Chapter 1 of Old valentines is here in full — 411 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Old valentines is here in full — 411 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?" "MAY I CALL YOU PHYLLIS?" "ARE YOU CERTAIN YOU CAN SPARE SO LARGE A SUM?" You might enter this story by the stage door. You remember beautiful Valentine Germain--the actress?
Chapter 1 of Old valentines is here in full — 411 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/82 · 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.
a female actor
From this reading “You remember beautiful Valentine Germain--the actress?”
state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services
From this reading “Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"”
a university in England
From this reading “Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"”
plural of “drawing” — an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading “Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"”
United States publisher who founded a printing shop that became an important book publisher (1823-1895)
From this reading “Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"”
plural of “illustration” — artwork that helps make something clear or attractive
From this reading “Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"”
the bank of a river
From this reading “Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"”
a sweetheart chosen to receive a greeting on Saint Valentine's Day
From this reading “You remember beautiful Valentine Germain--the actress?”
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 "ARE YOU CERTAIN YOU CAN SPARE SO LARGE A SUM?"
a female actor
From this reading You remember beautiful Valentine Germain--the actress?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "ARE YOU CERTAIN YOU CAN SPARE SO LARGE A SUM?"
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading You remember beautiful Valentine Germain--the actress?
state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "MAY I CALL YOU PHYLLIS?"
a university in England
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "ARE YOU CERTAIN YOU CAN SPARE SO LARGE A SUM?"
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading "ARE YOU CERTAIN YOU CAN SPARE SO LARGE A SUM?"
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading You might enter this story by the stage door.
plural of “drawing” — an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
to come or go into
From this reading You might enter this story by the stage door.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You remember beautiful Valentine Germain--the actress?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
United States publisher who founded a printing shop that became an important book publisher (1823-1895)
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "MAY I CALL YOU PHYLLIS?"
plural of “illustration” — artwork that helps make something clear or attractive
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "ARE YOU CERTAIN YOU CAN SPARE SO LARGE A SUM?"
informal terms for a mother
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "MAY I CALL YOU PHYLLIS?"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading You might enter this story by the stage door.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "MAY I CALL YOU PHYLLIS?"
exert pressure or force to or upon
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
To recall to mind.
From this reading You remember beautiful Valentine Germain--the actress?
the bank of a river
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "ARE YOU CERTAIN YOU CAN SPARE SO LARGE A SUM?"
refrain from harming
From this reading "ARE YOU CERTAIN YOU CAN SPARE SO LARGE A SUM?"
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading You might enter this story by the stage door.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading You might enter this story by the stage door.
a quantity of money
From this reading "ARE YOU CERTAIN YOU CAN SPARE SO LARGE A SUM?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading You might enter this story by the stage door.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
a sweetheart chosen to receive a greeting on Saint Valentine's Day
From this reading You remember beautiful Valentine Germain--the actress?
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "MAY I CALL YOU PHYLLIS?"
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge ILLUSTRATIONS _From drawings by Griswold Tyng_ "SHE WAS YOUR MAMMA, TOO, WASN'T SHE?"
Chapter 1 of Old valentines by Munson Aldrich Havens holds 411 sentences, grouped into 83 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 1 holds 411 sentences of Old valentines, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Old valentines by Munson Aldrich Havens exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 411 sentences, grouped into 83 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 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 83 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 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.
Common questions about reading Old valentines by Munson Aldrich Havens on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2422 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #23886 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #23886, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 201 minutes of reading across 485 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Old valentines section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 6 chapters of Old valentines 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 Old valentines, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
