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Squire Phin
Squire Phin

Chapter XXV

Chapter 25 of Squire Phin is here in full — 96 sentences across 20 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Holman Day • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Squire Phin
Context Illustration Reading 1/19 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
IN THE SUNSET Slowly he passed, for he stopped to pick The stones from the road with his old crook stick.
Rolled them left and rolled them right From early morning till late at night.
And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”
It was August again.
The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.
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.

Squire Phin

Chapter XXV

Chapter 25 of Squire Phin is here in full — 96 sentences across 20 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/19 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
IN THE SUNSET Slowly he passed, for he stopped to pick The stones from the road with his old crook stick.
/ɪn ðə ˈsʌnset ˈsloʊli hiː pæst fɔːr hiː stɑːpt tuː pɪk ðə stoʊnz frʌm ðə roʊd wɪð hɪz oʊld krʊk stɪk/
Line 2
Rolled them left and rolled them right From early morning till late at night.
/roʊld ðem left ənd roʊld ðem raɪt frʌm ˈɜːrli ˈmɔːrnɪŋ tɪl leɪt æt naɪt/
Line 3
And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”
Line 4
It was August again.
/ɪt wɑːz ˈɑːɡəst əˈɡen/
Line 5
The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.

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.

buzzed verb US /bʌzd/

past form of “buzz” — make a buzzing sound

From this reading “The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
crook noun US /krʊk/

someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime

From this reading “IN THE SUNSET Slowly he passed, for he stopped to pick The stones from the road with his old crook stick.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
doubting adjective US /ˈdaʊtɪŋ/

marked by or given to doubt

From this reading “And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
flies noun US /flaɪz/

(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)

From this reading “The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hush verb US /hʌʃ/

become quiet or still; fall silent

From this reading “The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lazily adverb US /ˈlæzəli/

in a slow and lazy manner

From this reading “The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mend verb US /mend/

restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken

From this reading “And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
prompted verb US /ˈprɑːmptɪd/

past form of “prompt” — give an incentive for action

From this reading “And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!””

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.

early morning adjective + noun

In this reading “Rolled them left and rolled them right From early morning till late at night.”

7,183 times in 426,211 chapters
late afternoon adjective + noun

In this reading “The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.”

1,990 times in 426,211 chapters
at night preposition + noun

In this reading “Rolled them left and rolled them right From early morning till late at night.”

45,941 times in 426,211 chapters
in the shade preposition + article + noun counted as “in … shade”

In this reading “The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.”

6,965 times in 426,211 chapters
old men adjective + noun

In this reading “The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.”

6,926 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 78

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 And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
accustomedadjectiveUS /əˈkʌstəmd/

commonly used or practiced; usual

From this reading The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
afternoonnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading It was August again.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Rolled them left and rolled them right From early morning till late at night.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Asa

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

From this reading The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.

Pending verification
askverbUS /æsk/

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Rolled them left and rolled them right From early morning till late at night.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AugustnounUS /ˈɑːɡəst/

the month following July and preceding September

From this reading It was August again.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
benchnounUS /bentʃ/

a long seat for more than one person

From this reading The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Brickett's

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

From this reading The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.

Pending verification
buzzedverbUS /bʌzd/

past form of “buzz” — make a buzzing sound

From this reading The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
castverbUS /kæst/

put or send forth

From this reading The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
conversationnounUS /ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃən/

the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.

From this reading The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
crooknounUS /krʊk/

someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime

From this reading IN THE SUNSET Slowly he passed, for he stopped to pick The stones from the road with his old crook stick.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
doubtingadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊtɪŋ/

marked by or given to doubt

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading Rolled them left and rolled them right From early morning till late at night.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fliesnounUS /flaɪz/

(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)

From this reading The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
folknounUS /foʊk/

people in general (often used in the plural)

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading IN THE SUNSET Slowly he passed, for he stopped to pick The stones from the road with his old crook stick.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading IN THE SUNSET Slowly he passed, for he stopped to pick The stones from the road with his old crook stick.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
gazenounUS /ɡeɪz/

a long fixed look

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading IN THE SUNSET Slowly he passed, for he stopped to pick The stones from the road with his old crook stick.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
helpin

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

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

Pending verification
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading IN THE SUNSET Slowly he passed, for he stopped to pick The stones from the road with his old crook stick.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hushverbUS /hʌʃ/

become quiet or still; fall silent

From this reading The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
I'm

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

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

Pending verification
INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading IN THE SUNSET Slowly he passed, for he stopped to pick The stones from the road with his old crook stick.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was August again.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
knife-nicked

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

From this reading The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.

Pending verification
lateadjectiveUS /leɪt/

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading Rolled them left and rolled them right From early morning till late at night.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lazilyadverbUS /ˈlæzəli/

in a slow and lazy manner

From this reading The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading Rolled them left and rolled them right From early morning till late at night.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mendverbUS /mend/

restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Rolled them left and rolled them right From early morning till late at night.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nightnounUS /naɪt/

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

From this reading Rolled them left and rolled them right From early morning till late at night.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

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

From this reading IN THE SUNSET Slowly he passed, for he stopped to pick The stones from the road with his old crook stick.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
passedverbUS /pæst/

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading IN THE SUNSET Slowly he passed, for he stopped to pick The stones from the road with his old crook stick.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pausedverbUS /pɔːzd/

past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pickverbUS /pɪk/

select carefully from a group

From this reading IN THE SUNSET Slowly he passed, for he stopped to pick The stones from the road with his old crook stick.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
promptedverbUS /ˈprɑːmptɪd/

past form of “prompt” — give an incentive for action

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
reasonsnounUS /ˈriːzənz/

plural of “reason” — a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading Rolled them left and rolled them right From early morning till late at night.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
roadnounUS /roʊd/

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading IN THE SUNSET Slowly he passed, for he stopped to pick The stones from the road with his old crook stick.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RolledadjectiveUS /roʊld/

especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward

From this reading Rolled them left and rolled them right From early morning till late at night.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rownounUS /roʊ/

an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line

From this reading The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
self-set

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

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

Pending verification
shadenounUS /ʃeɪd/

relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body

From this reading The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
simplyadverbUS /ˈsɪmpli/

and nothing more

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SlowlyadverbUS /ˈsloʊli/

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading IN THE SUNSET Slowly he passed, for he stopped to pick The stones from the road with his old crook stick.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
smileverbUS /smaɪl/

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stickverbUS /stɪk/

put, fix, force, or implant

From this reading IN THE SUNSET Slowly he passed, for he stopped to pick The stones from the road with his old crook stick.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stonesnounUS /stoʊnz/

plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading IN THE SUNSET Slowly he passed, for he stopped to pick The stones from the road with his old crook stick.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stoppedadjectiveUS /stɑːpt/

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading IN THE SUNSET Slowly he passed, for he stopped to pick The stones from the road with his old crook stick.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
storenounUS /stɔːr/

a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services

From this reading The flies buzzed lazily in the late afternoon hush, and the knife-nicked bench in the shade cast by Asa Brickett’s store had its accustomed row of old men, who buzzed in conversation as lazily as the flies.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SUNSETnounUS /ˈsʌnset/

the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon

From this reading IN THE SUNSET Slowly he passed, for he stopped to pick The stones from the road with his old crook stick.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tasknounUS /tæsk/

any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading IN THE SUNSET Slowly he passed, for he stopped to pick The stones from the road with his old crook stick.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Rolled them left and rolled them right From early morning till late at night.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Rolled them left and rolled them right From early morning till late at night.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading IN THE SUNSET Slowly he passed, for he stopped to pick The stones from the road with his old crook stick.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was August again.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
waysnounUS /weɪz/

structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading IN THE SUNSET Slowly he passed, for he stopped to pick The stones from the road with his old crook stick.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wonderingadjectiveUS /ˈwʌndərɪŋ/

showing curiosity

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
yepronounUS /jiː/

an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading And to wondering folk who paused to ask The reasons that prompted this self-set task He said, with a smile for their doubting gaze, “I’m simply helpin’ ye mend your ways!”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 25 of Squire Phin by Holman Day holds 96 sentences, grouped into 20 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 25 of Squire Phin contain?

Chapter 25 holds 96 sentences of Squire Phin, unabridged, divided into 20 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 25 of Squire Phin by Holman Day exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 96 sentences, grouped into 20 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 25 of Squire Phin?

Work through the 20 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 20 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 25 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 25 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 Squire Phin

Common questions about reading Squire Phin by Holman Day on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Squire Phin?

Yes. All 5616 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #55340 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Squire Phin is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #55340, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Squire Phin take to read?

About 468 minutes of reading across 1124 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Squire Phin section by section

How to work through Squire Phin section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 25 chapters of Squire Phin 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 Squire Phin

Words and structures a reader meets early in Squire Phin, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Gar-ret
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Squire Phin; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Car-ret
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Squire Phin; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Called
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Squire Phin; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Iscar-ret
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Squire Phin; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.