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Original Penny Readings
Original Penny Readings

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Original Penny Readings is here in full — 432 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By George Manville Fenn • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Original Penny Readings
Context Illustration Reading 1/86 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Original Penny Readings, by George Manville Fenn.
________________________________________________________________________ ORIGINAL PENNY READINGS, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN.
CHAPTER ONE.
PAYING THE FOOTING.
Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.
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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.

Original Penny Readings

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Original Penny Readings is here in full — 432 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/86 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Original Penny Readings, by George Manville Fenn.
Line 2
________________________________________________________________________ ORIGINAL PENNY READINGS, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN.
Line 3
CHAPTER ONE.
/ˈtʃæptər wʌn/
Line 4
PAYING THE FOOTING.
/ˈpeɪɪŋ ðə ˈfʊtɪŋ/
Line 5
Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

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.

clay noun US /kleɪ/

a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired

From this reading “Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
footing noun US /ˈfʊtɪŋ/

status with respect to the relations between people or groups

From this reading “PAYING THE FOOTING.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
paying adjective US /ˈpeɪɪŋ/

yielding a fair profit

From this reading “PAYING THE FOOTING.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Penny noun US /ˈpeni/

a fractional monetary unit of Ireland and the United Kingdom; equal to one hundredth of a pound

From this reading “Original Penny Readings, by George Manville Fenn.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pot's noun US /pɑːts/

possessive form of “pot” — metal or earthenware cooking vessel that is usually round and deep; often has a handle and lid

From this reading “Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Readings noun US /ˈriːdɪŋz/

plural of “reading” — the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading “Original Penny Readings, by George Manville Fenn.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rings noun US /rɪŋz/

gymnastic apparatus consisting of a pair of heavy metal circles (usually covered with leather) suspended by ropes; used for gymnastic exercises

From this reading “Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
turns noun US /tɜːrnz/

plural of “turn” — a circular segment of a curve

From this reading “Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

turns out verb + adjective counted as “turn out”

be shown or be found to be

In this reading “Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.”

13,764 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 38

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 Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
bitnounUS /bɪt/

a small piece or quantity of something

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Original Penny Readings, by George Manville Fenn.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
CHAPTERnounUS /ˈtʃæptər/

a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled

From this reading CHAPTER ONE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
claynounUS /kleɪ/

a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
don't

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

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

Pending verification
Fenn

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

From this reading Original Penny Readings, by George Manville Fenn.

Pending verification
fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/

start firing a weapon

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FOOTINGnounUS /ˈfʊtɪŋ/

status with respect to the relations between people or groups

From this reading PAYING THE FOOTING.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
GeorgenounUS /dʒɔːrdʒ/

Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)

From this reading Original Penny Readings, by George Manville Fenn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
it's

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

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

Pending verification
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Manville

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

From this reading Original Penny Readings, by George Manville Fenn.

Pending verification
matternounUS /ˈmætər/

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
NowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ONEpronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading CHAPTER ONE.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
OriginaladjectiveUS /ərˈɪdʒənəl/

preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed

From this reading Original Penny Readings, by George Manville Fenn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PAYINGadjectiveUS /ˈpeɪɪŋ/

yielding a fair profit

From this reading PAYING THE FOOTING.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PennynounUS /ˈpeni/

a fractional monetary unit of Ireland and the United Kingdom; equal to one hundredth of a pound

From this reading Original Penny Readings, by George Manville Fenn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pot'snounUS /pɑːts/

possessive form of “pot” — metal or earthenware cooking vessel that is usually round and deep; often has a handle and lid

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ReadingsnounUS /ˈriːdɪŋz/

plural of “reading” — the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading Original Penny Readings, by George Manville Fenn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ringsnounUS /rɪŋz/

gymnastic apparatus consisting of a pair of heavy metal circles (usually covered with leather) suspended by ropes; used for gymnastic exercises

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sortnounUS /sɔːrt/

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
soundnounUS /saʊnd/

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
struckadjectiveUS /strʌk/

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading PAYING THE FOOTING.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
triedadjectiveUS /traɪd/

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
turnsnounUS /tɜːrnz/

plural of “turn” — a circular segment of a curve

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
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”)

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Now, it don't matter a bit what sort of clay a pot's made of, if when it's been tried in the fire it turns out sound and rings well when it's struck.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 1 of Original Penny Readings by George Manville Fenn holds 432 sentences, grouped into 87 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 Original Penny Readings contain?

Chapter 1 holds 432 sentences of Original Penny Readings, unabridged, divided into 87 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Original Penny Readings by George Manville Fenn exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 432 sentences, grouped into 87 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 Original Penny Readings?

Work through the 87 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 87 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 Original Penny Readings

Common questions about reading Original Penny Readings by George Manville Fenn on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Original Penny Readings?

Yes. All 2595 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #34666 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Original Penny Readings is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #34666, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Original Penny Readings take to read?

About 216 minutes of reading across 519 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Original Penny Readings section by section

How to work through Original Penny Readings section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 6 chapters of Original Penny Readings 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 Original Penny Readings

Words and structures a reader meets early in Original Penny Readings, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Original
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Original Penny Readings; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Penny
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Original Penny Readings; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Readings
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Original Penny Readings; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
George
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Original Penny Readings; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.