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The Boy Scout
The Boy Scout

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Boy Scout is here in full — 365 sentences across 73 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Boy Scout
Context Illustration Reading 1/73 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/American Libraries.
See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.
Not because the copy-books tell you it deserves another, but in spite of that pleasing possibility.
If you are a true scout, until you have performed your act of kindness your day is dark.
You are as unhappy as is the grown-up who has begun his day without shaving or reading the New York _Sun_.
0:00 / 0:00
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.

The Boy Scout

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Boy Scout is here in full — 365 sentences across 73 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/73 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/American Libraries.
Line 2
See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.
Line 3
Not because the copy-books tell you it deserves another, but in spite of that pleasing possibility.
Line 4
If you are a true scout, until you have performed your act of kindness your day is dark.
/ɪf juː ɑːr ə truː skaʊt ənˈtɪl juː hæv pərˈfɔːrmd jɔːr ækt ʌv ˈkaɪndnəs jɔːr deɪ ɪz dɑːrk/
Line 5
You are as unhappy as is the grown-up who has begun his day without shaving or reading the New York _Sun_.

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.

archive noun US /ˈɑːr.kaɪv/

A collection of historical documents or records providing information about a place, institution, or group of people.

From this reading “Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/American Libraries.”

available adjective US /əˈveɪləbəl/

obtainable or accessible and ready for use or service

From this reading “Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/American Libraries.”

http noun US /ˌeɪtʃtiːtiːˈpiː/

a protocol (utilizing TCP) to transfer hypertext requests and information between servers and browsers

From this reading “See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.”

Internet noun US /ˈɪntərnet/

a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange

From this reading “Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/American Libraries.”

Libraries noun US /ˈlaɪbreriːz/

plural of “library” — a room where books are kept

From this reading “Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/American Libraries.”

scout noun US /skaʊt/

a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading “If you are a true scout, until you have performed your act of kindness your day is dark.”

Scouts noun US /skaʊts/

plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading “See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.”

shaving noun US /ˈʃeɪvɪŋ/

the act of removing hair with a razor

From this reading “You are as unhappy as is the grown-up who has begun his day without shaving or reading the New York _Sun_.”

All words in this reading · 71

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.

00

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

From this reading See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.

actverbUS /ækt/

perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading If you are a true scout, until you have performed your act of kindness your day is dark.

AmericannounUS /əˈmerəkən/

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/American Libraries.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Not because the copy-books tell you it deserves another, but in spite of that pleasing possibility.

ArchivenounUS /ˈɑːr.kaɪv/

A collection of historical documents or records providing information about a place, institution, or group of people.

From this reading Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/American Libraries.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/American Libraries.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading You are as unhappy as is the grown-up who has begun his day without shaving or reading the New York _Sun_.

availableadjectiveUS /əˈveɪləbəl/

obtainable or accessible and ready for use or service

From this reading Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/American Libraries.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading Not because the copy-books tell you it deserves another, but in spite of that pleasing possibility.

begunverbUS /bɪˈɡʌn/

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading You are as unhappy as is the grown-up who has begun his day without shaving or reading the New York _Sun_.

BoynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.

boyscoutthe

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

From this reading See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Not because the copy-books tell you it deserves another, but in spite of that pleasing possibility.

copy-books

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

From this reading Not because the copy-books tell you it deserves another, but in spite of that pleasing possibility.

darknounUS /dɑːrk/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading If you are a true scout, until you have performed your act of kindness your day is dark.

davirich

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

From this reading See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.

deservesverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrvz/

third-person singular of “deserve” — be worthy or deserving

From this reading Not because the copy-books tell you it deserves another, but in spite of that pleasing possibility.

detailsnounUS /dɪˈteɪlz/

true confidential information

From this reading See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.

grown-up

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

From this reading You are as unhappy as is the grown-up who has begun his day without shaving or reading the New York _Sun_.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading You are as unhappy as is the grown-up who has begun his day without shaving or reading the New York _Sun_.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading If you are a true scout, until you have performed your act of kindness your day is dark.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading You are as unhappy as is the grown-up who has begun his day without shaving or reading the New York _Sun_.

httpnounUS /ˌeɪtʃtiːtiːˈpiː/

a protocol (utilizing TCP) to transfer hypertext requests and information between servers and browsers

From this reading See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If you are a true scout, until you have performed your act of kindness your day is dark.

ImagesnounUS /ˈɪmədʒəz/

plural of “image” — an iconic mental representation

From this reading Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/American Libraries.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Not because the copy-books tell you it deserves another, but in spite of that pleasing possibility.

InternetnounUS /ˈɪntərnet/

a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange

From this reading Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/American Libraries.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Not because the copy-books tell you it deserves another, but in spite of that pleasing possibility.

kindnessnounUS /ˈkaɪndnəs/

the quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic

From this reading If you are a true scout, until you have performed your act of kindness your day is dark.

LibrariesnounUS /ˈlaɪbreriːz/

plural of “library” — a room where books are kept

From this reading Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/American Libraries.

NewadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading You are as unhappy as is the grown-up who has begun his day without shaving or reading the New York _Sun_.

NotadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Not because the copy-books tell you it deserves another, but in spite of that pleasing possibility.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/American Libraries.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading You are as unhappy as is the grown-up who has begun his day without shaving or reading the New York _Sun_.

org

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

From this reading See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.

originaladjectiveUS /ərˈɪdʒənəl/

preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed

From this reading Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/American Libraries.

pagesnounUS /ˈpeɪdʒəz/

plural of “page” — one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains

From this reading Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/American Libraries.

performedverbUS /pərˈfɔːrmd/

past form of “perform” — carry out or perform an action

From this reading If you are a true scout, until you have performed your act of kindness your day is dark.

pleasingadjectiveUS /ˈpliːzɪŋ/

giving pleasure and satisfaction

From this reading Not because the copy-books tell you it deserves another, but in spite of that pleasing possibility.

possibilitynounUS /ˌpɑːsəˈbɪlətiː/

a future prospect or potential

From this reading Not because the copy-books tell you it deserves another, but in spite of that pleasing possibility.

readingnounUS /ˈriːdɪŋ/

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading You are as unhappy as is the grown-up who has begun his day without shaving or reading the New York _Sun_.

rulenounUS /ruːl/

a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior

From this reading See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.

scoutnounUS /skaʊt/

a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading If you are a true scout, until you have performed your act of kindness your day is dark.

ScoutsnounUS /skaʊts/

plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.

SeeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.

shavingnounUS /ˈʃeɪvɪŋ/

the act of removing hair with a razor

From this reading You are as unhappy as is the grown-up who has begun his day without shaving or reading the New York _Sun_.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.

spitenounUS /spaɪt/

feeling a need to see others suffer

From this reading Not because the copy-books tell you it deserves another, but in spite of that pleasing possibility.

SunnounUS /sʌn/

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading You are as unhappy as is the grown-up who has begun his day without shaving or reading the New York _Sun_.

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading Not because the copy-books tell you it deserves another, but in spite of that pleasing possibility.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Not because the copy-books tell you it deserves another, but in spite of that pleasing possibility.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/American Libraries.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/American Libraries.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading If you are a true scout, until you have performed your act of kindness your day is dark.

turnverbUS /tɜːrn/

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.

unhappyadjectiveUS /ənˈhæpi/

experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent

From this reading You are as unhappy as is the grown-up who has begun his day without shaving or reading the New York _Sun_.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading If you are a true scout, until you have performed your act of kindness your day is dark.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading You are as unhappy as is the grown-up who has begun his day without shaving or reading the New York _Sun_.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading You are as unhappy as is the grown-up who has begun his day without shaving or reading the New York _Sun_.

wwwnoun

computer network consisting of a collection of internet sites that offer text and graphics and sound and animation resources through the hypertext transfer protocol

From this reading See http://www.archive.org/details/boyscoutthe00davirich A rule of the Boy Scouts is every day to do some one a good turn.

YorknounUS /jɔːrk/

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading You are as unhappy as is the grown-up who has begun his day without shaving or reading the New York _Sun_.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Not because the copy-books tell you it deserves another, but in spite of that pleasing possibility.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading If you are a true scout, until you have performed your act of kindness your day is dark.

Chapter 1 of The Boy Scout by Richard Harding Davis holds 365 sentences, grouped into 73 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 1 of The Boy Scout contain?

Chapter 1 holds 365 sentences of The Boy Scout, unabridged, divided into 73 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Boy Scout by Richard Harding Davis exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 365 sentences, grouped into 73 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 The Boy Scout?

Work through the 73 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 73 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 The Boy Scout

Common questions about reading The Boy Scout by Richard Harding Davis on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Boy Scout?

Yes. All 365 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #19501 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Boy Scout is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #19501, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Boy Scout take to read?

About 30 minutes of reading across 73 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Boy Scout section by section

How to work through The Boy Scout section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of The Boy Scout 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 Boy Scout

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Boy Scout, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Images
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Boy Scout; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Original
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Boy Scout; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Pages
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Boy Scout; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Available
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Boy Scout; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.