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The Birds' Christmas Carol
The Birds' Christmas Carol

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Birds' Christmas Carol is here in full — 163 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Birds' Christmas Carol
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"I ain't particler as ter color--anything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.
"First rate! nobody could speak more genteel than that.
Miss Kitty, will you have hard or soft sarse with your pudden?"
"A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.
"You just stop your gruntin', Peter Ruggles; that was all right.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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.

The Birds' Christmas Carol

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Birds' Christmas Carol is here in full — 163 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"I ain't particler as ter color--anything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.
Line 2
"First rate! nobody could speak more genteel than that.
Line 3
Miss Kitty, will you have hard or soft sarse with your pudden?"
Line 4
"A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.
Line 5
"You just stop your gruntin', Peter Ruggles; that was all right.

All words in this reading · 76

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 "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

ain't

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

From this reading "I ain't particler as ter color--anything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.

air

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

From this reading "I ain't particler as ter color--anything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.

all

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

an

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

and

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

answered

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

From this reading "I ain't particler as ter color--anything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.

anything

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

From this reading "I ain't particler as ter color--anything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.

as

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

From this reading "I ain't particler as ter color--anything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.

at

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

be

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

best

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

From this reading "I ain't particler as ter color--anything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.

both

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

color

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

From this reading "I ain't particler as ter color--anything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.

could

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

From this reading "First rate! nobody could speak more genteel than that.

decided

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

ease

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

else

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

From this reading "I ain't particler as ter color--anything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.

expressively

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

finger

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

First

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

From this reading "First rate! nobody could speak more genteel than that.

genteel

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

From this reading "First rate! nobody could speak more genteel than that.

grace

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

GRUNTED

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

gruntin

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

From this reading "You just stop your gruntin', Peter Ruggles; that was all right.

hard

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

From this reading Miss Kitty, will you have hard or soft sarse with your pudden?"

have

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

From this reading Miss Kitty, will you have hard or soft sarse with your pudden?"

her

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

his

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

From this reading "I ain't particler as ter color--anything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.

I

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

From this reading "I ain't particler as ter color--anything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.

I'm

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

if

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

just

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

From this reading "You just stop your gruntin', Peter Ruggles; that was all right.

Kitty

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

From this reading Miss Kitty, will you have hard or soft sarse with your pudden?"

little

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

me

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

From this reading "I ain't particler as ter color--anything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.

meaning

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

might

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

Miss

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

From this reading Miss Kitty, will you have hard or soft sarse with your pudden?"

mistaken

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

more

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

From this reading "First rate! nobody could speak more genteel than that.

much

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

nobody

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

From this reading "I ain't particler as ter color--anything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.

not

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

obliged

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

of

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

or

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

From this reading Miss Kitty, will you have hard or soft sarse with your pudden?"

other

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

particler

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

From this reading "I ain't particler as ter color--anything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.

Peter

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

From this reading "I ain't particler as ter color--anything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.

please

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

pointed

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

pudden

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

From this reading Miss Kitty, will you have hard or soft sarse with your pudden?"

rate

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

From this reading "First rate! nobody could speak more genteel than that.

right

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

From this reading "You just stop your gruntin', Peter Ruggles; that was all right.

Ruggles

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

From this reading "You just stop your gruntin', Peter Ruggles; that was all right.

Ruggleses

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

said

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

sarse

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

From this reading Miss Kitty, will you have hard or soft sarse with your pudden?"

shame

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

soft

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

From this reading Miss Kitty, will you have hard or soft sarse with your pudden?"

speak

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

From this reading "First rate! nobody could speak more genteel than that.

stop

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

From this reading "You just stop your gruntin', Peter Ruggles; that was all right.

suit

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

From this reading "I ain't particler as ter color--anything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.

ter

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

From this reading "I ain't particler as ter color--anything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.

than

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

From this reading "First rate! nobody could speak more genteel than that.

that

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

From this reading "I ain't particler as ter color--anything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.

the

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

their

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

wants

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

From this reading "I ain't particler as ter color--anything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.

was

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

From this reading "You just stop your gruntin', Peter Ruggles; that was all right.

which

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

From this reading "A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning might not be mistaken.

will

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

From this reading "I ain't particler as ter color--anything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.

with

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

From this reading "I ain't particler as ter color--anything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.

you

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

From this reading Miss Kitty, will you have hard or soft sarse with your pudden?"

your

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

From this reading Miss Kitty, will you have hard or soft sarse with your pudden?"

Chapter 3 of The Birds' Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin holds 163 sentences, grouped into 33 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 3 of The Birds' Christmas Carol contain?

Chapter 3 holds 163 sentences of The Birds' Christmas Carol, unabridged, divided into 33 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of The Birds' Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 163 sentences, grouped into 33 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 3 of The Birds' Christmas Carol?

Work through the 33 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 33 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 The Birds' Christmas Carol

Common questions about reading The Birds' Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Birds' Christmas Carol?

Yes. All 482 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #721 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Birds' Christmas Carol is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #721, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Birds' Christmas Carol take to read?

About 40 minutes of reading across 97 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Birds' Christmas Carol section by section

How to work through The Birds' Christmas Carol section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 3 chapters of The Birds' Christmas Carol 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 The Birds' Christmas Carol

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Birds' Christmas Carol, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Three
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Birds' Christmas Carol; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Dearest
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Birds' Christmas Carol; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Children
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Birds' Christmas Carol; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
World
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Birds' Christmas Carol; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.