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Whitefoot the Wood Mouse
Whitefoot the Wood Mouse

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Whitefoot the Wood Mouse is here in full — 30 sentences across 6 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Whitefoot the Wood Mouse
Context Illustration Reading 1/6 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
'Tis sad indeed to trust a friend Then have that trust abruptly end.
--Whitefoot I know of nothing that is more sad than to feel that a friend is no longer to be trusted.
There came a time when Whitefoot the Wood Mouse almost had this feeling.
It was a very, very anxious time for Whitefoot.
You see, Whitefoot and Farmer Brown's boy had become the very best of friends there in the little sugar-house.
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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.

Whitefoot the Wood Mouse

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Whitefoot the Wood Mouse is here in full — 30 sentences across 6 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/6 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
'Tis sad indeed to trust a friend Then have that trust abruptly end.
/tɪz sæd ˌɪnˈdiːd tuː trʌst ə frend ðen hæv ðæt trʌst əˈbrʌptli end/
Line 2
--Whitefoot I know of nothing that is more sad than to feel that a friend is no longer to be trusted.
Line 3
There came a time when Whitefoot the Wood Mouse almost had this feeling.
Line 4
It was a very, very anxious time for Whitefoot.
Line 5
You see, Whitefoot and Farmer Brown's boy had become the very best of friends there in the little sugar-house.

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.

abruptly adverb US /əˈbrʌptli/

quickly and without warning

From this reading “'Tis sad indeed to trust a friend Then have that trust abruptly end.”

anxious adjective US /ˈæŋkʃəs/

eagerly desirous

From this reading “It was a very, very anxious time for Whitefoot.”

Brown's noun US /braʊnz/

possessive form of “brown” — an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading “You see, Whitefoot and Farmer Brown's boy had become the very best of friends there in the little sugar-house.”

Farmer noun US /ˈfɑːrmər/

a person who operates a farm

From this reading “You see, Whitefoot and Farmer Brown's boy had become the very best of friends there in the little sugar-house.”

Mouse noun US /maʊs/

any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails

From this reading “There came a time when Whitefoot the Wood Mouse almost had this feeling.”

sad adjective US /sæd/

experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness

From this reading “'Tis sad indeed to trust a friend Then have that trust abruptly end.”

Tis noun US /tɪz/

plural of “ti” — a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite

From this reading “'Tis sad indeed to trust a friend Then have that trust abruptly end.”

trusted adjective US /ˈtrʌstɪd/

(of persons) worthy of trust or confidence

From this reading “--Whitefoot I know of nothing that is more sad than to feel that a friend is no longer to be trusted.”

All words in this reading · 53

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 'Tis sad indeed to trust a friend Then have that trust abruptly end.

abruptlyadverbUS /əˈbrʌptli/

quickly and without warning

From this reading 'Tis sad indeed to trust a friend Then have that trust abruptly end.

almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading There came a time when Whitefoot the Wood Mouse almost had this feeling.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading You see, Whitefoot and Farmer Brown's boy had become the very best of friends there in the little sugar-house.

anxiousadjectiveUS /ˈæŋkʃəs/

eagerly desirous

From this reading It was a very, very anxious time for Whitefoot.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading --Whitefoot I know of nothing that is more sad than to feel that a friend is no longer to be trusted.

becomeverbUS /bɪˈkʌm/

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading You see, Whitefoot and Farmer Brown's boy had become the very best of friends there in the little sugar-house.

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading You see, Whitefoot and Farmer Brown's boy had become the very best of friends there in the little sugar-house.

boynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading You see, Whitefoot and Farmer Brown's boy had become the very best of friends there in the little sugar-house.

Brown'snounUS /braʊnz/

possessive form of “brown” — an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading You see, Whitefoot and Farmer Brown's boy had become the very best of friends there in the little sugar-house.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

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

From this reading There came a time when Whitefoot the Wood Mouse almost had this feeling.

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading 'Tis sad indeed to trust a friend Then have that trust abruptly end.

FarmernounUS /ˈfɑːrmər/

a person who operates a farm

From this reading You see, Whitefoot and Farmer Brown's boy had become the very best of friends there in the little sugar-house.

feelverbUS /fiːl/

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading --Whitefoot I know of nothing that is more sad than to feel that a friend is no longer to be trusted.

feelingnounUS /ˈfiːlɪŋ/

the experiencing of affective and emotional states

From this reading There came a time when Whitefoot the Wood Mouse almost had this feeling.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was a very, very anxious time for Whitefoot.

friendnounUS /frend/

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading 'Tis sad indeed to trust a friend Then have that trust abruptly end.

friendsnounUS /frendz/

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

From this reading You see, Whitefoot and Farmer Brown's boy had become the very best of friends there in the little sugar-house.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading There came a time when Whitefoot the Wood Mouse almost had this feeling.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading 'Tis sad indeed to trust a friend Then have that trust abruptly end.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading --Whitefoot I know of nothing that is more sad than to feel that a friend is no longer to be trusted.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading You see, Whitefoot and Farmer Brown's boy had become the very best of friends there in the little sugar-house.

indeedadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdiːd/

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading 'Tis sad indeed to trust a friend Then have that trust abruptly end.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading --Whitefoot I know of nothing that is more sad than to feel that a friend is no longer to be trusted.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a very, very anxious time for Whitefoot.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading --Whitefoot I know of nothing that is more sad than to feel that a friend is no longer to be trusted.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading You see, Whitefoot and Farmer Brown's boy had become the very best of friends there in the little sugar-house.

longeradverbUS /ˈlɔːŋɡər/

for more time

From this reading --Whitefoot I know of nothing that is more sad than to feel that a friend is no longer to be trusted.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading --Whitefoot I know of nothing that is more sad than to feel that a friend is no longer to be trusted.

MousenounUS /maʊs/

any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails

From this reading There came a time when Whitefoot the Wood Mouse almost had this feeling.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading --Whitefoot I know of nothing that is more sad than to feel that a friend is no longer to be trusted.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading --Whitefoot I know of nothing that is more sad than to feel that a friend is no longer to be trusted.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading --Whitefoot I know of nothing that is more sad than to feel that a friend is no longer to be trusted.

sadadjectiveUS /sæd/

experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness

From this reading 'Tis sad indeed to trust a friend Then have that trust abruptly end.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading You see, Whitefoot and Farmer Brown's boy had become the very best of friends there in the little sugar-house.

sugar-house

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

From this reading You see, Whitefoot and Farmer Brown's boy had become the very best of friends there in the little sugar-house.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading --Whitefoot I know of nothing that is more sad than to feel that a friend is no longer to be trusted.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading 'Tis sad indeed to trust a friend Then have that trust abruptly end.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading There came a time when Whitefoot the Wood Mouse almost had this feeling.

ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading 'Tis sad indeed to trust a friend Then have that trust abruptly end.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There came a time when Whitefoot the Wood Mouse almost had this feeling.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading There came a time when Whitefoot the Wood Mouse almost had this feeling.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading There came a time when Whitefoot the Wood Mouse almost had this feeling.

TisnounUS /tɪz/

plural of “ti” — a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite

From this reading 'Tis sad indeed to trust a friend Then have that trust abruptly end.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading 'Tis sad indeed to trust a friend Then have that trust abruptly end.

trustnounUS /trʌst/

something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)

From this reading 'Tis sad indeed to trust a friend Then have that trust abruptly end.

trustedadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌstɪd/

(of persons) worthy of trust or confidence

From this reading --Whitefoot I know of nothing that is more sad than to feel that a friend is no longer to be trusted.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading It was a very, very anxious time for Whitefoot.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was a very, very anxious time for Whitefoot.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading There came a time when Whitefoot the Wood Mouse almost had this feeling.

Whitefoot

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

From this reading --Whitefoot I know of nothing that is more sad than to feel that a friend is no longer to be trusted.

WoodnounUS /wʊd/

the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees

From this reading There came a time when Whitefoot the Wood Mouse almost had this feeling.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You see, Whitefoot and Farmer Brown's boy had become the very best of friends there in the little sugar-house.

Chapter 4 of Whitefoot the Wood Mouse by Thornton W. (Thornton Waldo) Burgess holds 30 sentences, grouped into 6 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 4 of Whitefoot the Wood Mouse contain?

Chapter 4 holds 30 sentences of Whitefoot the Wood Mouse, unabridged, divided into 6 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of Whitefoot the Wood Mouse by Thornton W. (Thornton Waldo) Burgess exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 30 sentences, grouped into 6 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 4 of Whitefoot the Wood Mouse?

Work through the 6 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 6 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 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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 Whitefoot the Wood Mouse

Common questions about reading Whitefoot the Wood Mouse by Thornton W. (Thornton Waldo) Burgess on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Whitefoot the Wood Mouse?

Yes. All 1434 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4698 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Whitefoot the Wood Mouse is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #4698, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Whitefoot the Wood Mouse take to read?

About 119 minutes of reading across 287 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Whitefoot the Wood Mouse section by section

How to work through Whitefoot the Wood Mouse section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 32 chapters of Whitefoot the Wood Mouse 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 Whitefoot the Wood Mouse

Words and structures a reader meets early in Whitefoot the Wood Mouse, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Short
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Whitefoot the Wood Mouse; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Whitefoot
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Whitefoot the Wood Mouse; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Mouse
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Whitefoot the Wood Mouse; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Never
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Whitefoot the Wood Mouse; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.