Chapter 2 of The story of iron is here in full — 109 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
Chapter 2 of The story of iron is here in full — 109 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning. “But it’s your birthday, just the same. Shut your eyes and hold out your hand.” “Ready.” Billy, opening his eyes, saw his uncle holding a jack-knife, which dangled from a chain.
Chapter 2 of The story of iron is here in full — 109 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading “OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.”
an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading ““But it’s your birthday, just the same.”
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading “Billy, opening his eyes, saw his uncle holding a jack-knife, which dangled from a chain.”
past form of “dangle” — hang freely
From this reading “Billy, opening his eyes, saw his uncle holding a jack-knife, which dangled from a chain.”
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading “OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.”
the act of retaining something
From this reading “Billy, opening his eyes, saw his uncle holding a jack-knife, which dangled from a chain.”
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading “OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.”
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading “Billy, opening his eyes, saw his uncle holding a jack-knife, which dangled from a chain.”
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.
In this reading “OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.”
In this reading “Billy, opening his eyes, saw his uncle holding a jack-knife, which dangled from a chain.”
appear or become visible; make a showing
In this reading “OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.”
thrust or extend out
In this reading “Shut your eyes and hold out your hand.””
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
In this reading “OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Billy, opening his eyes, saw his uncle holding a jack-knife, which dangled from a chain.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading “But it’s your birthday, just the same.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “But it’s your birthday, just the same.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading Billy, opening his eyes, saw his uncle holding a jack-knife, which dangled from a chain.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
past form of “dangle” — hang freely
From this reading Billy, opening his eyes, saw his uncle holding a jack-knife, which dangled from a chain.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Shut your eyes and hold out your hand.”
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Billy, opening his eyes, saw his uncle holding a jack-knife, which dangled from a chain.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Shut your eyes and hold out your hand.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Billy, opening his eyes, saw his uncle holding a jack-knife, which dangled from a chain.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Shut your eyes and hold out your hand.”
the act of retaining something
From this reading Billy, opening his eyes, saw his uncle holding a jack-knife, which dangled from a chain.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But it’s your birthday, just the same.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billy, opening his eyes, saw his uncle holding a jack-knife, which dangled from a chain.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
and nothing more
From this reading “But it’s your birthday, just the same.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading Billy, opening his eyes, saw his uncle holding a jack-knife, which dangled from a chain.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading “Ready.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
Identical; not different.
From this reading “But it’s your birthday, just the same.
cut with a saw
From this reading Billy, opening his eyes, saw his uncle holding a jack-knife, which dangled from a chain.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading Shut your eyes and hold out your hand.”
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Billy, opening his eyes, saw his uncle holding a jack-knife, which dangled from a chain.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading OLD IRON “Days don’t always come out as we expect they will,” said Uncle John, as he and Billy started out together the next morning.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “But it’s your birthday, just the same.
Chapter 2 of The story of iron by Elizabeth Ida Samuel holds 109 sentences, grouped into 22 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.
Chapter 2 holds 109 sentences of The story of iron, unabridged, divided into 22 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of The story of iron by Elizabeth Ida Samuel exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 109 sentences, grouped into 22 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.
Work through the 22 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 22 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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.
Common questions about reading The story of iron by Elizabeth Ida Samuel on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2261 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #68492 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #68492, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 188 minutes of reading across 453 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The story of iron section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 16 chapters of The story of iron to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The story of iron, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
