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Happy Jack
Happy Jack

Chapter XV · Chapter 15

Chapter 15 of Happy Jack is here in full — 51 sentences across 11 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Happy Jack
Context Illustration Reading 1/10 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WHO SAVED HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL?
Blessed he whose words of cheer Help put hope in place of fear.
_Happy Jack._ It never has been fully decided among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows just who really did save Happy Jack Squirrel.
Some say that Tommy Tit the Chickadee deserves all the credit, and some say that--but wait.
Let me tell you just what happened, and then perhaps you can decide for yourself who saved Happy Jack.
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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 XV · Chapter 15

Chapter 15 of Happy Jack is here in full — 51 sentences across 11 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/10 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
WHO SAVED HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL?
/huː seɪvd ˈhæpi dʒæk ˈskwɜːrəl/
Line 2
Blessed he whose words of cheer Help put hope in place of fear.
/blest hiː huːz wɜːrdz ʌv tʃɪr help pʊt hoʊp ɪn pleɪs ʌv fɪr/
Line 3
_Happy Jack._ It never has been fully decided among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows just who really did save Happy Jack Squirrel.
/ˈhæpi dʒæk ɪt ˈnevər hæz bɪn ˈfʊli ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪd əˈmʌŋ ðə ˈlɪtəl ˈpiːpəl ʌv ðə ɡriːn ˈfɔːrəst ənd ðə ɡriːn ˈmedoʊz dʒʌst huː ˈrɪli dɪd seɪv ˈhæpi dʒæk ˈskwɜːrəl/
Line 4
Some say that Tommy Tit the Chickadee deserves all the credit, and some say that--but wait.
Line 5
Let me tell you just what happened, and then perhaps you can decide for yourself who saved Happy Jack.
/let miː tel juː dʒʌst wʌt ˈhæpənd ənd ðen pərˈhæps juː kæn ˌdɪˈsaɪd fɔːr jərˈself huː seɪvd ˈhæpi dʒæk/

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.

Blessed adjective US /blest/

highly favored or fortunate (as e.g. by divine grace)

From this reading “Blessed he whose words of cheer Help put hope in place of fear.”

cheer verb US /tʃɪr/

give encouragement to

From this reading “Blessed he whose words of cheer Help put hope in place of fear.”

credit noun US /ˈkredət/

approval

From this reading “Some say that Tommy Tit the Chickadee deserves all the credit, and some say that--but wait.”

decide verb US /ˌdɪˈsaɪd/

reach, make, or come to a decision about something

From this reading “Let me tell you just what happened, and then perhaps you can decide for yourself who saved Happy Jack.”

deserves verb US /dɪˈzɜːrvz/

third-person singular of “deserve” — be worthy or deserving

From this reading “Some say that Tommy Tit the Chickadee deserves all the credit, and some say that--but wait.”

Meadows noun US /ˈmedoʊz/

plural of “meadow” — a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay

From this reading “_Happy Jack._ It never has been fully decided among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows just who really did save Happy Jack Squirrel.”

squirrel noun US /ˈskwɜːrəl/

a kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail

From this reading “WHO SAVED HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL?”

Tit noun US /tɪt/

either of two soft fleshy milk-secreting glandular organs on the chest of a woman

From this reading “Some say that Tommy Tit the Chickadee deserves all the credit, and some say that--but wait.”

All words in this reading · 58

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.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Some say that Tommy Tit the Chickadee deserves all the credit, and some say that--but wait.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading _Happy Jack._ It never has been fully decided among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows just who really did save Happy Jack Squirrel.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading _Happy Jack._ It never has been fully decided among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows just who really did save Happy Jack Squirrel.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading _Happy Jack._ It never has been fully decided among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows just who really did save Happy Jack Squirrel.

BlessedadjectiveUS /blest/

highly favored or fortunate (as e.g. by divine grace)

From this reading Blessed he whose words of cheer Help put hope in place of fear.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Some say that Tommy Tit the Chickadee deserves all the credit, and some say that--but wait.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Let me tell you just what happened, and then perhaps you can decide for yourself who saved Happy Jack.

cheerverbUS /tʃɪr/

give encouragement to

From this reading Blessed he whose words of cheer Help put hope in place of fear.

Chickadeenoun

any of various small grey-and-black songbirds of North America

From this reading Some say that Tommy Tit the Chickadee deserves all the credit, and some say that--but wait.

creditnounUS /ˈkredət/

approval

From this reading Some say that Tommy Tit the Chickadee deserves all the credit, and some say that--but wait.

decideverbUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪd/

reach, make, or come to a decision about something

From this reading Let me tell you just what happened, and then perhaps you can decide for yourself who saved Happy Jack.

decidedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪd/

recognizable; marked

From this reading _Happy Jack._ It never has been fully decided among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows just who really did save Happy Jack Squirrel.

deservesverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrvz/

third-person singular of “deserve” — be worthy or deserving

From this reading Some say that Tommy Tit the Chickadee deserves all the credit, and some say that--but wait.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading _Happy Jack._ It never has been fully decided among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows just who really did save Happy Jack Squirrel.

fearverbUS /fɪr/

be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading Blessed he whose words of cheer Help put hope in place of fear.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Let me tell you just what happened, and then perhaps you can decide for yourself who saved Happy Jack.

ForestnounUS /ˈfɔːrəst/

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading _Happy Jack._ It never has been fully decided among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows just who really did save Happy Jack Squirrel.

fullyadverbUS /ˈfʊli/

to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)

From this reading _Happy Jack._ It never has been fully decided among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows just who really did save Happy Jack Squirrel.

GreennounUS /ɡriːn/

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading _Happy Jack._ It never has been fully decided among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows just who really did save Happy Jack Squirrel.

happenedverbUS /ˈhæpənd/

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading Let me tell you just what happened, and then perhaps you can decide for yourself who saved Happy Jack.

HAPPYadjectiveUS /ˈhæpi/

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading WHO SAVED HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL?

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading _Happy Jack._ It never has been fully decided among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows just who really did save Happy Jack Squirrel.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Blessed he whose words of cheer Help put hope in place of fear.

HelpverbUS /help/

give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading Blessed he whose words of cheer Help put hope in place of fear.

hopenounUS /hoʊp/

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading Blessed he whose words of cheer Help put hope in place of fear.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Blessed he whose words of cheer Help put hope in place of fear.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading _Happy Jack._ It never has been fully decided among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows just who really did save Happy Jack Squirrel.

JACKnounUS /dʒæk/

a small worthless amount

From this reading WHO SAVED HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL?

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading _Happy Jack._ It never has been fully decided among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows just who really did save Happy Jack Squirrel.

Letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Let me tell you just what happened, and then perhaps you can decide for yourself who saved Happy Jack.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading _Happy Jack._ It never has been fully decided among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows just who really did save Happy Jack Squirrel.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Let me tell you just what happened, and then perhaps you can decide for yourself who saved Happy Jack.

MeadowsnounUS /ˈmedoʊz/

plural of “meadow” — a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay

From this reading _Happy Jack._ It never has been fully decided among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows just who really did save Happy Jack Squirrel.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading _Happy Jack._ It never has been fully decided among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows just who really did save Happy Jack Squirrel.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Blessed he whose words of cheer Help put hope in place of fear.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading _Happy Jack._ It never has been fully decided among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows just who really did save Happy Jack Squirrel.

perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/

by chance

From this reading Let me tell you just what happened, and then perhaps you can decide for yourself who saved Happy Jack.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Blessed he whose words of cheer Help put hope in place of fear.

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Blessed he whose words of cheer Help put hope in place of fear.

reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading _Happy Jack._ It never has been fully decided among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows just who really did save Happy Jack Squirrel.

saveprepositionUS /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading _Happy Jack._ It never has been fully decided among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows just who really did save Happy Jack Squirrel.

SAVEDadjectiveUS /seɪvd/

rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin

From this reading WHO SAVED HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL?

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading Some say that Tommy Tit the Chickadee deserves all the credit, and some say that--but wait.

SomeadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Some say that Tommy Tit the Chickadee deserves all the credit, and some say that--but wait.

SQUIRRELnounUS /ˈskwɜːrəl/

a kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail

From this reading WHO SAVED HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL?

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading Let me tell you just what happened, and then perhaps you can decide for yourself who saved Happy Jack.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Some say that Tommy Tit the Chickadee deserves all the credit, and some say that--but wait.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _Happy Jack._ It never has been fully decided among the little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows just who really did save Happy Jack Squirrel.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Let me tell you just what happened, and then perhaps you can decide for yourself who saved Happy Jack.

TitnounUS /tɪt/

either of two soft fleshy milk-secreting glandular organs on the chest of a woman

From this reading Some say that Tommy Tit the Chickadee deserves all the credit, and some say that--but wait.

Tommy

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

From this reading Some say that Tommy Tit the Chickadee deserves all the credit, and some say that--but wait.

waitverbUS /weɪt/

stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading Some say that Tommy Tit the Chickadee deserves all the credit, and some say that--but wait.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Let me tell you just what happened, and then perhaps you can decide for yourself who saved Happy Jack.

WHOpronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading WHO SAVED HAPPY JACK SQUIRREL?

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading Blessed he whose words of cheer Help put hope in place of fear.

wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/

the words that are spoken

From this reading Blessed he whose words of cheer Help put hope in place of fear.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Let me tell you just what happened, and then perhaps you can decide for yourself who saved Happy Jack.

yourselfpronounUS /jərˈself/

used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action

From this reading Let me tell you just what happened, and then perhaps you can decide for yourself who saved Happy Jack.

Chapter 15 of Happy Jack by Thornton W. (Thornton Waldo) Burgess holds 51 sentences, grouped into 11 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 15 of Happy Jack contain?

Chapter 15 holds 51 sentences of Happy Jack, unabridged, divided into 11 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 15 of Happy Jack by Thornton W. (Thornton Waldo) Burgess exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 51 sentences, grouped into 11 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 15 of Happy Jack?

Work through the 11 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 11 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 15 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 15 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.