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Along the Mohawk Trail
Along the Mohawk Trail

Chapter XVI

Cover illustration for Along the Mohawk Trail
Context Illustration Reading 1/55 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE OWNER OF THE RETICULE The sleeping propensity of a top is nothing to the way Harry and Gordon slumbered.
You cannot sleep such sleep indoors.
You need the starry sky, the dark surrounding trees, the lullaby of cricket and locust, the low, musical rustle of leaves.
Then you can sleep, as Gordon put it, “till the cows come home.”
It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.
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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.

Along the Mohawk Trail

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/55 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE OWNER OF THE RETICULE The sleeping propensity of a top is nothing to the way Harry and Gordon slumbered.
Line 2
You cannot sleep such sleep indoors.
Line 3
You need the starry sky, the dark surrounding trees, the lullaby of cricket and locust, the low, musical rustle of leaves.
Line 4
Then you can sleep, as Gordon put it, “till the cows come home.”
Line 5
It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then you can sleep, as Gordon put it, “till the cows come home.””

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.”

Need noun US /need/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “You need the starry sky, the dark surrounding trees, the lullaby of cricket and locust, the low, musical rustle of leaves.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “THE OWNER OF THE RETICULE The sleeping propensity of a top is nothing to the way Harry and Gordon slumbered.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.”

Till preposition US /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “Then you can sleep, as Gordon put it, “till the cows come home.””

All words in this reading · 62

Every word is available to listen to. 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 OWNER OF THE RETICULE The sleeping propensity of a top is nothing to the way Harry and Gordon slumbered.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE OWNER OF THE RETICULE The sleeping propensity of a top is nothing to the way Harry and Gordon slumbered.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Then you can sleep, as Gordon put it, “till the cows come home.”

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.

awoke

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

From this reading It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.

boiling

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

From this reading It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.

boys

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

From this reading It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Then you can sleep, as Gordon put it, “till the cows come home.”

cannot

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

From this reading You cannot sleep such sleep indoors.

coffee

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

From this reading It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then you can sleep, as Gordon put it, “till the cows come home.”

cows

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

From this reading Then you can sleep, as Gordon put it, “till the cows come home.”

cricket

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

From this reading You need the starry sky, the dark surrounding trees, the lullaby of cricket and locust, the low, musical rustle of leaves.

custom

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

From this reading It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.

dark

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

From this reading You need the starry sky, the dark surrounding trees, the lullaby of cricket and locust, the low, musical rustle of leaves.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.

Gordon

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

From this reading THE OWNER OF THE RETICULE The sleeping propensity of a top is nothing to the way Harry and Gordon slumbered.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.

Harry

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

From this reading THE OWNER OF THE RETICULE The sleeping propensity of a top is nothing to the way Harry and Gordon slumbered.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.

home

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

From this reading Then you can sleep, as Gordon put it, “till the cows come home.”

hour

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

From this reading It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.

indoors

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

From this reading You cannot sleep such sleep indoors.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading THE OWNER OF THE RETICULE The sleeping propensity of a top is nothing to the way Harry and Gordon slumbered.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Then you can sleep, as Gordon put it, “till the cows come home.”

leaves

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

From this reading You need the starry sky, the dark surrounding trees, the lullaby of cricket and locust, the low, musical rustle of leaves.

locust

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

From this reading You need the starry sky, the dark surrounding trees, the lullaby of cricket and locust, the low, musical rustle of leaves.

low

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

From this reading You need the starry sky, the dark surrounding trees, the lullaby of cricket and locust, the low, musical rustle of leaves.

lullaby

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

From this reading You need the starry sky, the dark surrounding trees, the lullaby of cricket and locust, the low, musical rustle of leaves.

M

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

From this reading It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.

musical

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

From this reading You need the starry sky, the dark surrounding trees, the lullaby of cricket and locust, the low, musical rustle of leaves.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.

neednounUS /need/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading You need the starry sky, the dark surrounding trees, the lullaby of cricket and locust, the low, musical rustle of leaves.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading THE OWNER OF THE RETICULE The sleeping propensity of a top is nothing to the way Harry and Gordon slumbered.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE OWNER OF THE RETICULE The sleeping propensity of a top is nothing to the way Harry and Gordon slumbered.

OWNER

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

From this reading THE OWNER OF THE RETICULE The sleeping propensity of a top is nothing to the way Harry and Gordon slumbered.

propensity

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

From this reading THE OWNER OF THE RETICULE The sleeping propensity of a top is nothing to the way Harry and Gordon slumbered.

put

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

From this reading Then you can sleep, as Gordon put it, “till the cows come home.”

RETICULE

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

From this reading THE OWNER OF THE RETICULE The sleeping propensity of a top is nothing to the way Harry and Gordon slumbered.

rustle

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

From this reading You need the starry sky, the dark surrounding trees, the lullaby of cricket and locust, the low, musical rustle of leaves.

seven

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

From this reading It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.

sky

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

From this reading You need the starry sky, the dark surrounding trees, the lullaby of cricket and locust, the low, musical rustle of leaves.

sleep

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

From this reading You cannot sleep such sleep indoors.

sleeping

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

From this reading THE OWNER OF THE RETICULE The sleeping propensity of a top is nothing to the way Harry and Gordon slumbered.

slumbered

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

From this reading THE OWNER OF THE RETICULE The sleeping propensity of a top is nothing to the way Harry and Gordon slumbered.

soon

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

From this reading It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.

starry

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

From this reading You need the starry sky, the dark surrounding trees, the lullaby of cricket and locust, the low, musical rustle of leaves.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading You cannot sleep such sleep indoors.

surrounding

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

From this reading You need the starry sky, the dark surrounding trees, the lullaby of cricket and locust, the low, musical rustle of leaves.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE OWNER OF THE RETICULE The sleeping propensity of a top is nothing to the way Harry and Gordon slumbered.

Then

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

From this reading Then you can sleep, as Gordon put it, “till the cows come home.”

tillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Then you can sleep, as Gordon put it, “till the cows come home.”

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE OWNER OF THE RETICULE The sleeping propensity of a top is nothing to the way Harry and Gordon slumbered.

top

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

From this reading THE OWNER OF THE RETICULE The sleeping propensity of a top is nothing to the way Harry and Gordon slumbered.

trees

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

From this reading You need the starry sky, the dark surrounding trees, the lullaby of cricket and locust, the low, musical rustle of leaves.

vicinity

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

From this reading It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.

water

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

From this reading It must have been the custom for the cows in that vicinity to come home at seven A. M., for at that hour the boys awoke, and Harry soon had water boiling for the coffee.

way

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

From this reading THE OWNER OF THE RETICULE The sleeping propensity of a top is nothing to the way Harry and Gordon slumbered.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You cannot sleep such sleep indoors.