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Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things
Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things is here in full — 481 sentences across 97 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things
Context Illustration Reading 1/96 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.
The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.
Rats are migratorious, they migrately whare ever they hav a mind to.
Pisen is also good for rats; it softens their whole moral naturs.
Cats hate rats, and rats hate cats, and--who don't.
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.

Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things is here in full — 481 sentences across 97 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/96 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.
Line 2
The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.
Line 3
Rats are migratorious, they migrately whare ever they hav a mind to.
Line 4
Pisen is also good for rats; it softens their whole moral naturs.
Line 5
Cats hate rats, and rats hate cats, and--who don't.

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.

cats noun US /kæts/

plural of “cat” — feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats

From this reading “Cats hate rats, and rats hate cats, and--who don't.”

cheese noun US /tʃiːz/

a solid food prepared from the pressed curd of milk

From this reading “They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.”

cupboards noun US /ˈkʌbərdz/

plural of “cupboard” — a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space

From this reading “They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.”

grate noun US /ɡreɪt/

a frame of iron bars to hold a fire

From this reading “The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.”

pie noun US /paɪ/

dish baked in pastry-lined pan often with a pastry top

From this reading “They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.”

rats noun US /ræts/

plural of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse

From this reading “Rats are migratorious, they migrately whare ever they hav a mind to.”

softens verb US /ˈsɔːfənz/

third-person singular of “soften” — make (images or sounds) soft or softer

From this reading “Pisen is also good for rats; it softens their whole moral naturs.”

surround verb US /sərˈaʊnd/

extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle

From this reading “The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.”

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.

steel trap noun + noun

an acute intelligence (an analogy based on the well-known sharpness of steel traps)

In this reading “The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.”

best way noun + noun

In this reading “The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.”

All words in this reading · 61

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 The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.

advantagenounUS /ædˈvæntɪdʒ/

the quality of having a superior or more favorable position

From this reading The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading Pisen is also good for rats; it softens their whole moral naturs.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Rats are migratorious, they migrately whare ever they hav a mind to.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.

CatsnounUS /kæts/

plural of “cat” — feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats

From this reading Cats hate rats, and rats hate cats, and--who don't.

cheesenounUS /tʃiːz/

a solid food prepared from the pressed curd of milk

From this reading They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.

concernedadjectiveUS /kənˈsɜːrnd/

feeling or showing worry or solicitude

From this reading They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.

cupboardsnounUS /ˈkʌbərdz/

plural of “cupboard” — a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space

From this reading They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.

domestikate

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

From this reading The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.

domestikated

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

From this reading They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.

don't

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

From this reading Cats hate rats, and rats hate cats, and--who don't.

dreadfuladjectiveUS /ˈdredfəl/

causing fear or dread or terror

From this reading They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.

easyadjectiveUS /ˈiːzi/

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.

eatingnounUS /ˈiːtɪŋ/

the act of consuming food

From this reading They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.

faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Pisen is also good for rats; it softens their whole moral naturs.

gentlyadverbUS /ˈdʒentli/

in a gradual manner

From this reading The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.

gitting

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

From this reading They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Pisen is also good for rats; it softens their whole moral naturs.

gratenounUS /ɡreɪt/

a frame of iron bars to hold a fire

From this reading The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.

hatenounUS /heɪt/

the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action

From this reading Cats hate rats, and rats hate cats, and--who don't.

hav

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

From this reading Rats are migratorious, they migrately whare ever they hav a mind to.

ipronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Pisen is also good for rats; it softens their whole moral naturs.

kan

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

From this reading They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.

knawing

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

From this reading They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.

migrately

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

From this reading Rats are migratorious, they migrately whare ever they hav a mind to.

migratorious

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

From this reading Rats are migratorious, they migrately whare ever they hav a mind to.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Rats are migratorious, they migrately whare ever they hav a mind to.

moraladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrəl/

concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles

From this reading Pisen is also good for rats; it softens their whole moral naturs.

naturs

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

From this reading Pisen is also good for rats; it softens their whole moral naturs.

pienounUS /paɪ/

dish baked in pastry-lined pan often with a pastry top

From this reading They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.

Pisen

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

From this reading Pisen is also good for rats; it softens their whole moral naturs.

RatsnounUS /ræts/

plural of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse

From this reading Rats are migratorious, they migrately whare ever they hav a mind to.

reasonnounUS /ˈriːzən/

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.

softensverbUS /ˈsɔːfənz/

third-person singular of “soften” — make (images or sounds) soft or softer

From this reading Pisen is also good for rats; it softens their whole moral naturs.

steelnounUS /stiːl/

an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range

From this reading The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.

surroundverbUS /sərˈaʊnd/

extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle

From this reading The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.

tew

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

From this reading The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Pisen is also good for rats; it softens their whole moral naturs.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They kan be domestikated dreadful easy, that is, as far as gitting in cupboards, and eating cheese, and knawing pie, is concerned.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Rats are migratorious, they migrately whare ever they hav a mind to.

trapnounUS /træp/

a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned

From this reading The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.

whare

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

From this reading Rats are migratorious, they migrately whare ever they hav a mind to.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Cats hate rats, and rats hate cats, and--who don't.

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading Pisen is also good for rats; it softens their whole moral naturs.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.

yu

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

From this reading The best way tew domestikate them that ever i saw, is tew surround them gently, with a steel trap; yu kan reason with them then tew grate advantage.

Chapter 4 of Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things by Josh Billings holds 481 sentences, grouped into 97 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 Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things contain?

Chapter 4 holds 481 sentences of Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things, unabridged, divided into 97 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things by Josh Billings exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 481 sentences, grouped into 97 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 Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things?

Work through the 97 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 97 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 Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things

Common questions about reading Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things by Josh Billings on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things?

Yes. All 1960 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #41025 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #41025, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things take to read?

About 163 minutes of reading across 392 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things section by section

How to work through Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 4 chapters of Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things 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 Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things

Words and structures a reader meets early in Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Billings
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Twelve
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Comic
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Illustrations
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.