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The Crossing
The Crossing

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of The Crossing is here in full — 207 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Winston Churchill • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Crossing
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
And so our life went on the same, but yet not the same.
For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.
You will forgive a backwoods boy,--self-centred, for lack of wider interest, and with a little imagination.
Bear hunting with my father, and an occasional trip on the white mare twelve miles to the Cross-Roads for salt and other necessaries, were the only diversions to break the routine of my days.
But at the Cross-Roads, too, they were talking of Kaintuckee.
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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 Crossing

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of The Crossing is here in full — 207 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
And so our life went on the same, but yet not the same.
Line 2
For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.
Line 3
You will forgive a backwoods boy,--self-centred, for lack of wider interest, and with a little imagination.
Line 4
Bear hunting with my father, and an occasional trip on the white mare twelve miles to the Cross-Roads for salt and other necessaries, were the only diversions to break the routine of my days.
Line 5
But at the Cross-Roads, too, they were talking of Kaintuckee.

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.

Dream noun US /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading “For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Mind noun US /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading “For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Same adjective US /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading “And so our life went on the same, but yet not the same.”

Velmora curated lexicon

All words in this reading · 68

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 You will forgive a backwoods boy,--self-centred, for lack of wider interest, and with a little imagination.

Pending verification
about

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

From this reading For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.

Pending verification
an

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

From this reading Bear hunting with my father, and an occasional trip on the white mare twelve miles to the Cross-Roads for salt and other necessaries, were the only diversions to break the routine of my days.

Pending verification
And

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

From this reading And so our life went on the same, but yet not the same.

Pending verification
as

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

From this reading For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.

Pending verification
at

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

From this reading But at the Cross-Roads, too, they were talking of Kaintuckee.

Pending verification
backwoods

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

From this reading You will forgive a backwoods boy,--self-centred, for lack of wider interest, and with a little imagination.

Pending verification
Bear

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

From this reading Bear hunting with my father, and an occasional trip on the white mare twelve miles to the Cross-Roads for salt and other necessaries, were the only diversions to break the routine of my days.

Pending verification
beauty

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

From this reading For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.

Pending verification
boy

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

From this reading You will forgive a backwoods boy,--self-centred, for lack of wider interest, and with a little imagination.

Pending verification
break

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

From this reading Bear hunting with my father, and an occasional trip on the white mare twelve miles to the Cross-Roads for salt and other necessaries, were the only diversions to break the routine of my days.

Pending verification
but

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

From this reading And so our life went on the same, but yet not the same.

Pending verification
conjured

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

From this reading For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.

Pending verification
Cross-Roads

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

From this reading Bear hunting with my father, and an occasional trip on the white mare twelve miles to the Cross-Roads for salt and other necessaries, were the only diversions to break the routine of my days.

Pending verification
days

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

From this reading Bear hunting with my father, and an occasional trip on the white mare twelve miles to the Cross-Roads for salt and other necessaries, were the only diversions to break the routine of my days.

Pending verification
diversions

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

From this reading Bear hunting with my father, and an occasional trip on the white mare twelve miles to the Cross-Roads for salt and other necessaries, were the only diversions to break the routine of my days.

Pending verification
dreamnounUS /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.

Velmora curated lexicon
father

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

From this reading Bear hunting with my father, and an occasional trip on the white mare twelve miles to the Cross-Roads for salt and other necessaries, were the only diversions to break the routine of my days.

Pending verification
For

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

From this reading For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.

Pending verification
forgive

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

From this reading You will forgive a backwoods boy,--self-centred, for lack of wider interest, and with a little imagination.

Pending verification
had

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

From this reading For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.

Pending verification
hunting

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

From this reading Bear hunting with my father, and an occasional trip on the white mare twelve miles to the Cross-Roads for salt and other necessaries, were the only diversions to break the routine of my days.

Pending verification
I

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

From this reading For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.

Pending verification
imagination

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

From this reading You will forgive a backwoods boy,--self-centred, for lack of wider interest, and with a little imagination.

Pending verification
in

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

From this reading For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.

Pending verification
interest

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

From this reading You will forgive a backwoods boy,--self-centred, for lack of wider interest, and with a little imagination.

Pending verification
its

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

From this reading For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.

Pending verification
Kaintuckee

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

From this reading But at the Cross-Roads, too, they were talking of Kaintuckee.

Pending verification
lack

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

From this reading You will forgive a backwoods boy,--self-centred, for lack of wider interest, and with a little imagination.

Pending verification
Land

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

From this reading For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.

Pending verification
life

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

From this reading And so our life went on the same, but yet not the same.

Pending verification
little

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

From this reading You will forgive a backwoods boy,--self-centred, for lack of wider interest, and with a little imagination.

Pending verification
mare

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

From this reading Bear hunting with my father, and an occasional trip on the white mare twelve miles to the Cross-Roads for salt and other necessaries, were the only diversions to break the routine of my days.

Pending verification
miles

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

From this reading Bear hunting with my father, and an occasional trip on the white mare twelve miles to the Cross-Roads for salt and other necessaries, were the only diversions to break the routine of my days.

Pending verification
mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.

Velmora curated lexicon
my

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

From this reading For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.

Pending verification
necessaries

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

From this reading Bear hunting with my father, and an occasional trip on the white mare twelve miles to the Cross-Roads for salt and other necessaries, were the only diversions to break the routine of my days.

Pending verification
not

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

From this reading And so our life went on the same, but yet not the same.

Pending verification
occasional

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

From this reading Bear hunting with my father, and an occasional trip on the white mare twelve miles to the Cross-Roads for salt and other necessaries, were the only diversions to break the routine of my days.

Pending verification
of

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

From this reading For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.

Pending verification
on

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

From this reading And so our life went on the same, but yet not the same.

Pending verification
only

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

From this reading Bear hunting with my father, and an occasional trip on the white mare twelve miles to the Cross-Roads for salt and other necessaries, were the only diversions to break the routine of my days.

Pending verification
other

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

From this reading Bear hunting with my father, and an occasional trip on the white mare twelve miles to the Cross-Roads for salt and other necessaries, were the only diversions to break the routine of my days.

Pending verification
our

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

From this reading And so our life went on the same, but yet not the same.

Pending verification
pictures

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

From this reading For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.

Pending verification
Promise

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

From this reading For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.

Pending verification
routine

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

From this reading Bear hunting with my father, and an occasional trip on the white mare twelve miles to the Cross-Roads for salt and other necessaries, were the only diversions to break the routine of my days.

Pending verification
salt

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

From this reading Bear hunting with my father, and an occasional trip on the white mare twelve miles to the Cross-Roads for salt and other necessaries, were the only diversions to break the routine of my days.

Pending verification
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading And so our life went on the same, but yet not the same.

Velmora curated lexicon
self-centred

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

From this reading You will forgive a backwoods boy,--self-centred, for lack of wider interest, and with a little imagination.

Pending verification
so

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

From this reading And so our life went on the same, but yet not the same.

Pending verification
talking

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

From this reading But at the Cross-Roads, too, they were talking of Kaintuckee.

Pending verification
tasks

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

From this reading For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.

Pending verification
the

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

From this reading And so our life went on the same, but yet not the same.

Pending verification
they

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

From this reading But at the Cross-Roads, too, they were talking of Kaintuckee.

Pending verification
to

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

From this reading For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.

Pending verification
too

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

From this reading But at the Cross-Roads, too, they were talking of Kaintuckee.

Pending verification
trip

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

From this reading Bear hunting with my father, and an occasional trip on the white mare twelve miles to the Cross-Roads for salt and other necessaries, were the only diversions to break the routine of my days.

Pending verification
twelve

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

From this reading Bear hunting with my father, and an occasional trip on the white mare twelve miles to the Cross-Roads for salt and other necessaries, were the only diversions to break the routine of my days.

Pending verification
up

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

From this reading For I had the Land of Promise to dream of, and as I went about my tasks I conjured up in my mind pictures of its beauty.

Pending verification
went

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

From this reading And so our life went on the same, but yet not the same.

Pending verification
were

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

From this reading Bear hunting with my father, and an occasional trip on the white mare twelve miles to the Cross-Roads for salt and other necessaries, were the only diversions to break the routine of my days.

Pending verification
white

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

From this reading Bear hunting with my father, and an occasional trip on the white mare twelve miles to the Cross-Roads for salt and other necessaries, were the only diversions to break the routine of my days.

Pending verification
wider

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

From this reading You will forgive a backwoods boy,--self-centred, for lack of wider interest, and with a little imagination.

Pending verification
will

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

From this reading You will forgive a backwoods boy,--self-centred, for lack of wider interest, and with a little imagination.

Pending verification
with

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

From this reading You will forgive a backwoods boy,--self-centred, for lack of wider interest, and with a little imagination.

Pending verification
yet

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

From this reading And so our life went on the same, but yet not the same.

Pending verification
You

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

From this reading You will forgive a backwoods boy,--self-centred, for lack of wider interest, and with a little imagination.

Pending verification

Chapter 4 of The Crossing by Winston Churchill holds 207 sentences, grouped into 42 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 4 of The Crossing contain?

Chapter 4 holds 207 sentences of The Crossing, unabridged, divided into 42 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of The Crossing by Winston Churchill exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 207 sentences, grouped into 42 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 4 of The Crossing?

Work through the 42 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 42 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 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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 Crossing

Common questions about reading The Crossing by Winston Churchill on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Crossing?

Yes. All 14258 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #388 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Crossing is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #388, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Crossing take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 2852 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Crossing section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Crossing 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 Crossing

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

Rumors
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Crossing; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Charlestown
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Crossing; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Temple
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Crossing; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Proposes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Crossing; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.