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Just Folks
Just Folks

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of Just Folks is here in full — 112 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
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Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?
Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?
If all our finest deeds are done, And all our splendor's in the past; If there's no battle to be won, What matter if to-day's our last?
Is life so sweet that we would live Though nothing back to life we give?
It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Just Folks

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of Just Folks is here in full — 112 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?
Line 2
Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?
Line 3
If all our finest deeds are done, And all our splendor's in the past; If there's no battle to be won, What matter if to-day's our last?
Line 4
Is life so sweet that we would live Though nothing back to life we give?
/ɪz laɪf soʊ swiːt ðæt wiː wʊd laɪv ðoʊ ˈnʌθɪŋ bæk tuː laɪf wiː ɡɪv/
Line 5
It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.
/ɪt ɪz nɑːt ˈɡreɪtnəs tuː hæv klʌŋ tuː laɪf θruː ˈeɪti ˈfruːtləs jɪrz ðə mæn huː daɪz ɪn ˈækʃən jʌŋ dɪˈzɜːrvz ˈaʊər ˈpreɪzəz ənd ˈaʊər tʃɪrz huː ˈventʃərz ɔːl fɔːr wʌn ɡreɪt diːd ənd ɡɪvz hɪz laɪf tuː sɜːrv laɪfs niːd/

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.

cheers noun US /tʃɪrz/

plural of “cheer” — a cry or shout of approval

From this reading “It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.”

fruitless adjective US /ˈfruːtləs/

unproductive of success

From this reading “It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.”

idling noun US /ˈaɪdəlɪŋ/

having no employment

From this reading “Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?”

life's noun US /laɪfs/

possessive form of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading “It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.”

praises noun US /ˈpreɪzəz/

plural of “praise” — an expression of approval and commendation

From this reading “It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.”

tasks noun US /tæsks/

plural of “task” — any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading “Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?”

Time's noun US /taɪmz/

possessive form of “time” — an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading “Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?”

ventures noun US /ˈventʃərz/

plural of “venture” — any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome

From this reading “It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.”

All words in this reading · 106

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.

actionnounUS /ˈækʃən/

something done (usually as opposed to something said)

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

aheadadverbUS /əˈhed/

at or in the front

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

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 If all our finest deeds are done, And all our splendor's in the past; If there's no battle to be won, What matter if to-day's our last?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

appearverbUS /əˈpɪr/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Is life so sweet that we would live Though nothing back to life we give?

battlenounUS /ˈbætəl/

a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading If all our finest deeds are done, And all our splendor's in the past; If there's no battle to be won, What matter if to-day's our last?

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/

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

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

cheersnounUS /tʃɪrz/

plural of “cheer” — a cry or shout of approval

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

clungverbUS /klʌŋ/

inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

deadadjectiveUS /ded/

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

deednounUS /diːd/

a legal document signed and sealed and delivered to effect a transfer of property and to show the legal right to possess it

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

deedsnounUS /diːdz/

performance of moral or religious acts

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

DeservesverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrvz/

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

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

diesnounUS /daɪz/

plural of “die” — a small cube with 1 to 6 spots on the six faces; used in gambling to generate random numbers

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

dreadfuladjectiveUS /ˈdredfəl/

causing fear or dread or terror

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

eightyadjectiveUS /ˈeɪti/

being ten more than seventy

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

fearverbUS /fɪr/

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

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

fineradjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnər/

(comparative of “fine”) greater in quality or excellence

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

finestadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəst/

superlative of “fine” — being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading If all our finest deeds are done, And all our splendor's in the past; If there's no battle to be won, What matter if to-day's our last?

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

fruitlessadjectiveUS /ˈfruːtləs/

unproductive of success

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

gardennounUS /ˈɡɑːrdən/

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Is life so sweet that we would live Though nothing back to life we give?

givesnounUS /ɡɪvz/

plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

greatnessnounUS /ˈɡreɪtnəs/

the property possessed by something or someone of outstanding importance or eminence

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

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

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

idlingnounUS /ˈaɪdəlɪŋ/

having no employment

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

joinverbUS /dʒɔɪn/

become part of; become a member of a group or organization

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading If all our finest deeds are done, And all our splendor's in the past; If there's no battle to be won, What matter if to-day's our last?

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Is life so sweet that we would live Though nothing back to life we give?

life'snounUS /laɪfs/

possessive form of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

liveverbUS /laɪv/

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading Is life so sweet that we would live Though nothing back to life we give?

LivingnounUS /ˈlɪvɪŋ/

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

matternounUS /ˈmætər/

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading If all our finest deeds are done, And all our splendor's in the past; If there's no battle to be won, What matter if to-day's our last?

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

meansnounUS /miːnz/

thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

merelyadverbUS /ˈmɪrli/

and nothing more

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

MuchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

neednounUS /niːd/

a condition requiring relief

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

neededadjectiveUS /ˈniːdəd/

necessary for relief or supply

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading If all our finest deeds are done, And all our splendor's in the past; If there's no battle to be won, What matter if to-day's our last?

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading If all our finest deeds are done, And all our splendor's in the past; If there's no battle to be won, What matter if to-day's our last?

pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

From this reading If all our finest deeds are done, And all our splendor's in the past; If there's no battle to be won, What matter if to-day's our last?

praisesnounUS /ˈpreɪzəz/

plural of “praise” — an expression of approval and commendation

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

saveprepositionUS /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

serveverbUS /sɜːrv/

serve a purpose, role, or function

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

servicenounUS /ˈsɜːrvəs/

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

Shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Is life so sweet that we would live Though nothing back to life we give?

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

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

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

sorrownounUS /ˈsɑːroʊ/

an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

splendor's

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

From this reading If all our finest deeds are done, And all our splendor's in the past; If there's no battle to be won, What matter if to-day's our last?

sunnounUS /sʌn/

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

sweetadjectiveUS /swiːt/

having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading Is life so sweet that we would live Though nothing back to life we give?

tasksnounUS /tæsks/

plural of “task” — any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

there's

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

From this reading If all our finest deeds are done, And all our splendor's in the past; If there's no battle to be won, What matter if to-day's our last?

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Is life so sweet that we would live Though nothing back to life we give?

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

Time'snounUS /taɪmz/

possessive form of “time” — an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

to-day's

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

From this reading If all our finest deeds are done, And all our splendor's in the past; If there's no battle to be won, What matter if to-day's our last?

to-morrow

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

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

UnlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/

except if; if not

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

venturesnounUS /ˈventʃərz/

plural of “venture” — any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

waitingnounUS /ˈweɪtɪŋ/

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

wanderverbUS /ˈwɑːndər/

move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

we're

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

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading If all our finest deeds are done, And all our splendor's in the past; If there's no battle to be won, What matter if to-day's our last?

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

WhynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

wonnounUS /wʌn/

the basic unit of money in South Korea

From this reading If all our finest deeds are done, And all our splendor's in the past; If there's no battle to be won, What matter if to-day's our last?

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Is life so sweet that we would live Though nothing back to life we give?

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading Living If through the years we're not to do Much finer deeds than we have done; If we must merely wander through Time's garden, idling in the sun; If there is nothing big ahead, Why do we fear to join the dead?

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Unless to-morrow means that we Shall do some needed service here; That tasks are waiting you and me That will be lost, save we appear; Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow That we may never see to-morrow?

youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading It is not greatness to have clung To life through eighty fruitless years; The man who dies in action, young, Deserves our praises and our cheers, Who ventures all for one great deed And gives his life to serve life's need.

Chapter 8 of Just Folks by Edgar A. (Edgar Albert) Guest holds 112 sentences, grouped into 23 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 8 of Just Folks contain?

Chapter 8 holds 112 sentences of Just Folks, unabridged, divided into 23 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of Just Folks by Edgar A. (Edgar Albert) Guest exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 112 sentences, grouped into 23 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 8 of Just Folks?

Work through the 23 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 23 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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 Just Folks

Common questions about reading Just Folks by Edgar A. (Edgar Albert) Guest on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Just Folks?

Yes. All 1027 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #941 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Just Folks is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #941, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Just Folks take to read?

About 85 minutes of reading across 206 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Just Folks section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 9 chapters of Just Folks 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 Just Folks

Words and structures a reader meets early in Just Folks, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Little
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Just Folks; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Mother
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Just Folks; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Memory
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Just Folks; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Father
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Just Folks; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.