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The Dutch Twins
The Dutch Twins

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Dutch Twins is here in full — 511 sentences across 103 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Dutch Twins
Context Illustration Reading 38/102 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.
They found their father cutting cabbages and gathering them into piles.
He was stopping to light his pipe, when they reached him.
"O Father!" said Kit and Kat both together.
"May we go on the boat to market with you to-morrow morning?
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 Dutch Twins

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Dutch Twins is here in full — 511 sentences across 103 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 38/102 · 5 reading units · Lines 186–190

Line 1
"Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.
/oʊ ˈɡʊdi ˈɡʊdi sed kɪt ənd kæt boʊθ æt wʌns ənd ðeɪ ræn æz fæst æz ðer ˈwʊdən ʃuːz wʊd teɪk ðem aʊt ˈɪntuː ðə ˈɡɑːrdən/
Line 2
They found their father cutting cabbages and gathering them into piles.
/ðeɪ faʊnd ðer ˈfɑːðər ˈkʌtɪŋ ˈkæbɪdʒɪz ənd ˈɡæðərɪŋ ðem ˈɪntuː paɪlz/
Line 3
He was stopping to light his pipe, when they reached him.
/hiː wɑːz ˈstɑːpɪŋ tuː laɪt hɪz paɪp wen ðeɪ riːtʃt hɪm/
Line 4
"O Father!" said Kit and Kat both together.
/oʊ ˈfɑːðər sed kɪt ənd kæt boʊθ təˈɡeðər/
Line 5
"May we go on the boat to market with you to-morrow morning?

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.

cabbages noun US /ˈkæbɪdʒɪz/

plural of “cabbage” — any of various types of cabbage

From this reading “They found their father cutting cabbages and gathering them into piles.”

cutting noun US /ˈkʌtɪŋ/

the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film

From this reading “They found their father cutting cabbages and gathering them into piles.”

gathering noun US /ˈɡæðərɪŋ/

a group of persons together in one place

From this reading “They found their father cutting cabbages and gathering them into piles.”

goody noun US /ˈɡʊdi/

something considered choice to eat

From this reading “"Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.”

Kat noun US /kæt/

the leaves of the shrub Catha edulis which are chewed like tobacco or used to make tea; has the effect of a euphoric stimulant

From this reading “"Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.”

Kit noun US /kɪt/

a case for containing a set of articles

From this reading “"Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.”

piles noun US /paɪlz/

venous swelling external or internal to the anal sphincter

From this reading “They found their father cutting cabbages and gathering them into piles.”

stopping noun US /ˈstɑːpɪŋ/

fastener consisting of a narrow strip of welded metal used to join steel members

From this reading “He was stopping to light his pipe, when they reached him.”

All words in this reading · 51

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.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

boatnounUS /boʊt/

a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading "May we go on the boat to market with you to-morrow morning?

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

cabbagesnounUS /ˈkæbɪdʒɪz/

plural of “cabbage” — any of various types of cabbage

From this reading They found their father cutting cabbages and gathering them into piles.

cuttingnounUS /ˈkʌtɪŋ/

the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film

From this reading They found their father cutting cabbages and gathering them into piles.

fastadverbUS /fæst/

quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading They found their father cutting cabbages and gathering them into piles.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading They found their father cutting cabbages and gathering them into piles.

gardennounUS /ˈɡɑːrdən/

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

gatheringnounUS /ˈɡæðərɪŋ/

a group of persons together in one place

From this reading They found their father cutting cabbages and gathering them into piles.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

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

From this reading "May we go on the boat to market with you to-morrow morning?

goodynounUS /ˈɡʊdi/

something considered choice to eat

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was stopping to light his pipe, when they reached him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He was stopping to light his pipe, when they reached him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He was stopping to light his pipe, when they reached him.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

KatnounUS /kæt/

the leaves of the shrub Catha edulis which are chewed like tobacco or used to make tea; has the effect of a euphoric stimulant

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

KitnounUS /kɪt/

a case for containing a set of articles

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading He was stopping to light his pipe, when they reached him.

marketnounUS /ˈmɑːrkət/

the world of commercial activity where goods and services are bought and sold

From this reading "May we go on the boat to market with you to-morrow morning?

Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading "May we go on the boat to market with you to-morrow morning?

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading "May we go on the boat to market with you to-morrow morning?

OnounUS /oʊ/

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading "O Father!" said Kit and Kat both together.

OhnounUS /oʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "May we go on the boat to market with you to-morrow morning?

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

pilesnounUS /paɪlz/

venous swelling external or internal to the anal sphincter

From this reading They found their father cutting cabbages and gathering them into piles.

pipenounUS /paɪp/

a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco

From this reading He was stopping to light his pipe, when they reached him.

ranverbUS /ræn/

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

reachedverbUS /riːtʃt/

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading He was stopping to light his pipe, when they reached him.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

shoesnounUS /ʃuːz/

a particular situation

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

stoppingnounUS /ˈstɑːpɪŋ/

fastener consisting of a narrow strip of welded metal used to join steel members

From this reading He was stopping to light his pipe, when they reached him.

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He was stopping to light his pipe, when they reached him.

to-morrow

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

From this reading "May we go on the boat to market with you to-morrow morning?

togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading "O Father!" said Kit and Kat both together.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was stopping to light his pipe, when they reached him.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "May we go on the boat to market with you to-morrow morning?

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading He was stopping to light his pipe, when they reached him.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "May we go on the boat to market with you to-morrow morning?

woodenadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdən/

made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading "Oh, goody, goody!" said Kit and Kat, both at once; and they ran as fast as their wooden shoes would take them out into the garden.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "May we go on the boat to market with you to-morrow morning?

Chapter 1 of The Dutch Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins holds 511 sentences, grouped into 103 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 The Dutch Twins contain?

Chapter 1 holds 511 sentences of The Dutch Twins, unabridged, divided into 103 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Dutch Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 511 sentences, grouped into 103 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 The Dutch Twins?

Work through the 103 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 103 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 The Dutch Twins

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

Is this the complete text of The Dutch Twins?

Yes. All 1516 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4012 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Dutch Twins is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #4012, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Dutch Twins take to read?

About 126 minutes of reading across 304 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Dutch Twins section by section

How to work through The Dutch 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 Dutch 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 Dutch Twins

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

Belongs
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dutch Twins; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Lawrence
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dutch Twins; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Other
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dutch Twins; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Children
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dutch Twins; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.