Chapter 1 of Turns of Fortune, and Other Tales is here in full — 76 sentences across 16 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Turns of Fortune, and Other Tales is here in full — 76 sentences across 16 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames. "Hush! Is that Brindle's bark?" "No, father; it is one of the farm dogs near the village. Lie down, dearest father; it is a cold night, and you are trembling."
Chapter 1 of Turns of Fortune, and Other Tales is here in full — 76 sentences across 16 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/15 · 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.
tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants
From this reading “Is that Brindle's bark?"”
an electrical force linking atoms
From this reading “"Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.”
plural of “frame” — the framework for a pair of eyeglasses
From this reading “"Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.”
become quiet or still; fall silent
From this reading “"Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.”
French biochemist who (with Jacques Monod) studied regulatory processes in cells (born in 1920)
From this reading “"Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.”
(Old Testament) the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac
From this reading “"Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.”
a sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever
From this reading “"Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.”
past form of “whistle” — make whistling sounds
From this reading “"Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.”
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 Lie down, dearest father; it is a cold night, and you are trembling."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Lie down, dearest father; it is a cold night, and you are trembling."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants
From this reading Is that Brindle's bark?"
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
an electrical force linking atoms
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Is that Brindle's bark?"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading Lie down, dearest father; it is a cold night, and you are trembling."
a beloved person; used as terms of endearment
From this reading Lie down, dearest father; it is a cold night, and you are trembling."
plural of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading "No, father; it is one of the farm dogs near the village.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Lie down, dearest father; it is a cold night, and you are trembling."
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading "No, father; it is one of the farm dogs near the village.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading "No, father; it is one of the farm dogs near the village.
plural of “frame” — the framework for a pair of eyeglasses
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
become quiet or still; fall silent
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Is that Brindle's bark?"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "No, father; it is one of the farm dogs near the village.
French biochemist who (with Jacques Monod) studied regulatory processes in cells (born in 1920)
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading Lie down, dearest father; it is a cold night, and you are trembling."
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading "No, father; it is one of the farm dogs near the village.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Lie down, dearest father; it is a cold night, and you are trembling."
not any; not one
From this reading "No, father; it is one of the farm dogs near the village.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "No, father; it is one of the farm dogs near the village.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "No, father; it is one of the farm dogs near the village.
(Old Testament) the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
a sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Is that Brindle's bark?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
a shaky motion
From this reading Lie down, dearest father; it is a cold night, and you are trembling."
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading "No, father; it is one of the farm dogs near the village.
during the time that
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
past form of “whistle” — make whistling sounds
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading "Hush, Sarah!" exclaimed old Jacob Bond, as he sat up in his bed, while the wind clattered and whistled through the shivering window frames.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Lie down, dearest father; it is a cold night, and you are trembling."
Chapter 1 of Turns of Fortune, and Other Tales by S. C., Mrs. Hall holds 76 sentences, grouped into 16 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 1 holds 76 sentences of Turns of Fortune, and Other Tales, unabridged, divided into 16 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Turns of Fortune, and Other Tales by S. C., Mrs. Hall exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 76 sentences, grouped into 16 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 16 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 16 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 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.
Common questions about reading Turns of Fortune, and Other Tales by S. C., Mrs. Hall on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 1524 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #15961 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #15961, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 127 minutes of reading across 305 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Turns of Fortune, and Other Tales section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 19 chapters of Turns of Fortune, and Other Tales 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 Turns of Fortune, and Other Tales, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
