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Jed, the Poorhouse Boy
Jed, the Poorhouse Boy

Chapter XVIII

Chapter 18 of Jed, the Poorhouse Boy is here in full — 56 sentences across 12 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Jed, the Poorhouse Boy
Context Illustration Reading 1/11 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
MR.
FOGSON RECEIVES A LETTER.
Let us go back to the Scranton poorhouse.
Mr. Fogson was sawing wood near the house.
It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.
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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.

Jed, the Poorhouse Boy

Chapter XVIII

Chapter 18 of Jed, the Poorhouse Boy is here in full — 56 sentences across 12 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/11 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
MR.
/ˈmɪstər/
Line 2
FOGSON RECEIVES A LETTER.
Line 3
Let us go back to the Scranton poorhouse.
/let ʌs ɡoʊ bæk tuː ðə ˈskræntən ˈpuːrhaʊs/
Line 4
Mr. Fogson was sawing wood near the house.
Line 5
It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

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.

devolved verb US /dɪˈvɑːlvd/

past form of “devolve” — pass on or delegate to another

From this reading “It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.”

disinclined adjective US /ˌdɪsɪnˈklaɪnd/

unwilling because of mild dislike or disapproval

From this reading “It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.”

labor noun US /ˈleɪbər/

a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages

From this reading “It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.”

paying adjective US /ˈpeɪɪŋ/

yielding a fair profit

From this reading “It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.”

poorhouse noun US /ˈpuːrhaʊs/

an establishment maintained at public expense in order to provide housing for the poor and homeless

From this reading “Let us go back to the Scranton poorhouse.”

receives verb US /rəˈsiːvz/

third-person singular of “receive” — get something; come into possession of

From this reading “FOGSON RECEIVES A LETTER.”

sawing verb US /ˈsɔːɪŋ/

-ing form of “saw” — cut with a saw

From this reading “Mr. Fogson was sawing wood near the house.”

Scranton noun US /ˈskræntən/

an industrial city of northeastern Pennsylvania

From this reading “Let us go back to the Scranton poorhouse.”

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.

go back verb + particle

belong to an earlier time

In this reading “Let us go back to the Scranton poorhouse.”

RECEIVES A LETTER verb + article + noun counted as “receive … letter”

In this reading “FOGSON RECEIVES A LETTER.”

All words in this reading · 46

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 FOGSON RECEIVES A LETTER.

absencenounUS /ˈæbsəns/

the state of being absent

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

accustomedadjectiveUS /əˈkʌstəmd/

commonly used or practiced; usual

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Let us go back to the Scranton poorhouse.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

devolvedverbUS /dɪˈvɑːlvd/

past form of “devolve” — pass on or delegate to another

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

disinclinedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsɪnˈklaɪnd/

unwilling because of mild dislike or disapproval

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

FOGSON

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

From this reading FOGSON RECEIVES A LETTER.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

formnounUS /fɔːrm/

the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

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

From this reading Let us go back to the Scranton poorhouse.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Mr. Fogson was sawing wood near the house.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

Jed

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

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

labornounUS /ˈleɪbər/

a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

Letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Let us go back to the Scranton poorhouse.

LETTERnounUS /ˈletər/

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading FOGSON RECEIVES A LETTER.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

MRnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading MR.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

nearadverbUS /nɪr/

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading Mr. Fogson was sawing wood near the house.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

payingadjectiveUS /ˈpeɪɪŋ/

yielding a fair profit

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

poorhousenounUS /ˈpuːrhaʊs/

an establishment maintained at public expense in order to provide housing for the poor and homeless

From this reading Let us go back to the Scranton poorhouse.

RECEIVESverbUS /rəˈsiːvz/

third-person singular of “receive” — get something; come into possession of

From this reading FOGSON RECEIVES A LETTER.

sawingverbUS /ˈsɔːɪŋ/

-ing form of “saw” — cut with a saw

From this reading Mr. Fogson was sawing wood near the house.

ScrantonnounUS /ˈskræntən/

an industrial city of northeastern Pennsylvania

From this reading Let us go back to the Scranton poorhouse.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

tasknounUS /tæsk/

any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Let us go back to the Scranton poorhouse.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Let us go back to the Scranton poorhouse.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Let us go back to the Scranton poorhouse.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Mr. Fogson was sawing wood near the house.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading It was a task which Jed had been accustomed to do, but in his absence it devolved upon Mr. Fogson, who was very much disinclined to that form of labor, but still more to paying for having it done.

woodnounUS /wʊd/

the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees

From this reading Mr. Fogson was sawing wood near the house.

Chapter 18 of Jed, the Poorhouse Boy by Horatio, Jr. Alger holds 56 sentences, grouped into 12 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 18 of Jed, the Poorhouse Boy contain?

Chapter 18 holds 56 sentences of Jed, the Poorhouse Boy, unabridged, divided into 12 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 18 of Jed, the Poorhouse Boy by Horatio, Jr. Alger exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 56 sentences, grouped into 12 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 18 of Jed, the Poorhouse Boy?

Work through the 12 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 12 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 18 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 18 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 Jed, the Poorhouse Boy

Common questions about reading Jed, the Poorhouse Boy by Horatio, Jr. Alger on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Jed, the Poorhouse Boy?

Yes. All 5160 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #54350 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Jed, the Poorhouse Boy is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #54350, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Jed, the Poorhouse Boy take to read?

About 430 minutes of reading across 1032 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Jed, the Poorhouse Boy section by section

How to work through Jed, the Poorhouse Boy section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of Jed, the Poorhouse Boy 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 Jed, the Poorhouse Boy

Words and structures a reader meets early in Jed, the Poorhouse Boy, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Https
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Jed, the Poorhouse Boy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Books
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Jed, the Poorhouse Boy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Google
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Jed, the Poorhouse Boy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Lvjclz
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Jed, the Poorhouse Boy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.