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The Harvester
The Harvester

Chapter XXI · The Coming of the Bluebird

Cover illustration for The Harvester
Context Illustration Reading 1/118 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.
It was a scrap as long as his least finger and three times as wide, and by the postmark it had lain four days in the box.
On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”
He threw his travelling bag on the floor, ran to the telephone, and called the station.
“Take this message,” he said.
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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 Harvester

Chapter XXI · The Coming of the Bluebird

Reading 1/118 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.
Line 2
It was a scrap as long as his least finger and three times as wide, and by the postmark it had lain four days in the box.
Line 3
On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”
Line 4
He threw his travelling bag on the floor, ran to the telephone, and called the station.
Line 5
“Take this message,” he said.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?””

Among preposition US /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading “The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?””

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?””

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?””

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a scrap as long as his least finger and three times as wide, and by the postmark it had lain four days in the box.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a scrap as long as his least finger and three times as wide, and by the postmark it had lain four days in the box.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.”

Stopped noun US /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Take this message,” he said.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?””

All words in this reading · 78

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

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading It was a scrap as long as his least finger and three times as wide, and by the postmark it had lain four days in the box.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It was a scrap as long as his least finger and three times as wide, and by the postmark it had lain four days in the box.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.

bag

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

From this reading He threw his travelling bag on the floor, ran to the telephone, and called the station.

bluebird

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

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

box

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

From this reading The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It was a scrap as long as his least finger and three times as wide, and by the postmark it had lain four days in the box.

cabin

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

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

called

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

From this reading He threw his travelling bag on the floor, ran to the telephone, and called the station.

card

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

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

contained

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

From this reading The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.

cyclone

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

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

days

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

From this reading It was a scrap as long as his least finger and three times as wide, and by the postmark it had lain four days in the box.

driving

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

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

finger

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

From this reading It was a scrap as long as his least finger and three times as wide, and by the postmark it had lain four days in the box.

floor

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

From this reading He threw his travelling bag on the floor, ran to the telephone, and called the station.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

four

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

From this reading It was a scrap as long as his least finger and three times as wide, and by the postmark it had lain four days in the box.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.

Girl

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

From this reading The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It was a scrap as long as his least finger and three times as wide, and by the postmark it had lain four days in the box.

Harvester

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

From this reading The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.

Hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

hill

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

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.

home

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

From this reading The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was a scrap as long as his least finger and three times as wide, and by the postmark it had lain four days in the box.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.

lain

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

From this reading It was a scrap as long as his least finger and three times as wide, and by the postmark it had lain four days in the box.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a scrap as long as his least finger and three times as wide, and by the postmark it had lain four days in the box.

line

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

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a scrap as long as his least finger and three times as wide, and by the postmark it had lain four days in the box.

mail

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

From this reading The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.

man

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

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

mass

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

From this reading The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.

matter

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

From this reading The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.

message

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

From this reading “Take this message,” he said.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.

only

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

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

opening

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

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

postmark

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

From this reading It was a scrap as long as his least finger and three times as wide, and by the postmark it had lain four days in the box.

ran

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

From this reading He threw his travelling bag on the floor, ran to the telephone, and called the station.

read

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

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

said

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

From this reading “Take this message,” he said.

scrap

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

From this reading It was a scrap as long as his least finger and three times as wide, and by the postmark it had lain four days in the box.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.

station

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

From this reading He threw his travelling bag on the floor, ran to the telephone, and called the station.

stoppednounUS /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.

TakenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Take this message,” he said.

telephone

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

From this reading He threw his travelling bag on the floor, ran to the telephone, and called the station.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading “Take this message,” he said.

three

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

From this reading It was a scrap as long as his least finger and three times as wide, and by the postmark it had lain four days in the box.

threw

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

From this reading He threw his travelling bag on the floor, ran to the telephone, and called the station.

times

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

From this reading It was a scrap as long as his least finger and three times as wide, and by the postmark it had lain four days in the box.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He threw his travelling bag on the floor, ran to the telephone, and called the station.

travelling

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

From this reading He threw his travelling bag on the floor, ran to the telephone, and called the station.

up

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

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.

way

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

From this reading The Harvester stopped at the mail box on his way home and among the mass of matter it contained was something from the Girl.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

wide

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

From this reading It was a scrap as long as his least finger and three times as wide, and by the postmark it had lain four days in the box.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

written

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

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading On opening it, he found only her card with a line written across it, but the man went up the hill and into the cabin as if a cyclone were driving him, for he read, “Has your bluebird come?”