Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Eight Girls and a Dog
Eight Girls and a Dog

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Eight Girls and a Dog is here in full — 178 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Carolyn Wells • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Eight Girls and a Dog
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.
The group on the veranda looked up at her doubtfully.
“Yes,” said brilliant Nan.
“Have your pitchers bigger than your pillows, and the thing is done.”
“But the pillows are bigger than the pitchers.”
0:00 / 0:00
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.

Eight Girls and a Dog

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Eight Girls and a Dog is here in full — 178 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.
Line 2
The group on the veranda looked up at her doubtfully.
Line 3
“Yes,” said brilliant Nan.
/jes sed ˈbrɪljənt næn/
Line 4
“Have your pitchers bigger than your pillows, and the thing is done.”
/hæv jɔːr ˈpɪtʃərz ˈbɪɡər ðæn jɔːr ˈpɪloʊz ənd ðə θɪŋ ɪz dʌn/
Line 5
“But the pillows are bigger than the pitchers.”
/bʌt ðə ˈpɪloʊz ɑːr ˈbɪɡər ðæn ðə ˈpɪtʃərz/

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.

bigger adjective US /ˈbɪɡər/

large or big relative to something else

From this reading ““Have your pitchers bigger than your pillows, and the thing is done.””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
framing noun US /ˈfreɪmɪŋ/

formulation of the plans and important details

From this reading “‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
grasping noun US /ˈɡræspɪŋ/

understanding with difficulty

From this reading “‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
handles noun US /ˈhændəlz/

plural of “handle” — the appendage to an object that is designed to be held in order to use or move it

From this reading “‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pillows noun US /ˈpɪloʊz/

plural of “pillow” — a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person

From this reading “‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pitchers noun US /ˈpɪtʃərz/

plural of “pitcher” — (baseball) the person who does the pitching

From this reading “‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
recklessly adverb US /ˈrekləsli/

in a reckless manner

From this reading “‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
veranda noun US /vərˈændə/

a porch along the outside of a building (sometimes partly enclosed)

From this reading “The group on the veranda looked up at her doubtfully.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

on the veranda preposition + article + noun counted as “on … veranda”

In this reading “The group on the veranda looked up at her doubtfully.”

2,590 times in 426,211 chapters
hand grasping noun + noun

In this reading “‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.”

358 times in 426,211 chapters
looked up verb + adjective counted as “look up”

seek information from

In this reading “The group on the veranda looked up at her doubtfully.”

73,493 times in 426,211 chapters
any way adjective + noun

In this reading “‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.”

19,772 times in 426,211 chapters
handles of verb + particle counted as “handle of”

In this reading “‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.”

4,877 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 48

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.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading “But the pillows are bigger than the pitchers.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
armsnounUS /ɑːrmz/

weapons considered collectively

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The group on the veranda looked up at her doubtfully.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
biggeradjectiveUS /ˈbɪɡər/

large or big relative to something else

From this reading “Have your pitchers bigger than your pillows, and the thing is done.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
brilliantadjectiveUS /ˈbrɪljənt/

of surpassing excellence

From this reading “Yes,” said brilliant Nan.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “But the pillows are bigger than the pitchers.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading “Have your pitchers bigger than your pillows, and the thing is done.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
doorwaynounUS /ˈdɔːrweɪ/

the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
doubtfullyadverb

in a doubtful manner

From this reading The group on the veranda looked up at her doubtfully.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
framingnounUS /ˈfreɪmɪŋ/

formulation of the plans and important details

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
frontnounUS /frʌnt/

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
graspingnounUS /ˈɡræspɪŋ/

understanding with difficulty

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
groupnounUS /ɡruːp/

any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading The group on the veranda looked up at her doubtfully.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
handlesnounUS /ˈhændəlz/

plural of “handle” — the appendage to an object that is designed to be held in order to use or move it

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Have your pitchers bigger than your pillows, and the thing is done.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading The group on the veranda looked up at her doubtfully.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/

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

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading The group on the veranda looked up at her doubtfully.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Marjorie

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

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

Pending verification
NannounUS /næn/

your grandmother

From this reading “Yes,” said brilliant Nan.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The group on the veranda looked up at her doubtfully.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
packverbUS /pæk/

arrange in a container

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pillowsnounUS /ˈpɪloʊz/

plural of “pillow” — a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pitchersnounUS /ˈpɪtʃərz/

plural of “pitcher” — (baseball) the person who does the pitching

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
recklesslyadverbUS /ˈrekləsli/

in a reckless manner

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sofa-pillows

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

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

Pending verification
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading “Have your pitchers bigger than your pillows, and the thing is done.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading “Have your pitchers bigger than your pillows, and the thing is done.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
threenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading The group on the veranda looked up at her doubtfully.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
verandanounUS /vərˈændə/

a porch along the outside of a building (sometimes partly enclosed)

From this reading The group on the veranda looked up at her doubtfully.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading ‟IS there any way to pack pillows in pitchers?” said Marjorie, framing herself in the front doorway, one hand grasping recklessly the handles of three large pitchers, and both arms full of sofa-pillows.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
YesnounUS /jes/

an affirmative

From this reading “Yes,” said brilliant Nan.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Have your pitchers bigger than your pillows, and the thing is done.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 1 of Eight Girls and a Dog by Carolyn Wells holds 178 sentences, grouped into 36 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 1 of Eight Girls and a Dog contain?

Chapter 1 holds 178 sentences of Eight Girls and a Dog, unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Eight Girls and a Dog by Carolyn Wells exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 178 sentences, grouped into 36 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 1 of Eight Girls and a Dog?

Work through the 36 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 36 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 Eight Girls and a Dog

Common questions about reading Eight Girls and a Dog by Carolyn Wells on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Eight Girls and a Dog?

Yes. All 2220 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #58423 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Eight Girls and a Dog is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #58423, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Eight Girls and a Dog take to read?

About 185 minutes of reading across 444 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Eight Girls and a Dog section by section

How to work through Eight Girls and a Dog section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 16 chapters of Eight Girls and a Dog 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 Eight Girls and a Dog

Words and structures a reader meets early in Eight Girls and a Dog, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Pillows
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Eight Girls and a Dog; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Pitchers
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Eight Girls and a Dog; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Marjorie
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Eight Girls and a Dog; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Framing
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Eight Girls and a Dog; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.