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The Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island
The Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island

Chapter XXI

Chapter 21 of The Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island is here in full — 207 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Elijah Kellogg • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
UNCLE ISAAC’S BEAR STORY.
After supper they sat around the fire consulting as to future movements.
Bears were very abundant in those days.
In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.
In 1805, eleven years subsequent to the date of our story, the number had reached twenty-five thousand.
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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 Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island

Chapter XXI

Chapter 21 of The Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island 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
UNCLE ISAAC’S BEAR STORY.
Line 2
After supper they sat around the fire consulting as to future movements.
/ˈæftər ˈsʌpər ðeɪ sæt ərˈaʊnd ðə ˈfaɪər kənˈsʌltɪŋ æz tuː ˈfjuːtʃər ˈmuːvmənts/
Line 3
Bears were very abundant in those days.
/berz wɜːr ˈveri əˈbʌndənt ɪn ðoʊz deɪz/
Line 4
In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.
Line 5
In 1805, eleven years subsequent to the date of our story, the number had reached twenty-five thousand.

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.

abundant adjective US /əˈbʌndənt/

present in great quantity

From this reading “Bears were very abundant in those days.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Bears noun US /berz/

plural of “bear” — massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws

From this reading “Bears were very abundant in those days.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
consulting verb US /kənˈsʌltɪŋ/

-ing form of “consult” — get or ask advice from

From this reading “After supper they sat around the fire consulting as to future movements.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fewer adjective US /ˈfjuːər/

(comparative of “few” used with count nouns) quantifier meaning a smaller number of

From this reading “In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
northern adjective US /ˈnɔːrðərn/

in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading “In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ports noun US /pɔːrts/

plural of “port” — a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country

From this reading “In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
subsequent adjective US /ˈsʌbsəkwənt/

following in time or order

From this reading “In 1805, eleven years subsequent to the date of our story, the number had reached twenty-five thousand.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
twenty-five adjective US /ˈtwentifaɪv/

being five more than twenty

From this reading “In 1805, eleven years subsequent to the date of our story, the number had reached twenty-five thousand.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

five hundred noun + noun

the cardinal number that is the product of one hundred and five

In this reading “In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.”

19,897 times in 426,211 chapters
ten thousand noun + noun

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and one thousand

In this reading “In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.”

15,113 times in 426,211 chapters
twenty-five thousand adjective + noun

In this reading “In 1805, eleven years subsequent to the date of our story, the number had reached twenty-five thousand.”

1,503 times in 426,211 chapters
eleven years adjective + noun

In this reading “In 1805, eleven years subsequent to the date of our story, the number had reached twenty-five thousand.”

1,797 times in 426,211 chapters
After supper preposition + noun

In this reading “After supper they sat around the fire consulting as to future movements.”

6,072 times in 426,211 chapters
thousand five noun + noun

In this reading “In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.”

1,246 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 49

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.

1783

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

From this reading In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.

Pending verification
1805

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

From this reading In 1805, eleven years subsequent to the date of our story, the number had reached twenty-five thousand.

Pending verification
abundantadjectiveUS /əˈbʌndənt/

present in great quantity

From this reading Bears were very abundant in those days.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading After supper they sat around the fire consulting as to future movements.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AmericanounUS /əˈmerəkə/

North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776

From this reading In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading After supper they sat around the fire consulting as to future movements.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading After supper they sat around the fire consulting as to future movements.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
BEARverbUS /ber/

have

From this reading UNCLE ISAAC’S BEAR STORY.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bear-skins

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

From this reading In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.

Pending verification
BearsnounUS /berz/

plural of “bear” — massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws

From this reading Bears were very abundant in those days.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
consultingverbUS /kənˈsʌltɪŋ/

-ing form of “consult” — get or ask advice from

From this reading After supper they sat around the fire consulting as to future movements.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
datenounUS /deɪt/

the specified day of the month

From this reading In 1805, eleven years subsequent to the date of our story, the number had reached twenty-five thousand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Bears were very abundant in those days.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
elevenadjectiveUS /ɪˈlevən/

being one more than ten

From this reading In 1805, eleven years subsequent to the date of our story, the number had reached twenty-five thousand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
EnglandnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlənd/

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
feweradjectiveUS /ˈfjuːər/

(comparative of “few” used with count nouns) quantifier meaning a smaller number of

From this reading In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/

start firing a weapon

From this reading After supper they sat around the fire consulting as to future movements.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fivenounUS /faɪv/

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
futureadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtʃər/

yet to be or coming

From this reading After supper they sat around the fire consulting as to future movements.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading In 1805, eleven years subsequent to the date of our story, the number had reached twenty-five thousand.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hundrednounUS /ˈhʌndrəd/

ten 10s

From this reading In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Bears were very abundant in those days.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ISAAC'S

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

From this reading UNCLE ISAAC’S BEAR STORY.

Pending verification
movementsnounUS /ˈmuːvmənts/

plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location

From this reading After supper they sat around the fire consulting as to future movements.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
northernadjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrðərn/

in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
numbernounUS /ˈnʌmbər/

the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals

From this reading In 1805, eleven years subsequent to the date of our story, the number had reached twenty-five thousand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading In 1805, eleven years subsequent to the date of our story, the number had reached twenty-five thousand.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
portsnounUS /pɔːrts/

plural of “port” — a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country

From this reading In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
reachedverbUS /riːtʃt/

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading In 1805, eleven years subsequent to the date of our story, the number had reached twenty-five thousand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
satnounUS /sæt/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading After supper they sat around the fire consulting as to future movements.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sentnounUS /sent/

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
STORYnounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading UNCLE ISAAC’S BEAR STORY.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
subsequentadjectiveUS /ˈsʌbsəkwənt/

following in time or order

From this reading In 1805, eleven years subsequent to the date of our story, the number had reached twenty-five thousand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
suppernounUS /ˈsʌpər/

a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime

From this reading After supper they sat around the fire consulting as to future movements.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tennounUS /ten/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading After supper they sat around the fire consulting as to future movements.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading After supper they sat around the fire consulting as to future movements.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Bears were very abundant in those days.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thousandnounUS /ˈθaʊzənd/

the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading In 1783 no fewer than ten thousand five hundred bear-skins were sent to England from the northern ports of America.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading After supper they sat around the fire consulting as to future movements.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
twenty-fiveadjectiveUS /ˈtwentifaɪv/

being five more than twenty

From this reading In 1805, eleven years subsequent to the date of our story, the number had reached twenty-five thousand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
UNCLEnounUS /ˈʌŋkəl/

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading UNCLE ISAAC’S BEAR STORY.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading Bears were very abundant in those days.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Bears were very abundant in those days.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading In 1805, eleven years subsequent to the date of our story, the number had reached twenty-five thousand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 21 of The Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island by Elijah Kellogg holds 207 sentences, grouped into 42 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 21 of The Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island contain?

Chapter 21 holds 207 sentences of The Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island, unabridged, divided into 42 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 21 of The Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island by Elijah Kellogg exactly as it stands in the 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 21 of The Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island?

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 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 Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island

Common questions about reading The Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island by Elijah Kellogg on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island?

Yes. All 3299 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #54767 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #54767, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island take to read?

About 274 minutes of reading across 660 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island section by section

How to work through The Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 26 chapters of The Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island 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 Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Island
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stories
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Elijah
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Kellogg
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Hard-Scrabble of Elm Island; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.