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In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man
In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man is here in full — 423 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man
Context Illustration Reading 1/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Now you must know that at bottom Anna had never deserted her religion.
Instead, she carried the burdens of both religions; to the fear of the Jewish hell she seemed to have added the fear of the Christian hell.
I suspect that she was still in the habit of reciting her Hebrew prayer before going to sleep.
She also believed in dreams.
In this respect all women are the same.
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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.

In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man is here in full — 423 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Now you must know that at bottom Anna had never deserted her religion.
/naʊ juː mʌst noʊ ðæt æt ˈbɑːtəm ˈænə hæd ˈnevər dɪˈzɜːrtɪd hɜːr rɪˈlɪdʒən/
Line 2
Instead, she carried the burdens of both religions; to the fear of the Jewish hell she seemed to have added the fear of the Christian hell.
/ˌɪnˈsted ʃiː ˈkærid ðə ˈbɜːrdənz ʌv boʊθ riˈlɪdʒənz tuː ðə fɪr ʌv ðə ˈdʒuːɪʃ hel ʃiː siːmd tuː hæv ˈædəd ðə fɪr ʌv ðə ˈkrɪstʃən hel/
Line 3
I suspect that she was still in the habit of reciting her Hebrew prayer before going to sleep.
/aɪ səˈspekt ðæt ʃiː wɑːz stɪl ɪn ðə ˈhæbət ʌv riˈsaɪtɪŋ hɜːr ˈhiːbruː prer bɪˈfɔːr ˈɡoʊɪŋ tuː sliːp/
Line 4
She also believed in dreams.
/ʃiː ˈɔːlsoʊ bɪˈliːvd ɪn driːmz/
Line 5
In this respect all women are the same.
/ɪn ðɪs rɪˈspekt ɔːl ˈwɪmən ɑːr ðə seɪm/

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.

Anna noun US /ˈænə/

a former copper coin of Pakistan and India

From this reading “Now you must know that at bottom Anna had never deserted her religion.”

burdens noun US /ˈbɜːrdənz/

plural of “burden” — an onerous or difficult concern

From this reading “Instead, she carried the burdens of both religions; to the fear of the Jewish hell she seemed to have added the fear of the Christian hell.”

deserted adjective US /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/

forsaken by owner or inhabitants

From this reading “Now you must know that at bottom Anna had never deserted her religion.”

Hebrew noun US /ˈhiːbruː/

the ancient Canaanitic language of the Hebrews that has been revived as the official language of Israel

From this reading “I suspect that she was still in the habit of reciting her Hebrew prayer before going to sleep.”

Jewish adjective US /ˈdʒuːɪʃ/

of or relating to Jews or their culture or religion

From this reading “Instead, she carried the burdens of both religions; to the fear of the Jewish hell she seemed to have added the fear of the Christian hell.”

reciting verb US /riˈsaɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “recite” — recite in elocution

From this reading “I suspect that she was still in the habit of reciting her Hebrew prayer before going to sleep.”

religions noun US /riˈlɪdʒənz/

plural of “religion” — a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny

From this reading “Instead, she carried the burdens of both religions; to the fear of the Jewish hell she seemed to have added the fear of the Christian hell.”

suspect verb US /səˈspekt/

imagine to be the case or true or probable

From this reading “I suspect that she was still in the habit of reciting her Hebrew prayer before going to sleep.”

All words in this reading · 50

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.

addedverbUS /ˈædəd/

past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading Instead, she carried the burdens of both religions; to the fear of the Jewish hell she seemed to have added the fear of the Christian hell.

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 In this respect all women are the same.

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading She also believed in dreams.

AnnanounUS /ˈænə/

a former copper coin of Pakistan and India

From this reading Now you must know that at bottom Anna had never deserted her religion.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading In this respect all women are the same.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Now you must know that at bottom Anna had never deserted her religion.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading I suspect that she was still in the habit of reciting her Hebrew prayer before going to sleep.

believedverbUS /bɪˈliːvd/

past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true

From this reading She also believed in dreams.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading Instead, she carried the burdens of both religions; to the fear of the Jewish hell she seemed to have added the fear of the Christian hell.

bottomnounUS /ˈbɑːtəm/

the lower side of anything

From this reading Now you must know that at bottom Anna had never deserted her religion.

burdensnounUS /ˈbɜːrdənz/

plural of “burden” — an onerous or difficult concern

From this reading Instead, she carried the burdens of both religions; to the fear of the Jewish hell she seemed to have added the fear of the Christian hell.

carriedverbUS /ˈkærid/

inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading Instead, she carried the burdens of both religions; to the fear of the Jewish hell she seemed to have added the fear of the Christian hell.

ChristianadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪstʃən/

relating to or characteristic of Christianity

From this reading Instead, she carried the burdens of both religions; to the fear of the Jewish hell she seemed to have added the fear of the Christian hell.

desertedadjectiveUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/

forsaken by owner or inhabitants

From this reading Now you must know that at bottom Anna had never deserted her religion.

dreamsnounUS /driːmz/

plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep

From this reading She also believed in dreams.

fearverbUS /fɪr/

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

From this reading Instead, she carried the burdens of both religions; to the fear of the Jewish hell she seemed to have added the fear of the Christian hell.

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading I suspect that she was still in the habit of reciting her Hebrew prayer before going to sleep.

habitnounUS /ˈhæbət/

an established custom

From this reading I suspect that she was still in the habit of reciting her Hebrew prayer before going to sleep.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Now you must know that at bottom Anna had never deserted her religion.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Instead, she carried the burdens of both religions; to the fear of the Jewish hell she seemed to have added the fear of the Christian hell.

HebrewnounUS /ˈhiːbruː/

the ancient Canaanitic language of the Hebrews that has been revived as the official language of Israel

From this reading I suspect that she was still in the habit of reciting her Hebrew prayer before going to sleep.

hellnounUS /hel/

any place of pain and turmoil

From this reading Instead, she carried the burdens of both religions; to the fear of the Jewish hell she seemed to have added the fear of the Christian hell.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Now you must know that at bottom Anna had never deserted her religion.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I suspect that she was still in the habit of reciting her Hebrew prayer before going to sleep.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I suspect that she was still in the habit of reciting her Hebrew prayer before going to sleep.

InsteadadverbUS /ˌɪnˈsted/

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading Instead, she carried the burdens of both religions; to the fear of the Jewish hell she seemed to have added the fear of the Christian hell.

JewishadjectiveUS /ˈdʒuːɪʃ/

of or relating to Jews or their culture or religion

From this reading Instead, she carried the burdens of both religions; to the fear of the Jewish hell she seemed to have added the fear of the Christian hell.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Now you must know that at bottom Anna had never deserted her religion.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Now you must know that at bottom Anna had never deserted her religion.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Now you must know that at bottom Anna had never deserted her religion.

NowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Now you must know that at bottom Anna had never deserted her religion.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Instead, she carried the burdens of both religions; to the fear of the Jewish hell she seemed to have added the fear of the Christian hell.

prayernounUS /prer/

the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)

From this reading I suspect that she was still in the habit of reciting her Hebrew prayer before going to sleep.

recitingverbUS /riˈsaɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “recite” — recite in elocution

From this reading I suspect that she was still in the habit of reciting her Hebrew prayer before going to sleep.

religionnounUS /rɪˈlɪdʒən/

a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny

From this reading Now you must know that at bottom Anna had never deserted her religion.

religionsnounUS /riˈlɪdʒənz/

plural of “religion” — a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny

From this reading Instead, she carried the burdens of both religions; to the fear of the Jewish hell she seemed to have added the fear of the Christian hell.

respectnounUS /rɪˈspekt/

(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point

From this reading In this respect all women are the same.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading In this respect all women are the same.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Instead, she carried the burdens of both religions; to the fear of the Jewish hell she seemed to have added the fear of the Christian hell.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Instead, she carried the burdens of both religions; to the fear of the Jewish hell she seemed to have added the fear of the Christian hell.

sleepnounUS /sliːp/

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading I suspect that she was still in the habit of reciting her Hebrew prayer before going to sleep.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading I suspect that she was still in the habit of reciting her Hebrew prayer before going to sleep.

suspectverbUS /səˈspekt/

imagine to be the case or true or probable

From this reading I suspect that she was still in the habit of reciting her Hebrew prayer before going to sleep.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Now you must know that at bottom Anna had never deserted her religion.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Instead, she carried the burdens of both religions; to the fear of the Jewish hell she seemed to have added the fear of the Christian hell.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading In this respect all women are the same.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Instead, she carried the burdens of both religions; to the fear of the Jewish hell she seemed to have added the fear of the Christian hell.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I suspect that she was still in the habit of reciting her Hebrew prayer before going to sleep.

womennounUS /ˈwɪmən/

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading In this respect all women are the same.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Now you must know that at bottom Anna had never deserted her religion.

Chapter 4 of In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man by Judah Steinberg holds 423 sentences, grouped into 85 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 In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man contain?

Chapter 4 holds 423 sentences of In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man, unabridged, divided into 85 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man by Judah Steinberg exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 423 sentences, grouped into 85 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 In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man?

Work through the 85 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 85 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 In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man

Common questions about reading In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man by Judah Steinberg on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man?

Yes. All 2420 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #8539 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #8539, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man take to read?

About 201 minutes of reading across 484 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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How to work through In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

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  3. Listen and tap

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Vocabulary met early in In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man

Words and structures a reader meets early in In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Samuel
A word that appears in the opening chapter of In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Beadle
A word that appears in the opening chapter of In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Begin
A word that appears in the opening chapter of In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Military
A word that appears in the opening chapter of In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.