Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875)
Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875)

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875) is here in full — 153 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875)
Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.
We want a heliotype made of our eldest daughter.
How soft and rich and lovely the picture is.
Mr. Howells must tell me how to proceed in the matter.
Truly Yours SAM.
0:00 / 0:00
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 — Volume 2 (1867-1875)

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875) is here in full — 153 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.
Line 2
We want a heliotype made of our eldest daughter.
Line 3
How soft and rich and lovely the picture is.
Line 4
Mr. Howells must tell me how to proceed in the matter.
Line 5
Truly Yours SAM.
/ˈtruːli jʊrz sæm/

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.

aspect noun US /ˈæspekt/

a distinct feature or element in a problem

From this reading “I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.”

bother verb US /ˈbɑːðər/

take the trouble to do something; concern oneself

From this reading “I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.”

domestic adjective US /dəˈmestɪk/

of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation

From this reading “I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.”

eldest adjective US /ˈeldəst/

first in order of birth

From this reading “We want a heliotype made of our eldest daughter.”

groups noun US /ɡruːps/

plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading “I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.”

Howells noun US /ˈhaʊəlz/

United States writer and editor (1837-1920)

From this reading “Mr. Howells must tell me how to proceed in the matter.”

pervades verb US /pərˈveɪdz/

third-person singular of “pervade” — spread or diffuse through

From this reading “I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.”

proceed verb US /prəˈsiːd/

continue talking

From this reading “Mr. Howells must tell me how to proceed in the matter.”

All words in this reading · 55

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 shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

accountnounUS /əˈkaʊnt/

a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading How soft and rich and lovely the picture is.

aspectnounUS /ˈæspekt/

a distinct feature or element in a problem

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

botherverbUS /ˈbɑːðər/

take the trouble to do something; concern oneself

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

daughternounUS /ˈdɔːtər/

a female human offspring

From this reading We want a heliotype made of our eldest daughter.

delightverbUS /dɪˈlaɪt/

give pleasure to or be pleasing to

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

domesticadjectiveUS /dəˈmestɪk/

of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

eldestadjectiveUS /ˈeldəst/

first in order of birth

From this reading We want a heliotype made of our eldest daughter.

familynounUS /ˈfæməli/

a social unit living together

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

groupnounUS /ɡruːp/

any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

groupsnounUS /ɡruːps/

plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

heliotypenoun

duplicator consisting of a gelatin plate from which ink can be taken to make a copy

From this reading We want a heliotype made of our eldest daughter.

How

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

From this reading How soft and rich and lovely the picture is.

HowellsnounUS /ˈhaʊəlz/

United States writer and editor (1837-1920)

From this reading Mr. Howells must tell me how to proceed in the matter.

humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/

characteristic of humanity

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading How soft and rich and lovely the picture is.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

lovelyadjectiveUS /ˈlʌvli/

appealing to the emotions as well as the eye

From this reading How soft and rich and lovely the picture is.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading We want a heliotype made of our eldest daughter.

matternounUS /ˈmætər/

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading Mr. Howells must tell me how to proceed in the matter.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Mr. Howells must tell me how to proceed in the matter.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading Mr. Howells must tell me how to proceed in the matter.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Mr. Howells must tell me how to proceed in the matter.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

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

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading We want a heliotype made of our eldest daughter.

pervadesverbUS /pərˈveɪdz/

third-person singular of “pervade” — spread or diffuse through

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

picturenounUS /ˈpɪktʃər/

a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading How soft and rich and lovely the picture is.

picturesnounUS /ˈpɪktʃərz/

plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

proceedverbUS /prəˈsiːd/

continue talking

From this reading Mr. Howells must tell me how to proceed in the matter.

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

richadjectiveUS /rɪtʃ/

possessing material wealth

From this reading How soft and rich and lovely the picture is.

SAMnounUS /sæm/

a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target

From this reading Truly Yours SAM.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading How soft and rich and lovely the picture is.

spiritnounUS /ˈspɪrət/

the vital principle or animating force within living things

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

statenounUS /steɪt/

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading Mr. Howells must tell me how to proceed in the matter.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I shall just delight in that group on account of the good old human domestic spirit that pervades it--bother these family groups that put on a state aspect to get their pictures taken in.

TrulyadverbUS /ˈtruːli/

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading Truly Yours SAM.

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading We want a heliotype made of our eldest daughter.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We want a heliotype made of our eldest daughter.

YourspronounUS /jʊrz/

the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to

From this reading Truly Yours SAM.

Chapter 14 of Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875) by Mark Twain holds 153 sentences, grouped into 31 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 14 of Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875) contain?

Chapter 14 holds 153 sentences of Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875), unabridged, divided into 31 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 14 of Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875) by Mark Twain exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 153 sentences, grouped into 31 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 14 of Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875)?

Work through the 31 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 31 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 14 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 14 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 — Volume 2 (1867-1875)

Common questions about reading Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875) by Mark Twain on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875)?

Yes. All 2561 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #3194 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875) is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #3194, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875) take to read?

About 213 minutes of reading across 513 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875) section by section

How to work through Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875) section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 15 chapters of Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875) 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 — Volume 2 (1867-1875)

Words and structures a reader meets early in Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875), each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Volume
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Harte
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Francisco
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Westminster
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.