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 A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
barefooted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.
boys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
clean-washed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
climbers
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From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
corn-fields
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
cross
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
cultivators
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.
day's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
drenched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.
electricity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
evidence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.
fields
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.
filled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.
fit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
girls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
horse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
July
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.
lashing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.
legs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
limbs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.
lithe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.
mud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.
plentifully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.
pole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
post
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
repairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
rich
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.
roadside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
rolled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
runningnounUS /ˈrunning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.
school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
seepage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.
sensible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
SHOOTER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.
soil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
squeezing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
storm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.
swales
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.
telephone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
thrilling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
tied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.
tillage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
toes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
tramped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
TROUBLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.
trousers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
whippednounUS /ˈwhipped/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
wires
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
wished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.