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Selected Stories of Bret Harte
Selected Stories of Bret Harte

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Selected Stories of Bret Harte is here in full — 128 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
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Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands Smith's Pocket.”
Seen from the red road at sunset, in the red light and the red dust, its white houses look like the outcroppings of quartz on the mountainside.
The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.
It is probably owing to this sudden twist in the road that the advent of a stranger at Smith's Pocket is usually attended with a peculiar circumstance.
Dismounting from the vehicle at the stage office, the too-confident traveler is apt to walk straight out of town under the impression that it lies in quite another direction.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Selected Stories of Bret Harte

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Selected Stories of Bret Harte is here in full — 128 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, standsSmith's Pocket.”
Line 2
Seen from the red road at sunset, in the red light and the red dust, its white houses look like the outcroppings of quartz on the mountainside.
Line 3
The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.
Line 4
It is probably owing to this sudden twist in the road that the advent of a stranger at Smith's Pocket is usually attended with a peculiar circumstance.
/ɪt ɪz ˈprɑːbəbliː ˈoʊɪŋ tuː ðɪs ˈsʌdən twɪst ɪn ðə roʊd ðæt ðə ˈædvent ʌv ə ˈstreɪndʒər æt smɪθs ˈpɑːkət ɪz ˈjuːʒəwəli əˈtendɪd wɪð ə pəˈkjuːljər ˈsɜːrkəmstæns/
Line 5
Dismounting from the vehicle at the stage office, the too-confident traveler is apt to walk straight out of town under the impression that it lies in quite another direction.

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.

gentler adjective US /ˈdʒentlər/

comparative of “gentle” — soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe

From this reading “Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.””

mountainside noun US /ˈmaʊntənsaɪd/

the side or slope of a mountain

From this reading “Seen from the red road at sunset, in the red light and the red dust, its white houses look like the outcroppings of quartz on the mountainside.”

Nevada noun US /nəˈvɑːdə/

a state in the western United States

From this reading “Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.””

quartz noun US /kwɔːrts/

colorless glass made of almost pure silica

From this reading “Seen from the red road at sunset, in the red light and the red dust, its white houses look like the outcroppings of quartz on the mountainside.”

Sierra noun US /siˈerə/

a range of mountains (usually with jagged peaks and irregular outline)

From this reading “Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.””

subside verb US /səbˈsaɪd/

wear off or die down

From this reading “Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.””

topped adjective US /tɑːpt/

having a top of a specified character

From this reading “The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.”

tortuous adjective US /ˈtɔːrtʃəwəs/

highly complex or intricate and occasionally devious

From this reading “The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.”

All words in this reading · 94

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 Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

adventnounUS /ˈædvent/

arrival that has been awaited (especially of something momentous)

From this reading It is probably owing to this sudden twist in the road that the advent of a stranger at Smith's Pocket is usually attended with a peculiar circumstance.

altogetheradverbUS /ˌɔːltəˈɡeðər/

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Dismounting from the vehicle at the stage office, the too-confident traveler is apt to walk straight out of town under the impression that it lies in quite another direction.

aptadjectiveUS /æpt/

(usually followed by “to”) naturally disposed toward

From this reading Dismounting from the vehicle at the stage office, the too-confident traveler is apt to walk straight out of town under the impression that it lies in quite another direction.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Seen from the red road at sunset, in the red light and the red dust, its white houses look like the outcroppings of quartz on the mountainside.

attendedadjectiveUS /əˈtendɪd/

playing or singing with instrumental or vocal accompaniment

From this reading It is probably owing to this sudden twist in the road that the advent of a stranger at Smith's Pocket is usually attended with a peculiar circumstance.

beginsnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnz/

plural of “begin” — Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

circumstancenounUS /ˈsɜːrkəmstæns/

a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity

From this reading It is probably owing to this sudden twist in the road that the advent of a stranger at Smith's Pocket is usually attended with a peculiar circumstance.

descentnounUS /dɪˈsent/

An action of moving downward, dropping, or falling into a deeper place.

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

directionnounUS /dərˈekʃən/

a line leading to a place or point

From this reading Dismounting from the vehicle at the stage office, the too-confident traveler is apt to walk straight out of town under the impression that it lies in quite another direction.

Dismounting

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

From this reading Dismounting from the vehicle at the stage office, the too-confident traveler is apt to walk straight out of town under the impression that it lies in quite another direction.

dozennounUS /ˈdʌzən/

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

dustverbUS /dʌst/

remove the dust from

From this reading Seen from the red road at sunset, in the red light and the red dust, its white houses look like the outcroppings of quartz on the mountainside.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Seen from the red road at sunset, in the red light and the red dust, its white houses look like the outcroppings of quartz on the mountainside.

gentleradjectiveUS /ˈdʒentlər/

comparative of “gentle” — soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

growverbUS /ɡroʊ/

pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

halfadjectiveUS /hæf/

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

housesnounUS /ˈhaʊsəz/

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Seen from the red road at sunset, in the red light and the red dust, its white houses look like the outcroppings of quartz on the mountainside.

hundrednounUS /ˈhʌndrəd/

ten 10s

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

impressionnounUS /ˌɪmˈpreʃən/

a vague idea in which some confidence is placed

From this reading Dismounting from the vehicle at the stage office, the too-confident traveler is apt to walk straight out of town under the impression that it lies in quite another direction.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is probably owing to this sudden twist in the road that the advent of a stranger at Smith's Pocket is usually attended with a peculiar circumstance.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Seen from the red road at sunset, in the red light and the red dust, its white houses look like the outcroppings of quartz on the mountainside.

JustadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

lessadverbUS /les/

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

liesnounUS /laɪz/

plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth

From this reading Dismounting from the vehicle at the stage office, the too-confident traveler is apt to walk straight out of town under the impression that it lies in quite another direction.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Seen from the red road at sunset, in the red light and the red dust, its white houses look like the outcroppings of quartz on the mountainside.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Seen from the red road at sunset, in the red light and the red dust, its white houses look like the outcroppings of quartz on the mountainside.

lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Seen from the red road at sunset, in the red light and the red dust, its white houses look like the outcroppings of quartz on the mountainside.

lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

mountainnounUS /ˈmaʊntən/

a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

mountainsidenounUS /ˈmaʊntənsaɪd/

the side or slope of a mountain

From this reading Seen from the red road at sunset, in the red light and the red dust, its white houses look like the outcroppings of quartz on the mountainside.

NevadanounUS /nəˈvɑːdə/

a state in the western United States

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

officenounUS /ˈɔːfɪs/

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading Dismounting from the vehicle at the stage office, the too-confident traveler is apt to walk straight out of town under the impression that it lies in quite another direction.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Dismounting from the vehicle at the stage office, the too-confident traveler is apt to walk straight out of town under the impression that it lies in quite another direction.

out-of-the-wayadjective

exceptional, unusual, or remarkable

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

outcroppings

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

From this reading Seen from the red road at sunset, in the red light and the red dust, its white houses look like the outcroppings of quartz on the mountainside.

owingadjectiveUS /ˈoʊɪŋ/

owed as a debt

From this reading It is probably owing to this sudden twist in the road that the advent of a stranger at Smith's Pocket is usually attended with a peculiar circumstance.

passengersnounUS /ˈpæsəndʒərz/

plural of “passenger” — a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

peculiaradjectiveUS /pəˈkjuːljər/

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading It is probably owing to this sudden twist in the road that the advent of a stranger at Smith's Pocket is usually attended with a peculiar circumstance.

placesnounUS /ˈpleɪsəz/

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

PocketnounUS /ˈpɑːkət/

a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

probablyadverbUS /ˈprɑːbəbliː/

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading It is probably owing to this sudden twist in the road that the advent of a stranger at Smith's Pocket is usually attended with a peculiar circumstance.

quartznounUS /kwɔːrts/

colorless glass made of almost pure silica

From this reading Seen from the red road at sunset, in the red light and the red dust, its white houses look like the outcroppings of quartz on the mountainside.

quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading Dismounting from the vehicle at the stage office, the too-confident traveler is apt to walk straight out of town under the impression that it lies in quite another direction.

rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/

done or occurring in a brief period of time

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

rednounUS /red/

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

red-shirted

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

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

riversnounUS /ˈrɪvərz/

plural of “river” — a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

roadnounUS /roʊd/

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading Seen from the red road at sunset, in the red light and the red dust, its white houses look like the outcroppings of quartz on the mountainside.

SeenverbUS /siːn/

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Seen from the red road at sunset, in the red light and the red dust, its white houses look like the outcroppings of quartz on the mountainside.

sidenounUS /saɪd/

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

SierranounUS /siˈerə/

a range of mountains (usually with jagged peaks and irregular outline)

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

Smith'snounUS /smɪθs/

possessive form of “smith” — Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

stagenounUS /steɪdʒ/

any distinct time period in a sequence of events

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

standsnounUS /stændz/

plural of “stand” — a support or foundation

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

straightadjectiveUS /streɪt/

successive (without a break)

From this reading Dismounting from the vehicle at the stage office, the too-confident traveler is apt to walk straight out of town under the impression that it lies in quite another direction.

strangernounUS /ˈstreɪndʒər/

anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading It is probably owing to this sudden twist in the road that the advent of a stranger at Smith's Pocket is usually attended with a peculiar circumstance.

subsideverbUS /səbˈsaɪd/

wear off or die down

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

suddenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌdən/

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading It is probably owing to this sudden twist in the road that the advent of a stranger at Smith's Pocket is usually attended with a peculiar circumstance.

sunsetnounUS /ˈsʌnset/

the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon

From this reading Seen from the red road at sunset, in the red light and the red dust, its white houses look like the outcroppings of quartz on the mountainside.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It is probably owing to this sudden twist in the road that the advent of a stranger at Smith's Pocket is usually attended with a peculiar circumstance.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading It is probably owing to this sudden twist in the road that the advent of a stranger at Smith's Pocket is usually attended with a peculiar circumstance.

timesnounUS /taɪmz/

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

too-confident

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

From this reading Dismounting from the vehicle at the stage office, the too-confident traveler is apt to walk straight out of town under the impression that it lies in quite another direction.

toppedadjectiveUS /tɑːpt/

having a top of a specified character

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

tortuousadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrtʃəwəs/

highly complex or intricate and occasionally devious

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

townnounUS /taʊn/

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

travelernounUS /ˈtrævələr/

a person who changes location

From this reading Dismounting from the vehicle at the stage office, the too-confident traveler is apt to walk straight out of town under the impression that it lies in quite another direction.

turningnounUS /ˈtɜːrnɪŋ/

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

twistverbUS /twɪst/

to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)

From this reading It is probably owing to this sudden twist in the road that the advent of a stranger at Smith's Pocket is usually attended with a peculiar circumstance.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Dismounting from the vehicle at the stage office, the too-confident traveler is apt to walk straight out of town under the impression that it lies in quite another direction.

undulations

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

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

unexpectedlyadverbUS /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪdli/

in a way that was not expected

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

usuallyadverbUS /ˈjuːʒəwəli/

under normal conditions

From this reading It is probably owing to this sudden twist in the road that the advent of a stranger at Smith's Pocket is usually attended with a peculiar circumstance.

vanishingnounUS /ˈvænɪʃɪŋ/

a sudden or mysterious disappearance

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

vehiclenounUS /ˈviːhɪkəl/

a conveyance that transports people or objects

From this reading Dismounting from the vehicle at the stage office, the too-confident traveler is apt to walk straight out of town under the impression that it lies in quite another direction.

viewnounUS /vjuː/

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

walknounUS /wɔːk/

the act of traveling by foot

From this reading Dismounting from the vehicle at the stage office, the too-confident traveler is apt to walk straight out of town under the impression that it lies in quite another direction.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading Seen from the red road at sunset, in the red light and the red dust, its white houses look like the outcroppings of quartz on the mountainside.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

yardsnounUS /jɑːrdz/

plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading The red stage topped with red-shirted passengers is lost to view half a dozen times in the tortuous descent, turning up unexpectedly in out-of-the-way places, and vanishing altogether within a hundred yards of the town.

yellowadjectiveUS /ˈjeloʊ/

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading Just where the Sierra Nevada begins to subside in gentler undulations, and the rivers grow less rapid and yellow, on the side of a great red mountain, stands “Smith's Pocket.”

Chapter 1 of Selected Stories of Bret Harte by Bret Harte holds 128 sentences, grouped into 26 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 Selected Stories of Bret Harte contain?

Chapter 1 holds 128 sentences of Selected Stories of Bret Harte, unabridged, divided into 26 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Selected Stories of Bret Harte by Bret Harte exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 128 sentences, grouped into 26 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 Selected Stories of Bret Harte?

Work through the 26 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 26 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 Selected Stories of Bret Harte

Common questions about reading Selected Stories of Bret Harte by Bret Harte on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Selected Stories of Bret Harte?

Yes. All 4500 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1312 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Selected Stories of Bret Harte is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1312, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Selected Stories of Bret Harte take to read?

About 375 minutes of reading across 900 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Selected Stories of Bret Harte section by section

How to work through Selected Stories of Bret Harte section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 6 chapters of Selected Stories of Bret Harte 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 Selected Stories of Bret Harte

Words and structures a reader meets early in Selected Stories of Bret Harte, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Where
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Selected Stories of Bret Harte; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sierra
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Selected Stories of Bret Harte; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Nevada
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Selected Stories of Bret Harte; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Begins
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Selected Stories of Bret Harte; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.