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Rootabaga Stories
Rootabaga Stories

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Rootabaga Stories is here in full — 495 sentences across 99 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Rootabaga Stories
Context Illustration Reading 1/99 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.
And so--if you ever come across a gold buckskin whincher, be careful.
It's got a power.
It'll make you fall head over heels in love with the next man you meet with an X in his name.
Or it will do other strange things because different whinchers have different powers.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Rootabaga Stories

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Rootabaga Stories is here in full — 495 sentences across 99 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/99 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.
Line 2
And so--if you ever come across a gold buckskin whincher, be careful.
Line 3
It's got a power.
Line 4
It'll make you fall head over heels in love with the next man you meet with an X in his name.
Line 5
Or it will do other strange things because different whinchers have different powers.

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.

blues noun US /bluːz/

a type of folksong that originated among Black Americans at the beginning of the 20th century; has a melancholy sound from repeated use of blue notes

From this reading “"Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.”

buckskin noun US /ˈbʌkskɪn/

horse of a light yellowish dun color with dark mane and tail

From this reading “And so--if you ever come across a gold buckskin whincher, be careful.”

Flea noun US /fliː/

any wingless bloodsucking parasitic insect noted for ability to leap

From this reading “"Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.”

heels noun US /hiːlz/

plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation

From this reading “It'll make you fall head over heels in love with the next man you meet with an X in his name.”

Jimmy verb US /ˈdʒɪmi/

to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open

From this reading “"Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.”

powers noun US /ˈpaʊərz/

plural of “power” — possession of controlling influence

From this reading “Or it will do other strange things because different whinchers have different powers.”

telephoned verb US /ˈteləfoʊnd/

past form of “telephone” — get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone

From this reading “"Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.”

whistle verb US /ˈwɪsəl/

make whistling sounds

From this reading “"Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.”

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.

strange things adjective + noun

In this reading “Or it will do other strange things because different whinchers have different powers.”

come across verb + particle

find unexpectedly

In this reading “And so--if you ever come across a gold buckskin whincher, be careful.”

over heels preposition + noun counted as “over heel”

In this reading “It'll make you fall head over heels in love with the next man you meet with an X in his name.”

meet with verb + particle

In this reading “It'll make you fall head over heels in love with the next man you meet with an X in his name.”

in love preposition + noun

marked by foolish or unreasoning fondness

In this reading “It'll make you fall head over heels in love with the next man you meet with an X in his name.”

Come on verb + particle

appear or become visible; make a showing

In this reading “"Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.”

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 And so--if you ever come across a gold buckskin whincher, be careful.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading And so--if you ever come across a gold buckskin whincher, be careful.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading It'll make you fall head over heels in love with the next man you meet with an X in his name.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

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

From this reading "Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading And so--if you ever come across a gold buckskin whincher, be careful.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading Or it will do other strange things because different whinchers have different powers.

bluesnounUS /bluːz/

a type of folksong that originated among Black Americans at the beginning of the 20th century; has a melancholy sound from repeated use of blue notes

From this reading "Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.

buckskinnounUS /ˈbʌkskɪn/

horse of a light yellowish dun color with dark mane and tail

From this reading And so--if you ever come across a gold buckskin whincher, be careful.

carefuladjectiveUS /ˈkerfəl/

exercising caution or showing care or attention

From this reading And so--if you ever come across a gold buckskin whincher, be careful.

ComeverbUS /kʌm/

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

From this reading "Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.

differentadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfərənt/

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading Or it will do other strange things because different whinchers have different powers.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Or it will do other strange things because different whinchers have different powers.

emnounUS /em/

a quad with a square body

From this reading "Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading And so--if you ever come across a gold buckskin whincher, be careful.

fallverbUS /fɔːl/

descend in free fall under the influence of gravity

From this reading It'll make you fall head over heels in love with the next man you meet with an X in his name.

FleanounUS /fliː/

any wingless bloodsucking parasitic insect noted for ability to leap

From this reading "Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.

goldnounUS /ɡoʊld/

coins made of gold

From this reading And so--if you ever come across a gold buckskin whincher, be careful.

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading "Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Or it will do other strange things because different whinchers have different powers.

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading It'll make you fall head over heels in love with the next man you meet with an X in his name.

heelsnounUS /hiːlz/

plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation

From this reading It'll make you fall head over heels in love with the next man you meet with an X in his name.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It'll make you fall head over heels in love with the next man you meet with an X in his name.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading And so--if you ever come across a gold buckskin whincher, be careful.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It'll make you fall head over heels in love with the next man you meet with an X in his name.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Or it will do other strange things because different whinchers have different powers.

It'll

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

From this reading It'll make you fall head over heels in love with the next man you meet with an X in his name.

It's

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

From this reading It's got a power.

JimmyverbUS /ˈdʒɪmi/

to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open

From this reading "Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading It'll make you fall head over heels in love with the next man you meet with an X in his name.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading It'll make you fall head over heels in love with the next man you meet with an X in his name.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading It'll make you fall head over heels in love with the next man you meet with an X in his name.

meetverbUS /miːt/

come together

From this reading It'll make you fall head over heels in love with the next man you meet with an X in his name.

nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading It'll make you fall head over heels in love with the next man you meet with an X in his name.

nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading It'll make you fall head over heels in love with the next man you meet with an X in his name.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.

OrconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Or it will do other strange things because different whinchers have different powers.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Or it will do other strange things because different whinchers have different powers.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading "Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.

powernounUS /ˈpaʊər/

possession of controlling influence

From this reading It's got a power.

powersnounUS /ˈpaʊərz/

plural of “power” — possession of controlling influence

From this reading Or it will do other strange things because different whinchers have different powers.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading "Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading And so--if you ever come across a gold buckskin whincher, be careful.

strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading Or it will do other strange things because different whinchers have different powers.

telephonedverbUS /ˈteləfoʊnd/

past form of “telephone” — get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone

From this reading "Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading Or it will do other strange things because different whinchers have different powers.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading "Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.

whincher

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

From this reading And so--if you ever come across a gold buckskin whincher, be careful.

whinchers

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

From this reading Or it will do other strange things because different whinchers have different powers.

whistleverbUS /ˈwɪsəl/

make whistling sounds

From this reading "Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Or it will do other strange things because different whinchers have different powers.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It'll make you fall head over heels in love with the next man you meet with an X in his name.

XnounUS /eks/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading It'll make you fall head over heels in love with the next man you meet with an X in his name.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Come on over--I got the blues and I want you to whistle 'em away," was what she telephoned Jimmy the Flea.

Chapter 2 of Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg holds 495 sentences, grouped into 99 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 Rootabaga Stories contain?

Chapter 2 holds 495 sentences of Rootabaga Stories, unabridged, divided into 99 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 495 sentences, grouped into 99 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 Rootabaga Stories?

Work through the 99 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 99 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 Rootabaga Stories

Common questions about reading Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Rootabaga Stories?

Yes. All 1458 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #27085 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Rootabaga Stories is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #27085, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Rootabaga Stories take to read?

About 121 minutes of reading across 292 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Rootabaga Stories section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 3 chapters of Rootabaga Stories 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 Rootabaga Stories

Words and structures a reader meets early in Rootabaga Stories, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rootabaga Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Slabs
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rootabaga Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sunburnt
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rootabaga Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Smoke
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rootabaga Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.