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Blister Jones
Blister Jones

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Blister Jones is here in full — 396 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Blister Jones
Context Illustration Reading 1/79 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.
"There's a big show-ring, with a balcony all 'round it, on the top floor.
They take my pair up there 'n' hook 'em to a hot wagon painted yellow, 'n' the company's main squeeze, named Brown, comes up to see 'em act.
I'm facin' the door just as a guy starts to lead a hoss into the show-ring.
The pair swings by, this hoss shies back sudden 'n' I see him make a queer move with his off rear leg.
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Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Blister Jones

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Blister Jones is here in full — 396 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/79 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.
Line 2
"There's a big show-ring, with a balcony all 'round it, on the top floor.
Line 3
They take my pair up there 'n' hook 'em to a hot wagon painted yellow, 'n' the company's main squeeze, named Brown, comes up to see 'em act.
/ðeɪ teɪk maɪ per ʌp ðer en hʊk em tuː ə hɑːt ˈwæɡən ˈpeɪntɪd ˈjeloʊ en ðə ˈkʌmpəniz meɪn skwiːz neɪmd braʊn kʌmz ʌp tuː siː em ækt/
Line 4
I'm facin' the door just as a guy starts to lead a hoss into the show-ring.
Line 5
The pair swings by, this hoss shies back sudden 'n' I see him make a queer move with his off rear leg.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

classy adjective US /ˈklæsi/

elegant and fashionable

From this reading “"This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.”

company's noun US /ˈkʌmpəniz/

possessive form of “company” — an institution created to conduct business

From this reading “They take my pair up there 'n' hook 'em to a hot wagon painted yellow, 'n' the company's main squeeze, named Brown, comes up to see 'em act.”

manicure verb US /ˈmænɪkjər/

trim carefully and neatly

From this reading “"This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.”

shies noun US /ʃaɪz/

plural of “shy” — a quick throw

From this reading “The pair swings by, this hoss shies back sudden 'n' I see him make a queer move with his off rear leg.”

squeeze verb US /skwiːz/

to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition

From this reading “They take my pair up there 'n' hook 'em to a hot wagon painted yellow, 'n' the company's main squeeze, named Brown, comes up to see 'em act.”

starts noun US /stɑːrts/

plural of “start” — the beginning of anything

From this reading “I'm facin' the door just as a guy starts to lead a hoss into the show-ring.”

stead noun US /sted/

the post or function properly or customarily occupied or served by another

From this reading “"This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.”

swings noun US /swɪŋz/

plural of “swing” — a state of steady vigorous action that is characteristic of an activity

From this reading “The pair swings by, this hoss shies back sudden 'n' I see him make a queer move with his off rear leg.”

All words in this reading · 80

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

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 "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

actverbUS /ækt/

perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading They take my pair up there 'n' hook 'em to a hot wagon painted yellow, 'n' the company's main squeeze, named Brown, comes up to see 'em act.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading "There's a big show-ring, with a balcony all 'round it, on the top floor.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading I'm facin' the door just as a guy starts to lead a hoss into the show-ring.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading The pair swings by, this hoss shies back sudden 'n' I see him make a queer move with his off rear leg.

balconynounUS /ˈbælkəni/

an upper floor projecting from the rear over the main floor in an auditorium

From this reading "There's a big show-ring, with a balcony all 'round it, on the top floor.

bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading "There's a big show-ring, with a balcony all 'round it, on the top floor.

blacksmith's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

BrownnounUS /braʊn/

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading They take my pair up there 'n' hook 'em to a hot wagon painted yellow, 'n' the company's main squeeze, named Brown, comes up to see 'em act.

bulgin

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The pair swings by, this hoss shies back sudden 'n' I see him make a queer move with his off rear leg.

classyadjectiveUS /ˈklæsi/

elegant and fashionable

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

comesnounUS /kʌmz/

plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract

From this reading They take my pair up there 'n' hook 'em to a hot wagon painted yellow, 'n' the company's main squeeze, named Brown, comes up to see 'em act.

company'snounUS /ˈkʌmpəniz/

possessive form of “company” — an institution created to conduct business

From this reading They take my pair up there 'n' hook 'em to a hot wagon painted yellow, 'n' the company's main squeeze, named Brown, comes up to see 'em act.

concernnounUS /kənˈsɜːrn/

something that interests you because it is important or affects you

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

doornounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading I'm facin' the door just as a guy starts to lead a hoss into the show-ring.

emnounUS /em/

a quad with a square body

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

facin

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I'm facin' the door just as a guy starts to lead a hoss into the show-ring.

floornounUS /flɔːr/

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

guynounUS /ɡaɪ/

an informal term for a youth or man

From this reading I'm facin' the door just as a guy starts to lead a hoss into the show-ring.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The pair swings by, this hoss shies back sudden 'n' I see him make a queer move with his off rear leg.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The pair swings by, this hoss shies back sudden 'n' I see him make a queer move with his off rear leg.

hookverbUS /hʊk/

fasten with a hook

From this reading They take my pair up there 'n' hook 'em to a hot wagon painted yellow, 'n' the company's main squeeze, named Brown, comes up to see 'em act.

hoss

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I'm facin' the door just as a guy starts to lead a hoss into the show-ring.

hosses

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

hotadjectiveUS /hɑːt/

used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning

From this reading They take my pair up there 'n' hook 'em to a hot wagon painted yellow, 'n' the company's main squeeze, named Brown, comes up to see 'em act.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading The pair swings by, this hoss shies back sudden 'n' I see him make a queer move with his off rear leg.

I'm

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I'm facin' the door just as a guy starts to lead a hoss into the show-ring.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading I'm facin' the door just as a guy starts to lead a hoss into the show-ring.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

jointnounUS /dʒɔɪnt/

(anatomy) the point of connection between two bones or elements of a skeleton (especially if it allows motion)

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

leadverbUS /led/

take somebody somewhere

From this reading I'm facin' the door just as a guy starts to lead a hoss into the show-ring.

legnounUS /leɡ/

a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle

From this reading The pair swings by, this hoss shies back sudden 'n' I see him make a queer move with his off rear leg.

mainadjectiveUS /meɪn/

most important element

From this reading They take my pair up there 'n' hook 'em to a hot wagon painted yellow, 'n' the company's main squeeze, named Brown, comes up to see 'em act.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading The pair swings by, this hoss shies back sudden 'n' I see him make a queer move with his off rear leg.

manicureverbUS /ˈmænɪkjər/

trim carefully and neatly

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

moveverbUS /muːv/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading The pair swings by, this hoss shies back sudden 'n' I see him make a queer move with his off rear leg.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading They take my pair up there 'n' hook 'em to a hot wagon painted yellow, 'n' the company's main squeeze, named Brown, comes up to see 'em act.

nnounUS /en/

a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all living tissues

From this reading They take my pair up there 'n' hook 'em to a hot wagon painted yellow, 'n' the company's main squeeze, named Brown, comes up to see 'em act.

namedverbUS /neɪmd/

past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading They take my pair up there 'n' hook 'em to a hot wagon painted yellow, 'n' the company's main squeeze, named Brown, comes up to see 'em act.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading The pair swings by, this hoss shies back sudden 'n' I see him make a queer move with his off rear leg.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "There's a big show-ring, with a balcony all 'round it, on the top floor.

paintedadjectiveUS /ˈpeɪntɪd/

coated with paint

From this reading They take my pair up there 'n' hook 'em to a hot wagon painted yellow, 'n' the company's main squeeze, named Brown, comes up to see 'em act.

pairnounUS /per/

a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading They take my pair up there 'n' hook 'em to a hot wagon painted yellow, 'n' the company's main squeeze, named Brown, comes up to see 'em act.

parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/

reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

queeradjectiveUS /kwɪr/

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading The pair swings by, this hoss shies back sudden 'n' I see him make a queer move with his off rear leg.

rearnounUS /rɪr/

the back of a military formation or procession

From this reading The pair swings by, this hoss shies back sudden 'n' I see him make a queer move with his off rear leg.

roundnounUS /raʊnd/

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading "There's a big show-ring, with a balcony all 'round it, on the top floor.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading They take my pair up there 'n' hook 'em to a hot wagon painted yellow, 'n' the company's main squeeze, named Brown, comes up to see 'em act.

sendsverbUS /sendz/

third-person singular of “send” — cause to go somewhere

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

shiesnounUS /ʃaɪz/

plural of “shy” — a quick throw

From this reading The pair swings by, this hoss shies back sudden 'n' I see him make a queer move with his off rear leg.

shopverbUS /ʃɑːp/

do one's shopping

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

show-ring

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "There's a big show-ring, with a balcony all 'round it, on the top floor.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

squeezeverbUS /skwiːz/

to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition

From this reading They take my pair up there 'n' hook 'em to a hot wagon painted yellow, 'n' the company's main squeeze, named Brown, comes up to see 'em act.

startsnounUS /stɑːrts/

plural of “start” — the beginning of anything

From this reading I'm facin' the door just as a guy starts to lead a hoss into the show-ring.

steadnounUS /sted/

the post or function properly or customarily occupied or served by another

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

suddenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌdən/

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading The pair swings by, this hoss shies back sudden 'n' I see him make a queer move with his off rear leg.

swingsnounUS /swɪŋz/

plural of “swing” — a state of steady vigorous action that is characteristic of an activity

From this reading The pair swings by, this hoss shies back sudden 'n' I see him make a queer move with his off rear leg.

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

that's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading "There's a big show-ring, with a balcony all 'round it, on the top floor.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading They take my pair up there 'n' hook 'em to a hot wagon painted yellow, 'n' the company's main squeeze, named Brown, comes up to see 'em act.

There's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "There's a big show-ring, with a balcony all 'round it, on the top floor.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

topnounUS /tɑːp/

the upper part of anything

From this reading "There's a big show-ring, with a balcony all 'round it, on the top floor.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading They take my pair up there 'n' hook 'em to a hot wagon painted yellow, 'n' the company's main squeeze, named Brown, comes up to see 'em act.

wagonnounUS /ˈwæɡən/

any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor

From this reading They take my pair up there 'n' hook 'em to a hot wagon painted yellow, 'n' the company's main squeeze, named Brown, comes up to see 'em act.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "This concern has some joint--take it from me--every floor is just bulgin' with hosses that's so classy they sends 'em to a manicure parlor 'stead of a blacksmith's shop.

yellowadjectiveUS /ˈjeloʊ/

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading They take my pair up there 'n' hook 'em to a hot wagon painted yellow, 'n' the company's main squeeze, named Brown, comes up to see 'em act.

Chapter 3 of Blister Jones by John Taintor Foote holds 396 sentences, grouped into 80 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 3 of Blister Jones contain?

Chapter 3 holds 396 sentences of Blister Jones, unabridged, divided into 80 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of Blister Jones by John Taintor Foote exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 396 sentences, grouped into 80 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 3 of Blister Jones?

Work through the 80 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 80 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Blister Jones

Common questions about reading Blister Jones by John Taintor Foote on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Blister Jones?

Yes. All 4424 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #19041 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Blister Jones is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #19041, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Blister Jones take to read?

About 368 minutes of reading across 885 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Blister Jones section by section

How to work through Blister Jones section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 11 chapters of Blister Jones to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Blister Jones

Words and structures a reader meets early in Blister Jones, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Dedicate
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Blister Jones; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
First
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Blister Jones; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Deepest
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Blister Jones; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Affection
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Blister Jones; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.