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Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life
Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life is here in full — 415 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life
Context Illustration Reading 47/83 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Stands my uncle mit cheeky looks und he showed a fist on my papa.
My papa has a fierce mad sooner he seen that fist--fists is awful cheeky when somebody ain't paid.
So my papa he says ('scuse me)--it's fierce how he says, on'y he had a mad over that fist.
He says ('scuse me), 'Go to hell!' und my uncle, what ain't paid that thousen dollers, he says just like that to my papa.
He says too ('scuse me, Teacher), 'Go to hell!'
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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.

Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life is here in full — 415 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 47/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 231–235

Line 1
Stands my uncle mit cheeky looks und he showed a fist on my papa.
Line 2
My papa has a fierce mad sooner he seen that fist--fists is awful cheeky when somebody ain't paid.
Line 3
So my papa he says ('scuse me)--it's fierce how he says, on'y he had a mad over that fist.
Line 4
He says ('scuse me), 'Go to hell!' und my uncle, what ain't paid that thousen dollers, he says just like that to my papa.
Line 5
He says too ('scuse me, Teacher), 'Go to hell!'

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.

cheeky adjective US /ˈtʃiːki/

offensively bold

From this reading “Stands my uncle mit cheeky looks und he showed a fist on my papa.”

fierce adjective US /fɪrs/

marked by extreme and violent energy

From this reading “My papa has a fierce mad sooner he seen that fist--fists is awful cheeky when somebody ain't paid.”

fist noun US /fɪst/

a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)

From this reading “Stands my uncle mit cheeky looks und he showed a fist on my papa.”

fists noun US /fɪsts/

plural of “fist” — a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)

From this reading “My papa has a fierce mad sooner he seen that fist--fists is awful cheeky when somebody ain't paid.”

hell noun US /hel/

any place of pain and turmoil

From this reading “He says ('scuse me), 'Go to hell!' und my uncle, what ain't paid that thousen dollers, he says just like that to my papa.”

mit noun US /ˈeˈmaɪˈtiː/

an engineering university in Cambridge

From this reading “Stands my uncle mit cheeky looks und he showed a fist on my papa.”

Stands noun US /stændz/

plural of “stand” — a support or foundation

From this reading “Stands my uncle mit cheeky looks und he showed a fist on my papa.”

Teacher noun US /ˈtiːtʃər/

a person whose occupation is teaching

From this reading “He says too ('scuse me, Teacher), 'Go to hell!'”

All words in this reading · 45

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 Stands my uncle mit cheeky looks und he showed a fist on my papa.

ain't

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

From this reading My papa has a fierce mad sooner he seen that fist--fists is awful cheeky when somebody ain't paid.

awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/

exceptionally bad or displeasing

From this reading My papa has a fierce mad sooner he seen that fist--fists is awful cheeky when somebody ain't paid.

cheekyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃiːki/

offensively bold

From this reading Stands my uncle mit cheeky looks und he showed a fist on my papa.

dollers

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

From this reading He says ('scuse me), 'Go to hell!' und my uncle, what ain't paid that thousen dollers, he says just like that to my papa.

fierceadjectiveUS /fɪrs/

marked by extreme and violent energy

From this reading My papa has a fierce mad sooner he seen that fist--fists is awful cheeky when somebody ain't paid.

fistnounUS /fɪst/

a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)

From this reading Stands my uncle mit cheeky looks und he showed a fist on my papa.

fistsnounUS /fɪsts/

plural of “fist” — a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)

From this reading My papa has a fierce mad sooner he seen that fist--fists is awful cheeky when somebody ain't paid.

GoverbUS /ɡoʊ/

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

From this reading He says ('scuse me), 'Go to hell!' und my uncle, what ain't paid that thousen dollers, he says just like that to my papa.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading So my papa he says ('scuse me)--it's fierce how he says, on'y he had a mad over that fist.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading My papa has a fierce mad sooner he seen that fist--fists is awful cheeky when somebody ain't paid.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Stands my uncle mit cheeky looks und he showed a fist on my papa.

hellnounUS /hel/

any place of pain and turmoil

From this reading He says ('scuse me), 'Go to hell!' und my uncle, what ain't paid that thousen dollers, he says just like that to my papa.

how

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

From this reading So my papa he says ('scuse me)--it's fierce how he says, on'y he had a mad over that fist.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading My papa has a fierce mad sooner he seen that fist--fists is awful cheeky when somebody ain't paid.

it's

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

From this reading So my papa he says ('scuse me)--it's fierce how he says, on'y he had a mad over that fist.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading He says ('scuse me), 'Go to hell!' und my uncle, what ain't paid that thousen dollers, he says just like that to my papa.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading He says ('scuse me), 'Go to hell!' und my uncle, what ain't paid that thousen dollers, he says just like that to my papa.

looksnounUS /lʊks/

plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face

From this reading Stands my uncle mit cheeky looks und he showed a fist on my papa.

madadjectiveUS /mæd/

roused to anger

From this reading My papa has a fierce mad sooner he seen that fist--fists is awful cheeky when somebody ain't paid.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading So my papa he says ('scuse me)--it's fierce how he says, on'y he had a mad over that fist.

mitnounUS /ˈeˈmaɪˈtiː/

an engineering university in Cambridge

From this reading Stands my uncle mit cheeky looks und he showed a fist on my papa.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Stands my uncle mit cheeky looks und he showed a fist on my papa.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Stands my uncle mit cheeky looks und he showed a fist on my papa.

on'y

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

From this reading So my papa he says ('scuse me)--it's fierce how he says, on'y he had a mad over that fist.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading So my papa he says ('scuse me)--it's fierce how he says, on'y he had a mad over that fist.

paidadjectiveUS /peɪd/

marked by the reception of pay

From this reading My papa has a fierce mad sooner he seen that fist--fists is awful cheeky when somebody ain't paid.

papanounUS /ˈpɑːpʌ/

an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk

From this reading Stands my uncle mit cheeky looks und he showed a fist on my papa.

saysnounUS /sez/

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading So my papa he says ('scuse me)--it's fierce how he says, on'y he had a mad over that fist.

scuse

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

From this reading So my papa he says ('scuse me)--it's fierce how he says, on'y he had a mad over that fist.

seenverbUS /siːn/

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading My papa has a fierce mad sooner he seen that fist--fists is awful cheeky when somebody ain't paid.

showedverbUS /ʃoʊd/

past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Stands my uncle mit cheeky looks und he showed a fist on my papa.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So my papa he says ('scuse me)--it's fierce how he says, on'y he had a mad over that fist.

somebodypronounUS /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/

a person, without saying who

From this reading My papa has a fierce mad sooner he seen that fist--fists is awful cheeky when somebody ain't paid.

sooneradverbUS /ˈsuːnər/

comparatives of “soon” or “early”

From this reading My papa has a fierce mad sooner he seen that fist--fists is awful cheeky when somebody ain't paid.

StandsnounUS /stændz/

plural of “stand” — a support or foundation

From this reading Stands my uncle mit cheeky looks und he showed a fist on my papa.

TeachernounUS /ˈtiːtʃər/

a person whose occupation is teaching

From this reading He says too ('scuse me, Teacher), 'Go to hell!'

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading My papa has a fierce mad sooner he seen that fist--fists is awful cheeky when somebody ain't paid.

thousen

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

From this reading He says ('scuse me), 'Go to hell!' und my uncle, what ain't paid that thousen dollers, he says just like that to my papa.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He says ('scuse me), 'Go to hell!' und my uncle, what ain't paid that thousen dollers, he says just like that to my papa.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading He says too ('scuse me, Teacher), 'Go to hell!'

unclenounUS /ˈʌŋkəl/

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

From this reading Stands my uncle mit cheeky looks und he showed a fist on my papa.

und

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

From this reading Stands my uncle mit cheeky looks und he showed a fist on my papa.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He says ('scuse me), 'Go to hell!' und my uncle, what ain't paid that thousen dollers, he says just like that to my papa.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading My papa has a fierce mad sooner he seen that fist--fists is awful cheeky when somebody ain't paid.

Chapter 1 of Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life by Myra Kelly holds 415 sentences, grouped into 83 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 Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life contain?

Chapter 1 holds 415 sentences of Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life by Myra Kelly exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 415 sentences, grouped into 83 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 Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life?

Work through the 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 83 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 Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life

Common questions about reading Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life by Myra Kelly on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life?

Yes. All 2978 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #6662 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #6662, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life take to read?

About 248 minutes of reading across 596 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life section by section

How to work through Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 7 chapters of Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life 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 Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life

Words and structures a reader meets early in Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Teacher
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Something
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Frontispiece
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Isidore
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Little Citizens: The Humours of School Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.