Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Little Mr. Thimblefinger and His Queer Country
Little Mr. Thimblefinger and His Queer Country

Chapter V

Cover illustration for Little Mr. Thimblefinger and His Queer Country
Context Illustration Reading 1/85 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"The drouth got so bad that everybody was complaining--everybody except me.
Brother Wolf and Brother Bear would come and sit on my front porch and do nothing but complain; but I said nothing.
I simply smoked my pipe and shook my head, and said nothing.
They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.
I came back gently and heard them asking each other how it was that I didn't join in their complaints.
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.

Little Mr. Thimblefinger and His Queer Country

Chapter V

Reading 1/85 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"The drouth got so bad that everybody was complaining--everybody except me.
Line 2
Brother Wolf and Brother Bear would come and sit on my front porch and do nothing but complain; but I said nothing.
Line 3
I simply smoked my pipe and shook my head, and said nothing.
Line 4
They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.
Line 5
I came back gently and heard them asking each other how it was that I didn't join in their complaints.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Brother Wolf and Brother Bear would come and sit on my front porch and do nothing but complain; but I said nothing.”

Drink noun US /drink/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.”

Everybody pronoun US /ˈevribɑːdi/

every person

From this reading “"The drouth got so bad that everybody was complaining--everybody except me.”

Except preposition US /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading “"The drouth got so bad that everybody was complaining--everybody except me.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Brother Wolf and Brother Bear would come and sit on my front porch and do nothing but complain; but I said nothing.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.”

Pipe noun US /pipe/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I simply smoked my pipe and shook my head, and said nothing.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Brother Wolf and Brother Bear would come and sit on my front porch and do nothing but complain; but I said nothing.”

All words in this reading · 69

Every word is available to listen to. 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 They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Brother Wolf and Brother Bear would come and sit on my front porch and do nothing but complain; but I said nothing.

asking

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

From this reading I came back gently and heard them asking each other how it was that I didn't join in their complaints.

back

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

From this reading I came back gently and heard them asking each other how it was that I didn't join in their complaints.

bad

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

From this reading "The drouth got so bad that everybody was complaining--everybody except me.

Bear

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

From this reading Brother Wolf and Brother Bear would come and sit on my front porch and do nothing but complain; but I said nothing.

Brother

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

From this reading Brother Wolf and Brother Bear would come and sit on my front porch and do nothing but complain; but I said nothing.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Brother Wolf and Brother Bear would come and sit on my front porch and do nothing but complain; but I said nothing.

came

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

From this reading I came back gently and heard them asking each other how it was that I didn't join in their complaints.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Brother Wolf and Brother Bear would come and sit on my front porch and do nothing but complain; but I said nothing.

complain

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

From this reading Brother Wolf and Brother Bear would come and sit on my front porch and do nothing but complain; but I said nothing.

complaining

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

From this reading "The drouth got so bad that everybody was complaining--everybody except me.

complaints

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

From this reading I came back gently and heard them asking each other how it was that I didn't join in their complaints.

day

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

From this reading They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.

declaring

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

From this reading They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.

didn't

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

From this reading I came back gently and heard them asking each other how it was that I didn't join in their complaints.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Brother Wolf and Brother Bear would come and sit on my front porch and do nothing but complain; but I said nothing.

drink

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

From this reading They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.

drouth

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

From this reading "The drouth got so bad that everybody was complaining--everybody except me.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading I came back gently and heard them asking each other how it was that I didn't join in their complaints.

everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/

every person

From this reading "The drouth got so bad that everybody was complaining--everybody except me.

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading "The drouth got so bad that everybody was complaining--everybody except me.

front

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

From this reading Brother Wolf and Brother Bear would come and sit on my front porch and do nothing but complain; but I said nothing.

gently

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

From this reading I came back gently and heard them asking each other how it was that I didn't join in their complaints.

get

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

From this reading They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.

got

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

From this reading "The drouth got so bad that everybody was complaining--everybody except me.

head

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

From this reading I simply smoked my pipe and shook my head, and said nothing.

heard

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

From this reading I came back gently and heard them asking each other how it was that I didn't join in their complaints.

how

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

From this reading I came back gently and heard them asking each other how it was that I didn't join in their complaints.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Brother Wolf and Brother Bear would come and sit on my front porch and do nothing but complain; but I said nothing.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I came back gently and heard them asking each other how it was that I didn't join in their complaints.

join

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

From this reading I came back gently and heard them asking each other how it was that I didn't join in their complaints.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading "The drouth got so bad that everybody was complaining--everybody except me.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Brother Wolf and Brother Bear would come and sit on my front porch and do nothing but complain; but I said nothing.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Brother Wolf and Brother Bear would come and sit on my front porch and do nothing but complain; but I said nothing.

noticed

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

From this reading They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Brother Wolf and Brother Bear would come and sit on my front porch and do nothing but complain; but I said nothing.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.

other

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

From this reading I came back gently and heard them asking each other how it was that I didn't join in their complaints.

pipe

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

From this reading I simply smoked my pipe and shook my head, and said nothing.

porch

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

From this reading Brother Wolf and Brother Bear would come and sit on my front porch and do nothing but complain; but I said nothing.

ruined

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

From this reading They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.

said

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

From this reading Brother Wolf and Brother Bear would come and sit on my front porch and do nothing but complain; but I said nothing.

shook

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

From this reading I simply smoked my pipe and shook my head, and said nothing.

simply

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

From this reading I simply smoked my pipe and shook my head, and said nothing.

sit

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

From this reading Brother Wolf and Brother Bear would come and sit on my front porch and do nothing but complain; but I said nothing.

sitting

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

From this reading They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.

smoked

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

From this reading I simply smoked my pipe and shook my head, and said nothing.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "The drouth got so bad that everybody was complaining--everybody except me.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "The drouth got so bad that everybody was complaining--everybody except me.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "The drouth got so bad that everybody was complaining--everybody except me.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading I came back gently and heard them asking each other how it was that I didn't join in their complaints.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading I came back gently and heard them asking each other how it was that I didn't join in their complaints.

there

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

From this reading They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "The drouth got so bad that everybody was complaining--everybody except me.

water

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

From this reading They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading They noticed this, after so long a time, and one day, while they were sitting there complaining and declaring that they were ruined, I went in to get a drink of water.

Wolf

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

From this reading Brother Wolf and Brother Bear would come and sit on my front porch and do nothing but complain; but I said nothing.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Brother Wolf and Brother Bear would come and sit on my front porch and do nothing but complain; but I said nothing.