."”
the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge
From this reading “James, who, even then, had a high opinion of learning, regarded the canal-boat captain with increased respect.”
past form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading “James, who, even then, had a high opinion of learning, regarded the canal-boat captain with increased respect.”
plural of “winter” — the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading “"I taught for three winters in Indiana."”
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 James, who, even then, had a high opinion of learning, regarded the canal-boat captain with increased respect.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "I didn't know that," he answered, duly impressed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading James, who, even then, had a high opinion of learning, regarded the canal-boat captain with increased respect.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading "I've taught school myself," said Captain Letcher, complacently.
in a self-satisfied manner
From this reading "I've taught school myself," said Captain Letcher, complacently.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I didn't know that," he answered, duly impressed.
in accordance with what is appropriate or suitable for the circumstances
From this reading "I didn't know that," he answered, duly impressed.
divisible by two
From this reading James, who, even then, had a high opinion of learning, regarded the canal-boat captain with increased respect.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "I taught for three winters in Indiana."
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading James, who, even then, had a high opinion of learning, regarded the canal-boat captain with increased respect.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I didn't know that," he answered, duly impressed.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading James, who, even then, had a high opinion of learning, regarded the canal-boat captain with increased respect.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I taught for three winters in Indiana."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've taught school myself," said Captain Letcher, complacently.
of great significance or value
From this reading AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.
deeply or markedly affected or influenced
From this reading "I didn't know that," he answered, duly impressed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I taught for three winters in Indiana."
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading James, who, even then, had a high opinion of learning, regarded the canal-boat captain with increased respect.
a state in midwestern United States
From this reading "I taught for three winters in Indiana."
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading James, who, even then, had a high opinion of learning, regarded the canal-boat captain with increased respect.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "I didn't know that," he answered, duly impressed.
the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge
From this reading James, who, even then, had a high opinion of learning, regarded the canal-boat captain with increased respect.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've taught school myself," said Captain Letcher, complacently.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading "I've taught school myself," said Captain Letcher, complacently.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading James, who, even then, had a high opinion of learning, regarded the canal-boat captain with increased respect.
a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading James, who, even then, had a high opinion of learning, regarded the canal-boat captain with increased respect.
past form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading James, who, even then, had a high opinion of learning, regarded the canal-boat captain with increased respect.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading James, who, even then, had a high opinion of learning, regarded the canal-boat captain with increased respect.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I've taught school myself," said Captain Letcher, complacently.
an educational institution
From this reading "I've taught school myself," said Captain Letcher, complacently.
inflected form of “teach” — impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading "I've taught school myself," said Captain Letcher, complacently.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I didn't know that," he answered, duly impressed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading James, who, even then, had a high opinion of learning, regarded the canal-boat captain with increased respect.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading James, who, even then, had a high opinion of learning, regarded the canal-boat captain with increased respect.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading "I taught for three winters in Indiana."
which person or people
From this reading James, who, even then, had a high opinion of learning, regarded the canal-boat captain with increased respect.
plural of “winter” — the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading "I taught for three winters in Indiana."
in the company of; together with
From this reading James, who, even then, had a high opinion of learning, regarded the canal-boat captain with increased respect.
Chapter 4 of From Canal Boy to President by Horatio, Jr. Alger holds 109 sentences, grouped into 22 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 4 holds 109 sentences of From Canal Boy to President, unabridged, divided into 22 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 4 of From Canal Boy to President by Horatio, Jr. Alger exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 109 sentences, grouped into 22 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 22 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 22 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 4 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 From Canal Boy to President by Horatio, Jr. Alger on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2945 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #14964 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #14964, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 245 minutes of reading across 589 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through From Canal Boy to President section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 35 chapters of From Canal Boy to President 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 From Canal Boy to President, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
