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The Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country
The Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country

Chapter XX · Twelve, Midnight

Chapter XX of The Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country, “Twelve, Midnight,” is here in full — 269 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Samuel Merwin • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country
Context Illustration Reading 1/53 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The deep-toned bell in the town hall was striking twelve.
It was a still, overcast night, with a mild breeze blowing up from the head of Lake Michigan.
Three men stood at the gate of the yards talking in low tones, somewhat oppressed, perhaps, by the silence.
Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.
The only noise came, in the intervals between words, from the two steamers that lay breathing softly alongside the wharf.
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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 Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country

Chapter XX · Twelve, Midnight

Chapter XX of The Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country, “Twelve, Midnight,” is here in full — 269 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/53 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The deep-toned bell in the town hall was striking twelve.
Line 2
It was a still, overcast night, with a mild breeze blowing up from the head of Lake Michigan.
/ɪt wɑːz ə stɪl ˈoʊvərkæst naɪt wɪð ə maɪld briːz ˈbloʊɪŋ ʌp frʌm ðə hed ʌv leɪk ˈmɪʃɪɡən/
Line 3
Three men stood at the gate of the yards talking in low tones, somewhat oppressed, perhaps, by the silence.
/θriː men stʊd æt ðə ɡeɪt ʌv ðə jɑːrdz ˈtɔːkɪŋ ɪn loʊ toʊnz ˈsʌmˈwʌt əˈprest pərˈhæps baɪ ðə ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Line 4
Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.
/bɪˈfɔːr ðem ə ˈlɪtəl weɪ wɑːz ðə waɪt ˈsɜːrkəl θroʊn baɪ ðə ɪˈlektrɪk laɪt ˈoʊvər ðə brɪdʒ bɪˈhaɪnd wɜːr ðə ɡreɪt dɪm paɪlz ʌv ˈlʌmbər wɪð ðə ˈneroʊ ˈæliz bɪˈtwiːn naʊ blæk æz ðə skaɪ ənd ˈkɑːrpətɪd æz ðeɪ wɜːr wɪð tʃɪps ənd ˈʃeɪvɪŋz æz ˈsaɪlənt bɪˈniːθ ðə fʊt æz ˈvelvət/
Line 5
The only noise came, in the intervals between words, from the two steamers that lay breathing softly alongside the wharf.
/ðə ˈoʊnli nɔɪz keɪm ɪn ðə ˈɪntərvəlz bɪˈtwiːn wɜːrdz frʌm ðə tuː ˈstiːmərz ðæt leɪ ˈbriːðɪŋ ˈsɔːftli əˈlɔːŋˈsaɪd ðə wɔːrf/

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.

alleys noun US /ˈæliz/

plural of “alley” — a narrow street with walls on both sides

From this reading “Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
carpeted adjective US /ˈkɑːrpətɪd/

covered with or as if with carpeting or with carpeting as specified; often used in combination

From this reading “Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
chips noun US /tʃɪps/

strips of potato fried in deep fat

From this reading “Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lumber noun US /ˈlʌmbər/

the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material

From this reading “Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Michigan noun US /ˈmɪʃɪɡən/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading “It was a still, overcast night, with a mild breeze blowing up from the head of Lake Michigan.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
overcast noun US /ˈoʊvərkæst/

the state of the sky when it is covered by clouds

From this reading “It was a still, overcast night, with a mild breeze blowing up from the head of Lake Michigan.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shavings noun US /ˈʃeɪvɪŋz/

plural of “shaving” — the act of removing hair with a razor

From this reading “Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
steamers noun US /ˈstiːmərz/

plural of “steamer” — a clam that is usually steamed in the shell

From this reading “The only noise came, in the intervals between words, from the two steamers that lay breathing softly alongside the wharf.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

breeze blowing noun + noun

In this reading “It was a still, overcast night, with a mild breeze blowing up from the head of Lake Michigan.”

621 times in 426,211 chapters
narrow alleys verb + noun counted as “narrow alley”

In this reading “Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.”

465 times in 426,211 chapters
low tones adjective + noun counted as “low tone”

In this reading “Three men stood at the gate of the yards talking in low tones, somewhat oppressed, perhaps, by the silence.”

9,920 times in 426,211 chapters
striking twelve adjective + noun

In this reading “The deep-toned bell in the town hall was striking twelve.”

179 times in 426,211 chapters
town hall noun + noun

a government building that houses administrative offices of a town government

In this reading “The deep-toned bell in the town hall was striking twelve.”

2,198 times in 426,211 chapters
Three men noun + noun

In this reading “Three men stood at the gate of the yards talking in low tones, somewhat oppressed, perhaps, by the silence.”

10,862 times in 426,211 chapters
at the gate preposition + article + noun counted as “at … gate”

In this reading “Three men stood at the gate of the yards talking in low tones, somewhat oppressed, perhaps, by the silence.”

10,133 times in 426,211 chapters
over the bridge preposition + article + noun counted as “over … bridge”

In this reading “Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.”

1,603 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 84

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 It was a still, overcast night, with a mild breeze blowing up from the head of Lake Michigan.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
alleysnounUS /ˈæliz/

plural of “alley” — a narrow street with walls on both sides

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
alongsideadverbUS /əˈlɔːŋˈsaɪd/

side by side

From this reading The only noise came, in the intervals between words, from the two steamers that lay breathing softly alongside the wharf.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Three men stood at the gate of the yards talking in low tones, somewhat oppressed, perhaps, by the silence.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
bellnounUS /bel/

a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck

From this reading The deep-toned bell in the town hall was striking twelve.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

Velmora curated lexicon
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
blowingnounUS /ˈbloʊɪŋ/

processing that involves blowing a gas

From this reading It was a still, overcast night, with a mild breeze blowing up from the head of Lake Michigan.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
breathingnounUS /ˈbriːðɪŋ/

the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation

From this reading The only noise came, in the intervals between words, from the two steamers that lay breathing softly alongside the wharf.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
breezenounUS /briːz/

a slight wind (usually refreshing)

From this reading It was a still, overcast night, with a mild breeze blowing up from the head of Lake Michigan.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bridgenounUS /brɪdʒ/

a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Three men stood at the gate of the yards talking in low tones, somewhat oppressed, perhaps, by the silence.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading The only noise came, in the intervals between words, from the two steamers that lay breathing softly alongside the wharf.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
carpetedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːrpətɪd/

covered with or as if with carpeting or with carpeting as specified; often used in combination

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
chipsnounUS /tʃɪps/

strips of potato fried in deep fat

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
circlenounUS /ˈsɜːrkəl/

ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
deep-toned

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

From this reading The deep-toned bell in the town hall was striking twelve.

Pending verification
dimadjectiveUS /dɪm/

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/

using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
footnounUS /fʊt/

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It was a still, overcast night, with a mild breeze blowing up from the head of Lake Michigan.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
gatenounUS /ɡeɪt/

a movable barrier in a fence or wall

From this reading Three men stood at the gate of the yards talking in low tones, somewhat oppressed, perhaps, by the silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hallnounUS /hɔːl/

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading The deep-toned bell in the town hall was striking twelve.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading It was a still, overcast night, with a mild breeze blowing up from the head of Lake Michigan.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The deep-toned bell in the town hall was striking twelve.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
intervalsnounUS /ˈɪntərvəlz/

plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants

From this reading The only noise came, in the intervals between words, from the two steamers that lay breathing softly alongside the wharf.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a still, overcast night, with a mild breeze blowing up from the head of Lake Michigan.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
LakenounUS /leɪk/

a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land

From this reading It was a still, overcast night, with a mild breeze blowing up from the head of Lake Michigan.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
layverbUS /leɪ/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The only noise came, in the intervals between words, from the two steamers that lay breathing softly alongside the wharf.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading Three men stood at the gate of the yards talking in low tones, somewhat oppressed, perhaps, by the silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lumbernounUS /ˈlʌmbər/

the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading Three men stood at the gate of the yards talking in low tones, somewhat oppressed, perhaps, by the silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MichigannounUS /ˈmɪʃɪɡən/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading It was a still, overcast night, with a mild breeze blowing up from the head of Lake Michigan.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mildadjectiveUS /maɪld/

moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme

From this reading It was a still, overcast night, with a mild breeze blowing up from the head of Lake Michigan.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
narrowverbUS /ˈneroʊ/

make or become more narrow or restricted

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading It was a still, overcast night, with a mild breeze blowing up from the head of Lake Michigan.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
noisenounUS /nɔɪz/

sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)

From this reading The only noise came, in the intervals between words, from the two steamers that lay breathing softly alongside the wharf.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was a still, overcast night, with a mild breeze blowing up from the head of Lake Michigan.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading The only noise came, in the intervals between words, from the two steamers that lay breathing softly alongside the wharf.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
oppressedadjectiveUS /əˈprest/

burdened psychologically or mentally

From this reading Three men stood at the gate of the yards talking in low tones, somewhat oppressed, perhaps, by the silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
overcastnounUS /ˈoʊvərkæst/

the state of the sky when it is covered by clouds

From this reading It was a still, overcast night, with a mild breeze blowing up from the head of Lake Michigan.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/

by chance

From this reading Three men stood at the gate of the yards talking in low tones, somewhat oppressed, perhaps, by the silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pilesnounUS /paɪlz/

venous swelling external or internal to the anal sphincter

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shavingsnounUS /ˈʃeɪvɪŋz/

plural of “shaving” — the act of removing hair with a razor

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading Three men stood at the gate of the yards talking in low tones, somewhat oppressed, perhaps, by the silence.

Velmora curated lexicon
silentadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪlənt/

marked by absence of sound

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
skynounUS /skaɪ/

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
softlyadverbUS /ˈsɔːftli/

with low volume

From this reading The only noise came, in the intervals between words, from the two steamers that lay breathing softly alongside the wharf.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
somewhatadverbUS /ˈsʌmˈwʌt/

to a small degree or extent

From this reading Three men stood at the gate of the yards talking in low tones, somewhat oppressed, perhaps, by the silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
steamersnounUS /ˈstiːmərz/

plural of “steamer” — a clam that is usually steamed in the shell

From this reading The only noise came, in the intervals between words, from the two steamers that lay breathing softly alongside the wharf.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading It was a still, overcast night, with a mild breeze blowing up from the head of Lake Michigan.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Three men stood at the gate of the yards talking in low tones, somewhat oppressed, perhaps, by the silence.

Velmora curated lexicon
strikingadjectiveUS /ˈstraɪkɪŋ/

sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect

From this reading The deep-toned bell in the town hall was striking twelve.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
talkingnounUS /ˈtɔːkɪŋ/

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading Three men stood at the gate of the yards talking in low tones, somewhat oppressed, perhaps, by the silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The only noise came, in the intervals between words, from the two steamers that lay breathing softly alongside the wharf.

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 The deep-toned bell in the town hall was striking twelve.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThreenounUS /θriː/

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

From this reading Three men stood at the gate of the yards talking in low tones, somewhat oppressed, perhaps, by the silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thrownadjectiveUS /θroʊn/

caused to fall to the ground

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tonesnounUS /toʊnz/

plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice

From this reading Three men stood at the gate of the yards talking in low tones, somewhat oppressed, perhaps, by the silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
townnounUS /taʊn/

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading The deep-toned bell in the town hall was striking twelve.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
twelvenounUS /twelv/

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading The deep-toned bell in the town hall was striking twelve.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading The only noise came, in the intervals between words, from the two steamers that lay breathing softly alongside the wharf.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading It was a still, overcast night, with a mild breeze blowing up from the head of Lake Michigan.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
velvetnounUS /ˈvelvət/

a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

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 The deep-toned bell in the town hall was striking twelve.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wharfnounUS /wɔːrf/

a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats

From this reading The only noise came, in the intervals between words, from the two steamers that lay breathing softly alongside the wharf.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading Before them, a little way, was the white circle thrown by the electric light over the bridge; behind were the great dim piles of lumber with the narrow alleys between, now black as the sky, and carpeted as they were with chips and shavings, as silent beneath the foot as velvet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was a still, overcast night, with a mild breeze blowing up from the head of Lake Michigan.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/

the words that are spoken

From this reading The only noise came, in the intervals between words, from the two steamers that lay breathing softly alongside the wharf.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
yardsnounUS /jɑːrdz/

plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading Three men stood at the gate of the yards talking in low tones, somewhat oppressed, perhaps, by the silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 20 of The Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country by Samuel Merwin holds 269 sentences, grouped into 54 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 20 of The Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country contain?

Chapter 20 holds 269 sentences of The Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country, unabridged, divided into 54 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of The Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country by Samuel Merwin exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 269 sentences, grouped into 54 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 20 of The Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country?

Work through the 54 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 54 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 20 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 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 Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country

Common questions about reading The Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country by Samuel Merwin on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country?

Yes. All 4149 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #54102 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #54102, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country take to read?

About 345 minutes of reading across 830 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country section by section

How to work through The Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  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 Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Country
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Doubleday
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Company
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Prologue--the
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Whip Hand: A Tale of the Pine Country; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.