A BASIC PHONETIC READER
PART II b.

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CONTENTS

PART II a.
TOM THUMB	34
CRUSOE GIVES HELP TO FRIDAY	40
JERRY's NEW YEAR	50
FLORIZEL AND PERDITA	58
PART II b.
GULLIVER PUTS AN END TO A WAR	66
THE WHISTLE	74
THE STRANGE BEHAVIOUR OF MR. LEGRAND	80
KEAWE's BOTTLE	88
HOICHI THE BIWA-PLAYER	98
BUILDING THE ARK	106
PART III
THE DISCOVERY OF THE EGYPT'S GOLD	116
THE HOTEL	124
THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS AND WAR	132
THE KELLOGG AGREEMENT	138
THE SUN's SYSTEM	144
PART III b.
TRADE UNDER HENRY VII	150
WEIGHT AND MASS	156
THE STORY OF JUDAS	166
MONEY and PURCHASING POWER	176
HARRY POTTER and The Half-Blood Prince

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GULLIVER PUTS AN END TO A WAR ¹

    The short book Gulliver in Lilliput is on our website as translated by the Institute. A Basic Phonetic Reader version is from the longer book and is slightly different, which shows that Basic English is not limited in its range of expression.

    Lilliput is part of a greater stretch of land, but the empire of Blefuscu is an island to the north-east of it, from which it is parted only by a water way 800 yards wide. Up to the present I had not seen it, and on hearing that they were going to make an attack on us I kept away from that side of the land-edge, for fear of being seen by some of their ships, which had had no news of my coming. Persons living in the two countries had been ordered to have nothing to do with one another, death being the punishment for those who went against the order ; and our King had given an order completely stopping all vessels being taken in or out. I gave the King an account of a design I had for getting into our hands all of Blefuscu's ships, which , so the men we sent over to have a look round said, were at rest in their harbour, ready to make a start with the first good wind. I put questions to the most experienced seamen about how deep the waterway separating the two countries was. Having frequently taken the measure of it, they said that in the middle at high water it was 70 glumgluffs deep, which is about 6 feet in European measuring, and the rest of it 50 glumgluffs at most. I went in that direction of the north-east land-edge, opposite Blefuscu. There I got down on the sand at the back of a little slope, and took out my small view-glass, turning it on the ships at rest, of which about fifty were warships, and a great number transport ships. I went back to my house and gave orders (which I had authority to do) for a great amount of very strong cord and iron sticks to be got. The cord was about as thick as strong thread, and the iron rods about the size of a wool-work needle. I got three cords twisted together to make it stronger, and did the same with the iron sticks, getting the ends bent into a hook. When I had got 50 hooks fixed to the same number of cords, I went back to the north-east land-edge, and taking off my coat, shoes, and stockings, went into the sea in my leather under-coat, about half an hour before high water. I went through the water as quickly as I was able, swimming in the middle for about 30 yards till my feet were touching sand. I got to the ships in less than half an hour. The sailors were in such fear when they saw me, that they went jumping out of their ships and swimming to land, where there were at least 30,000 persons. I then took my apparatus, and putting a hook into the hole at the front of every ship, I got all the cords knotted at the ends. While I was doing this, those on land sent off thousands of pointed sticks, a number of which went into my hands and face. In addition to the great pain, they got in the way of my work. My greatest fear was for my eyes, the loss of which would have been certain, if I had not suddenly got an idea. I had kept with me, among he small necessary things, some eyeglasses in a private pocket, which, as I have said before, had not been seen by the King. I took them out and got them as tightly as possible on my nose, and armed like this, went on with my work without fear. Though a number of pointed sticks came against the glass, the only effect they had was to put them a little out of position. I had now got all the hooks in place, and taking the knot in my hand, gave a pull. But without effect, because all the ships were so strongly fixed by their anchors² that the hardest part of my undertaking had still to be faced. I let the cord go, and with the hooks still fixed to the ships, I got the anchor-cords cut, while about two hundred pointed sticks were sent into my face and hands. Then I took up the knotted end of the cords to which my hooks we fixed, and with no trouble, took fifty of the greatest warships after me.
    The Blefuscudians, who had not the least idea what I was going to do, were at first overcome with surprise. They had seen me get the cords cut, and had the idea that my design was only to let the ships go free or come violently against one another. But when they saw all the ships moving in order, and me pulling at the end, they gave a sharp cry of such bitter pain as is almost impossible to give an idea of. When I got out of danger I made a stop to take out the pointed sticks which were in my hands and face, and to put on some of the same oil which was given to me when I first came (as I have said before). I then took off my glasses and after waiting about an hour till the water had gone down a little, I went through the middle with my ships, and got safely to the harbour of Lilliput.
    The King and all the government were at the sea's edge waiting for the outcome of this important event. They saw the ships moving forward in a great half-moon, but were unable to see me because I was up to my chest in water. When I got to the middle of the waterway they were still more troubled, because I was under water up to my neck. The King had the idea that I was dead, and that the ships were coming to make an attack. But his fears were quickly put to rest, because, the water getting less deep with every step I took, in a short time I came in hearing, and lifting up the end of the cord to which the ships were fixed, I said in a loud voice, "A long rule to the Most High King of Lilliput !" When I came to land, this great Ruler gave me his warmest approval, and made me a nardoc there and then, which is the highest position among them.
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1 . From Gulliver in Lilliput, by Jonathan Swift, pp. 69-74
2. anchors -- special iron hooks let down by ships to keep them in position.

THE WHISTLE ¹

    When I was a little boy of seven, my friends, on a day when I had no school-work to do, gave me a pocket full of coppers. I went straight off to a store where they kept playthings. but, on the way, I was much pleased by the sound of a whistle which was in the hands of another boy, and I gave him all my money for it. I then came back, and went whistling all about the house, much pleased with my whistle, but troubling all the family. My brothers, and sisters, and relations, hearing of the exchange I had made, said that I had given four times as much for it as its true value. This put me in mind of what good things I might have got with the rest of the money, and they made such sport of me for being so foolish, that I became angry and unhappy. The thought of what I had done gave me more pain than the whistle gave me pleasure.
    Later, however, it was of use to me ; because it became fixed in my mind, so that frequently, when I had a desire to get some unnecessary thing, I said to myself " "Don't give more than the value of the whistle." And so I kept my money.
    When I became older, and more experienced, and took note of the behaviour of men, it seemed to me that there were a great number who gave more than the value of the whistle.
    When I saw anyone with an over-great desire to get a position in the King's circle, wasting his time at society events, giving up his rest, his good qualities, and probably his friends, putting himself under the authority of others, simply to get it, I have said to myself : This man gives more than the value of his whistle.
    When I saw another with a desire for public approval, using up all his time in political work, giving no attention to his business, and so causing his downfall, He certainly give more than the value of this whistle, I said.
    If I saw a money-lover, who gave up every sort of comfort, all the pleasure of doing good to others, all the respect of men, and the pleasure of having kind friends, so that he might have a store of money, Poor man, I said, you certainly give more than the value of your whistle.
    When I see a man of pleasure giving up every chance of learning, or of making a better living, for physical feeling only, You are in error, I say, you are making pain for yourself, and not pleasure ; you give more than the value of your whistle.
    If I see one with a love of beautiful clothing, beautiful things for his house, beautiful horses and carriages, for which he has not enough money, and for which he gets into debt, and goes to prison for the rest of his days, I say : He has given a high price, a very high price, for his whistle.
    When I see a beautiful, kind girl, married to a bad-humoured pig of a man, How sad it is, I say, that she has given so much for a whistle.
    In other words, I saw that a great part of men's pain was cause by the false idea that they had of the value of things, and by their giving over-much for their whistles.
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1 . From Wise Words of an Early American, Benjamin Franklin, pp.91-93

THE STRANGE BEHAVIOUR OF MR. LEGRAND ¹

    It was about a month after this (and in this time I hadn't seen Legrand) when Jupiter, his servant, came to see me in Charleston. The good old black man was looking more unhappy than I had ever seen him, and my first fear was that something serious had taken place.
    "Well, Jupiter, " I said, "what is it now ? How's Mister Will ?"
    "Why, it's a fact he's not so well as he might be."
    "Not well ? That's bad. What does he say is wrong with him ?"
    "There ! That's the trouble ! He doesn't say anything's wrong -- but still he's very bad."
    "Very ill, Jupiter ? Why didn't you say so at first ? Is he in bed ?"
    "No, that he's not ! -- he isn't anywhere -- that's the trouble. I've got very unhappy about poor Mister Will."
    "Jupiter, what is it you're talking about ? You say Mister Will is ill. Hasn't he said what's wrong with him ?"
    "Why, sir, don't get angry about it ! Mister Will, he says nothing's wrong with him, with his head hanging down and his back bent, and his face all white ? And the he keeps on numbering all the time. . . ."
    "Keeps on what, Jupiter ?"
    Keeps on writing numbers on a board -- the strangest numbers I've ever seen. I'm getting very unhappy about it, I say. I've got to keep an eye on all his doings. The day he got away before sun-up, and he was gone all day. I got a stick cut ready to give him a good whipping when he did come -- but I'm so soft, I hadn't the heart to, after all -- he seemed so ill."
    "Eh ?--what ? -- ah, yes. but don't be rough with the poor man. No blows, Jupiter -- he's not strong enough for that. But haven't you any idea what is the cause of his trouble, or this change of behaviour? Did anything take place after I went ?"
    "No, sir, nothing after then. The trouble was before then, it seems to me. It was the same day that you were there.
    "How ? What's the idea ?"
    "Why, sir, it's that inset -- there now !"
    "That what ?"
    "That insect. I'm quite certain Mister Will got a bite somewhere on the head from that gold-insect."
    "And what cause have you to say that ?"
    "Cause of this, sir. I've seen nothing like that insect. Kicking and biting at everything which came near him. Mister Will got him first, but he had to let him go quick. That was when he got the bite, seems to me. I wasn't happy about his mouth myself, so I wouldn't put my fingers near him. I got him in a bit of paper I saw. I got him into the paper and put a bit in his mouth-- that was the way."
    "And your idea is, then that Mister Will got a bite from the insect, and that made him ill ?"
    "'Tis't only an idea ; I'm certain. Why has he got gold on the brain in his sleep, if he didn't get a bit from the gold-insect ? I've come across stories of those gold-insects before now."
    "Why do you say he's got gold on the brain in his sleep ?"
    "why ? Because he's talking about it in his sleep -- that's why."
    "Well, Jupiter, you may be right ; but why have I the pleasure of seeing you today ?"
    "What's that, sir ?"
    "Did Mister will send you with anything ?"
    "Yes, I've go his letter" ; and Jupiter then gave me a note which went like this"


    "MY DEAR . . . ,
    Why haven't I seen you for so long a time ? I'm hoping that you have not been so foolish as to be angry with me for my bad behavior -- but that seems improbable.
    From our last meeting, I have had something on my mind all the time. I have something to say to you, but I am uncertain how to do it, or if it's right to do it at all.
    I have not been quite well for some days, and poor old Jupiter's kind attentions get on my nerves and almost make me angry with him. It seems impossible, but the other day he'd got a great stick ready for me, because I went off without saying anything, for a day among the mountains across the water. I'm quite certain that only my looks kept me safe from punishment !
    From the time of our last meeting I have made no additions to my insects.
    If it's at all possible, please come over with Jupiter. Do come. It's necessary for me to see you tonight, on very important business Take my word for it that it's very important.
            Ever yours,
                WILLIAM LEGRAND"


    I was very troubled by something in the wording of this letter. The prose seemed quite different from Legrand's. What had he got on his mind ? What strange impulse had taken a grip of his unbalanced brain ? What "very important business" was it possible for him to have ? Jupiter's account of him gave me a feeling that all was not well. My chief fear was that a chain of unhappy events had sent my friend off his head. So I got ready to go with Jupiter without loss of time.
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1 . From The Gold Insect, Edgar Allen Poe, pp. 24-28.

KEAWE's BOTTLE ¹

    The sea-journey was a good one, but all the time Keawe was keeping in his breath, because he had given his word to himself that he would give voice to no more requests, and take no more from Satan. The time was up when they got back. The house-designer said that the house was ready, and Keawe and Lopaka took tickets in the Hall and went down Kona way to have a look at the house, and see if all had been done in harmony with the thought in Keawe's mind.
    Now the house was on the mountain-side where one might see it from a ship. Higher up, the thick wood went up into the clouds of rain ; under it the black stone had made sharp slopes down to the sea, and here was the resting-place of the old rulers. There was a garden about that house, in which were flowers of every colour ; and there were papaya trees on one side and breadfruit trees on the other, and straight in front, in the direction of the sea, a ship's high sail support had been put up with a flag on the top. As for the house, it was three floors high, with great rooms and wide terraces on every floor. the windows were of glass, of such good quality that it was as clear as water and as bright as day. There were tables, seats, cupboards, shelves, and every possible comfort in the rooms. There were pictures on the walls in gold frames ; pictures of ships and men fighting, of the most beautiful women, and of strange places ; nowhere are there pictures of so bright a colour as those Keawe saw hanging in his house. As for the ornaments, they were most beautiful ; clocks sounding the hours, and music-boxes, little men with shaking heads, books full of pictures, war instruments of great value from all sorts of strange countries, and playthings for the amusement of a man living by himself. And because no one would be happy living in such rooms, and would only be interested to go through and see them, the terraces were so wide that a town full of persons might have been quite happy living upon them ; and Keawe was not certain which gave him most pleasure, the terrace at the back, where you got the land wind, and were looking out over the fruit trees and the flowers, or the front terrace, where you took deep breaths of the wind off the sea, and, looking down the sharp wall of the mountain, were able to see the Hall going by about once a week between Hookena and the slopes of Pele, or the sailing-ships going up and down with wood and java and fruit.
    when they had seen everything, Keawe and Lopaka took a seat by the door.
    "Well" said Lopaka, "it is all as you were picturing it to yourself ?"
    "There are no words for it," was Keawe's answer. "It is better than my picture, and I am overcome with the pleasure of it."
    "There is but one thing to give thought to," said Lopaka ; "all this may be quite natural, and the bottle-imp may have nothing whatever to do with it. If I took the bottle and got no sailing-ship after all, I would have put my hand in the fire for nothing. It is true that I gave you my word ; but isn't it natural for me to make a request to you for one more test ?"
    "I have given my word to myself that I will take no more from the bottle," said Keawe. "I have gone in deep enough."
    "This is not a request for anything more which I have in mind," was Lopaka's answer. "It is only to see the imp himself. There is no profit in that, and so no cause for shame ; but if once I saw him, I would be certain of the thing. So do this much for me, and let me see the imp ; and after that, here is the money in my hand, and I will give you the price."
    "There is only one thing I am in fear of," said Keawe. "The imp may be very disgusting-looking ; and if you once saw him, you might be even less ready to take the bottle."
    "I am a man of my word," said Lopaka. "And here is the money between us."
    "Very well," Keawe made answer. "I am interested to see what he is like myself. So come, let us have one look at you, Mr. Imp."
    Now, the minute that was said, the imp put his head out of the bottle and in again, quick as a snake ; and there were Keawe and Lopaka turned to stone. The night had gone before they had a thought to put into words or a voice with which to do so ;and then, pushing the money over, Lopaka took the bottle.
    "I am a man of my word," said he, "and have need to be so, or I would not give this bottle so much as a touch with my foot. Well, I will get my sailing-ship and some dollars for my pocket ; and then I'll be handing this imp on as quickly as I am able. Because, there is no doubt about it, the look of him has given me a great shock.
    "Lopaka," said Keawe, "do not have a bad opinion of me ; it is true that it is night, and the roads are rough, and the way by the resting-place of the kings is a bad place to go so late, but the fact is that after seeing that little face, I will not be able to have any sleep or any food, or to go down to my knees till it is far from me. I will give you a light, and a basket to put the bottle in, and any picture or ornament in all my house which is pleasing to you ; and go now, and take your sleep at Hookena with Nahinu."
    "Keawe," said Lopaka, "most men's feelings would be wounded by this behaviour ; specially when I am such a good friend as to keep my word and take the bottle ; and as for that, the night and the dark, and the way by the resting-place of the kings may be ten times more of a danger to a man who has done this great wrong, and has such a bottle under his arm. But for my part, I am in such fear myself, that I have not the heart to be angry. Here I go then ; and may you be happy in your house, and I do well with my sailing-ship, and may we be kept out of Satan's power in the end though we have been the owners of his bottle."
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1 . From Keawe's Bottle, Robert Louis Stevenson, pp. 24-29

HOICHI THE BIWA-PLAYER ¹

    One summer night Hoichi's friend was request to go through the forms of religion for the death of a man who went to his church ; and he went to this man's house with his young servant ; so that Hoichi was the only person in the church that night. I twas a very warm night ; and Hoichi went on the verandah² in front of his sleeping-room because the heat was not so great there. The verandah was at the back of the Amidaji, facing a small garden. Hoichi was waiting there for the man of religion t come back and he was comforting himself by playing on his biwa. It was past twelve ; and the man of religion had not come back. But it was still very warm inside ; and Hoichi kept on the verandah. At last there came to his ears the sound of steps coming in his direction from the back door. Somebody came up to the verandah from across the garden, stopping right in front of him -- but it was not the man of religion. A deep voice said his name loudly -- suddenly and roughly, like a samurai giving an order to a servant :--
    "Hoichi !"
    "Hoichi was so much surprised that for a minute, he was unable to give any answer ; and the voice said again, as if roughly giving an order, --
    "Hoichi !"
    "Hai ! he made answer, fearing this note in the voice, -- "I am unable to see ! -- I have not idea who your are!"
    "There is no cause for feat." the strange man said, talking more softly. "I am stopping near the church, and have been sent to you with a request. My present chief, a person of very high position, is now in Akamagaseki, with a great number of men of good birth. He had a desire to see where it was that the fight of Dan-no-ura took place ; and today he went there. It has come to his ears that you give the story of the fight very well ; he now has a desire for you to give your song before him ; so you will take your biwa and come with me quickly to the house where these great persons are waiting."
    In those times, the order of a samurai had to be taken very seriously. Hoichi put on his flat shoes, took his biwa, and went away with the strange man, who seemed to have a good knowledge of the way, but made Hoichi go very quickly. The hand guiding him was iron ; and the sound of metal made it clear that the man was fully armed, -- probably he had been keeping watch at some great house. Hoichi's first fears were over ;and it now seemed to him that this was a happy chance:-- because, keeping in mind the samurai's talk of "persons of very high position," he was certain that the chief who had sent for him to give his song would not be less than a daimyo³ of the first order. After a time the samurai came to a stop ; and Hoichi became conscious that they had got to a great doorway ;-- and he was surprised, because he had no memory of any great door in that part of the town other than the chief door of the Aminaji. ""Kwimon !⁴ the samurai said loudly,-- and there was a sound of unlocking ; and the two went through. They went across a space of garden and came to a stop again before some doorway ; and the samurai said in a loud voice, "You who are inside ! I have come with Hoichi !" Then came sounds of quick feet, and paper walls slipping back, and rain-doors opening, and voices of women talking to one another. By the language of the women it became clear to Hoichi that they were servants in some great house, but he had no idea to what place he had been taken. Little time was given him for thought. After he had been helped to go up some stone steps, on the last of which he was ordered to take off his shoes, he was guided by a woman's hand across long stretches of polished boards, and round a number of angles with tall supports, and over a wide space of covered floor,-- into the middle of some great room. There it seemed to him that a great number of persons of high position were waiting : the sound of the silk dresses was like the sound of leaves in a wood. And, in addition, there came to his ears a general noise of low voices,-- talking very softly ; and the language that of persons living among the great.
    They said to Hoichi that he was not to be troubled, and there was a cushion ready for him. After having taken his place on it, and got ready his instruments, the voice of a woman -- who seemed to him to be the Rojo, or chief of the female servants -- said to him :--
    "Now will you please give the song of the history of the Heike with the biwa ?"
    The complete story would have taken a great number of nights ; so Hoichi put a question :--
    "It would take a long time to give the full story, so what part is it you desire to have played to you now ?"
    The woman's voice made answer :--
    "Give the story of the fight at Dan-no-ura,-- because it is sadder than any other part."
    Then, lifting up his voice, Hoichi gave the song of the fight on the bitter sea,-- making a strange sound with the biwa like the pulling of boat-blades and the noise of ships in the water, the hiss of the archers, the crying and stamping of men, the smashing of steel on head-coverings, the fall of dead bodies in the water. And to left and right of him, whenever his playing came to a stop, low voices of approval came to his ears.
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1 . From Japanese Stories, Lafeadio Hearn, pp. 19-27.
2 . verandah - A long covered walk at the side of a house.
3 . Ruler of a division of old Japan.
4 . Get the door open !

BUILDING THE ARK ¹

The Bible in Basic English is available many places on the Internet. The Institute has a version, Noah Makes the Ark.
    9 . Noah was a good man who had done no evil in his generations, and he had the approval of God.
    10. And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
    11. The earth was bad in God's eye, and full of wrong-doing.
    12. And God saw the earth, and it was evil ; every living thing had wrong upon the earth.
    13. And God said to Noah, The end of all living things is at hand ; the earth is full of wrong-doing because of them, and I will put an end to them on the earth.
    14. Make an ark of gopher-wood, with rooms in it, and put bitumen inside and out.
    15. And this is the way you are to make it : It is to be four hundred feet long, seventy feet wide, and forty feet high.
    16. You are to put a window in the ark, a cubit from the roof, and a door in the side of it, and you are to make it with a lower and second and third floors.
    17. For truly, I will send a great flow of waters over the earth, for the destruction from under the heaven of all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything on the earth will come to an end.
    18. But with you I will make an agreement; and you will come into the ark, you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you.
    19. And you will take with you into the ark two of every sort of living thing, and keep them safe with you; they will be male and female.
    20. Two of every sort of bird and cattle and of every sort of living thing which goes on the earth will you take with you to keep them from destruction.
    21. And make a store of every sort of food for yourself and them.
    22. And all these things Noah did; as God said, so he did.
    VII. 1. And the Lord said to Noah, Take all your family and go into the ark, for you only in this generation have I seen to be upright.
    2. Of every clean beast you will take seven males and seven females, and of the beasts which are not clean, two, the male and his female;
    3. And of the birds of the air, seven males and seven females, so that their seed may still be living on the face of the earth.
    4. For after seven days I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, for the destruction of every living thing which I have made on the face of the earth.
    5. And Noah did everything which the Lord said he was to do.
    6. And Noah was six hundred years old when the waters came flowing over all the earth.
    7. And Noah, with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives, went into the ark because of the flowing of the waters.
    8. Of clean beasts, and of beasts which are not clean, and of birds, and of everything which goes on the earth,
    9. In twos, male and female, they went into the ark with Noah, as God had said.
    10. And after the seven days, the waters came over all the earth.
    11. In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, all the fountains of the great deep came bursting through, and the windows of heaven were open;
    12. And rain came down on the earth for forty days and forty nights.
    13. On the same day Noah, with Shem, Ham, and Japheth, his sons, and his wife and his sons' wives, went into the ark;
    14. And with them, every sort of beast and cattle, and every sort of thing which goes on the earth, and every sort of bird.
    15. They went with Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh in which is the breath of life.
    16. Male and female of all flesh went in, as God had said, and the ark was shut by the Lord.
    17. And for forty days the waters were over all the earth; and the waters were increased so that the ark was lifted up high over the earth.
    18. And the waters overcame everything and were increased greatly on the earth, and the ark was resting on the face of the waters.
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1 . From Stories from the Bible (Genesis, iv-vii, pp. 30-33. In this story words are used from the List for Reading Verse (100 words) and the Bible List (50 words).
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