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Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience
Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience is here in full — 374 sentences across 75 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience
Context Illustration Reading 1/74 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!
Chuff! and whistle! and toot! and ring!
But blast and blister the dasted train!-- How it does it I can't explain!
Git here thirty-five minutes before The dern thing's due!--and, drat the thing!
It'll manage to git past--shore!
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience is here in full — 374 sentences across 75 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/74 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!
Line 2
Chuff! and whistle! and toot! and ring!
Line 3
But blast and blister the dasted train!-- How it does it I can't explain!
Line 4
Git here thirty-five minutes before The dern thing's due!--and, drat the thing!
Line 5
It'll manage to git past--shore!

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.

bin noun US /bɪn/

a container; usually has a lid

From this reading “HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!”

blister verb US /ˈblɪstər/

get blistered

From this reading “But blast and blister the dasted train!-- How it does it I can't explain!”

hits noun US /hɪts/

plural of “hit” — (baseball) a successful stroke in an athletic contest (especially in baseball)

From this reading “HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!”

humorous adjective US /ˈhjuːmərəs/

full of or characterized by humor

From this reading “HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!”

riley noun US /ˈraɪli/

United States poet (1849-1916)

From this reading “HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!”

thing's noun US /θɪŋz/

possessive form of “thing” — a special situation

From this reading “Git here thirty-five minutes before The dern thing's due!--and, drat the thing!”

thirty-five adjective US /ˈθɜːrdifaɪv/

being five more than thirty

From this reading “Git here thirty-five minutes before The dern thing's due!--and, drat the thing!”

toot noun US /tuːt/

a blast of a horn

From this reading “Chuff! and whistle! and toot! and ring!”

Word partnerships in these lines

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.

thirty-five minutes adjective + noun

In this reading “Git here thirty-five minutes before The dern thing's due!--and, drat the thing!”

in the world preposition + article + noun counted as “in … world”

In this reading “HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!”

All words in this reading · 52

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.

agin

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

From this reading HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Chuff! and whistle! and toot! and ring!

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Git here thirty-five minutes before The dern thing's due!--and, drat the thing!

binnounUS /bɪn/

a container; usually has a lid

From this reading HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

blastverbUS /blæst/

make a strident sound

From this reading But blast and blister the dasted train!-- How it does it I can't explain!

blisterverbUS /ˈblɪstər/

get blistered

From this reading But blast and blister the dasted train!-- How it does it I can't explain!

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But blast and blister the dasted train!-- How it does it I can't explain!

BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

can't

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

From this reading But blast and blister the dasted train!-- How it does it I can't explain!

Chuffverb

blow hard and loudly

From this reading Chuff! and whistle! and toot! and ring!

dasted

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

From this reading But blast and blister the dasted train!-- How it does it I can't explain!

dern

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

From this reading Git here thirty-five minutes before The dern thing's due!--and, drat the thing!

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

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

From this reading But blast and blister the dasted train!-- How it does it I can't explain!

drat

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

From this reading Git here thirty-five minutes before The dern thing's due!--and, drat the thing!

dueadjectiveUS /duː/

owed and payable immediately or on demand

From this reading Git here thirty-five minutes before The dern thing's due!--and, drat the thing!

Ef

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

From this reading HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

explainverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪn/

make plain and comprehensible

From this reading But blast and blister the dasted train!-- How it does it I can't explain!

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

GitnounUS /ɡɪt/

a person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible

From this reading Git here thirty-five minutes before The dern thing's due!--and, drat the thing!

haint

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

From this reading HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Git here thirty-five minutes before The dern thing's due!--and, drat the thing!

HITSnounUS /hɪts/

plural of “hit” — (baseball) a successful stroke in an athletic contest (especially in baseball)

From this reading HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

How

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

From this reading But blast and blister the dasted train!-- How it does it I can't explain!

HUMOROUSadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmərəs/

full of or characterized by humor

From this reading HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But blast and blister the dasted train!-- How it does it I can't explain!

It'll

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

From this reading It'll manage to git past--shore!

JAMESnounUS /dʒeɪmz/

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 HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

Ll

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

From this reading HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

manageverbUS /ˈmænədʒ/

be successful; achieve a goal

From this reading It'll manage to git past--shore!

minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading Git here thirty-five minutes before The dern thing's due!--and, drat the thing!

missedadjectiveUS /mɪst/

not caught with the senses or the mind

From this reading HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

From this reading It'll manage to git past--shore!

RILEYnounUS /ˈraɪli/

United States poet (1849-1916)

From this reading HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

ringverbUS /rɪŋ/

sound loudly and sonorously

From this reading Chuff! and whistle! and toot! and ring!

shorenounUS /ʃɔːr/

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading It'll manage to git past--shore!

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading Git here thirty-five minutes before The dern thing's due!--and, drat the thing!

thing'snounUS /θɪŋz/

possessive form of “thing” — a special situation

From this reading Git here thirty-five minutes before The dern thing's due!--and, drat the thing!

thirty-fiveadjectiveUS /ˈθɜːrdifaɪv/

being five more than thirty

From this reading Git here thirty-five minutes before The dern thing's due!--and, drat the thing!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It'll manage to git past--shore!

tootnounUS /tuːt/

a blast of a horn

From this reading Chuff! and whistle! and toot! and ring!

trainverbUS /treɪn/

create by training and teaching

From this reading HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

TRAIN-MISSER

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

From this reading HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

whistleverbUS /ˈwɪsəl/

make whistling sounds

From this reading Chuff! and whistle! and toot! and ring!

WHITCOMB

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

From this reading HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading HUMOROUS HITS THE TRAIN-MISSER BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 'Ll where in the world my eyes has bin-- Ef I haint missed that train agin!

Chapter 2 of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience by Grenville [Compiler] Kleiser holds 374 sentences, grouped into 75 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 2 of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience contain?

Chapter 2 holds 374 sentences of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience, unabridged, divided into 75 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience by Grenville [Compiler] Kleiser exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 374 sentences, grouped into 75 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 2 of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience?

Work through the 75 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 75 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience

Common questions about reading Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience by Grenville [Compiler] Kleiser on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience?

Yes. All 5178 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #47194 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #47194, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience take to read?

About 431 minutes of reading across 1036 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience section by section

How to work through Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 13 chapters of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience 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 Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience

Words and structures a reader meets early in Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Speak
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Public
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Preparing
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.