Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910

Chapter XXIV · Chapter 24

Chapter 24 of Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910 is here in full — 171 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Albert Bigelow Paine • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

"'Is yonder squalid peasant all That this proud nursery could breed?'

He was a-whetting his bowie on his boot--so I let it pass.

Well, sir, next they took it into their heads that they would like some music; so they made me stand up and sing, 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home' till I dropped--at thirteen minutes past four this morning.

That's what I've been through, my friend.

When I woke at seven they were leaving, thank goodness, and Mr. Longfellow had my only boots on and his'n under his arm.

Narrator

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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.

Chapter XXIV Reading 1/34

Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910 Albert Bigelow Paine

Chapter XXIV

Chapter 24

Chapter 24 of Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910 is here in full — 171 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

"'Is yonder squalid peasant all That this proud nursery could breed?' He was a-whetting his bowie on his boot--so I let it pass. Well, sir, next they took it into their heads that they would like some music; so they made me stand up and sing, 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home' till I dropped--at thirteen minutes past four this morning. That's what I've been through, my friend. When I woke at seven they were leaving, thank goodness, and Mr. Longfellow had my only boots on and his'n under his arm.

Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910

Chapter XXIV · Chapter 24

Chapter 24 of Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910 is here in full — 171 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

"'Is yonder squalid peasant all That this proud nursery could breed?'

/ɪz ˈjɑːndər ˈskwɑːləd ˈpezənt ɔːl ðæt ðɪs praʊd ˈnɜːrsəri kʊd briːd/

Line 2

He was a-whetting his bowie on his boot--so I let it pass.

Line 3

Line 4

That's what I've been through, my friend.

Line 5

When I woke at seven they were leaving, thank goodness, and Mr. Longfellow had my only boots on and his'n under his arm.

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.

boot noun US /buːt/

footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg

From this reading “He was a-whetting his bowie on his boot--so I let it pass.”

bowie noun US /ˈboʊi/

United States pioneer and hero of the Texas revolt against Mexico; he shared command of the garrison that resisted the Mexican attack on the Alamo where he died (1796-1836)

From this reading “He was a-whetting his bowie on his boot--so I let it pass.”

breed verb US /briːd/

call forth

From this reading “"'Is yonder squalid peasant all That this proud nursery could breed?'”

Longfellow noun US /ˈlɔːŋfeloʊ/

United States poet remembered for his long narrative poems (1807-1882)

From this reading “When I woke at seven they were leaving, thank goodness, and Mr. Longfellow had my only boots on and his'n under his arm.”

Marching noun US /ˈmɑːrtʃɪŋ/

the act of marching; walking with regular steps (especially in a procession of some kind)

From this reading “Well, sir, next they took it into their heads that they would like some music; so they made me stand up and sing, 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home' till I dropped--at thirteen minutes past four this morning.”

nursery noun US /ˈnɜːrsəri/

a child's room for a baby

From this reading “"'Is yonder squalid peasant all That this proud nursery could breed?'”

squalid adjective US /ˈskwɑːləd/

morally degraded

From this reading “"'Is yonder squalid peasant all That this proud nursery could breed?'”

thirteen noun US /ˈθɜːrˈtiːn/

the cardinal number that is the sum of twelve and one

All words in this reading · 75

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.

a-whetting

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

From this reading He was a-whetting his bowie on his boot--so I let it pass.

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 "'Is yonder squalid peasant all That this proud nursery could breed?'

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Well, sir, next they took it into their heads that they would like some music; so they made me stand up and sing, 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home' till I dropped--at thirteen minutes past four this morning.

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 When I woke at seven they were leaving, thank goodness, and Mr. Longfellow had my only boots on and his'n under his arm.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading That's what I've been through, my friend.

bootnounUS /buːt/

footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg

From this reading He was a-whetting his bowie on his boot--so I let it pass.

bootsnounUS /buːts/

plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg

From this reading When I woke at seven they were leaving, thank goodness, and Mr. Longfellow had my only boots on and his'n under his arm.

bowienounUS /ˈboʊi/

United States pioneer and hero of the Texas revolt against Mexico; he shared command of the garrison that resisted the Mexican attack on the Alamo where he died (1796-1836)

From this reading He was a-whetting his bowie on his boot--so I let it pass.

breedverbUS /briːd/

call forth

From this reading "'Is yonder squalid peasant all That this proud nursery could breed?'

ComesnounUS /kʌmz/

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

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading "'Is yonder squalid peasant all That this proud nursery could breed?'

droppedverbUS /drɑːpt/

inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground

fournounUS /fɔːr/

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

friendnounUS /frend/

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading That's what I've been through, my friend.

goodnessnounUS /ˈɡʊdnəs/

that which is pleasing or valuable or useful

From this reading When I woke at seven they were leaving, thank goodness, and Mr. Longfellow had my only boots on and his'n under his arm.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading When I woke at seven they were leaving, thank goodness, and Mr. Longfellow had my only boots on and his'n under his arm.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was a-whetting his bowie on his boot--so I let it pass.

headsnounUS /hedz/

plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He was a-whetting his bowie on his boot--so I let it pass.

his'n

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

From this reading When I woke at seven they were leaving, thank goodness, and Mr. Longfellow had my only boots on and his'n under his arm.

HomenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading He was a-whetting his bowie on his boot--so I let it pass.

I've

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

From this reading That's what I've been through, my friend.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "'Is yonder squalid peasant all That this proud nursery could breed?'

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He was a-whetting his bowie on his boot--so I let it pass.

JohnnynounUS /ˈdʒɑːni/

“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms

leavingnounUS /ˈliːvɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading When I woke at seven they were leaving, thank goodness, and Mr. Longfellow had my only boots on and his'n under his arm.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading He was a-whetting his bowie on his boot--so I let it pass.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

LongfellownounUS /ˈlɔːŋfeloʊ/

United States poet remembered for his long narrative poems (1807-1882)

From this reading When I woke at seven they were leaving, thank goodness, and Mr. Longfellow had my only boots on and his'n under his arm.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

MarchingnounUS /ˈmɑːrtʃɪŋ/

the act of marching; walking with regular steps (especially in a procession of some kind)

mepronounUS /miː/

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

minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading When I woke at seven they were leaving, thank goodness, and Mr. Longfellow had my only boots on and his'n under his arm.

musicnounUS /ˈmjuːzɪk/

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading That's what I've been through, my friend.

nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

nurserynounUS /ˈnɜːrsəri/

a child's room for a baby

From this reading "'Is yonder squalid peasant all That this proud nursery could breed?'

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He was a-whetting his bowie on his boot--so I let it pass.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading When I woke at seven they were leaving, thank goodness, and Mr. Longfellow had my only boots on and his'n under his arm.

passverbUS /pæs/

go across or through

From this reading He was a-whetting his bowie on his boot--so I let it pass.

pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

peasantnounUS /ˈpezənt/

a country person

From this reading "'Is yonder squalid peasant all That this proud nursery could breed?'

proudadjectiveUS /praʊd/

feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride

From this reading "'Is yonder squalid peasant all That this proud nursery could breed?'

sevennounUS /ˈsevən/

the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one

From this reading When I woke at seven they were leaving, thank goodness, and Mr. Longfellow had my only boots on and his'n under his arm.

singverbUS /sɪŋ/

deliver by singing

sirnounUS /sɜːr/

term of address for a man

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He was a-whetting his bowie on his boot--so I let it pass.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

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

squalidadjectiveUS /ˈskwɑːləd/

morally degraded

From this reading "'Is yonder squalid peasant all That this proud nursery could breed?'

standverbUS /stænd/

be standing; be upright

thankverbUS /θæŋk/

express gratitude or show appreciation to

From this reading When I woke at seven they were leaving, thank goodness, and Mr. Longfellow had my only boots on and his'n under his arm.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "'Is yonder squalid peasant all That this proud nursery could breed?'

That's

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

From this reading That's what I've been through, my friend.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

thirteennounUS /ˈθɜːrˈtiːn/

the cardinal number that is the sum of twelve and one

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading "'Is yonder squalid peasant all That this proud nursery could breed?'

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading That's what I've been through, my friend.

tillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading When I woke at seven they were leaving, thank goodness, and Mr. Longfellow had my only boots on and his'n under his arm.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was a-whetting his bowie on his boot--so I let it pass.

WelladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading When I woke at seven they were leaving, thank goodness, and Mr. Longfellow had my only boots on and his'n under his arm.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading That's what I've been through, my friend.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

wokeverbUS /woʊk/

inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there

From this reading When I woke at seven they were leaving, thank goodness, and Mr. Longfellow had my only boots on and his'n under his arm.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

yonderadjectiveUS /ˈjɑːndər/

distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)

From this reading "'Is yonder squalid peasant all That this proud nursery could breed?'

Chapter 24 of Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910 by Albert Bigelow Paine holds 171 sentences, grouped into 35 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 24 of Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910 contain?

Chapter 24 holds 171 sentences of Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910, unabridged, divided into 35 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 24 of Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910 by Albert Bigelow Paine exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 171 sentences, grouped into 35 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 24 of Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910?

Work through the 35 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 35 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 24 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 24 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 Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910

Common questions about reading Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910 by Albert Bigelow Paine on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910?

Yes. All 4343 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2987 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2987, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910 take to read?

About 361 minutes of reading across 869 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910

Words and structures a reader meets early in Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Clemens: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Brief: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Bermuda: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
During: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter XXIV · Chapter 24

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Vocabulary met early in Mark Twain — Part 2, 1907-1910