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Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus is here in full — 47 sentences across 10 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus
Context Illustration Reading 1/9 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.
April 10, 19..--I never thought it would come to this, that I should keep a diary, because I am not a good little boy.
Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.
Those are the only people that ever kept a successful diary.
But I had to promise ma that I would keep a diary, so she could read it, or I never could have got her consent for me to go with pa on the road with a circus.
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.

Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus is here in full — 47 sentences across 10 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/9 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.
Line 2
April 10, 19..--I never thought it would come to this, that I should keep a diary, because I am not a good little boy.
Line 3
Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.
Line 4
Those are the only people that ever kept a successful diary.
/ðoʊz ɑːr ðə ˈoʊnli ˈpiːpəl ðæt ˈevər kept ə səkˈsesfəl ˈdaɪəri/
Line 5
But I had to promise ma that I would keep a diary, so she could read it, or I never could have got her consent for me to go with pa on the road with a circus.
/bʌt aɪ hæd tuː ˈprɑːməs mɑː ðæt aɪ wʊd kiːp ə ˈdaɪəri soʊ ʃiː kʊd red ɪt ɔːr aɪ ˈnevər kʊd hæv ɡɑːt hɜːr kənˈsent fɔːr miː tuː ɡoʊ wɪð pɑː ɑːn ðə roʊd wɪð ə ˈsɜːrkəs/

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.

Buys noun US /baɪz/

plural of “buy” — an advantageous purchase

From this reading “The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.”

Curry verb US /ˈkʌri/

season with a mixture of spices; typical of Indian cooking

From this reading “The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.”

gills noun US /ɡɪlz/

plural of “gill” — a British imperial capacity unit (liquid or dry) equal to 5 fluid ounces or 142.066 cubic centimeters

From this reading “Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.”

Hyena noun US /haɪˈiːnə/

doglike nocturnal mammal of Africa and southern Asia that feeds chiefly on carrion

From this reading “The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.”

Ogle verb US /ˈoʊɡəl/

look at with amorous intentions

From this reading “The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.”

skips noun US /skɪps/

plural of “skip” — a gait in which steps and hops alternate

From this reading “Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.”

Stunts noun US /stʌnts/

plural of “stunt” — a difficult or unusual or dangerous feat; usually done to gain attention

From this reading “The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.”

Trapeze noun US /trəˈpiːz/

a swing used by circus acrobats

From this reading “The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.”

All words in this reading · 137

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.

10

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

From this reading April 10, 19..--I never thought it would come to this, that I should keep a diary, because I am not a good little boy.

19

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

From this reading April 10, 19..--I never thought it would come to this, that I should keep a diary, because I am not a good little boy.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

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 Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading April 10, 19..--I never thought it would come to this, that I should keep a diary, because I am not a good little boy.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

angelnounUS /ˈeɪndʒəl/

spiritual being attendant upon God

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

angelsnounUS /ˈeɪndʒəlz/

plural of “angel” — spiritual being attendant upon God

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

AprilnounUS /ˈeɪprəl/

the month following March and preceding May

From this reading April 10, 19..--I never thought it would come to this, that I should keep a diary, because I am not a good little boy.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Those are the only people that ever kept a successful diary.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

BadadjectiveUS /bæd/

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

baitverbUS /beɪt/

harass with persistent criticism or carping

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

banknounUS /bæŋk/

sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

BeautynounUS /ˈbjuːti/

the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading April 10, 19..--I never thought it would come to this, that I should keep a diary, because I am not a good little boy.

BecomeverbUS /bɪˈkʌm/

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

BeginsnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnz/

plural of “begin” — Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

BoynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

burglarnounUS /ˈbɝː.ɡlɚ/

A person who commits illegal entry into a building with intent to steal valuable treasures.

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But I had to promise ma that I would keep a diary, so she could read it, or I never could have got her consent for me to go with pa on the road with a circus.

BuysnounUS /baɪz/

plural of “buy” — an advantageous purchase

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

can't

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

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

CanadanounUS /ˈkænədə/

a nation in northern North America; the French were the first Europeans to settle in mainland Canada

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

cashiernounUS /kæˈʃɪr/

an employee of a bank who receives and pays out money

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

catchverbUS /kætʃ/

discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

changedadjectiveUS /tʃeɪndʒd/

made or become different in nature or form

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

Circassiannoun

a member of the Sunni Muslim people living in northwestern Caucasia

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

CircusnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəs/

a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

closesnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪz/

plural of “close” — the temporal end; the concluding time

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

ClothesnounUS /kloʊðz/

clothing in general

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

combinationnounUS /ˌkɑːmbəˈneɪʃən/

a collection of things that have been combined; an assemblage of separate parts or qualities

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading April 10, 19..--I never thought it would come to this, that I should keep a diary, because I am not a good little boy.

consentnounUS /kənˈsent/

permission to do something

From this reading But I had to promise ma that I would keep a diary, so she could read it, or I never could have got her consent for me to go with pa on the road with a circus.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading But I had to promise ma that I would keep a diary, so she could read it, or I never could have got her consent for me to go with pa on the road with a circus.

CurryverbUS /ˈkʌri/

season with a mixture of spices; typical of Indian cooking

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

DadnounUS /dæd/

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

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

DiarynounUS /ˈdaɪəri/

a daily written record of (usually personal) experiences and observations

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

emotionsnounUS /ɪˈmoʊʃənz/

plural of “emotion” — any strong feeling

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

ExpectsverbUS /ɪkˈspekts/

third-person singular of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

feelverbUS /fiːl/

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

gillsnounUS /ɡɪlz/

plural of “gill” — a British imperial capacity unit (liquid or dry) equal to 5 fluid ounces or 142.066 cubic centimeters

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

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

From this reading But I had to promise ma that I would keep a diary, so she could read it, or I never could have got her consent for me to go with pa on the road with a circus.

goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/

destroyed or killed

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

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

From this reading April 10, 19..--I never thought it would come to this, that I should keep a diary, because I am not a good little boy.

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

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

From this reading But I had to promise ma that I would keep a diary, so she could read it, or I never could have got her consent for me to go with pa on the road with a circus.

GrowverbUS /ɡroʊ/

pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading But I had to promise ma that I would keep a diary, so she could read it, or I never could have got her consent for me to go with pa on the road with a circus.

Hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading But I had to promise ma that I would keep a diary, so she could read it, or I never could have got her consent for me to go with pa on the road with a circus.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

hireverbUS /ˈhaɪər/

engage or hire for work

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

hookverbUS /hʊk/

fasten with a hook

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

HyenanounUS /haɪˈiːnə/

doglike nocturnal mammal of Africa and southern Asia that feeds chiefly on carrion

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading April 10, 19..--I never thought it would come to this, that I should keep a diary, because I am not a good little boy.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading April 10, 19..--I never thought it would come to this, that I should keep a diary, because I am not a good little boy.

keepverbUS /kiːp/

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

From this reading April 10, 19..--I never thought it would come to this, that I should keep a diary, because I am not a good little boy.

keepsnounUS /kiːps/

plural of “keep” — the financial means whereby one lives

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

keptadjectiveUS /kept/

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading Those are the only people that ever kept a successful diary.

leavesnounUS /liːvz/

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

LetsnounUS /lets/

plural of “let” — a brutal terrorist group active in Kashmir; fights against India with the goal of restoring Islamic rule of India

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading April 10, 19..--I never thought it would come to this, that I should keep a diary, because I am not a good little boy.

lockverbUS /lɑːk/

fasten with a lock

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

ManounUS /mɑː/

informal terms for a mother

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

maidnounUS /meɪd/

a female domestic

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

ManagernounUS /ˈmænədʒər/

someone who controls resources and expenditures

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading But I had to promise ma that I would keep a diary, so she could read it, or I never could have got her consent for me to go with pa on the road with a circus.

MondaynounUS /ˈmʌndi/

the second day of the week; the first working day

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

moneynounUS /ˈmʌni/

the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading April 10, 19..--I never thought it would come to this, that I should keep a diary, because I am not a good little boy.

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

NobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/

no person; not anyone

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading April 10, 19..--I never thought it would come to this, that I should keep a diary, because I am not a good little boy.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

OgleverbUS /ˈoʊɡəl/

look at with amorous intentions

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

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

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading Those are the only people that ever kept a successful diary.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

PanounUS /pɑː/

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

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading Those are the only people that ever kept a successful diary.

promiseverbUS /ˈprɑːməs/

make a promise or commitment

From this reading But I had to promise ma that I would keep a diary, so she could read it, or I never could have got her consent for me to go with pa on the road with a circus.

readverbUS /red/

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

reformedadjectiveUS /rɪˈfɔːrmd/

of or relating to the body of Protestant Christianity arising during the Reformation; used of some Protestant churches especially Calvinist as distinct from Lutheran

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

roadnounUS /roʊd/

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading But I had to promise ma that I would keep a diary, so she could read it, or I never could have got her consent for me to go with pa on the road with a circus.

safeadjectiveUS /seɪf/

free from danger or the risk of harm

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

SaturdaynounUS /ˈsætərdi/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

SaysnounUS /sez/

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

schoolnounUS /skuːl/

an educational institution

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading April 10, 19..--I never thought it would come to this, that I should keep a diary, because I am not a good little boy.

skipsnounUS /skɪps/

plural of “skip” — a gait in which steps and hops alternate

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

SomeadjectiveUS /sʌm/

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

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

standverbUS /stænd/

be standing; be upright

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

StuntsnounUS /stʌnts/

plural of “stunt” — a difficult or unusual or dangerous feat; usually done to gain attention

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

successfuladjectiveUS /səkˈsesfəl/

having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome

From this reading Those are the only people that ever kept a successful diary.

SundaynounUS /ˈsʌndeɪ/

first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

swallowverbUS /ˈswɑːloʊ/

pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

teachesnounUS /ˈtiːtʃəz/

plural of “teach” — an English pirate who operated in the Caribbean and off the Atlantic coast of North America (died in 1718)

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading April 10, 19..--I never thought it would come to this, that I should keep a diary, because I am not a good little boy.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading April 10, 19..--I never thought it would come to this, that I should keep a diary, because I am not a good little boy.

ThosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Those are the only people that ever kept a successful diary.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading April 10, 19..--I never thought it would come to this, that I should keep a diary, because I am not a good little boy.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

TrapezenounUS /trəˈpiːz/

a swing used by circus acrobats

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

trulyadverbUS /ˈtruːli/

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/

except if; if not

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

wantsnounUS /wɑːnts/

plural of “want” — a state of extreme poverty

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

WhiskersnounUS /ˈwɪskərz/

the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

Willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading The Bad Boy Begins a Diary--Dad Has Become Manager for a Circus--The Bad Boy Expects to Curry the Hyena and Do Stunts on the Trapeze--Ma Says Pa Will Ogle the Circassian Beauty--- Pa Buys Some Circus Clothes and Lets His Whiskers Grow.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading April 10, 19..--I never thought it would come to this, that I should keep a diary, because I am not a good little boy.

writesverbUS /raɪts/

third-person singular of “write” — produce a literary work

From this reading Nobody ever keeps a diary except a boy that wants to be an angel, and with the angels stand, or a girl that is in love, or an old maid that can't catch a man unless she writes down her emotions and leaves them around so some man will read them, and swallow the bait and not feel the hook in his gills, or a truly good bank cashier who teaches Sunday school, and skips out for Canada some Saturday night, after the bank closes, and on Monday morning they find the combination of the lock on the safe changed, and when they hire a reformed burglar to open the lock the money is all gone with the cashier.

Chapter 1 of Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus by George W. (George Wilbur) Peck holds 47 sentences, grouped into 10 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 Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus contain?

Chapter 1 holds 47 sentences of Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus, unabridged, divided into 10 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus by George W. (George Wilbur) Peck exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 47 sentences, grouped into 10 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 Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus?

Work through the 10 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 10 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 Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus

Common questions about reading Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus by George W. (George Wilbur) Peck on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus?

Yes. All 1349 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #10212 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #10212, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus take to read?

About 112 minutes of reading across 270 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus section by section

How to work through Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 26 chapters of Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus 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 Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus

Words and structures a reader meets early in Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Begins
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Diary--dad
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Become
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Manager
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.