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Polly of the Circus

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Polly of the Circus is here in full — 64 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Margaret Mayo • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for Polly of the Circus

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

The band of the “Great American Circus” was playing noisily.

The performance was in full swing.

Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

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.

Polly of the Circus Margaret Mayo

Cover illustration for Polly of the Circus

Chapter I

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Polly of the Circus is here in full — 64 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

The band of the “Great American Circus” was playing noisily. The performance was in full swing. Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects. Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound. Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

Polly of the Circus

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Polly of the Circus is here in full — 64 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/12 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

The band of the “Great American Circus” was playing noisily.

Line 2

The performance was in full swing.

Line 3

Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

Line 4

Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

Line 5

Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

All words in this reading · 81

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.

a

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

about

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

accustomed

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

From this reading Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

American

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

From this reading The band of the “Great American Circus” was playing noisily.

and

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

From this reading Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

artificial

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

band

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

From this reading The band of the “Great American Circus” was playing noisily.

been

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

From this reading Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

belching

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

Beside

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

centre

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

chatter

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

chin

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

Circling

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

Circus

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

From this reading The band of the “Great American Circus” was playing noisily.

disarray

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

double

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

down

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

dressing

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

eyes

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

From this reading Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

fineries

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

From this reading Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

flowers

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

forming

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

forth

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

full

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

From this reading The performance was in full swing.

girl

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

glitter

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

From this reading Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

Great

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

From this reading The band of the “Great American Circus” was playing noisily.

had

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

From this reading Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

hair

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

hand

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

have

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

From this reading Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

held

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

From this reading Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

her

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

impudent

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

in

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

From this reading The performance was in full swing.

inside

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

jewels

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

laces

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

line

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

long

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

From this reading Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

masses

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

might

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

From this reading Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

noisily

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

From this reading The band of the “Great American Circus” was playing noisily.

nothing

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

From this reading Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

objects

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

of

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

From this reading The band of the “Great American Circus” was playing noisily.

or

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

painter

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

From this reading Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

paper

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

partially

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

paste

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

performance

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

From this reading The performance was in full swing.

picture

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

From this reading Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

picturesque

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

playing

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

From this reading The band of the “Great American Circus” was playing noisily.

sat

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

satins

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

saw

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

From this reading Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

shabby

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

she

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

From this reading Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

so

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

From this reading Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

spellbound

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

From this reading Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

surrounding

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

swing

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

From this reading The performance was in full swing.

tent

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

that

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

From this reading Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

The

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

From this reading The band of the “Great American Circus” was playing noisily.

tinsel

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

From this reading Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

to

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

From this reading Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

trunk

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

trunks

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

unheeding

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

unpacked

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

unusual

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

From this reading Her eyes had been so long accustomed to the glitter and tinsel of circus fineries that she saw nothing unusual in a picture that might have held a painter spellbound.

was

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

From this reading The band of the “Great American Circus” was playing noisily.

were

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

From this reading Circling the inside of the tent and forming a double line down the centre were partially unpacked trunks belching forth impudent masses of satins, laces, artificial hair, paper flowers, and paste jewels.

wistful-faced

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

women

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

women's

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

young

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

From this reading Beside a shabby trunk in the women's dressing tent sat a young, wistful-faced girl, chin in hand, unheeding the chatter of the women about her or the picturesque disarray of the surrounding objects.

Chapter 1 of Polly of the Circus by Margaret Mayo holds 64 sentences, grouped into 13 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 1 of Polly of the Circus contain?

Chapter 1 holds 64 sentences of Polly of the Circus, unabridged, divided into 13 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Polly of the Circus by Margaret Mayo exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 64 sentences, grouped into 13 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 1 of Polly of the Circus?

Work through the 13 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 13 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 1 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading Polly of the Circus

Common questions about reading Polly of the Circus by Margaret Mayo on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Polly of the Circus?

Yes. All 2492 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #859 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Polly of the Circus is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #859, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Polly of the Circus take to read?

About 207 minutes of reading across 499 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Polly of the Circus section by section

How to work through Polly of the Circus section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 14 chapters of Polly of the Circus to begin.
Read one section

Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Polly of the Circus

Words and structures a reader meets early in Polly of the Circus, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Great: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Polly of the Circus; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
American: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Polly of the Circus; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Circus: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Polly of the Circus; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Playing: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Polly of the Circus; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.