On the Tree Top

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of On the Tree Top is here in full — 323 sentences across 65 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Clara Doty Bates • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

And the simple rabbits cried, "The parsley smells like spring!"

And into the bag their noses slipped, And Pussy pulled the string.

Only a kick, and a gasp for breath, And, one by one, they were choked to death.

So Sly Boots bagged her game, And gave it an easy swing Over her shoulder; and, starting off For the palace of the king, She found him upon his throne, in state, While near him his lovely daughter sate.

Puss made a graceful bow No courtier could surpass, And said, "I come to your Highness from The Marquis of Carabas.

Narrator

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.

Chapter II Reading 1/64

On the Tree Top Clara Doty Bates

Chapter II

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of On the Tree Top is here in full — 323 sentences across 65 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

And the simple rabbits cried, "The parsley smells like spring!" And into the bag their noses slipped, And Pussy pulled the string. Only a kick, and a gasp for breath, And, one by one, they were choked to death. So Sly Boots bagged her game, And gave it an easy swing Over her shoulder; and, starting off For the palace of the king, She found him upon his throne, in state, While near him his lovely daughter sate. Puss made a graceful bow No courtier could surpass, And said, "I come to your Highness from The Marquis of Carabas.

On the Tree Top

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of On the Tree Top is here in full — 323 sentences across 65 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/64 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

And the simple rabbits cried, "The parsley smells like spring!"

/ənd ðə ˈsɪmpəl ˈræbəts kraɪd ðə ˈpɑːrsli smelz laɪk sprɪŋ/

Line 2

And into the bag their noses slipped, And Pussy pulled the string.

/ənd ˈɪntuː ðə bæɡ ðer ˈnoʊzɪz slɪpt ənd ˈpʊsi pʊld ðə strɪŋ/

Line 3

Only a kick, and a gasp for breath, And, one by one, they were choked to death.

/ˈoʊnli ə kɪk ənd ə ɡæsp fɔːr breθ ənd wʌn baɪ wʌn ðeɪ wɜːr tʃoʊkt tuː deθ/

Line 4

/soʊ slaɪ buːts bæɡd hɜːr ɡeɪm ənd ɡeɪv ɪt æn ˈiːzi swɪŋ ˈoʊvər hɜːr ˈʃoʊldər ənd ˈstɑːrtɪŋ ɔːf fɔːr ðə ˈpæləs ʌv ðə kɪŋ ʃiː faʊnd hɪm əˈpɑːn hɪz θroʊn ɪn steɪt waɪl nɪr hɪm hɪz ˈlʌvli ˈdɔːtər seɪt/

Line 5

Puss made a graceful bow No courtier could surpass, And said, "I come to your Highness from The Marquis of Carabas.

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.

bagged verb US /bæɡd/

inflected form of “bag” — capture or kill, as in hunting

From this reading “So Sly Boots bagged her game, And gave it an easy swing Over her shoulder; and, starting off For the palace of the king, She found him upon his throne, in state, While near him his lovely daughter sate.”

courtier noun US /ˈkɔːrtiər/

an attendant at the court of a sovereign

From this reading “Puss made a graceful bow No courtier could surpass, And said, "I come to your Highness from The Marquis of Carabas.”

parsley noun US /ˈpɑːrsli/

annual or perennial herb with aromatic leaves

From this reading “And the simple rabbits cried, "The parsley smells like spring!"”

Puss noun US /pʊs/

obscene terms for female genitals

From this reading “Puss made a graceful bow No courtier could surpass, And said, "I come to your Highness from The Marquis of Carabas.”

Pussy noun US /ˈpʊsi/

obscene terms for female genitals

From this reading “And into the bag their noses slipped, And Pussy pulled the string.”

sate verb US /seɪt/

fill to satisfaction

smells noun US /smelz/

plural of “smell” — the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form

From this reading “And the simple rabbits cried, "The parsley smells like spring!"”

surpass verb US /sərˈpæs/

distinguish oneself

From this reading “Puss made a graceful bow No courtier could surpass, And said, "I come to your Highness from The Marquis of Carabas.”

All words in this reading · 77

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 Only a kick, and a gasp for breath, And, one by one, they were choked to death.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading So Sly Boots bagged her game, And gave it an easy swing Over her shoulder; and, starting off For the palace of the king, She found him upon his throne, in state, While near him his lovely daughter sate.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And the simple rabbits cried, "The parsley smells like spring!"

bagnounUS /bæɡ/

a flexible container with a single opening

From this reading And into the bag their noses slipped, And Pussy pulled the string.

baggedverbUS /bæɡd/

inflected form of “bag” — capture or kill, as in hunting

BootsnounUS /buːts/

plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg

bownounUS /baʊ/

a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces

From this reading Puss made a graceful bow No courtier could surpass, And said, "I come to your Highness from The Marquis of Carabas.

breathnounUS /breθ/

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading Only a kick, and a gasp for breath, And, one by one, they were choked to death.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Only a kick, and a gasp for breath, And, one by one, they were choked to death.

Carabas

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

From this reading Puss made a graceful bow No courtier could surpass, And said, "I come to your Highness from The Marquis of Carabas.

chokedadjectiveUS /tʃoʊkt/

stopped up; clogged up

From this reading Only a kick, and a gasp for breath, And, one by one, they were choked to death.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Puss made a graceful bow No courtier could surpass, And said, "I come to your Highness from The Marquis of Carabas.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Puss made a graceful bow No courtier could surpass, And said, "I come to your Highness from The Marquis of Carabas.

courtiernounUS /ˈkɔːrtiər/

an attendant at the court of a sovereign

From this reading Puss made a graceful bow No courtier could surpass, And said, "I come to your Highness from The Marquis of Carabas.

criedverbUS /kraɪd/

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading And the simple rabbits cried, "The parsley smells like spring!"

daughternounUS /ˈdɔːtər/

a female human offspring

deathnounUS /deθ/

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading Only a kick, and a gasp for breath, And, one by one, they were choked to death.

easyadjectiveUS /ˈiːzi/

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Only a kick, and a gasp for breath, And, one by one, they were choked to death.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Puss made a graceful bow No courtier could surpass, And said, "I come to your Highness from The Marquis of Carabas.

gamenounUS /ɡeɪm/

a contest with rules to determine a winner

gaspnounUS /ɡæsp/

a short labored intake of breath with the mouth open

From this reading Only a kick, and a gasp for breath, And, one by one, they were choked to death.

gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

gracefuladjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪsfəl/

characterized by beauty of movement, style, form, or execution

From this reading Puss made a graceful bow No courtier could surpass, And said, "I come to your Highness from The Marquis of Carabas.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

HighnessnounUS /ˈhaɪnəs/

(Your Highness or His Highness or Her Highness) title used to address a royal person

From this reading Puss made a graceful bow No courtier could surpass, And said, "I come to your Highness from The Marquis of Carabas.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Puss made a graceful bow No courtier could surpass, And said, "I come to your Highness from The Marquis of Carabas.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading And into the bag their noses slipped, And Pussy pulled the string.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

kickverbUS /kɪk/

drive or propel with the foot

From this reading Only a kick, and a gasp for breath, And, one by one, they were choked to death.

kingnounUS /kɪŋ/

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading And the simple rabbits cried, "The parsley smells like spring!"

lovelyadjectiveUS /ˈlʌvli/

appealing to the emotions as well as the eye

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Puss made a graceful bow No courtier could surpass, And said, "I come to your Highness from The Marquis of Carabas.

MarquisnounUS /ˌmɑːrˈkiː/

humorist who wrote about the imaginary life of cockroaches (1878-1937)

From this reading Puss made a graceful bow No courtier could surpass, And said, "I come to your Highness from The Marquis of Carabas.

nearadverbUS /nɪr/

near in time or place or relationship

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Puss made a graceful bow No courtier could surpass, And said, "I come to your Highness from The Marquis of Carabas.

nosesnounUS /ˈnoʊzɪz/

plural of “nose” — the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals

From this reading And into the bag their noses slipped, And Pussy pulled the string.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Only a kick, and a gasp for breath, And, one by one, they were choked to death.

OnlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading Only a kick, and a gasp for breath, And, one by one, they were choked to death.

OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

palacenounUS /ˈpæləs/

a large and stately mansion

parsleynounUS /ˈpɑːrsli/

annual or perennial herb with aromatic leaves

From this reading And the simple rabbits cried, "The parsley smells like spring!"

pulledverbUS /pʊld/

past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling

From this reading And into the bag their noses slipped, And Pussy pulled the string.

PussnounUS /pʊs/

obscene terms for female genitals

From this reading Puss made a graceful bow No courtier could surpass, And said, "I come to your Highness from The Marquis of Carabas.

PussynounUS /ˈpʊsi/

obscene terms for female genitals

From this reading And into the bag their noses slipped, And Pussy pulled the string.

rabbitsnounUS /ˈræbəts/

plural of “rabbit” — any of various burrowing animals of the family Leporidae having long ears and short tails; some domesticated and raised for pets or food

From this reading And the simple rabbits cried, "The parsley smells like spring!"

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Puss made a graceful bow No courtier could surpass, And said, "I come to your Highness from The Marquis of Carabas.

sateverbUS /seɪt/

fill to satisfaction

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

shoulderverbUS /ˈʃoʊldər/

lift onto one's shoulders

simpleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪmpəl/

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading And the simple rabbits cried, "The parsley smells like spring!"

slippedverbUS /slɪpt/

inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily

From this reading And into the bag their noses slipped, And Pussy pulled the string.

SlyadjectiveUS /slaɪ/

marked by skill in deception

smellsnounUS /smelz/

plural of “smell” — the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form

From this reading And the simple rabbits cried, "The parsley smells like spring!"

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

springnounUS /sprɪŋ/

the season of growth

From this reading And the simple rabbits cried, "The parsley smells like spring!"

startingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtɪŋ/

(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear

statenounUS /steɪt/

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

stringnounUS /strɪŋ/

a lightweight cord

From this reading And into the bag their noses slipped, And Pussy pulled the string.

surpassverbUS /sərˈpæs/

distinguish oneself

From this reading Puss made a graceful bow No courtier could surpass, And said, "I come to your Highness from The Marquis of Carabas.

swingverbUS /swɪŋ/

move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading And the simple rabbits cried, "The parsley smells like spring!"

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading And into the bag their noses slipped, And Pussy pulled the string.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Only a kick, and a gasp for breath, And, one by one, they were choked to death.

thronenounUS /θroʊn/

the chair of state for a monarch, bishop, etc.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Only a kick, and a gasp for breath, And, one by one, they were choked to death.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Only a kick, and a gasp for breath, And, one by one, they were choked to death.

WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Puss made a graceful bow No courtier could surpass, And said, "I come to your Highness from The Marquis of Carabas.

Chapter 2 of On the Tree Top by Clara Doty Bates holds 323 sentences, grouped into 65 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 On the Tree Top contain?

Chapter 2 holds 323 sentences of On the Tree Top, unabridged, divided into 65 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of On the Tree Top by Clara Doty Bates exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 323 sentences, grouped into 65 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 On the Tree Top?

Work through the 65 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 65 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 On the Tree Top

Common questions about reading On the Tree Top by Clara Doty Bates on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of On the Tree Top?

Yes. All 991 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #24530 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of On the Tree Top is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #24530, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does On the Tree Top take to read?

About 82 minutes of reading across 199 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in On the Tree Top

Words and structures a reader meets early in On the Tree Top, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Clara: A word that appears in the opening chapter of On the Tree Top; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Bates: A word that appears in the opening chapter of On the Tree Top; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Others: A word that appears in the opening chapter of On the Tree Top; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Illustrated: A word that appears in the opening chapter of On the Tree Top; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter II · Chapter 2

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