Listening Diary, The Bird's Christmas Carol Chapter 2 (Level 7) Week 15

          Date and the time I began           : Wednesday 2 June 2021 14.00 am

     Date and the time I finished        : Wednesday 2 June  2021 14.45 am

     Title  :The Bird's Christmas Carol 

CHAPTER 2: DROOPING WINGS

    Level      : Flesch–Kincaid Level: 7.0

 3.   Summary                             :

It was December, ten years later. Carol had seen nine Christmas trees lighted on her birthdays, one after another; nine times she had assisted in the holiday festivities of the household, though in her babyhood her share of the gayeties was somewhat limited.

For five years, certainly, she had hidden presents for Mama and Papa in their own bureau drawers, and harbored a number of secrets sufficiently large to burst a baby's brain, had it not been for the relief gained by whispering them all to Mama, at night, when she was in her crib, a proceeding which did not in the least lessen the value of a secret in her innocent mind.

For five years she had heard "'Twas the night before Christmas," and hung up a scarlet stocking many sizes too large for her, and pinned a sprig of holly on her little white night gown, to show Santa Claus that she was a "truly" Christmas child, and dreamed of fur-coated saints and toy-packs and reindeer, and wished everybody a "Merry Christmas" before it was light in the morning, and lent every one of her new toys to the neighbors' children before noon, and eaten turkey and plum pudding, and gone to bed at night in a trance of happiness at the day's pleasures.

Donald was away at college now. Paul and Hugh were great manly fellows, taller than their mother. Papa Bird had grey hairs in his whiskers; and Grandma, God bless her, had been four Christmases in heaven. But Christmas in the Birds' Nest was scarcely as merry now as it used to be in the bygone years, for the little child that once brought such an added blessing to the day, lay, month after month, a patient, helpless invalid, in the room where she was born.

She had never been very strong in body, and it was with a pang of terror her mother and father noticed, soon after she was five years old, that she began to limp, ever so slightly; to complain too often of weariness, and to nestle close to her mother, saying she "would rather not go out to play, please." The illness was slight at first, and hope was always stirring in Mrs. Bird's heart. "Carol would feel stronger in the summer-time;" or, "She would be better when she had spent a year in the country;" or, "She would outgrow it;" or, "They would try a new physician;" but by and by it came to be all too sure that no physician save One could make Carol strong again, and that no "summer-time" nor "country air," unless it were the everlasting summer-time in a heavenly country, could bring back the little girl to health.

The cheeks and lips that were once as red as holly-berries faded to faint pink; the star-like eyes grew softer, for they often gleamed through tears; and the gay child-laugh, that had been like a chime of Christmas bells, gave place to a smile so lovely, so touching, so tender and patient, that it filled every corner of the house with a gentle radiance that might have come from the face of the Christ-child himself.

 What difficulties that I face while listening to the recording ?

I have a little bit problem with these videos. The words they used sometimes do not understand, but is okay.

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Listening Diary, The Bird's Christmas Carol Chapter 1 (Level 7) Week 14

         Date and the time I began           : Wednesday 26 May 2021 14.00 am

     Date and the time I finished        : Wednesday 26 May 2021 14.45 am

     Title  :The Bird's Christmas Carol 

CHAPTER 1: A LITTLE SNOW BIRD

    Level      : Flesch–Kincaid Level: 7.0

hhttps://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/124/the-birds-christmas-carol/2124/chapter-1-a-little-snow-bird/

 3.   Summary                             :

It was very early Christmas morning, and in the stillness of the dawn, with the soft snow falling on the housetops, a little child was born in the Bird household.

They had intended to name the baby Lucy, if it were a girl; but they hadn't expected her on Christmas morning, and a real Christmas baby was not to be lightly named—the whole family agreed in that.

They were consulting about it in the nursery. Mr. Bird said that he had assisted in naming the three boys, and that he should leave this matter entirely to Mrs. Bird; Donald wanted the child called "Maud," after a pretty little curly-haired girl who sat next him in school; Paul chose "Luella," for Luella was the nurse who had been with him during his whole babyhood, up to the time of his first trousers, and the name suggested all sorts of comfortable things. Uncle Jack said that the first girl should always be named for her mother, no matter how hideous the name happened to be.

Grandma said that she would prefer not to take any part in the discussion, and everybody suddenly remembered that Mrs. Bird had thought of naming the baby Lucy, for Grandma herself; and, while it would be indelicate for her to favor that name, it would be against human nature for her to suggest any other, under the circumstances.

Hugh, the "hitherto baby," if that is a possible term, sat in one corner and said nothing, but felt, in some mysterious way, that his nose was out of joint; for there was a newer baby now, a possibility he had never taken into consideration; and the "first girl," too, a still higher development of treason, which made him actually green with jealousy.

But it was too profound a subject to be settled then and there, on the spot; besides, Mama had not been asked, and everybody felt it rather absurd, after all, to forestall a decree that was certain to be absolutely wise, just and perfect.

The reason that the subject had been brought up at all so early in the day lay in the fact that Mrs. Bird never allowed her babies to go over night unnamed. She was a person of so great decision of character that she would have blushed at such a thing; she said that to let blessed babies go dangling and dawdling about without names, for months and months, was enough to ruin them for life. She also said that if one could not make up one's mind in twenty-four hours it was a sign that—but I will not repeat the rest, as it might prejudice you against the most charming woman in the world.

So Donald took his new velocipede and went out to ride up and down the stone pavement and notch the shins of innocent people as they passed by, while Paul spun his musical top on the front steps.

 What difficulties that I face while listening to the recording ?

I have a little bit problem with these videos. The words they used sometimes do not understand, but is okay.

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Listening Diary, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Chapter 2 (Level 6) Week 13

        Date and the time I began           : Sunday 16 May 2021 14.00 am

     Date and the time I finished        : Sunday 16 May 2021 14.45 am

     Title  :The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

ADVENTURE 2: “THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE”

    Level      : Flesch–Kincaid Level: 6.0

https://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/32/the-adventures-of-sherlock-holmes/346/adventure-2-the-red-headed-league/

 3.   Summary                             :

When Dr. Watson visits the apartment of his friend Sherlock Holmes, he finds the world’s first consulting detective in conference with a client with bright red hair, Mr. Jabez Wilson. Holmes invites Watson to remain and to hear the client’s unusual story. Wilson, a man of about sixty, is a not very successful small businessperson; the most noteworthy thing about him is the flaming color of his hair. After introductions all around, Wilson explains how upset he has been by a recent incident, so upset that he has come to Holmes for his help.

Wilson says that he is a man of very settled habits, a bachelor who almost never deviates from the daily routine of running his pawnshop. At least, he never deviated until he heard of the Red-Headed League. One day in his shop, his assistant, Vincent Spaulding, called his attention to an advertisement in the newspaper that announced an opening in the Red-Headed League. The announcement promised a salary of four pounds a week (about twenty dollars at the time of the story) for “purely nominal services” to the candidate who was accepted. The amount was a considerable sum at the time, especially if the duties were slight, and Spaulding urged Wilson to apply. The timid pawnbroker did so, but only after Spaulding practically took him to the office mentioned in the ad.

There Wilson heard the story of an eccentric American millionaire who had left a fortune to provide an income for Londoners with red hair as bright as the millionaire’s had been. Wilson was accepted into the League. He learned that the nominal duties consisted only of his coming to the office from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. each day and copying out the Encyclopaedia Britannica in longhand. Since most of Wilson’s business was done in the evening, he was delighted at the chance to supplement his income. This he did for eight weeks, getting well into the “A” volume, until one day he arrived at the office to find it closed, with a notice on the door that the Red-Headed League had been dissolved. He was so disturbed by the thought that someone had been playing a practical joke on him that he came to Holmes for a solution.

 What difficulties that I face while listening to the recording ?

I have a little bit problem with these videos. The words they used sometimes do not understand, but is okay.

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Listening Diary, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Chapter 1 (Level 6) Week 12

       Date and the time I began           : Sunday 16 May 2021 11.00 am

     Date and the time I finished        : Sunday 16 May 2021 11.45 am

     Title  :The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

ADVENTURE 1: “A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA”

    Level      : Flesch–Kincaid Level: 6.0

 3.   Summary                             :

Soon after his first marriage, Dr. John Watson leaves the Baker Street flat that he has shared with Sherlock Holmes and returns to private medical practice. In the course of his calls, he passes through Baker Street one day, sees Holmes pacing before the window, and on an impulse walks up to visit his friend. Holmes tells him that a client is expected that evening, one whose case may be interesting to Watson in his capacity as Holmes’s chronicler. The client arrives, a huge man, richly and garishly dressed and wearing a mask. Holmes quickly penetrates the disguise, however, and identifies the man as King Wilhelm of Bohemia. The surprised king unmasks and tells Holmes why he has come.

It seems that some years earlier, the king fell in love with a young soprano named Irene Adler. The woman is not only beautiful but also possessive. The king’s engagement to another woman, a princess, will soon be announced, and Irene Adler has sworn to stop the wedding. She threatens to publish a compromising photograph of her and the king, thereby creating a scandal that will lead the bride’s family to call off the wedding. She refuses to sell the photograph to the king; twice, burglars have failed to find it in her house; her luggage has been searched without success; and on two occasions robbers have stopped her, but without finding the picture. The king lays the matter in Holmes’s hands, begging for his help.

The next morning, Holmes disguises himself as a seedy-looking horse groom and goes to the neighborhood around Miss Adler’s house to see what gossip he can pick up. There he not only learns that Miss Adler has an admirer, Godfrey Norton, but also becomes involved in an incident that amuses as well as enlightens him. He sees both Norton and Miss Adler set off in separate carriages for a nearby church. When he follows them there, the disguised Holmes is commandeered as a witness for their wedding. Now that Irene Adler is married, Holmes expects her to leave London at any moment. He must therefore act, and do it swiftly.

On the following day, Holmes again disguises himself, this time as a clergyman, and requests Watson’s help for his scheme. They go to Adler’s house separately. Once there, Watson sees Miss Adler arrive, and she is immediately beset by a crowd of loafers. Holmes, in disguise, comes to her aid, is attacked and apparently wounded by the crowd, and falls to the ground. He is carried into Adler’s house and laid on a couch near a window where Watson can see him. On Holmes’s signal, Watson throws a smoke bomb through the window, and the people on the street outside begin to cry “Fire!” After the tumult that...

 What difficulties that I face while listening to the recording ?

I have a little bit problem with these videos. The words they used sometimes do not understand, but is okay.

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Listening Diary, The Adventures of Jerry Muskrat Chapter 3 (Level 5) Week 11

      Date and the time I began           : Sunday 16 May 2021 11.00 am

     Date and the time I finished        : Sunday 16 May 2021 11.45 am

     Title  :The Adventures of Jerry Muskrat

CHAPTER 3: “THE ORACLE OF THE SMILING POOL”

    Level      : Flesch–Kincaid Level: 5.5

 3.   Summary                             :

Grandfather Frog sat on his big green lily pad with his eyes half closed, for all the world as if he knew nothing about the meeting at the Big Rock. Of course he did know, for there isn’t much going on around the Smiling Pool which he doesn’t see or at least hear all about. The Merry Little Breezes, who are here, there, and everywhere, told him all that was going on, so that when he saw Jerry Muskrat and Little Joe Otter swimming towards him, he knew what they were coming for.

Jerry told Grandpa Frog to come to the Big Rock meeting, but Grandpa didn't believe it because Surah Jerry often lied to trick grandpa, But this time it's true, Jerry is telling the truth. Then after persuading for a while, the frog grandfather finally agreed.

So Grandfather Frog climbed on Jerry Muskrat’s back, and Jerry started for the Big Rock as fast as he could go. When all the Minks and the Otters and the Coons and the Muskrats saw them coming, they gave a great shout, for Grandfather Frog is sometimes called the oracle of the Smiling Pool. You know an oracle is one who is very wise.

Bobby Coon helped Grandfather Frog up on the Big Rock, and when he had made himself comfortable, Mrs. Muskrat told him all about Farmer Brown’s boy and his traps, and how Jerry had been caught in one by the tail, and she ended by asking for his advice, because they all knew that he was so wise.

What I learned?

Do not often deceive other people, if one day you tell the truth other people will not believe it

 What difficulties that I face while listening to the recording ?

I have a little bit problem with these videos. The words they used sometimes do not understand, but is okay.

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Listening Diary, The Adventures of Jerry Muskrat Chapter 2 (Level 5) Week 10

     Date and the time I began           : Friday 23 April 2021 11.00 am

     Date and the time I finished        : Friday 23 April 2021 11.45 am

     Title  :The Adventures of Jerry Muskrat by Thornton W. Burgess 

CHAPTER 2: “THE CONVENTION AT THE BIG ROCK”

    Level      : Flesch–Kincaid Level: 5.5

 3.   Summary                             :

Jolly round, red Mr. Sun looked down on the Smiling Pool. He almost forgot to keep on climbing up in the blue sky, he was so interested in what he saw there. What do you think it was? Why, it was a convention at the Big Rock, the queerest convention he ever had seen. Your papa would say that it was a mass-meeting of angry citizens. Maybe it was, but that is a pretty long term. Anyway, Mother Muskrat said it was a convention, and she ought to know, for she is the one who had called it.

Of course Jerry Muskrat was there, and his uncles and aunts and all his cousins. Billy Mink was there, and all his relations, even old Grandfather Mink, who has lost most of his teeth and is a little hard of hearing.

Little Joe Otter was there, with his father and mother and all his relations even to his third cousins. Bobby Coon was there, and he had brought with him every Coon of his acquaintance who ever fished in the Smiling Pool or along the Laughing Brook. And everybody was looking very solemn, very solemn indeed.

When the last one had arrived, Mother Muskrat climbed up on the Big Rock and called Jerry Muskrat up beside her, where all could see him. Then she made a speech. “Friends of the Smiling Pool and Laughing Brook,” began Mrs. Muskrat, “I have called you together to show you what has happened to my son Jerry and to ask your advice.” She stopped and pointed to Jerry’s sore tail. “What do you think did that?” she demanded.

“Probably Jerry’s been in a fight and got whipped,” said Bobby Coon to his neighbor, for Bobby Coon is a graceless young scamp and does not always show proper respect to his neighbors.

Mrs. Muskrat glared at him, for she had overheard the remark. Then she held up one hand to command silence. “Friends, it was a trap—a trap set by Farmer Brown’s boy! a trap to catch you and me and our children!” said she solemnly. “It is no longer safe for our little folks to play around the Smiling Pool or along the Laughing Brook. What are we going to do about it?”

Everybody looked at everybody else in dismay. Then everybody began to talk at once, and if Farmer Brown’s boy could have heard all the things said about him, his cheeks certainly would have burned. Indeed, I am afraid that they would have blistered. Such excitement! Everybody had a different idea, and nobody would listen to anybody else. Old Mr. Mink lost his temper and called Grandpa Otter a meddlesome know-nothing. It looked very much as if the convention was going to break up in a sad quarrel. Then Mr. Coon climbed up on the Big Rock and with a stick pounded for silence.

“I move,” said he, “that in as much as we cannot agree, we tell Great-Grandfather Frog all about the danger and ask his advice, for he is very old and very wise and remembers when the world was young. All in favor please raise their right hands.”

At once the air was full of hands, and everybody was good-natured once more. So it was agreed to call in Great-Grandfather Frog.

What I learned?

Even in the peaceful, sun-splashed world of the Green Forest, the Laughing Brook, and the Smiling Pool, trouble sometimes makes an appearance and disturbs the lives of the animals living there.

 What difficulties that I face while listening to the recording ?

I have a little bit problem with these videos. The words they used sometimes do not understand, but is okay.

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Listening Diary, The Adventures of Jerry Muskrat Chapter 1 (Level 5) Week 9

    Date and the time I began           : Friday 23 April 2021 10.00 am

     Date and the time I finished        : Friday 23 April 2021 10.45 am

     Title  :The Adventures of Jerry Muskrat by Thornton W. Burgess

CHAPTER 1: “JERRY MUSKRAT HAS A FRIGHT”

    Level      : Flesch–Kincaid Level: 5.5

 3.   Summary                             :

What was it Mother Muskrat had said about Farmer Brown’s boy and his traps?  Jerry Muskrat sat on the edge of the Big Rock and kicked his heels while he tried to remember.  The fact is, Jerry had not half heeded.  He had been thinking of other things.  Besides, it seemed to him that Mother Muskrat was altogether foolish about a great many things.

“Pooh!” said Jerry, throwing out his chest, “I guess I can take care of myself without being tied to my mother’s apron strings!  What if Farmer Brown’s boy is setting traps around the Smiling Pool?  I guess he can’t fool your Uncle Jerry.  He isn’t so smart as he thinks he is; I can fool him any day.”  Jerry chuckled.  He was thinking of how he had once fooled Farmer Brown’s boy into thinking a big trout was on his hook.

Slowly Jerry slid into the Smiling Pool and swam over towards his favorite log.  Peter Rabbit stuck his head over the edge of the bank.  “Hi, Jerry,” he shouted, “last night I saw Farmer Brown’s boy coming over this way with a lot of traps.  Better watch out!”

“Go chase yourself, Peter Rabbit.  I guess I can look out for myself,” replied Jerry, just a little crossly.

Peter made a wry face and started for the sweet clover patch.  Hardly was he out of sight when Billy Mink and Bobby Coon came down the Laughing Brook together.  They seemed very much excited.  When they saw Jerry Muskrat, they beckoned for him to come over where they were, and when he got there, they both talked at once, and it was all about Farmer Brown’s boy and his traps.

“You’d better watch out, Jerry,” warned Billy Mink, who is a great traveler and has had wide experience.

“Oh, I guess I’m able to take care of myself,” said Jerry airily, and once more started for his favorite log.  And what do you suppose he was thinking about as he swam along?  He was wishing that he knew what a trap looked like, for despite his boasting he didn’t even know what he was to look out for.  As he drew near his favorite log, something tickled his nose.  He stopped swimming to sniff and sniff.  My, how good it did smell!  And it seemed to come right straight from the old log.  Jerry began to swim as fast as he could.  In a few minutes he scrambled out on the old log.  Then Jerry rubbed his eyes three times to be sure that he saw aright.  There were luscious pieces of carrot lying right in front of him.

What I learned?

Even in the peaceful, sun-splashed world of the Green Forest, the Laughing Brook, and the Smiling Pool, trouble sometimes makes an appearance and disturbs the lives of the animals living there.

 What difficulties that I face while listening to the recording ?

I have a little bit problem with these videos. The words they used sometimes do not understand, but is okay.

Read More