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Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910)
Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910)

Chapter XXVI · Chapter 26

Chapter 26 of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910) is here in full — 372 sentences across 75 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910)
Context Illustration Reading 1/74 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I am at work again--on a book.
Not with a great deal of spirit, but with enough--yes, plenty.
And I am pushing my publishing house.
It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.
But I've got to earn $50,000 for it between now and then--which I will do if I keep my health.
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Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910)

Chapter XXVI · Chapter 26

Chapter 26 of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910) is here in full — 372 sentences across 75 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/74 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I am at work again--on a book.
Line 2
Not with a great deal of spirit, but with enough--yes, plenty.
Line 3
And I am pushing my publishing house.
/ənd aɪ æm ˈpʊʃɪŋ maɪ ˈpʌblɪʃɪŋ haʊs/
Line 4
It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.
Line 5
But I've got to earn $50,000 for it between now and then--which I will do if I keep my health.

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.

cleaning noun US /ˈkliːnɪŋ/

the act of making something clean

From this reading “It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.”

consecutive adjective US /kənˈsɛk.jə.tɪv/

Following continuously in unbroken sequence.

From this reading “It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.”

dividends noun US /ˈdɪvədendz/

plural of “dividend” — that part of the earnings of a corporation that is distributed to its shareholders; usually paid quarterly

From this reading “It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.”

January noun US /ˈdʒænjuːeri/

the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice

From this reading “It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.”

onward adverb US /ˈɔːnwərd/

forward in time or order or degree

From this reading “It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.”

piling noun US /ˈpaɪlɪŋ/

a column of wood or steel or concrete that is driven into the ground to provide support for a structure

From this reading “It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.”

publishing noun US /ˈpʌblɪʃɪŋ/

the business of issuing printed matter for sale or distribution

From this reading “And I am pushing my publishing house.”

resume verb US /rɪˈzuːm/

take up or begin anew

From this reading “It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.”

All words in this reading · 63

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.

50,000

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

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading I am at work again--on a book.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading I am at work again--on a book.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading I am at work again--on a book.

AmericannounUS /əˈmerəkən/

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And I am pushing my publishing house.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I am at work again--on a book.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading But I've got to earn $50,000 for it between now and then--which I will do if I keep my health.

booknounUS /bʊk/

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading I am at work again--on a book.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Not with a great deal of spirit, but with enough--yes, plenty.

centnounUS /sent/

a fractional monetary unit of several countries

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

cleaningnounUS /ˈkliːnɪŋ/

the act of making something clean

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

consecutiveadjectiveUS /kənˈsɛk.jə.tɪv/

Following continuously in unbroken sequence.

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

cornernounUS /ˈkɔːrnər/

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

dealverbUS /diːl/

act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading Not with a great deal of spirit, but with enough--yes, plenty.

dividendsnounUS /ˈdɪvədendz/

plural of “dividend” — that part of the earnings of a corporation that is distributed to its shareholders; usually paid quarterly

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading But I've got to earn $50,000 for it between now and then--which I will do if I keep my health.

earnverbUS /ɜːrn/

earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages

From this reading But I've got to earn $50,000 for it between now and then--which I will do if I keep my health.

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading Not with a great deal of spirit, but with enough--yes, plenty.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading But I've got to earn $50,000 for it between now and then--which I will do if I keep my health.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Not with a great deal of spirit, but with enough--yes, plenty.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

healthnounUS /helθ/

a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease

From this reading But I've got to earn $50,000 for it between now and then--which I will do if I keep my health.

housenounUS /haʊs/

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

From this reading And I am pushing my publishing house.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I am at work again--on a book.

I've

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

From this reading But I've got to earn $50,000 for it between now and then--which I will do if I keep my health.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading But I've got to earn $50,000 for it between now and then--which I will do if I keep my health.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/

the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

keepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading But I've got to earn $50,000 for it between now and then--which I will do if I keep my health.

LibrarynounUS /ˈlaɪbreriː/

a room where books are kept

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

LiteraturenounUS /ˈlɪtərətʃər/

creative writing of recognized artistic value

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading And I am pushing my publishing house.

nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

NotadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Not with a great deal of spirit, but with enough--yes, plenty.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading But I've got to earn $50,000 for it between now and then--which I will do if I keep my health.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Not with a great deal of spirit, but with enough--yes, plenty.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I am at work again--on a book.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

onwardadverbUS /ˈɔːnwərd/

forward in time or order or degree

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

pilingnounUS /ˈpaɪlɪŋ/

a column of wood or steel or concrete that is driven into the ground to provide support for a structure

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

plentynounUS /ˈplenti/

a full supply

From this reading Not with a great deal of spirit, but with enough--yes, plenty.

publishingnounUS /ˈpʌblɪʃɪŋ/

the business of issuing printed matter for sale or distribution

From this reading And I am pushing my publishing house.

pushingnounUS /ˈpʊʃɪŋ/

the act of applying force in order to move something away

From this reading And I am pushing my publishing house.

resumeverbUS /rɪˈzuːm/

take up or begin anew

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

spiritnounUS /ˈspɪrət/

the vital principle or animating force within living things

From this reading Not with a great deal of spirit, but with enough--yes, plenty.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading But I've got to earn $50,000 for it between now and then--which I will do if I keep my health.

threenounUS /θriː/

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

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading But I've got to earn $50,000 for it between now and then--which I will do if I keep my health.

turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/

moved around an axis or center

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading But I've got to earn $50,000 for it between now and then--which I will do if I keep my health.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Not with a great deal of spirit, but with enough--yes, plenty.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading I am at work again--on a book.

yearnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading It has turned the corner after cleaning $50,000 a year for three consecutive years, and piling every cent of it into one book--Library of American Literature--and from next January onward it will resume dividends.

yesnounUS /jes/

an affirmative

From this reading Not with a great deal of spirit, but with enough--yes, plenty.

Chapter 26 of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910) by Mark Twain holds 372 sentences, grouped into 75 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 26 of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910) contain?

Chapter 26 holds 372 sentences of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910), unabridged, divided into 75 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 26 of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910) by Mark Twain exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 372 sentences, grouped into 75 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 26 of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910)?

Work through the 75 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 75 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 26 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 26 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's Letters — Complete (1853-1910)

Common questions about reading Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910) by Mark Twain on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910)?

Yes. All 14985 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #3199 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910) is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #3199, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910) take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 2997 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910) section by section

How to work through Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910) section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910) 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 Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910)

Words and structures a reader meets early in Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910), each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Twain
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Nowhere
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Human
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Being
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.