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Happy Hawkins
Happy Hawkins

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Happy Hawkins is here in full — 442 sentences across 89 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Happy Hawkins
Context Illustration Reading 1/88 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.
Did you ever notice bear cubs gettin' an edication?
They ain't beat into it, they has to be helt back.
Same with the Injun kids; they was up on edge to learn until they got to schoolin' 'em, then they fought again it just like the white kids.
The reason is that we make children learn things they ain't curious about.
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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.

Happy Hawkins

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Happy Hawkins is here in full — 442 sentences across 89 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/88 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.
Line 2
Did you ever notice bear cubs gettin' an edication?
Line 3
They ain't beat into it, they has to be helt back.
Line 4
Same with the Injun kids; they was up on edge to learn until they got to schoolin' 'em, then they fought again it just like the white kids.
Line 5
The reason is that we make children learn things they ain't curious about.

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.

beat verb US /biːt/

come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

From this reading “They ain't beat into it, they has to be helt back.”

covers noun US /ˈkʌvərz/

plural of “cover” — a covering that serves to conceal or shelter something

From this reading “If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.”

cubs noun US /kʌbz/

plural of “cub” — an awkward and inexperienced youth

From this reading “Did you ever notice bear cubs gettin' an edication?”

edge noun US /edʒ/

the boundary of a surface

From this reading “Same with the Injun kids; they was up on edge to learn until they got to schoolin' 'em, then they fought again it just like the white kids.”

fought verb US /fɔːt/

inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

From this reading “Same with the Injun kids; they was up on edge to learn until they got to schoolin' 'em, then they fought again it just like the white kids.”

kids noun US /kɪdz/

plural of “kid” — a young person of either sex

From this reading “Same with the Injun kids; they was up on edge to learn until they got to schoolin' 'em, then they fought again it just like the white kids.”

peruse verb US /pərˈuːz/

examine or consider with attention and in detail

From this reading “If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.”

pictures noun US /ˈpɪktʃərz/

plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading “If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.”

All words in this reading · 64

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.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The reason is that we make children learn things they ain't curious about.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading Same with the Injun kids; they was up on edge to learn until they got to schoolin' 'em, then they fought again it just like the white kids.

ain't

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

From this reading They ain't beat into it, they has to be helt back.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Did you ever notice bear cubs gettin' an edication?

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading They ain't beat into it, they has to be helt back.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading They ain't beat into it, they has to be helt back.

bearverbUS /ber/

have

From this reading Did you ever notice bear cubs gettin' an edication?

beatverbUS /biːt/

come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

From this reading They ain't beat into it, they has to be helt back.

booksnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

coversnounUS /ˈkʌvərz/

plural of “cover” — a covering that serves to conceal or shelter something

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

cubsnounUS /kʌbz/

plural of “cub” — an awkward and inexperienced youth

From this reading Did you ever notice bear cubs gettin' an edication?

curiousadjectiveUS /ˈkjʊriəs/

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading The reason is that we make children learn things they ain't curious about.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

easyadjectiveUS /ˈiːzi/

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

edgenounUS /edʒ/

the boundary of a surface

From this reading Same with the Injun kids; they was up on edge to learn until they got to schoolin' 'em, then they fought again it just like the white kids.

edication

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

From this reading Did you ever notice bear cubs gettin' an edication?

emnounUS /em/

a quad with a square body

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading Did you ever notice bear cubs gettin' an edication?

foughtverbUS /fɔːt/

inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

From this reading Same with the Injun kids; they was up on edge to learn until they got to schoolin' 'em, then they fought again it just like the white kids.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

gettin

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

From this reading Did you ever notice bear cubs gettin' an edication?

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Same with the Injun kids; they was up on edge to learn until they got to schoolin' 'em, then they fought again it just like the white kids.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading They ain't beat into it, they has to be helt back.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

helt

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

From this reading They ain't beat into it, they has to be helt back.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

Injunnoun

(slang) offensive term for Native Americans

From this reading Same with the Injun kids; they was up on edge to learn until they got to schoolin' 'em, then they fought again it just like the white kids.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading They ain't beat into it, they has to be helt back.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The reason is that we make children learn things they ain't curious about.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading They ain't beat into it, they has to be helt back.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading Same with the Injun kids; they was up on edge to learn until they got to schoolin' 'em, then they fought again it just like the white kids.

kidsnounUS /kɪdz/

plural of “kid” — a young person of either sex

From this reading Same with the Injun kids; they was up on edge to learn until they got to schoolin' 'em, then they fought again it just like the white kids.

kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

learnverbUS /lɜːrn/

gain knowledge or skills

From this reading Same with the Injun kids; they was up on edge to learn until they got to schoolin' 'em, then they fought again it just like the white kids.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Same with the Injun kids; they was up on edge to learn until they got to schoolin' 'em, then they fought again it just like the white kids.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading The reason is that we make children learn things they ain't curious about.

noticenounUS /ˈnoʊtəs/

an announcement containing information about an event

From this reading Did you ever notice bear cubs gettin' an edication?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

papernounUS /ˈpeɪpər/

a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

peruseverbUS /pərˈuːz/

examine or consider with attention and in detail

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

picturesnounUS /ˈpɪktʃərz/

plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

reasonnounUS /ˈriːzən/

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading The reason is that we make children learn things they ain't curious about.

rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

SameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading Same with the Injun kids; they was up on edge to learn until they got to schoolin' 'em, then they fought again it just like the white kids.

schoolnounUS /skuːl/

an educational institution

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

schoolin

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

From this reading Same with the Injun kids; they was up on edge to learn until they got to schoolin' 'em, then they fought again it just like the white kids.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The reason is that we make children learn things they ain't curious about.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Same with the Injun kids; they was up on edge to learn until they got to schoolin' 'em, then they fought again it just like the white kids.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They ain't beat into it, they has to be helt back.

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading The reason is that we make children learn things they ain't curious about.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Same with the Injun kids; they was up on edge to learn until they got to schoolin' 'em, then they fought again it just like the white kids.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Same with the Injun kids; they was up on edge to learn until they got to schoolin' 'em, then they fought again it just like the white kids.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading The reason is that we make children learn things they ain't curious about.

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading Same with the Injun kids; they was up on edge to learn until they got to schoolin' 'em, then they fought again it just like the white kids.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

you'd

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

From this reading If you'd have school books did up in paper with the right kind of pictures on the covers you could easy get children to peruse 'em.

Chapter 4 of Happy Hawkins by Robert Alexander Wason holds 442 sentences, grouped into 89 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 4 of Happy Hawkins contain?

Chapter 4 holds 442 sentences of Happy Hawkins, unabridged, divided into 89 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of Happy Hawkins by Robert Alexander Wason exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 442 sentences, grouped into 89 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 4 of Happy Hawkins?

Work through the 89 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 89 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 4 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading Happy Hawkins

Common questions about reading Happy Hawkins by Robert Alexander Wason on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Happy Hawkins?

Yes. All 5188 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #3705 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Happy Hawkins is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #3705, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Happy Hawkins take to read?

About 432 minutes of reading across 1038 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Happy Hawkins section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 12 chapters of Happy Hawkins 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 Happy Hawkins

Words and structures a reader meets early in Happy Hawkins, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Wasn't
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Happy Hawkins; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Really
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Happy Hawkins; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Westerner
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Happy Hawkins; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
That's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Happy Hawkins; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.