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The Errand Boy
The Errand Boy

Chapter XXI · Chapter 21

Chapter 21 of The Errand Boy is here in full — 110 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Chapter 21 of The Errand Boy by Horatio, Jr. Alger holds 110 sentences, grouped into 22 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 21 of The Errand Boy contain?

Chapter 21 holds 110 sentences of The Errand Boy, unabridged, divided into 22 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 21 of The Errand Boy by Horatio, Jr. Alger exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 110 sentences, grouped into 22 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 21 of The Errand Boy?

Work through the 22 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 22 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 21 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 21 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.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Errand Boy 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 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.
Cover illustration for The Errand Boy
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THEY MET BY CHANCE.”
Who was asking after Uncle Oliver?” demanded Alonzo superciliously.
I was,” answered Philip.
Oh! it's you, is it?” said Alonzo, rather disdainfully.
Yes,” answered Phil calmly, though he felt provoked at Alonzo's tone, which was meant to be offensive.
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 Errand Boy

Chapter XXI · Chapter 21

Chapter 21 of The Errand Boy is here in full — 110 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THEY MET BY CHANCE.”
Line 2
Who was asking after Uncle Oliver?” demanded Alonzo superciliously.
Line 3
I was,” answered Philip.
Line 4
Oh! it's you, is it?” said Alonzo, rather disdainfully.
Line 5
Yes,” answered Phil calmly, though he felt provoked at Alonzo's tone, which was meant to be offensive.
All words in this reading · 39

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

after

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

From this reading “Who was asking after Uncle Oliver?” demanded Alonzo superciliously.

Alonzo

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

From this reading “Who was asking after Uncle Oliver?” demanded Alonzo superciliously.

Alonzo's

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

From this reading “Yes,” answered Phil calmly, though he felt provoked at Alonzo's tone, which was meant to be offensive.

answered

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

From this reading “I was,” answered Philip.

asking

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

From this reading “Who was asking after Uncle Oliver?” demanded Alonzo superciliously.

at

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

From this reading “Yes,” answered Phil calmly, though he felt provoked at Alonzo's tone, which was meant to be offensive.

be

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

From this reading “Yes,” answered Phil calmly, though he felt provoked at Alonzo's tone, which was meant to be offensive.

BY

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

From this reading “THEY MET BY CHANCE.”

calmly

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

From this reading “Yes,” answered Phil calmly, though he felt provoked at Alonzo's tone, which was meant to be offensive.

CHANCE

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

From this reading “THEY MET BY CHANCE.”

demanded

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

From this reading “Who was asking after Uncle Oliver?” demanded Alonzo superciliously.

disdainfully

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

From this reading “Oh! it's you, is it?” said Alonzo, rather disdainfully.

felt

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

From this reading “Yes,” answered Phil calmly, though he felt provoked at Alonzo's tone, which was meant to be offensive.

he

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

From this reading “Yes,” answered Phil calmly, though he felt provoked at Alonzo's tone, which was meant to be offensive.

I

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

From this reading “I was,” answered Philip.

is

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

From this reading “Oh! it's you, is it?” said Alonzo, rather disdainfully.

it

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

From this reading “Oh! it's you, is it?” said Alonzo, rather disdainfully.

it's

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

From this reading “Oh! it's you, is it?” said Alonzo, rather disdainfully.

meant

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

From this reading “Yes,” answered Phil calmly, though he felt provoked at Alonzo's tone, which was meant to be offensive.

MET

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

From this reading “THEY MET BY CHANCE.”

offensive

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

From this reading “Yes,” answered Phil calmly, though he felt provoked at Alonzo's tone, which was meant to be offensive.

Oh

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

From this reading “Oh! it's you, is it?” said Alonzo, rather disdainfully.

Oliver

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

From this reading “Who was asking after Uncle Oliver?” demanded Alonzo superciliously.

Phil

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

From this reading “Yes,” answered Phil calmly, though he felt provoked at Alonzo's tone, which was meant to be offensive.

Philip

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

From this reading “I was,” answered Philip.

provoked

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

From this reading “Yes,” answered Phil calmly, though he felt provoked at Alonzo's tone, which was meant to be offensive.

rather

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

From this reading “Oh! it's you, is it?” said Alonzo, rather disdainfully.

said

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

From this reading “Oh! it's you, is it?” said Alonzo, rather disdainfully.

superciliously

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

From this reading “Who was asking after Uncle Oliver?” demanded Alonzo superciliously.

THEY

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

From this reading “THEY MET BY CHANCE.”

though

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

From this reading “Yes,” answered Phil calmly, though he felt provoked at Alonzo's tone, which was meant to be offensive.

to

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

From this reading “Yes,” answered Phil calmly, though he felt provoked at Alonzo's tone, which was meant to be offensive.

tone

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

From this reading “Yes,” answered Phil calmly, though he felt provoked at Alonzo's tone, which was meant to be offensive.

Uncle

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

From this reading “Who was asking after Uncle Oliver?” demanded Alonzo superciliously.

was

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

From this reading “Who was asking after Uncle Oliver?” demanded Alonzo superciliously.

which

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

From this reading “Yes,” answered Phil calmly, though he felt provoked at Alonzo's tone, which was meant to be offensive.

Who

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

From this reading “Who was asking after Uncle Oliver?” demanded Alonzo superciliously.

Yes

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

From this reading “Yes,” answered Phil calmly, though he felt provoked at Alonzo's tone, which was meant to be offensive.

you

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

From this reading “Oh! it's you, is it?” said Alonzo, rather disdainfully.