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Reading Short Stories/Content for English Learners

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Short Story 599 – The Lincoln Walk – Words with a silent ‘L’ (Int)

A story incorporating words which are pronounced with a silent ‘L’.

John was a calm man who lived a simple life. He was known among his local folk for his quiet nature and his long, thoughtful walks. Today, he would be taking his longest walk yet, all the way to the city of Lincoln.

He had a special letter to deliver. It wasn’t urgent, but it should be hand-delivered. He packed a small bag. Inside, he put a piece of white chalk, a water bottle, and his lunch: a sandwich with smoked salmon and cucumber. He had carefully cut the sandwich in half to make it easier to eat on the road.

As he began his journey, the morning sun was low in the sky. He didn’t want to stop and talk to anyone. He preferred the peace of the open road. He hummed a quiet psalm to himself, a tune his grandmother had taught him. He wondered if he could make the entire journey before the sun went down. The path was dusty and winding, but he knew the way well. He had used the piece of chalk to mark a small X on his front door, a simple sign to let his brother know he was gone.

The hours passed, and he was surprised at how quickly the miles went by. The world seemed to fall away, leaving him alone with his thoughts. By late afternoon, the spire of Lincoln Cathedral appeared in the distance. He felt a sense of peace settle over him. He had done what he set out to do.

He delivered the letter, shared a cup of tea with the person who received it, and began his much shorter return journey. He felt a deep sense of satisfaction. The simple act of the walk had been a reward in itself.


Vocabulary Notes

Calm
Definition: An adjective meaning peaceful, quiet, and not excited or worried. It describes a state of mind or a quiet atmosphere.
Example: “John was a calm man who lived a simple life.”
Similar words: serene, tranquil, peaceful, relaxed.

Folk
Definition: A noun used to refer to people in general, or a particular group of people. It’s often used in a slightly old-fashioned or informal way.
Example: “He was known among his local folk for his quiet nature…”
Similar words: people, crowd, community, locals.

Hummed
Definition: A verb (past tense of “hum”) meaning to sing with your lips closed, making a low, continuous sound. It’s often a sign of contentment or concentration.
Example: “He hummed a quiet psalm to himself, a tune his grandmother had taught him.”
Similar words: sang (softly), droned, murmured.

Spire
Definition: A noun for a tall, pointed structure on the top of a building, especially on a church or cathedral.
Example: “By late afternoon, the spire of Lincoln Cathedral appeared in the distance.”
Similar words: pinnacle, steeple, tower.

Satisfaction
Definition: A noun that describes the feeling of pleasure or contentment you get when you have done something you wanted to do, or when you feel something is good enough.
Example: “He felt a deep sense of satisfaction.”
Similar words: contentment, fulfilment, gratification, happiness.

Story written by Gemini Pro AI.

Image created by 1min.ai.

CC Music: Drifting at 432 Hz – Unicorn Heads.

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