Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
King Spruce, A Novel
King Spruce, A Novel

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of King Spruce, A Novel is here in full — 16 sentences across 4 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for King Spruce, A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/3 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"SQUIRE PHIN" "UP IN MAINE" "KIN O' KTAADN" ETC.
Published April, 1908.
A. B. D.
When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.
Most of the streams have a succession of dams.
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.

King Spruce, A Novel

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of King Spruce, A Novel is here in full — 16 sentences across 4 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/3 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"SQUIRE PHIN" "UP IN MAINE" "KIN O' KTAADN" ETC.
Line 2
Published April, 1908.
Line 3
A. B. D.
/ə biː diː/
Line 4
When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.
Line 5
Most of the streams have a succession of dams.
/moʊst ʌv ðə striːmz hæv ə səkˈseʃən ʌv dæmz/

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.

dams noun US /dæmz/

plural of “dam” — a barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea

From this reading “Most of the streams have a succession of dams.”

floods noun US /flʌdz/

plural of “flood” — the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land

From this reading “When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.”

hauled verb US /hɔːld/

past form of “haul” — draw slowly or heavily

From this reading “When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.”

loads noun US /loʊdz/

a large number or amount

From this reading “When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.”

logs noun US /lɔːɡz/

plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches

From this reading “When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.”

maine noun US /meɪn/

a state in New England

From this reading “"SQUIRE PHIN" "UP IN MAINE" "KIN O' KTAADN" ETC.”

trimmed adjective US /trɪmd/

made neat and tidy by trimming

From this reading “When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.”

winter's noun US /ˈwɪntərz/

possessive form of “winter” — the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading “When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.”

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.

spring floods verb + noun counted as “spring flood”

In this reading “When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.”

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

In this reading “When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.”

in the winter's preposition + article + noun counted as “in … winter”

In this reading “When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.”

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.

1908

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

From this reading Published April, 1908.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A. B. D.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

AprilnounUS /ˈeɪprəl/

the month following March and preceding May

From this reading Published April, 1908.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

BnounUS /biː/

aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil

From this reading A. B. D.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

cutverbUS /kʌt/

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

DnounUS /diː/

a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets

From this reading A. B. D.

damsnounUS /dæmz/

plural of “dam” — a barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea

From this reading Most of the streams have a succession of dams.

ETC

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

From this reading "SQUIRE PHIN" "UP IN MAINE" "KIN O' KTAADN" ETC.

floodsnounUS /flʌdz/

plural of “flood” — the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

frozenadjectiveUS /ˈfroʊzən/

turned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

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

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

hauledverbUS /hɔːld/

past form of “haul” — draw slowly or heavily

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "SQUIRE PHIN" "UP IN MAINE" "KIN O' KTAADN" ETC.

KINnounUS /kɪn/

a person having kinship with another or others

From this reading "SQUIRE PHIN" "UP IN MAINE" "KIN O' KTAADN" ETC.

KTAADN

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

From this reading "SQUIRE PHIN" "UP IN MAINE" "KIN O' KTAADN" ETC.

landing-places

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

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

loadsnounUS /loʊdz/

a large number or amount

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

logsnounUS /lɔːɡz/

plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

MAINEnounUS /meɪn/

a state in New England

From this reading "SQUIRE PHIN" "UP IN MAINE" "KIN O' KTAADN" ETC.

MostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading Most of the streams have a succession of dams.

moveverbUS /muːv/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

OnounUS /oʊ/

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading "SQUIRE PHIN" "UP IN MAINE" "KIN O' KTAADN" ETC.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Most of the streams have a succession of dams.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

PHIN

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

From this reading "SQUIRE PHIN" "UP IN MAINE" "KIN O' KTAADN" ETC.

piledverbUS /paɪld/

past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

PublishedadjectiveUS /ˈpʌblɪʃt/

prepared and printed for distribution and sale

From this reading Published April, 1908.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

springnounUS /sprɪŋ/

the season of growth

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

SQUIREnounUS /skwaɪr/

young nobleman attendant on a knight

From this reading "SQUIRE PHIN" "UP IN MAINE" "KIN O' KTAADN" ETC.

streamsnounUS /striːmz/

plural of “stream” — a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

successionnounUS /səkˈseʃən/

a following of one thing after another in time

From this reading Most of the streams have a succession of dams.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

treesnounUS /triːz/

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

trimmedadjectiveUS /trɪmd/

made neat and tidy by trimming

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

UPadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading "SQUIRE PHIN" "UP IN MAINE" "KIN O' KTAADN" ETC.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

winter'snounUS /ˈwɪntərz/

possessive form of “winter” — the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

woodsnounUS /wʊdz/

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading When the trees have been cut and trimmed in the winter's work in the woods the logs are hauled in great loads to be piled at "landing-places" on the frozen streams, so that the spring floods will move them.

Chapter 1 of King Spruce, A Novel by Holman Day holds 16 sentences, grouped into 4 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 1 of King Spruce, A Novel contain?

Chapter 1 holds 16 sentences of King Spruce, A Novel, unabridged, divided into 4 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of King Spruce, A Novel by Holman Day exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 16 sentences, grouped into 4 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 1 of King Spruce, A Novel?

Work through the 4 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 4 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 King Spruce, A Novel

Common questions about reading King Spruce, A Novel by Holman Day on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of King Spruce, A Novel?

Yes. All 7037 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #34948 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of King Spruce, A Novel is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #34948, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does King Spruce, A Novel take to read?

About 586 minutes of reading across 1408 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read King Spruce, A Novel section by section

How to work through King Spruce, A Novel section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 31 chapters of King Spruce, A Novel 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 King Spruce, A Novel

Words and structures a reader meets early in King Spruce, A Novel, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Squire
A word that appears in the opening chapter of King Spruce, A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Maine
A word that appears in the opening chapter of King Spruce, A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Ktaadn
A word that appears in the opening chapter of King Spruce, A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Published
A word that appears in the opening chapter of King Spruce, A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.