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Under the Lilacs
Under the Lilacs

Chapter VI · Chapter 6

Chapter 6 of Under the Lilacs is here in full — 107 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Under the Lilacs
Context Illustration Reading 1/21 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.
Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.
At "The First Settlements" he had to stop, for the schoolhouse was reached, and the book must be returned.
The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.
When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Under the Lilacs

Chapter VI · Chapter 6

Chapter 6 of Under the Lilacs is here in full — 107 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.
Line 2
Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.
Line 3
At "The First Settlements" he had to stop, for the schoolhouse was reached, and the book must be returned.
/æt ðə fɜːrst ˈsetəlmənts hiː hæd tuː stɑːp fɔːr ðə ˈskuːlhaʊs wɑːz riːtʃt ənd ðə bʊk mʌst biː rɪˈtɜːrnd/
Line 4
The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.
Line 5
When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.
/wen rɪˈses keɪm ɡreɪt wɑːz ðə rɪˈdʒɔɪsɪŋ ʌv ðə ˈtʃɪldrən ˈoʊvər ðer ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪd triːt fɔːr ˈmɪsɪz mɔːs hæd fjuː ˈpeniz tuː sper fɔːr swiːts ənd ˈsʌmhaʊ ðɪs ˈkændi ˈteɪstɪd ˌpɑːrˈtɪkjələrli naɪs bɑːt aʊt ʌv ˈɡreɪtfəl benz ˈsɑːləteri daɪm/

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.

Ben's noun US /benz/

possessive form of “ben” — a mountain or tall hill

From this reading “When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.”

candy noun US /ˈkændi/

a rich sweet made of flavored sugar and often combined with fruit or nuts

From this reading “The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.”

dime noun US /daɪm/

a United States coin worth one tenth of a dollar

From this reading “When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.”

Elementary adjective US /ˌeləˈmentri/

easy and not involved or complicated

From this reading “NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.”

pennies noun US /ˈpeniz/

plural of “penny” — a fractional monetary unit of Ireland and the United Kingdom; equal to one hundredth of a pound

From this reading “When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.”

schoolhouse noun US /ˈskuːlhaʊs/

a building where young people receive education

From this reading “At "The First Settlements" he had to stop, for the schoolhouse was reached, and the book must be returned.”

Settlements noun US /ˈsetəlmənts/

plural of “settlement” — a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government

From this reading “At "The First Settlements" he had to stop, for the schoolhouse was reached, and the book must be returned.”

sweets noun US /swiːts/

plural of “sweet” — English phonetician; one of the founders of modern phonetics (1845-1912)

From this reading “When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.”

All words in this reading · 124

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 The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.

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 Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

ampleadjectiveUS /ˈæmpəl/

more than enough in size or scope or capacity

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

Bab

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

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

BennounUS /ben/

a mountain or tall hill

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

Ben'snounUS /benz/

possessive form of “ben” — a mountain or tall hill

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

bitsnounUS /bɪts/

plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

booknounUS /bʊk/

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading At "The First Settlements" he had to stop, for the schoolhouse was reached, and the book must be returned.

booksnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.

boughtverbUS /bɑːt/

inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

breakfastverbUS /ˈbrekfəst/

eat an early morning meal

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

busilyadverbUS /ˈbɪzəli/

in a busy manner

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

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

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

candynounUS /ˈkændi/

a rich sweet made of flavored sugar and often combined with fruit or nuts

From this reading The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.

childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

closetnounUS /ˈklɑːzət/

a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space

From this reading The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.

cowsnounUS /kaʊz/

domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

dimenounUS /daɪm/

a United States coin worth one tenth of a dollar

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

easilyadverbUS /ˈiːzəli/

with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)

From this reading The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.

ElementaryadjectiveUS /ˌeləˈmentri/

easy and not involved or complicated

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/

having come or been brought to a conclusion

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

errandnounUS /ˈerənd/

a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

EvenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

explainedverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪnd/

past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading At "The First Settlements" he had to stop, for the schoolhouse was reached, and the book must be returned.

flatadjectiveUS /flæt/

having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another

From this reading The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.

FRIENDSnounUS /frendz/

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.

grassverbUS /ɡræs/

shoot down, of birds

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

gratefuladjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪtfəl/

feeling or showing gratitude

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

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

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

hiddenadjectiveUS /ˈhɪdən/

not accessible to view

From this reading The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

HistorynounUS /ˈhɪstəri/

the aggregate of past events

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

leavingnounUS /ˈliːvɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

lessonnounUS /ˈlesən/

a unit of instruction

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

librarynounUS /ˈlaɪbreriː/

a room where books are kept

From this reading The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.

maple-tree

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

From this reading The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.

MossnounUS /mɔːs/

tiny leafy-stemmed flowerless plants

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading At "The First Settlements" he had to stop, for the schoolhouse was reached, and the book must be returned.

NEWadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

NextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

niceadjectiveUS /naɪs/

pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

nightnounUS /naɪt/

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

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

paidadjectiveUS /peɪd/

marked by the reception of pay

From this reading The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.

particularlyadverbUS /ˌpɑːrˈtɪkjələrli/

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

pasturenounUS /ˈpæstʃər/

a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

penniesnounUS /ˈpeniz/

plural of “penny” — a fractional monetary unit of Ireland and the United Kingdom; equal to one hundredth of a pound

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

pleasantadjectiveUS /ˈplezənt/

affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

pocketnounUS /ˈpɑːkət/

a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

privilegenounUS /ˈprɪvlədʒ/

a special advantage or immunity or benefit not enjoyed by all

From this reading The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

Quackenbos's

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

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

ranverbUS /ræn/

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

reachedverbUS /riːtʃt/

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading At "The First Settlements" he had to stop, for the schoolhouse was reached, and the book must be returned.

readverbUS /red/

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

recessverbUS /rɪˈses/

put into a recess

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

rednounUS /red/

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.

rejoicingnounUS /rɪˈdʒɔɪsɪŋ/

a feeling of great happiness

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

returnedverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrnd/

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading At "The First Settlements" he had to stop, for the schoolhouse was reached, and the book must be returned.

schoolhousenounUS /ˈskuːlhaʊs/

a building where young people receive education

From this reading At "The First Settlements" he had to stop, for the schoolhouse was reached, and the book must be returned.

SettlementsnounUS /ˈsetəlmənts/

plural of “settlement” — a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government

From this reading At "The First Settlements" he had to stop, for the schoolhouse was reached, and the book must be returned.

solitaryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləteri/

characterized by or preferring solitude

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

somehowadverbUS /ˈsʌmhaʊ/

in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

spareverbUS /sper/

refrain from harming

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

Squire's

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

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

StatesnounUS /steɪts/

plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

sticksnounUS /stɪks/

plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood

From this reading The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.

stonenounUS /stoʊn/

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.

stopverbUS /stɑːp/

come to a halt, stop moving

From this reading At "The First Settlements" he had to stop, for the schoolhouse was reached, and the book must be returned.

surprisenounUS /sərˈpraɪz/

the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.

sweetsnounUS /swiːts/

plural of “sweet” — English phonetician; one of the founders of modern phonetics (1845-1912)

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

takingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.

tastedverbUS /ˈteɪstɪd/

past form of “taste” — have flavor; taste of something

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

townnounUS /taʊn/

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

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

treatverbUS /triːt/

interact in a certain way

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

TROTverbUS /trɑːt/

run at a moderately swift pace

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

tumblingnounUS /ˈtʌmbəlɪŋ/

the gymnastic moves of an acrobat

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

twonounUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.

understandverbUS /ˌʌndərˈstænd/

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

unexpectedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪd/

not expected or anticipated

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

UnitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/

characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

way-side

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

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of grateful Ben's solitary dime.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading The maple-tree closet was easily found, and a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege of taking books from the new library.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/

the words that are spoken

From this reading Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the United States" in his pocket, and the Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture.

Chapter 6 of Under the Lilacs by Louisa May Alcott holds 107 sentences, grouped into 22 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 6 of Under the Lilacs contain?

Chapter 6 holds 107 sentences of Under the Lilacs, unabridged, divided into 22 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 6 of Under the Lilacs by Louisa May Alcott exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 107 sentences, grouped into 22 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 6 of Under the Lilacs?

Work through the 22 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 22 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 6 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 6 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 Under the Lilacs

Common questions about reading Under the Lilacs by Louisa May Alcott on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Under the Lilacs?

Yes. All 3158 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #3795 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Under the Lilacs is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #3795, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Under the Lilacs take to read?

About 263 minutes of reading across 632 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Under the Lilacs section by section

How to work through Under the Lilacs section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 23 chapters of Under the Lilacs to begin.

  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 Under the Lilacs

Words and structures a reader meets early in Under the Lilacs, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Neither
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Under the Lilacs; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Spoke
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Under the Lilacs; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Minute
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Under the Lilacs; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Astonishment
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Under the Lilacs; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.