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Mary Christmas
Mary Christmas

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Mary Christmas is here in full — 473 sentences across 95 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Mary Christmas
Context Illustration Reading 1/94 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It is the eve of the day when our Lord ascended into Heaven,” she said slowly.
On that night, in my country, at one moment which no one knows, all the water everywhere is still.
Rivers and streams do not move.
In that moment stones and flowers and stars and all creatures speak to one another.
If you should hide in a cave in the mountain and hear them, you would never feel sadness any more.”
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Mary Christmas

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Mary Christmas is here in full — 473 sentences across 95 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/94 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It is the eve of the day when our Lord ascended into Heaven,” she said slowly.
/ɪt ɪz ðə iːv ʌv ðə deɪ wen ˈaʊər lɔːrd əˈsendɪd ˈɪntuː ˈhevən ʃiː sed ˈsloʊli/
Line 2
On that night, in my country, at one moment which no one knows, all the water everywhere is still.
/ɑːn ðæt naɪt ɪn maɪ ˈkʌntri æt wʌn ˈmoʊmənt wɪtʃ noʊ wʌn noʊz ɔːl ðə ˈwɔːtər ˈevriwer ɪz stɪl/
Line 3
Rivers and streams do not move.
/ˈrɪvərz ənd striːmz duː nɑːt muːv/
Line 4
In that moment stones and flowers and stars and all creatures speak to one another.
/ɪn ðæt ˈmoʊmənt stoʊnz ənd ˈflaʊərz ənd stɑːrz ənd ɔːl ˈkriːtʃərz spiːk tuː wʌn əˈnʌðər/
Line 5
If you should hide in a cave in the mountain and hear them, you would never feel sadness any more.”
/ɪf juː ʃʊd haɪd ɪn ə keɪv ɪn ðə ˈmaʊntən ənd hiːr ðem juː wʊd ˈnevər fiːl ˈsædnəs ˈeni mɔːr/

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.

ascended verb US /əˈsendɪd/

past form of “ascend” — travel up

From this reading ““It is the eve of the day when our Lord ascended into Heaven,” she said slowly.”

cave noun US /keɪv/

a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea

From this reading “If you should hide in a cave in the mountain and hear them, you would never feel sadness any more.””

creatures noun US /ˈkriːtʃərz/

plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading “In that moment stones and flowers and stars and all creatures speak to one another.”

eve noun US /iːv/

(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden

From this reading ““It is the eve of the day when our Lord ascended into Heaven,” she said slowly.”

everywhere adverb US /ˈevriwer/

to or in any or all places

From this reading ““On that night, in my country, at one moment which no one knows, all the water everywhere is still.”

Rivers noun US /ˈrɪvərz/

plural of “river” — a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading “Rivers and streams do not move.”

sadness noun US /ˈsædnəs/

emotions experienced when not in a state of well-being

From this reading “If you should hide in a cave in the mountain and hear them, you would never feel sadness any more.””

streams noun US /striːmz/

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

From this reading “Rivers and streams do not move.”

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.

in a cave preposition + article + noun counted as “in … cave”

In this reading “If you should hide in a cave in the mountain and hear them, you would never feel sadness any more.””

All words in this reading · 59

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 If you should hide in a cave in the mountain and hear them, you would never feel sadness any more.”

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 “On that night, in my country, at one moment which no one knows, all the water everywhere is still.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Rivers and streams do not move.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading In that moment stones and flowers and stars and all creatures speak to one another.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading If you should hide in a cave in the mountain and hear them, you would never feel sadness any more.”

ascendedverbUS /əˈsendɪd/

past form of “ascend” — travel up

From this reading “It is the eve of the day when our Lord ascended into Heaven,” she said slowly.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading “On that night, in my country, at one moment which no one knows, all the water everywhere is still.

cavenounUS /keɪv/

a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea

From this reading If you should hide in a cave in the mountain and hear them, you would never feel sadness any more.”

countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading “On that night, in my country, at one moment which no one knows, all the water everywhere is still.

creaturesnounUS /ˈkriːtʃərz/

plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading In that moment stones and flowers and stars and all creatures speak to one another.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading “It is the eve of the day when our Lord ascended into Heaven,” she said slowly.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Rivers and streams do not move.

evenounUS /iːv/

(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden

From this reading “It is the eve of the day when our Lord ascended into Heaven,” she said slowly.

everywhereadverbUS /ˈevriwer/

to or in any or all places

From this reading “On that night, in my country, at one moment which no one knows, all the water everywhere is still.

feelverbUS /fiːl/

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading If you should hide in a cave in the mountain and hear them, you would never feel sadness any more.”

flowersnounUS /ˈflaʊərz/

plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms

From this reading In that moment stones and flowers and stars and all creatures speak to one another.

hearverbUS /hiːr/

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading If you should hide in a cave in the mountain and hear them, you would never feel sadness any more.”

HeavennounUS /ˈhevən/

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading “It is the eve of the day when our Lord ascended into Heaven,” she said slowly.

hideverbUS /haɪd/

prevent from being seen or discovered

From this reading If you should hide in a cave in the mountain and hear them, you would never feel sadness any more.”

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If you should hide in a cave in the mountain and hear them, you would never feel sadness any more.”

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “On that night, in my country, at one moment which no one knows, all the water everywhere is still.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading “It is the eve of the day when our Lord ascended into Heaven,” she said slowly.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “It is the eve of the day when our Lord ascended into Heaven,” she said slowly.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “It is the eve of the day when our Lord ascended into Heaven,” she said slowly.

knowsnounUS /noʊz/

plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people

From this reading “On that night, in my country, at one moment which no one knows, all the water everywhere is still.

LordnounUS /lɔːrd/

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading “It is the eve of the day when our Lord ascended into Heaven,” she said slowly.

momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/

a particular point in time

From this reading “On that night, in my country, at one moment which no one knows, all the water everywhere is still.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading If you should hide in a cave in the mountain and hear them, you would never feel sadness any more.”

mountainnounUS /ˈmaʊntən/

a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading If you should hide in a cave in the mountain and hear them, you would never feel sadness any more.”

moveverbUS /muːv/

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

From this reading Rivers and streams do not move.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “On that night, in my country, at one moment which no one knows, all the water everywhere is still.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading If you should hide in a cave in the mountain and hear them, you would never feel sadness any more.”

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading “On that night, in my country, at one moment which no one knows, all the water everywhere is still.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading “On that night, in my country, at one moment which no one knows, all the water everywhere is still.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Rivers and streams do not move.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “It is the eve of the day when our Lord ascended into Heaven,” she said slowly.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “On that night, in my country, at one moment which no one knows, all the water everywhere is still.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “On that night, in my country, at one moment which no one knows, all the water everywhere is still.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading “It is the eve of the day when our Lord ascended into Heaven,” she said slowly.

RiversnounUS /ˈrɪvərz/

plural of “river” — a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading Rivers and streams do not move.

sadnessnounUS /ˈsædnəs/

emotions experienced when not in a state of well-being

From this reading If you should hide in a cave in the mountain and hear them, you would never feel sadness any more.”

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “It is the eve of the day when our Lord ascended into Heaven,” she said slowly.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading “It is the eve of the day when our Lord ascended into Heaven,” she said slowly.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading If you should hide in a cave in the mountain and hear them, you would never feel sadness any more.”

slowlyadverbUS /ˈsloʊli/

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading “It is the eve of the day when our Lord ascended into Heaven,” she said slowly.

speakverbUS /spiːk/

express in speech

From this reading In that moment stones and flowers and stars and all creatures speak to one another.

starsnounUS /stɑːrz/

plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading In that moment stones and flowers and stars and all creatures speak to one another.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading “On that night, in my country, at one moment which no one knows, all the water everywhere is still.

stonesnounUS /stoʊnz/

plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading In that moment stones and flowers and stars and all creatures speak to one another.

streamsnounUS /striːmz/

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

From this reading Rivers and streams do not move.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “On that night, in my country, at one moment which no one knows, all the water everywhere is still.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “It is the eve of the day when our Lord ascended into Heaven,” she said slowly.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading If you should hide in a cave in the mountain and hear them, you would never feel sadness any more.”

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading In that moment stones and flowers and stars and all creatures speak to one another.

waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading “On that night, in my country, at one moment which no one knows, all the water everywhere is still.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading “It is the eve of the day when our Lord ascended into Heaven,” she said slowly.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading “On that night, in my country, at one moment which no one knows, all the water everywhere is still.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading If you should hide in a cave in the mountain and hear them, you would never feel sadness any more.”

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading If you should hide in a cave in the mountain and hear them, you would never feel sadness any more.”

Chapter 2 of Mary Christmas by Mary Ellen Chase holds 473 sentences, grouped into 95 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 2 of Mary Christmas contain?

Chapter 2 holds 473 sentences of Mary Christmas, unabridged, divided into 95 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Mary Christmas by Mary Ellen Chase exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 473 sentences, grouped into 95 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 2 of Mary Christmas?

Work through the 95 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 95 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Mary Christmas

Common questions about reading Mary Christmas by Mary Ellen Chase on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Mary Christmas?

Yes. All 944 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #70325 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Mary Christmas is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #70325, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Mary Christmas take to read?

About 78 minutes of reading across 189 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Mary Christmas section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 2 chapters of Mary Christmas 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 Mary Christmas

Words and structures a reader meets early in Mary Christmas, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Candle
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mary Christmas; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Shined
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mary Christmas; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Light
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mary Christmas; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Walked
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mary Christmas; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.