The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys

Chapter XXIII · Chapter 23

Chapter 23 of The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys is here in full — 47 sentences across 10 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Marianne Kirlew • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

A magic mirror.--And the picture it shows us.--Billy and Polly again.--Hurrah for Newcastle!--John and Charles Wesley put their heads together.--The result.--Strict Rules.--Circuits in Methodism.

HAVE you ever heard of the Magic Mirror?

It is a mirror I would like to have.

You just think of something you would very much like to see; something either in the past, the present, or the future, peep into the mirror and there it is.

Let us imagine that we have this mirror, and that we want to look at a particular part of Newcastle in the year 1742.

Narrator

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.

Chapter XXIII Reading 1/9

The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys Marianne Kirlew

Chapter XXIII

Chapter 23

Chapter 23 of The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys is here in full — 47 sentences across 10 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

A magic mirror.--And the picture it shows us.--Billy and Polly again.--Hurrah for Newcastle!--John and Charles Wesley put their heads together.--The result.--Strict Rules.--Circuits in Methodism. HAVE you ever heard of the Magic Mirror? It is a mirror I would like to have. You just think of something you would very much like to see; something either in the past, the present, or the future, peep into the mirror and there it is. Let us imagine that we have this mirror, and that we want to look at a particular part of Newcastle in the year 1742.

The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys

Chapter XXIII · Chapter 23

Chapter 23 of The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys is here in full — 47 sentences across 10 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/9 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

A magic mirror.--And the picture it shows us.--Billy and Polly again.--Hurrah for Newcastle!--John and Charles Wesley put their heads together.--The result.--Strict Rules.--Circuits in Methodism.

Line 2

HAVE you ever heard of the Magic Mirror?

/hæv juː ˈevər hɜːrd ʌv ðə ˈmædʒɪk ˈmɪrər/

Line 3

It is a mirror I would like to have.

/ɪt ɪz ə ˈmɪrər aɪ wʊd laɪk tuː hæv/

Line 4

You just think of something you would very much like to see; something either in the past, the present, or the future, peep into the mirror and there it is.

/juː dʒʌst θɪŋk ʌv ˈsʌmθɪŋ juː wʊd ˈveri mʌtʃ laɪk tuː siː ˈsʌmθɪŋ ˈiːðər ɪn ðə pæst ðə ˈprezənt ɔːr ðə ˈfjuːtʃər piːp ˈɪntuː ðə ˈmɪrər ənd ðer ɪt ɪz/

Line 5

Let us imagine that we have this mirror, and that we want to look at a particular part of Newcastle in the year 1742.

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.

Circuits noun US /ˈsɜːrkəts/

plural of “circuit” — an electrical device that provides a path for electrical current to flow

From this reading “A magic mirror.--And the picture it shows us.--Billy and Polly again.--Hurrah for Newcastle!--John and Charles Wesley put their heads together.--The result.--Strict Rules.--Circuits in Methodism.”

Hurrah noun US /hʊˈrɑː/

a victory cheer

Methodism noun US /ˈmeθədɪzəm/

the religious beliefs and practices of Methodists characterized by concern with social welfare and public morals

Newcastle noun US /ˈnuːkæsəl/

a port city in northeastern England on the River Tyne; a center for coal exports (giving rise to the expression “carry coals to Newcastle” meaning to do something unnecessary)

peep verb US /piːp/

look furtively

From this reading “You just think of something you would very much like to see; something either in the past, the present, or the future, peep into the mirror and there it is.”

Rules noun US /ruːlz/

plural of “rule” — a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior

Strict adjective US /strɪkt/

rigidly accurate; allowing no deviation from a standard

Wesley noun US /ˈwesli/

English clergyman and brother of John Wesley who wrote many hymns (1707-1788)

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.

Strict Rules adjective + noun counted as “strict rule”

In this reading “A magic mirror.--And the picture it shows us.--Billy and Polly again.--Hurrah for Newcastle!--John and Charles Wesley put their heads together.--The result.--Strict Rules.--Circuits in Methodism.”

magic mirror noun + noun

peep into verb + particle

In this reading “You just think of something you would very much like to see; something either in the past, the present, or the future, peep into the mirror and there it is.”

look at verb + particle

take into consideration for exemplifying purposes

In this reading “Let us imagine that we have this mirror, and that we want to look at a particular part of Newcastle in the year 1742.”

ever heard adverb + adjective

In this reading “HAVE you ever heard of the Magic Mirror?”

into the mirror preposition + article + noun counted as “into … mirror”

In this reading “You just think of something you would very much like to see; something either in the past, the present, or the future, peep into the mirror and there it is.”

particular part adjective + noun

In this reading “Let us imagine that we have this mirror, and that we want to look at a particular part of Newcastle in the year 1742.”

think of verb + particle

keep in mind for attention or consideration

In this reading “You just think of something you would very much like to see; something either in the past, the present, or the future, peep into the mirror and there it is.”

All words in this reading · 64

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.

1742

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

From this reading Let us imagine that we have this mirror, and that we want to look at a particular part of Newcastle in the year 1742.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading A magic mirror.--And the picture it shows us.--Billy and Polly again.--Hurrah for Newcastle!--John and Charles Wesley put their heads together.--The result.--Strict Rules.--Circuits in Methodism.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Let us imagine that we have this mirror, and that we want to look at a particular part of Newcastle in the year 1742.

BillynounUS /ˈbɪli/

a short stout club used primarily by policemen

CharlesnounUS /tʃɑːrlz/

King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)

CircuitsnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəts/

plural of “circuit” — an electrical device that provides a path for electrical current to flow

eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading You just think of something you would very much like to see; something either in the past, the present, or the future, peep into the mirror and there it is.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading HAVE you ever heard of the Magic Mirror?

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

futureadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtʃər/

yet to be or coming

From this reading You just think of something you would very much like to see; something either in the past, the present, or the future, peep into the mirror and there it is.

HAVEauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading HAVE you ever heard of the Magic Mirror?

headsnounUS /hedz/

plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading HAVE you ever heard of the Magic Mirror?

HurrahnounUS /hʊˈrɑː/

a victory cheer

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading It is a mirror I would like to have.

imagineverbUS /ˌɪˈmædʒən/

form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case

From this reading Let us imagine that we have this mirror, and that we want to look at a particular part of Newcastle in the year 1742.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading You just think of something you would very much like to see; something either in the past, the present, or the future, peep into the mirror and there it is.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It is a mirror I would like to have.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading You just think of something you would very much like to see; something either in the past, the present, or the future, peep into the mirror and there it is.

Letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Let us imagine that we have this mirror, and that we want to look at a particular part of Newcastle in the year 1742.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading It is a mirror I would like to have.

lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Let us imagine that we have this mirror, and that we want to look at a particular part of Newcastle in the year 1742.

magicnounUS /ˈmædʒɪk/

any art that invokes supernatural powers

MethodismnounUS /ˈmeθədɪzəm/

the religious beliefs and practices of Methodists characterized by concern with social welfare and public morals

mirrornounUS /ˈmɪrər/

polished surface that forms images by reflecting light

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading You just think of something you would very much like to see; something either in the past, the present, or the future, peep into the mirror and there it is.

NewcastlenounUS /ˈnuːkæsəl/

a port city in northeastern England on the River Tyne; a center for coal exports (giving rise to the expression “carry coals to Newcastle” meaning to do something unnecessary)

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading HAVE you ever heard of the Magic Mirror?

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading You just think of something you would very much like to see; something either in the past, the present, or the future, peep into the mirror and there it is.

partnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading Let us imagine that we have this mirror, and that we want to look at a particular part of Newcastle in the year 1742.

particularadjectiveUS /pərˈtɪkjələr/

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading Let us imagine that we have this mirror, and that we want to look at a particular part of Newcastle in the year 1742.

pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

From this reading You just think of something you would very much like to see; something either in the past, the present, or the future, peep into the mirror and there it is.

peepverbUS /piːp/

look furtively

From this reading You just think of something you would very much like to see; something either in the past, the present, or the future, peep into the mirror and there it is.

picturenounUS /ˈpɪktʃər/

a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

Polly

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

presentverbUS /ˈprezənt/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading You just think of something you would very much like to see; something either in the past, the present, or the future, peep into the mirror and there it is.

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

resultnounUS /rɪˈzʌlt/

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

RulesnounUS /ruːlz/

plural of “rule” — a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading You just think of something you would very much like to see; something either in the past, the present, or the future, peep into the mirror and there it is.

showsnounUS /ʃoʊz/

plural of “show” — the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading You just think of something you would very much like to see; something either in the past, the present, or the future, peep into the mirror and there it is.

StrictadjectiveUS /strɪkt/

rigidly accurate; allowing no deviation from a standard

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Let us imagine that we have this mirror, and that we want to look at a particular part of Newcastle in the year 1742.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading You just think of something you would very much like to see; something either in the past, the present, or the future, peep into the mirror and there it is.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading You just think of something you would very much like to see; something either in the past, the present, or the future, peep into the mirror and there it is.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Let us imagine that we have this mirror, and that we want to look at a particular part of Newcastle in the year 1742.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It is a mirror I would like to have.

togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/

in contact with each other or in proximity

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading You just think of something you would very much like to see; something either in the past, the present, or the future, peep into the mirror and there it is.

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading Let us imagine that we have this mirror, and that we want to look at a particular part of Newcastle in the year 1742.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Let us imagine that we have this mirror, and that we want to look at a particular part of Newcastle in the year 1742.

WesleynounUS /ˈwesli/

English clergyman and brother of John Wesley who wrote many hymns (1707-1788)

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading It is a mirror I would like to have.

yearnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading Let us imagine that we have this mirror, and that we want to look at a particular part of Newcastle in the year 1742.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading HAVE you ever heard of the Magic Mirror?

Chapter 23 of The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys by Marianne Kirlew holds 47 sentences, grouped into 10 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 23 of The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys contain?

Chapter 23 holds 47 sentences of The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys, unabridged, divided into 10 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 23 of The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys by Marianne Kirlew exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 47 sentences, grouped into 10 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 23 of The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys?

Work through the 10 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 10 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 23 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 23 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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Common questions about reading The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys by Marianne Kirlew on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys?

Yes. All 1504 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #32669 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #32669, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys take to read?

About 125 minutes of reading across 301 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Jacky: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Brothers: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sisters: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cottage: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter XXIII · Chapter 23

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Vocabulary met early in The Story of John Wesley, Told to Boys