Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Magic Egg, and Other Stories
The Magic Egg, and Other Stories

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of The Magic Egg, and Other Stories is here in full — 176 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Magic Egg, and Other Stories
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.
"Is this the Widow Ducket's?" inquired this elderly man, in a strong, penetrating voice.
"That's my name," said the widow, and laying her knitting on the bench beside her, she went to the gate.
Dorcas also laid her knitting on the bench beside her and went to the gate.
"I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Magic Egg, and Other Stories

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of The Magic Egg, and Other Stories is here in full — 176 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.
Line 2
"Is this the Widow Ducket's?" inquired this elderly man, in a strong, penetrating voice.
Line 3
"That's my name," said the widow, and laying her knitting on the bench beside her, she went to the gate.
Line 4
Dorcas also laid her knitting on the bench beside her and went to the gate.
Line 5
"I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.

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.

Thin adjective US /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading “This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.”

All words in this reading · 76

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.

a

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

about

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

From this reading "I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.

also

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

From this reading Dorcas also laid her knitting on the bench beside her and went to the gate.

an

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

and

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

any

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

From this reading "I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.

at

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

From this reading "I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.

back

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

From this reading "I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.

beard

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

below

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

bench

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

From this reading "That's my name," said the widow, and laying her knitting on the bench beside her, she went to the gate.

beside

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

From this reading "That's my name," said the widow, and laying her knitting on the bench beside her, she went to the gate.

breeze

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

chance

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

From this reading "I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.

chin

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

Dorcas

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

Ducket's

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

From this reading "Is this the Widow Ducket's?" inquired this elderly man, in a strong, penetrating voice.

elderly

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

filled

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

from

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

gate

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

From this reading "That's my name," said the widow, and laying her knitting on the bench beside her, she went to the gate.

gave

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

gentle

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

getting

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

From this reading "I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.

hair

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

head

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

her

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

From this reading "That's my name," said the widow, and laying her knitting on the bench beside her, she went to the gate.

his

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

house

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

From this reading "I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.

I

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

From this reading "I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.

idea

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

in

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

inquired

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

From this reading "Is this the Widow Ducket's?" inquired this elderly man, in a strong, penetrating voice.

Is

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

From this reading "Is this the Widow Ducket's?" inquired this elderly man, in a strong, penetrating voice.

knitting

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

From this reading "That's my name," said the widow, and laying her knitting on the bench beside her, she went to the gate.

laid

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

From this reading Dorcas also laid her knitting on the bench beside her and went to the gate.

laying

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

From this reading "That's my name," said the widow, and laying her knitting on the bench beside her, she went to the gate.

leaking

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

man

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

From this reading "Is this the Widow Ducket's?" inquired this elderly man, in a strong, penetrating voice.

mates

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

From this reading "I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.

me

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

From this reading "I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.

meal

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

From this reading "I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.

mile

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

From this reading "I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.

my

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

From this reading "That's my name," said the widow, and laying her knitting on the bench beside her, she went to the gate.

name

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

From this reading "That's my name," said the widow, and laying her knitting on the bench beside her, she went to the gate.

of

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

From this reading "I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.

on

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

From this reading "That's my name," said the widow, and laying her knitting on the bench beside her, she went to the gate.

only

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

From this reading "I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.

out

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

penetrating

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

From this reading "Is this the Widow Ducket's?" inquired this elderly man, in a strong, penetrating voice.

personage

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

quarter

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

From this reading "I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.

said

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

From this reading "That's my name," said the widow, and laying her knitting on the bench beside her, she went to the gate.

she

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

From this reading "That's my name," said the widow, and laying her knitting on the bench beside her, she went to the gate.

strong

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

From this reading "Is this the Widow Ducket's?" inquired this elderly man, in a strong, penetrating voice.

that

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

That's

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

From this reading "That's my name," said the widow, and laying her knitting on the bench beside her, she went to the gate.

the

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

there

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

From this reading "I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.

thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

This

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

to

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

From this reading "That's my name," said the widow, and laying her knitting on the bench beside her, she went to the gate.

told

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

From this reading "I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.

touched

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

From this reading "I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.

under

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

village

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

From this reading "I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.

voice

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

From this reading "Is this the Widow Ducket's?" inquired this elderly man, in a strong, penetrating voice.

was

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

waved

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

we

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

From this reading "I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.

went

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

From this reading "That's my name," said the widow, and laying her knitting on the bench beside her, she went to the gate.

where

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

From this reading "I was told," said the elderly man, "at a house we touched at about a quarter of a mile back, that the Widow Ducket's was the only house in this village where there was any chance of me and my mates getting a meal.

which

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

whitish

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

Widow

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

From this reading "Is this the Widow Ducket's?" inquired this elderly man, in a strong, penetrating voice.

with

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

From this reading This was an elderly personage with whitish hair, and under his chin a thin whitish beard, which waved in the gentle breeze and gave Dorcas the idea that his head was filled with hair which was leaking out from below.

Chapter 4 of The Magic Egg, and Other Stories by Frank R. Stockton holds 176 sentences, grouped into 36 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 4 of The Magic Egg, and Other Stories contain?

Chapter 4 holds 176 sentences of The Magic Egg, and Other Stories, unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of The Magic Egg, and Other Stories by Frank R. Stockton exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 176 sentences, grouped into 36 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 Magic Egg, and Other Stories?

Work through the 36 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 36 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 4 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading The Magic Egg, and Other Stories

Common questions about reading The Magic Egg, and Other Stories by Frank R. Stockton on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Magic Egg, and Other Stories?

Yes. All 4128 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #429 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Magic Egg, and Other Stories is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #429, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Magic Egg, and Other Stories take to read?

About 344 minutes of reading across 826 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Magic Egg, and Other Stories section by section

How to work through The Magic Egg, and Other Stories section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 23 chapters of The Magic Egg, and Other Stories 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 Magic Egg, and Other Stories

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Magic Egg, and Other Stories, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Pretty
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Magic Egg, and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Little
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Magic Egg, and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Theatre
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Magic Egg, and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Attached
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Magic Egg, and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.