Chapter 38 of Grit is here in full — 60 sentences across 12 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXXVIII
Chapter 38 of Grit is here in full — 60 sentences across 12 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
COLONEL JOHNSON COMES TO GRIEF. We must now follow Johnson up-stairs. In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior. "What is your business here, sir?" demanded Johnson rudely. "Are you the owner of this house?" asked Benjamin Baker coolly.
Chapter 38 of Grit is here in full — 60 sentences across 12 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/12 · 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.
someone who bakes commercially
From this reading “"Are you the owner of this house?" asked Benjamin Baker coolly.”
gum resin used especially in treating skin irritation
From this reading “"Are you the owner of this house?" asked Benjamin Baker coolly.”
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading “In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.”
in a composed and unconcerned manner
From this reading “"Are you the owner of this house?" asked Benjamin Baker coolly.”
the region that is outside of something
From this reading “In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.”
English writer and lexicographer (1709-1784)
From this reading “COLONEL JOHNSON COMES TO GRIEF.”
in an impolite manner
From this reading “"What is your business here, sir?" demanded Johnson rudely.”
lean and sinewy
From this reading “In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.”
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.
In this reading “In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.”
In this reading “In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.”
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 In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.
higher than, or over, something
From this reading In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Are you the owner of this house?" asked Benjamin Baker coolly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Are you the owner of this house?" asked Benjamin Baker coolly.
someone who bakes commercially
From this reading "Are you the owner of this house?" asked Benjamin Baker coolly.
gum resin used especially in treating skin irritation
From this reading "Are you the owner of this house?" asked Benjamin Baker coolly.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading "What is your business here, sir?" demanded Johnson rudely.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading COLONEL JOHNSON COMES TO GRIEF.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading COLONEL JOHNSON COMES TO GRIEF.
in a composed and unconcerned manner
From this reading "Are you the owner of this house?" asked Benjamin Baker coolly.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading "What is your business here, sir?" demanded Johnson rudely.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.
the region that is outside of something
From this reading In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading We must now follow Johnson up-stairs.
intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)
From this reading COLONEL JOHNSON COMES TO GRIEF.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "What is your business here, sir?" demanded Johnson rudely.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading "Are you the owner of this house?" asked Benjamin Baker coolly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What is your business here, sir?" demanded Johnson rudely.
English writer and lexicographer (1709-1784)
From this reading COLONEL JOHNSON COMES TO GRIEF.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading We must now follow Johnson up-stairs.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading We must now follow Johnson up-stairs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.
(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading "Are you the owner of this house?" asked Benjamin Baker coolly.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.
in an impolite manner
From this reading "What is your business here, sir?" demanded Johnson rudely.
term of address for a man
From this reading "What is your business here, sir?" demanded Johnson rudely.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Are you the owner of this house?" asked Benjamin Baker coolly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading COLONEL JOHNSON COMES TO GRIEF.
without emotional agitation
From this reading In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.
not ostentatious
From this reading In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We must now follow Johnson up-stairs.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We must now follow Johnson up-stairs.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What is your business here, sir?" demanded Johnson rudely.
lean and sinewy
From this reading In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending exterior.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Are you the owner of this house?" asked Benjamin Baker coolly.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What is your business here, sir?" demanded Johnson rudely.
Chapter 38 of Grit by Horatio, Jr. Alger holds 60 sentences, grouped into 12 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 38 holds 60 sentences of Grit, unabridged, divided into 12 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 38 of Grit by Horatio, Jr. Alger exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 60 sentences, grouped into 12 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 12 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 12 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 38 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 Grit by Horatio, Jr. Alger on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4300 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #54195 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #54195, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 358 minutes of reading across 860 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Grit section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 39 chapters of Grit 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 Grit, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
