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The White Christmas and other Merry
The White Christmas and other Merry

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The White Christmas and other Merry is here in full — 355 sentences across 71 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The White Christmas and other Merry
Context Illustration Reading 30/71 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Here take my cloak and keep thee warm within, And wait thee here while I search out an inn.
(_He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in front of the manger.
He goes out at rear left.
The music changes to the Magnificat, to be found in all Episcopal hymnals._) MARY (_sings_).
My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The White Christmas and other Merry

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The White Christmas and other Merry is here in full — 355 sentences across 71 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 30/71 · 5 reading units · Lines 146–150

Line 1
Here take my cloak and keep thee warm within, And wait thee here while I search out an inn.
/hiːr teɪk maɪ kloʊk ənd kiːp ðiː wɔːrm wɪˈðɪn ənd weɪt ðiː hiːr waɪl aɪ sɜːrtʃ aʊt æn ɪn/
Line 2
(_He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in front of the manger.
/hiː ræps hɪz kloʊk ərˈaʊnd hɜːr ənd siːts hɜːr ɑːn ðə bentʃ ɔːr stuːl ɪn frʌnt ʌv ðə ˈmeɪndʒər/
Line 3
He goes out at rear left.
/hiː ɡoʊz aʊt æt rɪr left/
Line 4
The music changes to the Magnificat, to be found in all Episcopal hymnals._) MARY (_sings_).
Line 5
My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

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.

Episcopal adjective US /ɪˈpɪskəpəl/

of or pertaining to or characteristic of the Episcopal church

From this reading “The music changes to the Magnificat, to be found in all Episcopal hymnals._) MARY (_sings_).”

hymnals noun US /ˈhɪmnəlz/

plural of “hymnal” — a songbook containing a collection of hymns

From this reading “The music changes to the Magnificat, to be found in all Episcopal hymnals._) MARY (_sings_).”

magnify verb US /ˈmæɡnəfaɪ/

increase in size, volume or significance

From this reading “My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”

manger noun US /ˈmeɪndʒər/

a container (usually in a barn or stable) from which cattle or horses feed

From this reading “(_He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in front of the manger.”

rejoiced verb US /rɪˈdʒɔɪst/

past form of “rejoice” — feel happiness or joy

From this reading “My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”

sings verb US /sɪŋz/

third-person singular of “sing” — deliver by singing

stool noun US /stuːl/

a simple seat without a back or arms

From this reading “(_He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in front of the manger.”

wraps noun US /ræps/

plural of “wrap” — cloak that is folded or wrapped around a person

From this reading “(_He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in front of the manger.”

All words in this reading · 55

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.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading The music changes to the Magnificat, to be found in all Episcopal hymnals._) MARY (_sings_).

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Here take my cloak and keep thee warm within, And wait thee here while I search out an inn.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Here take my cloak and keep thee warm within, And wait thee here while I search out an inn.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading (_He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in front of the manger.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He goes out at rear left.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The music changes to the Magnificat, to be found in all Episcopal hymnals._) MARY (_sings_).

benchnounUS /bentʃ/

a long seat for more than one person

From this reading (_He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in front of the manger.

changesnounUS /ˈtʃeɪndʒəz/

plural of “change” — an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another

From this reading The music changes to the Magnificat, to be found in all Episcopal hymnals._) MARY (_sings_).

cloaknounUS /kloʊk/

anything that covers or conceals

From this reading Here take my cloak and keep thee warm within, And wait thee here while I search out an inn.

dothauxiliary verbUS /dɔːθ/

an old form of “does”

From this reading My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

EpiscopaladjectiveUS /ɪˈpɪskəpəl/

of or pertaining to or characteristic of the Episcopal church

From this reading The music changes to the Magnificat, to be found in all Episcopal hymnals._) MARY (_sings_).

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading The music changes to the Magnificat, to be found in all Episcopal hymnals._) MARY (_sings_).

frontnounUS /frʌnt/

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading (_He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in front of the manger.

GodnounUS /ɡɑːd/

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

goesnounUS /ɡoʊz/

plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)

From this reading He goes out at rear left.

hathauxiliary verbUS /hæθ/

an old form of “has”

From this reading My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading (_He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in front of the manger.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading (_He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in front of the manger.

HereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Here take my cloak and keep thee warm within, And wait thee here while I search out an inn.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading (_He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in front of the manger.

hymnalsnounUS /ˈhɪmnəlz/

plural of “hymnal” — a songbook containing a collection of hymns

From this reading The music changes to the Magnificat, to be found in all Episcopal hymnals._) MARY (_sings_).

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Here take my cloak and keep thee warm within, And wait thee here while I search out an inn.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading (_He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in front of the manger.

innnounUS /ɪn/

a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers

From this reading Here take my cloak and keep thee warm within, And wait thee here while I search out an inn.

keepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading Here take my cloak and keep thee warm within, And wait thee here while I search out an inn.

leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading He goes out at rear left.

LordnounUS /lɔːrd/

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Magnificatnoun

(Luke) the canticle of the Virgin Mary (from Luke 1:46 beginning “Magnificat anima mea Dominum”)

From this reading The music changes to the Magnificat, to be found in all Episcopal hymnals._) MARY (_sings_).

magnifyverbUS /ˈmæɡnəfaɪ/

increase in size, volume or significance

From this reading My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

mangernounUS /ˈmeɪndʒər/

a container (usually in a barn or stable) from which cattle or horses feed

From this reading (_He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in front of the manger.

MARYnounUS /ˈmeri/

the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

From this reading The music changes to the Magnificat, to be found in all Episcopal hymnals._) MARY (_sings_).

musicnounUS /ˈmjuːzɪk/

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading The music changes to the Magnificat, to be found in all Episcopal hymnals._) MARY (_sings_).

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Here take my cloak and keep thee warm within, And wait thee here while I search out an inn.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading (_He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in front of the manger.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading (_He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in front of the manger.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading (_He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in front of the manger.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Here take my cloak and keep thee warm within, And wait thee here while I search out an inn.

rearnounUS /rɪr/

the back of a military formation or procession

From this reading He goes out at rear left.

rejoicedverbUS /rɪˈdʒɔɪst/

past form of “rejoice” — feel happiness or joy

From this reading My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Saviournoun

a teacher and prophet born in Bethlehem and active in Nazareth; his life and sermons form the basis for Christianity (circa 4 BC - AD 29)

From this reading My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

searchverbUS /sɜːrtʃ/

try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of

From this reading Here take my cloak and keep thee warm within, And wait thee here while I search out an inn.

seatsnounUS /siːts/

an area that includes places where several people can sit

From this reading (_He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in front of the manger.

singsverbUS /sɪŋz/

third-person singular of “sing” — deliver by singing

From this reading The music changes to the Magnificat, to be found in all Episcopal hymnals._) MARY (_sings_).

soulnounUS /soʊl/

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

spiritnounUS /ˈspɪrət/

the vital principle or animating force within living things

From this reading My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

stoolnounUS /stuːl/

a simple seat without a back or arms

From this reading (_He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in front of the manger.

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading Here take my cloak and keep thee warm within, And wait thee here while I search out an inn.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading (_He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in front of the manger.

theepronounUS /ðiː/

an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person

From this reading Here take my cloak and keep thee warm within, And wait thee here while I search out an inn.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The music changes to the Magnificat, to be found in all Episcopal hymnals._) MARY (_sings_).

waitverbUS /weɪt/

stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading Here take my cloak and keep thee warm within, And wait thee here while I search out an inn.

warmadjectiveUS /wɔːrm/

having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat

From this reading Here take my cloak and keep thee warm within, And wait thee here while I search out an inn.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading Here take my cloak and keep thee warm within, And wait thee here while I search out an inn.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Here take my cloak and keep thee warm within, And wait thee here while I search out an inn.

wrapsnounUS /ræps/

plural of “wrap” — cloak that is folded or wrapped around a person

From this reading (_He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in front of the manger.

Chapter 1 of The White Christmas and other Merry by Walter Ben Hare holds 355 sentences, grouped into 71 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 1 of The White Christmas and other Merry contain?

Chapter 1 holds 355 sentences of The White Christmas and other Merry, unabridged, divided into 71 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The White Christmas and other Merry by Walter Ben Hare exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 355 sentences, grouped into 71 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 1 of The White Christmas and other Merry?

Work through the 71 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 71 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 White Christmas and other Merry

Common questions about reading The White Christmas and other Merry by Walter Ben Hare on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The White Christmas and other Merry?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The White Christmas and other Merry is used?

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

How long does The White Christmas and other Merry take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in The White Christmas and other Merry

Words and structures a reader meets early in The White Christmas and other Merry, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
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Chapter 2
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Chapter 3
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