Chapter 5 of Negro Tales is here in full — 401 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter V
Chapter 5 of Negro Tales is here in full — 401 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence." "Why, look," said Abraham, "the rogue has left his saddle-bags. Let's see what is in them." He opened one side and drew out a copy of an old newspaper. He unfolded it, and there was a sermon on Patience by the identical Parson Prudence.
Chapter 5 of Negro Tales is here in full — 401 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/80 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
the first of the Old Testament patriarchs and the father of Isaac; according to Genesis, God promised to give Abraham's family (the Hebrews) the land of Canaan (the Promised Land); God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son
From this reading “"Why, look," said Abraham, "the rogue has left his saddle-bags.”
a Protestant layman who assists the minister
From this reading “"I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."”
exactly alike; incapable of being perceived as different
From this reading “He unfolded it, and there was a sermon on Patience by the identical Parson Prudence.”
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading “"I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."”
discretion in practical affairs
From this reading “"I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."”
a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel
From this reading “"Why, look," said Abraham, "the rogue has left his saddle-bags.”
an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)
From this reading “"I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."”
past form of “unfold” — develop or come to a promising stage
From this reading “He unfolded it, and there was a sermon on Patience by the identical Parson Prudence.”
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 this reading “He opened one side and drew out a copy of an old newspaper.”
In this reading “He opened one side and drew out a copy of an old newspaper.”
In this reading “"I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."
the first of the Old Testament patriarchs and the father of Isaac; according to Genesis, God promised to give Abraham's family (the Hebrews) the land of Canaan (the Promised Land); God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son
From this reading "Why, look," said Abraham, "the rogue has left his saddle-bags.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He opened one side and drew out a copy of an old newspaper.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."
a reproduction of a written record (e.g. of a legal or school record)
From this reading He opened one side and drew out a copy of an old newspaper.
a Protestant layman who assists the minister
From this reading "I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading He opened one side and drew out a copy of an old newspaper.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading "I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Why, look," said Abraham, "the rogue has left his saddle-bags.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He opened one side and drew out a copy of an old newspaper.
(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
From this reading "I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Why, look," said Abraham, "the rogue has left his saddle-bags.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."
exactly alike; incapable of being perceived as different
From this reading He unfolded it, and there was a sermon on Patience by the identical Parson Prudence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Let's see what is in them."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He unfolded it, and there was a sermon on Patience by the identical Parson Prudence.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading "Why, look," said Abraham, "the rogue has left his saddle-bags.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Let's see what is in them."
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading "I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "Why, look," said Abraham, "the rogue has left his saddle-bags.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading He opened one side and drew out a copy of an old newspaper.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He opened one side and drew out a copy of an old newspaper.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He opened one side and drew out a copy of an old newspaper.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He unfolded it, and there was a sermon on Patience by the identical Parson Prudence.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He opened one side and drew out a copy of an old newspaper.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading He opened one side and drew out a copy of an old newspaper.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He opened one side and drew out a copy of an old newspaper.
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading "I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading He unfolded it, and there was a sermon on Patience by the identical Parson Prudence.
the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading "I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."
discretion in practical affairs
From this reading "I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."
a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel
From this reading "Why, look," said Abraham, "the rogue has left his saddle-bags.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading "I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, look," said Abraham, "the rogue has left his saddle-bags.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Let's see what is in them."
an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)
From this reading "I never in my life," said Ruth, "felt more like hearing a prayer by Deacon Brindlebee and a sermon by Parson Prudence."
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading He opened one side and drew out a copy of an old newspaper.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Why, look," said Abraham, "the rogue has left his saddle-bags.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Let's see what is in them."
in or at that place or location
From this reading He unfolded it, and there was a sermon on Patience by the identical Parson Prudence.
past form of “unfold” — develop or come to a promising stage
From this reading He unfolded it, and there was a sermon on Patience by the identical Parson Prudence.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He unfolded it, and there was a sermon on Patience by the identical Parson Prudence.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Let's see what is in them."
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why, look," said Abraham, "the rogue has left his saddle-bags.
Chapter 5 of Negro Tales by Joseph S. (Joseph Seamon) Cotter holds 401 sentences, grouped into 81 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.
Chapter 5 holds 401 sentences of Negro Tales, unabridged, divided into 81 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 5 of Negro Tales by Joseph S. (Joseph Seamon) Cotter exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 401 sentences, grouped into 81 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.
Work through the 81 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 81 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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.
Common questions about reading Negro Tales by Joseph S. (Joseph Seamon) Cotter on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2394 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #41590 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #41590, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 199 minutes of reading across 479 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Negro Tales section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 6 chapters of Negro Tales to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Negro Tales, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
