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The Errand Boy

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of The Errand Boy is here in full — 63 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Horatio, Jr. Alger • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Errand Boy

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

THE OLD GENTLEMAN PROVES A FRIEND.

The old gentleman sat down in an arm-chair and waved his hand toward a small rocking-chair, in which Phil seated himself.

“I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

“Yes, sir; since my father's death it has not been a home to me.”

“Is there a step-mother in the case?” asked the old gentleman shrewdly.

Narrator

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.

Chapter IX Reading 1/12

The Errand Boy

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of The Errand Boy is here in full — 63 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/12 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

THE OLD GENTLEMAN PROVES A FRIEND.

Line 2

The old gentleman sat down in an arm-chair and waved his hand toward a small rocking-chair, in which Phil seated himself.

Line 3

“I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

Line 4

“Yes, sir; since my father's death it has not been a home to me.”

Line 5

“Is there a step-mother in the case?” asked the old gentleman shrewdly.

All words in this reading · 62

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 THE OLD GENTLEMAN PROVES A FRIEND.

an

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

From this reading The old gentleman sat down in an arm-chair and waved his hand toward a small rocking-chair, in which Phil seated himself.

and

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

From this reading The old gentleman sat down in an arm-chair and waved his hand toward a small rocking-chair, in which Phil seated himself.

arm-chair

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

From this reading The old gentleman sat down in an arm-chair and waved his hand toward a small rocking-chair, in which Phil seated himself.

asked

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

From this reading “Is there a step-mother in the case?” asked the old gentleman shrewdly.

been

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

From this reading “Yes, sir; since my father's death it has not been a home to me.”

but

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

From this reading “I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

Carter

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

From this reading “I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

case

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

From this reading “Is there a step-mother in the case?” asked the old gentleman shrewdly.

conclude

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

From this reading “I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

death

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

From this reading “Yes, sir; since my father's death it has not been a home to me.”

down

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

From this reading The old gentleman sat down in an arm-chair and waved his hand toward a small rocking-chair, in which Phil seated himself.

eying

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

From this reading “I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

father's

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

From this reading “Yes, sir; since my father's death it has not been a home to me.”

for

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

From this reading “I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

FRIEND

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

From this reading THE OLD GENTLEMAN PROVES A FRIEND.

friendly

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

From this reading “I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

GENTLEMAN

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

From this reading THE OLD GENTLEMAN PROVES A FRIEND.

good

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

From this reading “I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

had

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

From this reading “I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

hand

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

From this reading The old gentleman sat down in an arm-chair and waved his hand toward a small rocking-chair, in which Phil seated himself.

has

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

From this reading “Yes, sir; since my father's death it has not been a home to me.”

hero

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

From this reading “I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

himself

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

From this reading The old gentleman sat down in an arm-chair and waved his hand toward a small rocking-chair, in which Phil seated himself.

his

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

From this reading The old gentleman sat down in an arm-chair and waved his hand toward a small rocking-chair, in which Phil seated himself.

home

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

From this reading “I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

I

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

From this reading “I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

in

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

From this reading The old gentleman sat down in an arm-chair and waved his hand toward a small rocking-chair, in which Phil seated himself.

Is

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

From this reading “Is there a step-mother in the case?” asked the old gentleman shrewdly.

it

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

From this reading “Yes, sir; since my father's death it has not been a home to me.”

keen

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

From this reading “I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

leaving

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

From this reading “I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

look

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

From this reading “I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

me

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

From this reading “Yes, sir; since my father's death it has not been a home to me.”

Mr

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

From this reading “I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

my

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

From this reading “Yes, sir; since my father's death it has not been a home to me.”

not

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

From this reading “Yes, sir; since my father's death it has not been a home to me.”

OLD

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

From this reading THE OLD GENTLEMAN PROVES A FRIEND.

our

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

From this reading “I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

Phil

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

From this reading The old gentleman sat down in an arm-chair and waved his hand toward a small rocking-chair, in which Phil seated himself.

Philip

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

From this reading “I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

PROVES

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

From this reading THE OLD GENTLEMAN PROVES A FRIEND.

reason

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

From this reading “I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

rocking-chair

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

From this reading The old gentleman sat down in an arm-chair and waved his hand toward a small rocking-chair, in which Phil seated himself.

said

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

From this reading “I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

sat

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

From this reading The old gentleman sat down in an arm-chair and waved his hand toward a small rocking-chair, in which Phil seated himself.

seated

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

From this reading The old gentleman sat down in an arm-chair and waved his hand toward a small rocking-chair, in which Phil seated himself.

shrewdly

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

From this reading “Is there a step-mother in the case?” asked the old gentleman shrewdly.

since

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

From this reading “Yes, sir; since my father's death it has not been a home to me.”

sir

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

From this reading “Yes, sir; since my father's death it has not been a home to me.”

small

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

From this reading The old gentleman sat down in an arm-chair and waved his hand toward a small rocking-chair, in which Phil seated himself.

step-mother

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

From this reading “Is there a step-mother in the case?” asked the old gentleman shrewdly.

that

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

From this reading “I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

THE

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

From this reading THE OLD GENTLEMAN PROVES A FRIEND.

there

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

From this reading “Is there a step-mother in the case?” asked the old gentleman shrewdly.

to

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

From this reading “Yes, sir; since my father's death it has not been a home to me.”

toward

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

From this reading The old gentleman sat down in an arm-chair and waved his hand toward a small rocking-chair, in which Phil seated himself.

waved

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

From this reading The old gentleman sat down in an arm-chair and waved his hand toward a small rocking-chair, in which Phil seated himself.

which

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

From this reading The old gentleman sat down in an arm-chair and waved his hand toward a small rocking-chair, in which Phil seated himself.

with

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

From this reading “I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

Yes

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

From this reading “Yes, sir; since my father's death it has not been a home to me.”

you

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

From this reading “I conclude that you had a good reason for leaving home, Philip,” said Mr. Carter, eying our hero with a keen, but friendly look.

Chapter 9 of The Errand Boy by Horatio, Jr. Alger holds 63 sentences, grouped into 13 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 9 of The Errand Boy contain?

Chapter 9 holds 63 sentences of The Errand Boy, unabridged, divided into 13 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 9 of The Errand Boy by Horatio, Jr. Alger exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 63 sentences, grouped into 13 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 9 of The Errand Boy?

Work through the 13 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 13 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 9 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 9 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 Errand Boy

Common questions about reading The Errand Boy by Horatio, Jr. Alger on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Errand Boy?

Yes. All 4467 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #462 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Errand Boy is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #462, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Errand Boy take to read?

About 372 minutes of reading across 894 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Errand Boy section by section

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

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Errand Boy to begin.
Read one section

Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Errand Boy

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

Little: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Errand Boy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Difficulty: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Errand Boy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Brent: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Errand Boy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Plodding: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Errand Boy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.