Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Belgian Twins
The Belgian Twins

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Belgian Twins is here in full — 442 sentences across 89 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Belgian Twins
Context Illustration Reading 1/88 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Pooh!" said Jan; "he didn't tell me that.
I'm not afraid of any mule alive.
I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"
To prove his words he shouted "U--U" at Netteke and slapped her flank with a long branch of willow.
Now, Netteke was a proud mule and she wasn't used to being slapped.
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.

The Belgian Twins

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Belgian Twins is here in full — 442 sentences across 89 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/88 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Pooh!" said Jan; "he didn't tell me that.
Line 2
I'm not afraid of any mule alive.
Line 3
I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"
Line 4
To prove his words he shouted "U--U" at Netteke and slapped her flank with a long branch of willow.
Line 5
Now, Netteke was a proud mule and she wasn't used to being slapped.

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.

flank noun US /flæŋk/

the side of military or naval formation

From this reading “To prove his words he shouted "U--U" at Netteke and slapped her flank with a long branch of willow.”

grain noun US /ɡreɪn/

a relatively small granular particle of a substance

From this reading “I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"”

harness verb US /ˈhɑːrnəs/

put a harness

From this reading “I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"”

Jan noun US /dʒæn/

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

From this reading “"Pooh!" said Jan; "he didn't tell me that.”

load noun US /loʊd/

weight to be borne or conveyed

From this reading “I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"”

mule noun US /mjuːl/

hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile

From this reading “I'm not afraid of any mule alive.”

slapped verb US /slæpt/

inflected form of “slap” — hit with something flat, like a paddle or the open hand

From this reading “To prove his words he shouted "U--U" at Netteke and slapped her flank with a long branch of willow.”

willow noun US /ˈwɪloʊ/

any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix

From this reading “To prove his words he shouted "U--U" at Netteke and slapped her flank with a long branch of willow.”

All words in this reading · 57

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"

afraidadjectiveUS /əˈfreɪd/

filled with fear or apprehension

From this reading I'm not afraid of any mule alive.

aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/

possessing life

From this reading I'm not afraid of any mule alive.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading I'm not afraid of any mule alive.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading To prove his words he shouted "U--U" at Netteke and slapped her flank with a long branch of willow.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Now, Netteke was a proud mule and she wasn't used to being slapped.

branchnounUS /bræntʃ/

a division of some larger or more complex organization

From this reading To prove his words he shouted "U--U" at Netteke and slapped her flank with a long branch of willow.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"

can't

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

From this reading I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"

didn't

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

From this reading "Pooh!" said Jan; "he didn't tell me that.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"

driveverbUS /draɪv/

operate or control a vehicle

From this reading I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"

fieldnounUS /fiːld/

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"

flanknounUS /flæŋk/

the side of military or naval formation

From this reading To prove his words he shouted "U--U" at Netteke and slapped her flank with a long branch of willow.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"

grainnounUS /ɡreɪn/

a relatively small granular particle of a substance

From this reading I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"

guessverbUS /ɡes/

expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"

harnessverbUS /ˈhɑːrnəs/

put a harness

From this reading I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "Pooh!" said Jan; "he didn't tell me that.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading To prove his words he shouted "U--U" at Netteke and slapped her flank with a long branch of willow.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading To prove his words he shouted "U--U" at Netteke and slapped her flank with a long branch of willow.

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"

horsenounUS /hɔːrs/

solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"

I'm

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

From this reading I'm not afraid of any mule alive.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"

isn't

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

From this reading I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"

JannounUS /dʒæn/

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

From this reading "Pooh!" said Jan; "he didn't tell me that.

loadnounUS /loʊd/

weight to be borne or conveyed

From this reading I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading To prove his words he shouted "U--U" at Netteke and slapped her flank with a long branch of willow.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading "Pooh!" said Jan; "he didn't tell me that.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"

mulenounUS /mjuːl/

hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile

From this reading I'm not afraid of any mule alive.

Netteke

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

From this reading To prove his words he shouted "U--U" at Netteke and slapped her flank with a long branch of willow.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I'm not afraid of any mule alive.

NowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading Now, Netteke was a proud mule and she wasn't used to being slapped.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I'm not afraid of any mule alive.

Pooh

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

From this reading "Pooh!" said Jan; "he didn't tell me that.

proudadjectiveUS /praʊd/

feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride

From this reading Now, Netteke was a proud mule and she wasn't used to being slapped.

proveverbUS /pruːv/

be shown or be found to be

From this reading To prove his words he shouted "U--U" at Netteke and slapped her flank with a long branch of willow.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Pooh!" said Jan; "he didn't tell me that.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Now, Netteke was a proud mule and she wasn't used to being slapped.

shoutedadjectiveUS /ˈʃaʊtɪd/

in a vehement outcry

From this reading To prove his words he shouted "U--U" at Netteke and slapped her flank with a long branch of willow.

slappedverbUS /slæpt/

inflected form of “slap” — hit with something flat, like a paddle or the open hand

From this reading To prove his words he shouted "U--U" at Netteke and slapped her flank with a long branch of willow.

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading "Pooh!" said Jan; "he didn't tell me that.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Pooh!" said Jan; "he didn't tell me that.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To prove his words he shouted "U--U" at Netteke and slapped her flank with a long branch of willow.

UnounUS /juː/

a base containing nitrogen that is found in RNA (but not in DNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine

From this reading To prove his words he shouted "U--U" at Netteke and slapped her flank with a long branch of willow.

usedadjectiveUS /juːzd/

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading Now, Netteke was a proud mule and she wasn't used to being slapped.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Now, Netteke was a proud mule and she wasn't used to being slapped.

wasn't

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

From this reading Now, Netteke was a proud mule and she wasn't used to being slapped.

willownounUS /ˈwɪloʊ/

any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix

From this reading To prove his words he shouted "U--U" at Netteke and slapped her flank with a long branch of willow.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!"

wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/

the words that are spoken

From this reading To prove his words he shouted "U--U" at Netteke and slapped her flank with a long branch of willow.

Chapter 3 of The Belgian Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins holds 442 sentences, grouped into 89 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 3 of The Belgian Twins contain?

Chapter 3 holds 442 sentences of The Belgian Twins, unabridged, divided into 89 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of The Belgian Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 442 sentences, grouped into 89 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 3 of The Belgian Twins?

Work through the 89 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 89 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 The Belgian Twins

Common questions about reading The Belgian Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Belgian Twins?

Yes. All 1325 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #3642 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Belgian Twins is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #3642, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Belgian Twins take to read?

About 110 minutes of reading across 265 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Belgian Twins section by section

How to work through The Belgian Twins section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 3 chapters of The Belgian Twins 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 The Belgian Twins

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Belgian Twins, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Dutch
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Belgian Twins; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Twins
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Belgian Twins; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Primer
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Belgian Twins; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Grade
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Belgian Twins; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.