VOA · American Stories
Advanced · C1learner speed12:342017-06-22public domain
American Stories presents adapted works of American literature — Twain, Poe, O. Henry and more — read slowly and clearly. Narrative English is harder than news English: longer sentences, richer vocabulary, and dialogue, which makes these episodes excellent advanced dictation practice.
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01The Law of Life by Jack London Part 1 Old Kashkus listened greedily.
02Although his sight had failed, his hearing remained good.
03The slightest sound was recognized by a mind yet active behind the aged forehead.
04Ah, that was Sit-Kum-Ha, shouting curses at the dogs as she beat them into the harnesses.
05Sit-Kum-Ha was his daughter's daughter, but she was too busy to waste a thought upon her old grandfather, sitting alone there in the snow.
06Camp must be broken.
07The long trail waited while the short day refused to delay.
08Life called her, and the duties of life, not death.
09And he was very close to death now.
10The thought frightened the old man for a moment.
11He stretched forth a shaking hand, which wandered over the small pile of dried wood beside him.
12Reassured that it was there, his hand returned to the shelter of his old, worn furs.
13He again began to listen.
14He heard the noise of the half-frozen animal skins being moved.
15He knew that even then the chief's moose-kin tent was being packed.
16The chief was his son, leader of the tribesmen and a mighty hunter.
17As the women worked, his voice rose, exclaiming at their slowness.
18Old Kaskoosh strained his ears.
19It was the last time he would hear that voice.
20There went Greenhouse Tent and Tusken's.
21Seven, eight, nine.
22Only the medicine-mans could yet be standing.
23There, they were at work upon it now.
24He could hear the medicine-man struggling loudly as he piled it on the sled.
25A child cried, and a woman calmed it with gentle singing.
26Little coo-tee, the old man thought.
27That child was always weeping, and it was sickly.
28It would die soon, perhaps.
29And they would burn a hole through the frozen ground and pile rocks above to keep the wolves away.
30And what difference would it make?
31A few years at best, and as many an empty stomach as a full one.
32And in the end, death waited, ever hungry and hungriest of them all.
33What was that?
34Ah, the men binding the sleds together and drawing tight the ropes.
35He listened.
36He who would listen no more.
37The whips whistled among the dogs.
38Hear them howl!
39How they hated the work and the trail through the snow.
40It started.
41Sled after sled moved slowly away into the silent forest.
42And they were gone.
43They had passed out of his life.
44And he faced the last bitter hour alone.
45No.
46The step of a moccasin broke the snow's surface.
47A man stood beside him.
48Upon his head a hand rested gently.
49His son was good to do this thing.
50He remembered other old men whose sons had not waited after the tribe had gone.
51But his son had.
52The old man's thoughts wandered away into the past.
53Until the young man's voice returned him to the present.
54It is well with you?
55He asked.
56The old man answered.
57It is well.
58There is wood beside you.
59The younger man continued.
60And the fire burns bright.
61The morning is gray.
62And the cold has lessened.
63It will snow presently.
64Even now it is snowing.
65Yes.
66Even now it is snowing.
67The tribesmen hurry.
68Their loads are heavy and their stomachs empty with lack of feasting.
69The trail ahead is long and they travel fast.
70I go now.
71Is it well?
72It is well.
73I am as a last year's leaf hanging lightly on a branch.
74When the first wind blows I fall.
75My voice has become like an old woman's.
76My eyes no longer show me the way of my feet.
77And my feet are heavy.
78And I am tired.
79It is well.
80I am tired.
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// transcribed with Whisper AI — reading it is easy; catching it by ear is the skill
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