Chapter 1 of The Gentle Grafter is here in full — 183 sentences across 37 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of The Gentle Grafter is here in full — 183 sentences across 37 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters. "That," said I, "sounds like one of those unintelligible remarks such as, 'Why is a policeman?'" "It is not," said Jeff. "There are no relations between a trust and a policeman. My remark was an epitogram--an axis--a kind of mulct'em in parvo.
Chapter 1 of The Gentle Grafter is here in full — 183 sentences across 37 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
a straight line through a body or figure that satisfies certain conditions
From this reading “My remark was an epitogram--an axis--a kind of mulct'em in parvo.”
the phenomenon of vitality and freshness being restored
From this reading “Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.”
past form of “illustrate” — clarify by giving an example of
From this reading “Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.”
plural of “peter” — disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading “Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.”
a member of a police force
From this reading “"That," said I, "sounds like one of those unintelligible remarks such as, 'Why is a policeman?'"”
poorly articulated or enunciated, or drowned by noise
From this reading “"That," said I, "sounds like one of those unintelligible remarks such as, 'Why is a policeman?'"”
superlative of “weak” — wanting in physical strength
From this reading “Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.”
author of the first novel by an African American that was published in the United States (1808-1870)
From this reading “Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading My remark was an epitogram--an axis--a kind of mulct'em in parvo.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "There are no relations between a trust and a policeman.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "That," said I, "sounds like one of those unintelligible remarks such as, 'Why is a policeman?'"
a straight line through a body or figure that satisfies certain conditions
From this reading My remark was an epitogram--an axis--a kind of mulct'em in parvo.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading "There are no relations between a trust and a policeman.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.
a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature
From this reading Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My remark was an epitogram--an axis--a kind of mulct'em in parvo.
the phenomenon of vitality and freshness being restored
From this reading Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.
a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe
From this reading Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "That," said I, "sounds like one of those unintelligible remarks such as, 'Why is a policeman?'"
past form of “illustrate” — clarify by giving an example of
From this reading Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading My remark was an epitogram--an axis--a kind of mulct'em in parvo.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It is not," said Jeff.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading My remark was an epitogram--an axis--a kind of mulct'em in parvo.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "That," said I, "sounds like one of those unintelligible remarks such as, 'Why is a policeman?'"
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My remark was an epitogram--an axis--a kind of mulct'em in parvo.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My remark was an epitogram--an axis--a kind of mulct'em in parvo.
not any; not one
From this reading "There are no relations between a trust and a policeman.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "It is not," said Jeff.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "That," said I, "sounds like one of those unintelligible remarks such as, 'Why is a policeman?'"
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "That," said I, "sounds like one of those unintelligible remarks such as, 'Why is a policeman?'"
any of a group of viruses containing DNA in an icosahedral protein shell and causing disease in dogs and cattle; not known to be associated with any human disease
From this reading My remark was an epitogram--an axis--a kind of mulct'em in parvo.
plural of “peter” — disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.
a member of a police force
From this reading "That," said I, "sounds like one of those unintelligible remarks such as, 'Why is a policeman?'"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.
mutual dealings or connections or communications among persons or groups
From this reading "There are no relations between a trust and a policeman.
a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading My remark was an epitogram--an axis--a kind of mulct'em in parvo.
plural of “remark” — a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading "That," said I, "sounds like one of those unintelligible remarks such as, 'Why is a policeman?'"
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading "That," said I, "sounds like one of those unintelligible remarks such as, 'Why is a policeman?'"
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "That," said I, "sounds like one of those unintelligible remarks such as, 'Why is a policeman?'"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "That," said I, "sounds like one of those unintelligible remarks such as, 'Why is a policeman?'"
in or at that place or location
From this reading "There are no relations between a trust and a policeman.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading "That," said I, "sounds like one of those unintelligible remarks such as, 'Why is a policeman?'"
something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)
From this reading Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.
poorly articulated or enunciated, or drowned by noise
From this reading "That," said I, "sounds like one of those unintelligible remarks such as, 'Why is a policeman?'"
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My remark was an epitogram--an axis--a kind of mulct'em in parvo.
superlative of “weak” — wanting in physical strength
From this reading Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "That," said I, "sounds like one of those unintelligible remarks such as, 'Why is a policeman?'"
author of the first novel by an African American that was published in the United States (1808-1870)
From this reading Illustrated by H. C. Greening and May Wilson Preston "A trust is its weakest point," said Jeff Peters.
Chapter 1 of The Gentle Grafter by O. Henry holds 183 sentences, grouped into 37 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.
Chapter 1 holds 183 sentences of The Gentle Grafter, unabridged, divided into 37 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of The Gentle Grafter by O. Henry exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 183 sentences, grouped into 37 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.
Work through the 37 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 37 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.
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.
Common questions about reading The Gentle Grafter by O. Henry on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2822 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1805 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #1805, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 235 minutes of reading across 565 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Gentle Grafter section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 14 chapters of The Gentle Grafter to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Gentle Grafter, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
