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The Hedge School
The Hedge School

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Hedge School is here in full — 423 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By William Carleton • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Hedge School
Context Illustration Reading 1/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WILLIAM CARLETON.
VOLUME III.
PART III.
There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.
I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Hedge School

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Hedge School is here in full — 423 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
WILLIAM CARLETON.
Line 2
VOLUME III.
Line 3
PART III.
Line 4
There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.
/ðer ˈnevər wɑːz ə mɔːr ənˈfaʊndɪd ˈkæləmni ðæn ðæt wɪtʃ wʊd ˌɪmˈpjuːt tuː ðə ˈaɪrɪʃ ˈpezəntri æn ˌɪnˈdɪfərəns tuː ˌedʒəˈkeɪʃən/
Line 5
I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

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.

apathy noun US /ˈæpəθi/

an absence of emotion or enthusiasm

From this reading “I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
assert verb US /əˈsɜːrt/

state categorically

From this reading “I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
calumny noun US /ˈkæləmni/

a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions

From this reading “There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
carelessness noun US /ˈkerləsnəs/

the quality of not being careful or taking pains

From this reading “I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
impute verb US /ˌɪmˈpjuːt/

attribute or credit to

From this reading “There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
manifested verb US /ˈmænəfestəd/

past form of “manifest” — provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes

From this reading “I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
peasantry noun US /ˈpezəntri/

the class of peasants

From this reading “There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
unfounded adjective US /ənˈfaʊndɪd/

without a basis in reason or fact

From this reading “There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 55

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
acquirements

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

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

Pending verification
andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
apathynounUS /ˈæpəθi/

an absence of emotion or enthusiasm

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
assertverbUS /əˈsɜːrt/

state categorically

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
calculatedadjectiveUS /ˈkælkjəleɪtɪd/

carefully thought out in advance

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
calumnynounUS /ˈkæləmni/

a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions

From this reading There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
carelessnessnounUS /ˈkerləsnəs/

the quality of not being careful or taking pains

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CARLETON

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

From this reading WILLIAM CARLETON.

Pending verification
circumstancesnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəmstænsəz/

your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
contraryadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːntreri/

very opposed in nature or character or purpose

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
educationnounUS /ˌedʒəˈkeɪʃən/

the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill

From this reading There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fearlesslyadverb

without fear

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
IIInoun

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading VOLUME III.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
imputeverbUS /ˌɪmˈpjuːt/

attribute or credit to

From this reading There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inclinationnounUS /ˌɪnkləˈneɪʃən/

an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
indifferencenounUS /ˌɪnˈdɪfərəns/

unbiased impartial unconcern

From this reading There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IrishnounUS /ˈaɪrɪʃ/

people of Ireland or of Irish extraction

From this reading There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
literaryadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəreri/

of or relating to or characteristic of literature

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lowerverbUS /ˈloʊər/

move something or somebody to a lower position

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
manifestedverbUS /ˈmænəfestəd/

past form of “manifest” — provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ordersnounUS /ˈɔːrdərz/

plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PARTnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading PART III.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
particularadjectiveUS /pərˈtɪkjələr/

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
peasantrynounUS /ˈpezəntri/

the class of peasants

From this reading There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
positiveadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːzətɪv/

characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
produceverbUS /prəˈduːs/

bring forth or yield

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stronglyadverbUS /ˈstrɔːŋli/

with strength or in a strong manner

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
subjectnounUS /səbˈdʒekt/

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.

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 There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading I may, on the contrary, fearlessly assert that the lower orders of no country ever manifested such a positive inclination for literary acquirements, and that, too, under circumstances strongly calculated to produce carelessness and apathy on this particular subject.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
unfoundedadjectiveUS /ənˈfaʊndɪd/

without a basis in reason or fact

From this reading There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
VOLUMEnounUS /ˈvɑːljuːm/

the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object

From this reading VOLUME III.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WILLIAM

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

From this reading WILLIAM CARLETON.

Pending verification
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading There never was a more unfounded calumny, than that which would impute to the Irish peasantry an indifference to education.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 1 of The Hedge School by William Carleton holds 423 sentences, grouped into 85 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 1 of The Hedge School contain?

Chapter 1 holds 423 sentences of The Hedge School, unabridged, divided into 85 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Hedge School by William Carleton exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 423 sentences, grouped into 85 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 1 of The Hedge School?

Work through the 85 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 85 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 1 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading The Hedge School

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Is this the complete text of The Hedge School?

Yes. All 2867 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #16014 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #16014, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 238 minutes of reading across 574 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in The Hedge School

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

William
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Hedge School; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Carleton
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Hedge School; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Volume
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Hedge School; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Never
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Hedge School; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.