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Happy Jack
Happy Jack

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Happy Jack is here in full — 39 sentences across 8 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Happy Jack
Context Illustration Reading 1/7 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH If you get and spend a penny, Then of course you haven't any.
Be like me--a Happy Jack-- And put it where you'll get it back.
_Happy Jack._ Happy Jack and Chatterer were out of breath.
Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.
So Happy Jack was the first to stop.
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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 Jack

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Happy Jack is here in full — 39 sentences across 8 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/7 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH If you get and spend a penny, Then of course you haven't any.
Line 2
Be like me--a Happy Jack-- And put it where you'll get it back.
Line 3
_Happy Jack._ Happy Jack and Chatterer were out of breath.
Line 4
Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.
Line 5
So Happy Jack was the first to stop.
/soʊ ˈhæpi dʒæk wɑːz ðə fɜːrst tuː stɑːp/

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.

blowing noun US /ˈbloʊɪŋ/

processing that involves blowing a gas

From this reading “Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.”

fat adjective US /fæt/

having an (over)abundance of flesh

From this reading “Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.”

nimble adjective US /ˈnɪmbəl/

moving quickly and lightly

From this reading “Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.”

penny noun US /ˈpeni/

a fractional monetary unit of Ireland and the United Kingdom; equal to one hundredth of a pound

From this reading “HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH If you get and spend a penny, Then of course you haven't any.”

puffing noun US /ˈpʌfɪŋ/

blowing tobacco smoke out into the air

From this reading “Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.”

slim adjective US /slɪm/

being of delicate or slender build

From this reading “Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.”

smaller adjective US /ˈsmɔːlər/

small or little relative to something else

From this reading “Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.”

spend verb US /spend/

use up a period of time in a specific way

From this reading “HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH If you get and spend a penny, Then of course you haven't any.”

All words in this reading · 54

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH If you get and spend a penny, Then of course you haven't any.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH If you get and spend a penny, Then of course you haven't any.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH If you get and spend a penny, Then of course you haven't any.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Be like me--a Happy Jack-- And put it where you'll get it back.

Beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Be like me--a Happy Jack-- And put it where you'll get it back.

bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

blowingnounUS /ˈbloʊɪŋ/

processing that involves blowing a gas

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

breathnounUS /breθ/

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading _Happy Jack._ Happy Jack and Chatterer were out of breath.

CHATTERERnoun

an obnoxious and foolish and loquacious talker

From this reading HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH If you get and spend a penny, Then of course you haven't any.

coursenounUS /kɔːrs/

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH If you get and spend a penny, Then of course you haven't any.

cousinnounUS /ˈkʌzən/

the child of your aunt or uncle

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

easyadjectiveUS /ˈiːzi/

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

fatadjectiveUS /fæt/

having an (over)abundance of flesh

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

FEELverbUS /fiːl/

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH If you get and spend a penny, Then of course you haven't any.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading So Happy Jack was the first to stop.

FOOLISHadjectiveUS /ˈfuːlɪʃ/

devoid of good sense or judgment

From this reading HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH If you get and spend a penny, Then of course you haven't any.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH If you get and spend a penny, Then of course you haven't any.

HAPPYadjectiveUS /ˈhæpi/

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH If you get and spend a penny, Then of course you haven't any.

haven't

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

From this reading HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH If you get and spend a penny, Then of course you haven't any.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH If you get and spend a penny, Then of course you haven't any.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Be like me--a Happy Jack-- And put it where you'll get it back.

JACKnounUS /dʒæk/

a small worthless amount

From this reading HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH If you get and spend a penny, Then of course you haven't any.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Be like me--a Happy Jack-- And put it where you'll get it back.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Be like me--a Happy Jack-- And put it where you'll get it back.

nimbleadjectiveUS /ˈnɪmbəl/

moving quickly and lightly

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH If you get and spend a penny, Then of course you haven't any.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading _Happy Jack._ Happy Jack and Chatterer were out of breath.

pennynounUS /ˈpeni/

a fractional monetary unit of Ireland and the United Kingdom; equal to one hundredth of a pound

From this reading HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH If you get and spend a penny, Then of course you haven't any.

puffingnounUS /ˈpʌfɪŋ/

blowing tobacco smoke out into the air

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Be like me--a Happy Jack-- And put it where you'll get it back.

racenounUS /reɪs/

any competition

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

slimadjectiveUS /slɪm/

being of delicate or slender build

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

smalleradjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːlər/

small or little relative to something else

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

spendverbUS /spend/

use up a period of time in a specific way

From this reading HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH If you get and spend a penny, Then of course you haven't any.

stopverbUS /stɑːp/

come to a halt, stop moving

From this reading So Happy Jack was the first to stop.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH If you get and spend a penny, Then of course you haven't any.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

tree-tops

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

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is big and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading _Happy Jack._ Happy Jack and Chatterer were out of breath.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Be like me--a Happy Jack-- And put it where you'll get it back.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH If you get and spend a penny, Then of course you haven't any.

you'll

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

From this reading Be like me--a Happy Jack-- And put it where you'll get it back.

Chapter 4 of Happy Jack by Thornton W. (Thornton Waldo) Burgess holds 39 sentences, grouped into 8 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 4 of Happy Jack contain?

Chapter 4 holds 39 sentences of Happy Jack, unabridged, divided into 8 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of Happy Jack by Thornton W. (Thornton Waldo) Burgess exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 39 sentences, grouped into 8 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 Jack?

Work through the 8 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 8 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 Jack

Common questions about reading Happy Jack by Thornton W. (Thornton Waldo) Burgess on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Happy Jack?

Yes. All 1387 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #13355 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Happy Jack is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #13355, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Happy Jack take to read?

About 115 minutes of reading across 278 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Happy Jack section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 33 chapters of Happy Jack 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 Jack

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

Little
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Happy Jack; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Every
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Happy Jack; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Future
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Happy Jack; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Happy
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Happy Jack; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.