The Life, Travels, and Literary Career of Bayard Taylor

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of The Life, Travels, and Literary Career of Bayard Taylor is here in full — 131 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Russell H. Conwell • Curated US English Learning Edition

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Bayard Taylor was born at Kennett Square, Penn., Jan.

11, 1825.

His mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Way, was then twenty-nine years of age, and his father was thirty-one.

The house then occupied was a two-story stone-and-mortar structure, such as are yet very common in the farming regions of central Pennsylvania.

Narrator

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LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter IV Reading 1/26

The Life, Travels, and Literary Career of Bayard Taylor Russell H. Conwell

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of The Life, Travels, and Literary Career of Bayard Taylor is here in full — 131 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Birth at Kennett Square.—Old Homestead.—The Quaker Church.—The Village.—His Father’s Store.—Life on the Farm.—Mischievous School-boy.—Inclination to write Poetry.—Practical Joker.—Studious Youth.—His Parents.—His Brothers and Sisters. Bayard Taylor was born at Kennett Square, Penn., Jan. 11, 1825. His mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Way, was then twenty-nine years of age, and his father was thirty-one. The house then occupied was a two-story stone-and-mortar structure, such as are yet very common in the farming regions of central Pennsylvania.

The Life, Travels, and Literary Career of Bayard Taylor

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of The Life, Travels, and Literary Career of Bayard Taylor is here in full — 131 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

Line 2

Bayard Taylor was born at Kennett Square, Penn., Jan.

Line 3

11, 1825.

Line 4

His mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Way, was then twenty-nine years of age, and his father was thirty-one.

Line 5

The house then occupied was a two-story stone-and-mortar structure, such as are yet very common in the farming regions of central Pennsylvania.

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.

Bayard noun US /ˈbeɪərd/

French soldier said to be fearless and chivalrous (1473-1524)

From this reading “Bayard Taylor was born at Kennett Square, Penn., Jan.”

farming noun US /ˈfɑːrmɪŋ/

the practice of cultivating the land or raising stock

From this reading “The house then occupied was a two-story stone-and-mortar structure, such as are yet very common in the farming regions of central Pennsylvania.”

Homestead noun US /ˈhoʊmsted/

the home and adjacent grounds occupied by a family

From this reading “Birth at Kennett Square.—Old Homestead.—The Quaker Church.—The Village.—His Father’s Store.—Life on the Farm.—Mischievous School-boy.—Inclination to write Poetry.—Practical Joker.—Studious Youth.—His Parents.—His Brothers and Sisters.”

Joker noun US /ˈdʒoʊkər/

a person who enjoys telling or playing jokes

Penn noun US /pen/

Englishman and Quaker who founded the colony of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

From this reading “Bayard Taylor was born at Kennett Square, Penn., Jan.”

Pennsylvania noun US /ˌpensəlˈveɪnjə/

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading “The house then occupied was a two-story stone-and-mortar structure, such as are yet very common in the farming regions of central Pennsylvania.”

Quaker noun US /ˈkweɪkər/

a member of the Religious Society of Friends founded by George Fox (the Friends have never called themselves Quakers)

Studious adjective US /ˈstuːdiəs/

marked by care and effort

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.

twenty-nine years noun + noun

In this reading “His mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Way, was then twenty-nine years of age, and his father was thirty-one.”

write Poetry verb + noun

In this reading “Birth at Kennett Square.—Old Homestead.—The Quaker Church.—The Village.—His Father’s Store.—Life on the Farm.—Mischievous School-boy.—Inclination to write Poetry.—Practical Joker.—Studious Youth.—His Parents.—His Brothers and Sisters.”

Old Homestead adjective + noun

All words in this reading · 68

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.

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

From this reading 11, 1825.

1825

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

From this reading 11, 1825.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading The house then occupied was a two-story stone-and-mortar structure, such as are yet very common in the farming regions of central Pennsylvania.

agenounUS /eɪdʒ/

how long something has existed

From this reading His mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Way, was then twenty-nine years of age, and his father was thirty-one.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Birth at Kennett Square.—Old Homestead.—The Quaker Church.—The Village.—His Father’s Store.—Life on the Farm.—Mischievous School-boy.—Inclination to write Poetry.—Practical Joker.—Studious Youth.—His Parents.—His Brothers and Sisters.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading The house then occupied was a two-story stone-and-mortar structure, such as are yet very common in the farming regions of central Pennsylvania.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The house then occupied was a two-story stone-and-mortar structure, such as are yet very common in the farming regions of central Pennsylvania.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

BayardnounUS /ˈbeɪərd/

French soldier said to be fearless and chivalrous (1473-1524)

From this reading Bayard Taylor was born at Kennett Square, Penn., Jan.

BirthnounUS /bɜːrθ/

the time when something begins (especially life)

bornadjectiveUS /bɔːrn/

brought into existence

From this reading Bayard Taylor was born at Kennett Square, Penn., Jan.

BrothersnounUS /ˈbrʌðərz/

plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else

centraladjectiveUS /ˈsentrəl/

serving as an essential component

From this reading The house then occupied was a two-story stone-and-mortar structure, such as are yet very common in the farming regions of central Pennsylvania.

ChurchnounUS /tʃɜːrtʃ/

one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship

commonadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmən/

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading The house then occupied was a two-story stone-and-mortar structure, such as are yet very common in the farming regions of central Pennsylvania.

FarmverbUS /fɑːrm/

be a farmer; work as a farmer

farmingnounUS /ˈfɑːrmɪŋ/

the practice of cultivating the land or raising stock

From this reading The house then occupied was a two-story stone-and-mortar structure, such as are yet very common in the farming regions of central Pennsylvania.

fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading His mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Way, was then twenty-nine years of age, and his father was thirty-one.

Father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

HomesteadnounUS /ˈhoʊmsted/

the home and adjacent grounds occupied by a family

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading The house then occupied was a two-story stone-and-mortar structure, such as are yet very common in the farming regions of central Pennsylvania.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The house then occupied was a two-story stone-and-mortar structure, such as are yet very common in the farming regions of central Pennsylvania.

InclinationnounUS /ˌɪnkləˈneɪʃən/

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

JannounUS /dʒæn/

the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice

From this reading Bayard Taylor was born at Kennett Square, Penn., Jan.

JokernounUS /ˈdʒoʊkər/

a person who enjoys telling or playing jokes

Kennett

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

LifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

maidennounUS /ˈmeɪdən/

an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)

From this reading His mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Way, was then twenty-nine years of age, and his father was thirty-one.

MischievousadjectiveUS /ˈmɪstʃəvəs/

naughtily or annoyingly playful

mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading His mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Way, was then twenty-nine years of age, and his father was thirty-one.

nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading His mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Way, was then twenty-nine years of age, and his father was thirty-one.

occupiedadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkjəpaɪd/

held or filled or in use

From this reading The house then occupied was a two-story stone-and-mortar structure, such as are yet very common in the farming regions of central Pennsylvania.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading His mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Way, was then twenty-nine years of age, and his father was thirty-one.

OldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

ParentsnounUS /ˈperənts/

plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian

PennnounUS /pen/

Englishman and Quaker who founded the colony of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

From this reading Bayard Taylor was born at Kennett Square, Penn., Jan.

PennsylvanianounUS /ˌpensəlˈveɪnjə/

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading The house then occupied was a two-story stone-and-mortar structure, such as are yet very common in the farming regions of central Pennsylvania.

PoetrynounUS /ˈpoʊətri/

literature in metrical form

PracticaladjectiveUS /ˈpræktəkəl/

concerned with actual use or practice

QuakernounUS /ˈkweɪkər/

a member of the Religious Society of Friends founded by George Fox (the Friends have never called themselves Quakers)

RebeccanounUS /rəˈbekə/

(Old Testament) wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau

From this reading His mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Way, was then twenty-nine years of age, and his father was thirty-one.

regionsnounUS /ˈriːdʒənz/

plural of “region” — the extended spatial location of something

From this reading The house then occupied was a two-story stone-and-mortar structure, such as are yet very common in the farming regions of central Pennsylvania.

School-boy

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

SistersnounUS /ˈsɪstərz/

plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person

SquareverbUS /skwer/

make square

stone-and-mortar

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

From this reading The house then occupied was a two-story stone-and-mortar structure, such as are yet very common in the farming regions of central Pennsylvania.

StorenounUS /stɔːr/

a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services

structurenounUS /ˈstrʌktʃər/

a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts

From this reading The house then occupied was a two-story stone-and-mortar structure, such as are yet very common in the farming regions of central Pennsylvania.

StudiousadjectiveUS /ˈstuːdiəs/

marked by care and effort

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading The house then occupied was a two-story stone-and-mortar structure, such as are yet very common in the farming regions of central Pennsylvania.

TaylornounUS /ˈteɪlər/

United States composer and music critic (1885-1966)

From this reading Bayard Taylor was born at Kennett Square, Penn., Jan.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading His mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Way, was then twenty-nine years of age, and his father was thirty-one.

thirty-oneadjective

being one more than thirty

From this reading His mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Way, was then twenty-nine years of age, and his father was thirty-one.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

twenty-ninenoun

the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-eight and one

From this reading His mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Way, was then twenty-nine years of age, and his father was thirty-one.

two-story

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

From this reading The house then occupied was a two-story stone-and-mortar structure, such as are yet very common in the farming regions of central Pennsylvania.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading The house then occupied was a two-story stone-and-mortar structure, such as are yet very common in the farming regions of central Pennsylvania.

VillagenounUS /ˈvɪlədʒ/

a community of people smaller than a town

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Bayard Taylor was born at Kennett Square, Penn., Jan.

WaynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading His mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Way, was then twenty-nine years of age, and his father was thirty-one.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading His mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Way, was then twenty-nine years of age, and his father was thirty-one.

writeverbUS /raɪt/

produce a literary work

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading His mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Way, was then twenty-nine years of age, and his father was thirty-one.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading The house then occupied was a two-story stone-and-mortar structure, such as are yet very common in the farming regions of central Pennsylvania.

YouthnounUS /juːθ/

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

Chapter 4 of The Life, Travels, and Literary Career of Bayard Taylor by Russell H. Conwell holds 131 sentences, grouped into 27 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 4 of The Life, Travels, and Literary Career of Bayard Taylor contain?

Chapter 4 holds 131 sentences of The Life, Travels, and Literary Career of Bayard Taylor, unabridged, divided into 27 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of The Life, Travels, and Literary Career of Bayard Taylor by Russell H. Conwell exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 131 sentences, grouped into 27 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 4 of The Life, Travels, and Literary Career of Bayard Taylor?

Work through the 27 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 27 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.

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Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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.

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Yes. All 2942 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #60585 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #60585, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 245 minutes of reading across 589 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in The Life, Travels, and Literary Career of Bayard Taylor

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Life, Travels, and Literary Career of Bayard Taylor, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Travels: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Life, Travels, and Literary Career of Bayard Taylor; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Literary: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Life, Travels, and Literary Career of Bayard Taylor; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Career: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Life, Travels, and Literary Career of Bayard Taylor; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Bayard: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Life, Travels, and Literary Career of Bayard Taylor; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter IV

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Vocabulary met early in The Life, Travels, and Literary Career of Bayard Taylor