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The fool of the family
The fool of the family

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of The fool of the family is here in full — 102 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The fool of the family
Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
FUN ENDS IN TRAGEDY.
Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.
The boys met at the corner of the street and divided the candy.
"Now, what's the next move?" said Charley.
"Do you want to creep into your deal box?"
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The fool of the family

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of The fool of the family is here in full — 102 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
FUN ENDS IN TRAGEDY.
/fʌn endz ɪn ˈtrædʒədi/
Line 2
Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.
Line 3
The boys met at the corner of the street and divided the candy.
/ðə bɔɪz met æt ðə ˈkɔːrnər ʌv ðə striːt ənd dɪˈvaɪdɪd ðə ˈkændi/
Line 4
"Now, what's the next move?" said Charley.
Line 5
"Do you want to creep into your deal box?"
/duː juː wɑːnt tuː kriːp ˈɪntuː jɔːr diːl bɑːks/

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.

candy noun US /ˈkændi/

a rich sweet made of flavored sugar and often combined with fruit or nuts

From this reading “The boys met at the corner of the street and divided the candy.”

creep verb US /kriːp/

move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading “"Do you want to creep into your deal box?"”

lazy adjective US /ˈleɪzi/

moving slowly and gently

From this reading “Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.”

overtaking noun US /ˈoʊvərteɪkɪŋ/

going by something that is moving in order to get in front of it

From this reading “Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.”

succeed verb US /səkˈsiːd/

attain success or reach a desired goal

From this reading “Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.”

tragedy noun US /ˈtrædʒədi/

an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

From this reading “FUN ENDS IN TRAGEDY.”

vengeance noun US /ˈvendʒəns/

the act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done) especially in the next life

From this reading “Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.”

vowing verb US /ˈvaʊɪŋ/

-ing form of “vow” — make a vow; promise

From this reading “Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.”

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.

vowing vengeance verb + noun counted as “vow vengeance”

In this reading “Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.”

at length preposition + noun

in a lengthy or prolix manner

In this reading “Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.”

creep into verb + particle

In this reading “"Do you want to creep into your deal box?"”

succeed in verb + particle

In this reading “Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.”

gave up verb + adjective counted as “give up”

lose (s.th.) or lose the right to (s.th.) by some error, offense, or crime

In this reading “Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.”

at the corner preposition + article + noun counted as “at … corner”

In this reading “The boys met at the corner of the street and divided the candy.”

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 Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

boxnounUS /bɑːks/

a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid

From this reading "Do you want to creep into your deal box?"

boysnounUS /bɔɪz/

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading The boys met at the corner of the street and divided the candy.

candynounUS /ˈkændi/

a rich sweet made of flavored sugar and often combined with fruit or nuts

From this reading The boys met at the corner of the street and divided the candy.

Charley

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

From this reading "Now, what's the next move?" said Charley.

chaseverbUS /tʃeɪs/

go after with the intent to catch

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

cornernounUS /ˈkɔːrnər/

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading The boys met at the corner of the street and divided the candy.

creepverbUS /kriːp/

move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading "Do you want to creep into your deal box?"

dealverbUS /diːl/

act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading "Do you want to creep into your deal box?"

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

dividedadjectiveUS /dɪˈvaɪdɪd/

separated into parts or pieces

From this reading The boys met at the corner of the street and divided the candy.

Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "Do you want to creep into your deal box?"

ENDSnounUS /endz/

plural of “end” — either extremity of something that has length

From this reading FUN ENDS IN TRAGEDY.

FatadjectiveUS /fæt/

having an (over)abundance of flesh

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

FUNnounUS /fʌn/

activities that are enjoyable or amusing

From this reading FUN ENDS IN TRAGEDY.

gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

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

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading FUN ENDS IN TRAGEDY.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading "Do you want to creep into your deal box?"

JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

lazyadjectiveUS /ˈleɪzi/

moving slowly and gently

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

lengthnounUS /leŋkθ/

the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

metverbUS /met/

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading The boys met at the corner of the street and divided the candy.

moveverbUS /muːv/

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

From this reading "Now, what's the next move?" said Charley.

nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading "Now, what's the next move?" said Charley.

Nigger

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

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

NowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading "Now, what's the next move?" said Charley.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The boys met at the corner of the street and divided the candy.

overtakingnounUS /ˈoʊvərteɪkɪŋ/

going by something that is moving in order to get in front of it

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

powernounUS /ˈpaʊər/

possession of controlling influence

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Now, what's the next move?" said Charley.

streetnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading The boys met at the corner of the street and divided the candy.

succeedverbUS /səkˈsiːd/

attain success or reach a desired goal

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "Do you want to creep into your deal box?"

Tommy

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

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

TRAGEDYnounUS /ˈtrædʒədi/

an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

From this reading FUN ENDS IN TRAGEDY.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

vengeancenounUS /ˈvendʒəns/

the act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done) especially in the next life

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

vowingverbUS /ˈvaʊɪŋ/

-ing form of “vow” — make a vow; promise

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading "Do you want to creep into your deal box?"

what's

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

From this reading "Now, what's the next move?" said Charley.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Fat and lazy, Nigger John did not succeed in overtaking Tommy, and at length gave up the chase, vowing vengeance upon him when he got him in his power.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Do you want to creep into your deal box?"

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Do you want to creep into your deal box?"

Chapter 3 of The fool of the family by Bracebridge Hemyng holds 102 sentences, grouped into 21 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 3 of The fool of the family contain?

Chapter 3 holds 102 sentences of The fool of the family, unabridged, divided into 21 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of The fool of the family by Bracebridge Hemyng exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 102 sentences, grouped into 21 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 fool of the family?

Work through the 21 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 21 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 fool of the family

Common questions about reading The fool of the family by Bracebridge Hemyng on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The fool of the family?

Yes. All 3100 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #72372 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The fool of the family is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #72372, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The fool of the family take to read?

About 258 minutes of reading across 620 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The fool of the family section by section

How to work through The fool of the family section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 22 chapters of The fool of the family 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 fool of the family

Words and structures a reader meets early in The fool of the family, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Stories
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The fool of the family; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Harkaway
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The fool of the family; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Comrades
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The fool of the family; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Every
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The fool of the family; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.