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Helen's Babies
Helen's Babies

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Helen's Babies is here in full — 472 sentences across 95 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Helen's Babies
Context Illustration Reading 1/94 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."
He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.
With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.
It was hard to tell, by sight, whether he had or not, for his back was to me, as he flattened his nose against the window, but I could see that my poultice was gone.
"Where is what uncle put on your arm, Toddie?"
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Helen's Babies

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Helen's Babies is here in full — 472 sentences across 95 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/94 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."
Line 2
He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.
Line 3
With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.
Line 4
It was hard to tell, by sight, whether he had or not, for his back was to me, as he flattened his nose against the window, but I could see that my poultice was gone.
/ɪt wɑːz hɑːrd tuː tel baɪ saɪt ˈweðər hiː hæd ɔːr nɑːt fɔːr hɪz bæk wɑːz tuː miː æz hiː ˈflætənd hɪz noʊz əˈɡenst ðə ˈwɪndoʊ bʌt aɪ kʊd siː ðæt maɪ ˈpoʊltəs wɑːz ɡɔːn/
Line 5
"Where is what uncle put on your arm, Toddie?"

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.

Budge verb US /bʌdʒ/

move very slightly

From this reading “With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.”

flattened adjective US /ˈflætənd/

having been flattened

From this reading “It was hard to tell, by sight, whether he had or not, for his back was to me, as he flattened his nose against the window, but I could see that my poultice was gone.”

heirlooms noun US /ˈerluːmz/

plural of “heirloom” — (law) any property that is considered by law or custom as inseparable from an inheritance is inherited with that inheritance

From this reading “He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.”

offender noun US /əˈfendər/

a person who transgresses moral or civil law

From this reading “With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.”

poultice noun US /ˈpoʊltəs/

a medical dressing consisting of a soft heated mass of meal or clay that is spread on a cloth and applied to the skin to treat inflamed areas or improve circulation etc.

From this reading “It was hard to tell, by sight, whether he had or not, for his back was to me, as he flattened his nose against the window, but I could see that my poultice was gone.”

repented verb US /rɪˈpentɪd/

past form of “repent” — turn away from sin or do penitence

From this reading “With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.”

salvage verb US /ˈsælvədʒ/

save from ruin, destruction, or harm

From this reading “With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.”

tumble verb US /ˈtʌmbəl/

fall down, as if collapsing

From this reading “"I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."”

All words in this reading · 106

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 "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading It was hard to tell, by sight, whether he had or not, for his back was to me, as he flattened his nose against the window, but I could see that my poultice was gone.

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 "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.

armnounUS /ɑːrm/

a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb

From this reading "Where is what uncle put on your arm, Toddie?"

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading It was hard to tell, by sight, whether he had or not, for his back was to me, as he flattened his nose against the window, but I could see that my poultice was gone.

badadjectiveUS /bæd/

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

bangverbUS /bæŋ/

strike violently

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

banishedverbUS /ˈbænɪʃt/

past form of “banish” — expel from a community or group

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

beginded

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

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

boysnounUS /bɔɪz/

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

BudgeverbUS /bʌdʒ/

move very slightly

From this reading With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

bwed

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

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.

causedverbUS /kɑːzd/

past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally

From this reading With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.

clingverbUS /klɪŋ/

come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

comfortableadjectiveUS /ˈkʌmfərtəbəl/

providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)

From this reading With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading It was hard to tell, by sight, whether he had or not, for his back was to me, as he flattened his nose against the window, but I could see that my poultice was gone.

dinnernounUS /ˈdɪnər/

the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

From this reading With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.

djust

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

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

especiallyadverbUS /əˈspeʃli/

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

fings

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

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

flattenedadjectiveUS /ˈflætənd/

having been flattened

From this reading It was hard to tell, by sight, whether he had or not, for his back was to me, as he flattened his nose against the window, but I could see that my poultice was gone.

foldingnounUS /ˈfoʊldɪŋ/

the process whereby a protein molecule assumes its intricate three-dimensional shape

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

froe

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

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.

goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/

destroyed or killed

From this reading It was hard to tell, by sight, whether he had or not, for his back was to me, as he flattened his nose against the window, but I could see that my poultice was gone.

habitnounUS /ˈhæbət/

an established custom

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading It was hard to tell, by sight, whether he had or not, for his back was to me, as he flattened his nose against the window, but I could see that my poultice was gone.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

heirloomsnounUS /ˈerluːmz/

plural of “heirloom” — (law) any property that is considered by law or custom as inseparable from an inheritance is inherited with that inheritance

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

knewverbUS /nuː/

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

leavesnounUS /liːvz/

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

mothersnounUS /ˈmʌðərz/

plural of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading It was hard to tell, by sight, whether he had or not, for his back was to me, as he flattened his nose against the window, but I could see that my poultice was gone.

nosenounUS /noʊz/

the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals

From this reading It was hard to tell, by sight, whether he had or not, for his back was to me, as he flattened his nose against the window, but I could see that my poultice was gone.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was hard to tell, by sight, whether he had or not, for his back was to me, as he flattened his nose against the window, but I could see that my poultice was gone.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

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

From this reading With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.

offendernounUS /əˈfendər/

a person who transgresses moral or civil law

From this reading With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/

out of fashion

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Where is what uncle put on your arm, Toddie?"

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It was hard to tell, by sight, whether he had or not, for his back was to me, as he flattened his nose against the window, but I could see that my poultice was gone.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

pieshe

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

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

poulticenounUS /ˈpoʊltəs/

a medical dressing consisting of a soft heated mass of meal or clay that is spread on a cloth and applied to the skin to treat inflamed areas or improve circulation etc.

From this reading It was hard to tell, by sight, whether he had or not, for his back was to me, as he flattened his nose against the window, but I could see that my poultice was gone.

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading "Where is what uncle put on your arm, Toddie?"

reachingnounUS /ˈriːtʃɪŋ/

the act of physically reaching or thrusting out

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

reatchin

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

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

repentedverbUS /rɪˈpentɪd/

past form of “repent” — turn away from sin or do penitence

From this reading With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.

roomnounUS /ruːm/

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

salvageverbUS /ˈsælvədʒ/

save from ruin, destruction, or harm

From this reading With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.

sightnounUS /saɪt/

an instance of visual perception

From this reading It was hard to tell, by sight, whether he had or not, for his back was to me, as he flattened his nose against the window, but I could see that my poultice was gone.

smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

sobbedverbUS /sɑːbd/

inflected form of “sob” — weep convulsively

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

supperlessadjective

without supper

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

tablesnounUS /ˈteɪbəlz/

plural of “table” — a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

tabo

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

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading It was hard to tell, by sight, whether he had or not, for his back was to me, as he flattened his nose against the window, but I could see that my poultice was gone.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was hard to tell, by sight, whether he had or not, for his back was to me, as he flattened his nose against the window, but I could see that my poultice was gone.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

Toddie

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

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

truthnounUS /truːθ/

a fact that has been verified

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

tumbleverbUS /ˈtʌmbəl/

fall down, as if collapsing

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

unclenounUS /ˈʌŋkəl/

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading "Where is what uncle put on your arm, Toddie?"

undoubtedlyadverbUS /ənˈdaʊtɪdli/

without doubt; certainly

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

up-stairs

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

From this reading With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "I was only djust reatchin for a pieshe of bwed," sobbed Toddie, "an' then the bad old tabo beginded to froe all its fings at me, an' tumble down bang."

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

WhereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading "Where is what uncle put on your arm, Toddie?"

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading It was hard to tell, by sight, whether he had or not, for his back was to me, as he flattened his nose against the window, but I could see that my poultice was gone.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading He undoubtedly told the truth as far as he knew it, but reaching over tables is a bad habit in small boys, especially when their mothers cling to old-fashioned heirlooms of tables, which have folding leaves; so I banished Toddie to his room, supperless, to think of what he had done.

windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading It was hard to tell, by sight, whether he had or not, for his back was to me, as he flattened his nose against the window, but I could see that my poultice was gone.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.

wrecknounUS /rek/

something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation

From this reading With Budge alone, I had a comfortable dinner off the salvage from the wreck caused by Toddie, and then I went up-stairs to see if the offender had repented.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Where is what uncle put on your arm, Toddie?"

Chapter 4 of Helen's Babies by John Habberton holds 472 sentences, grouped into 95 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 4 of Helen's Babies contain?

Chapter 4 holds 472 sentences of Helen's Babies, unabridged, divided into 95 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of Helen's Babies by John Habberton exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 472 sentences, grouped into 95 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 4 of Helen's Babies?

Work through the 95 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 95 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 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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 Helen's Babies

Common questions about reading Helen's Babies by John Habberton on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Helen's Babies?

Yes. All 1950 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4281 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Helen's Babies is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #4281, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Helen's Babies take to read?

About 162 minutes of reading across 390 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Helen's Babies section by section

How to work through Helen's Babies section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 4 chapters of Helen's Babies 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 Helen's Babies

Words and structures a reader meets early in Helen's Babies, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Account
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Helen's Babies; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Innocent
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Helen's Babies; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Crafty
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Helen's Babies; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Angelic
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Helen's Babies; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.