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The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury
The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury

Chapter XXIV

Chapter 24 of The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury is here in full — 112 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
MR.
BOMBS TELLS ALL HE KNOWS ABOUT LAURENS CORNWALLIS' MYSTERIOUS DEATH.
Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.
"How could you think of doing such a thing?" she asked.
"I didn't stop to think, Miss Adelaide.
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 Independence Day Horror at Killsbury

Chapter XXIV

Chapter 24 of The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury is here in full — 112 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
MR.
/ˈmɪstər/
Line 2
BOMBS TELLS ALL HE KNOWS ABOUT LAURENS CORNWALLIS' MYSTERIOUS DEATH.
/bɑːmz telz ɔːl hiː noʊz əˈbaʊt ˈlɔːrənz kɔːrnˈwɔːləs mɪˈstɪriəs deθ/
Line 3
Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.
/bɑːmz bɪˈɡæn tuː ɪkˈspleɪn ənd ˈædəleɪd ˈlɪsənd wɪð ˈsaɪlənt əˈtenʃən ənˈtɪl hiː keɪm tuː ðə pɔɪnt wer hiː sent ðə fɔːr bɔɪz tuː ðə ˈrɪvər bæŋk tuː meɪk ˈlɔːrənz dɪˈvaɪd ðə ˈfaɪrwɜːrks wɪð ðem/
Line 4
"How could you think of doing such a thing?" she asked.
Line 5
"I didn't stop to think, Miss Adelaide.

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.

Adelaide noun US /ˈædəleɪd/

the state capital of South Australia

From this reading “Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.”

bombs noun US /bɑːmz/

plural of “bomb” — an explosive device fused to explode under specific conditions

From this reading “BOMBS TELLS ALL HE KNOWS ABOUT LAURENS CORNWALLIS' MYSTERIOUS DEATH.”

cornwallis noun US /kɔːrnˈwɔːləs/

commander of the British forces in the American War of Independence; was defeated by American and French troops at Yorktown (1738-1805)

From this reading “BOMBS TELLS ALL HE KNOWS ABOUT LAURENS CORNWALLIS' MYSTERIOUS DEATH.”

divide verb US /dɪˈvaɪd/

separate into parts or portions

From this reading “Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.”

fireworks noun US /ˈfaɪrwɜːrks/

plural of “firework” — (usually plural) a device with an explosive that burns at a low rate and with colored flames; can be used to illuminate areas or send signals etc.

From this reading “Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.”

laurens noun US /ˈlɔːrənz/

leader of the American Revolution and president of the Continental Congress (1724-1792)

From this reading “BOMBS TELLS ALL HE KNOWS ABOUT LAURENS CORNWALLIS' MYSTERIOUS DEATH.”

mysterious adjective US /mɪˈstɪriəs/

of an obscure nature

From this reading “BOMBS TELLS ALL HE KNOWS ABOUT LAURENS CORNWALLIS' MYSTERIOUS DEATH.”

tells noun US /telz/

plural of “tell” — a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer

From this reading “BOMBS TELLS ALL HE KNOWS ABOUT LAURENS CORNWALLIS' MYSTERIOUS DEATH.”

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.

river bank noun + noun

In this reading “Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.”

listened with verb + particle counted as “listen with”

In this reading “Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.”

KNOWS ABOUT verb + particle counted as “know about”

In this reading “BOMBS TELLS ALL HE KNOWS ABOUT LAURENS CORNWALLIS' MYSTERIOUS DEATH.”

think of verb + particle

keep in mind for attention or consideration

In this reading “"How could you think of doing such a thing?" she asked.”

All words in this reading · 49

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 "How could you think of doing such a thing?" she asked.

ABOUTprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading BOMBS TELLS ALL HE KNOWS ABOUT LAURENS CORNWALLIS' MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

AdelaidenounUS /ˈædəleɪd/

the state capital of South Australia

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

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 BOMBS TELLS ALL HE KNOWS ABOUT LAURENS CORNWALLIS' MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading "How could you think of doing such a thing?" she asked.

attentionnounUS /əˈtenʃən/

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

banknounUS /bæŋk/

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

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

BOMBSnounUS /bɑːmz/

plural of “bomb” — an explosive device fused to explode under specific conditions

From this reading BOMBS TELLS ALL HE KNOWS ABOUT LAURENS CORNWALLIS' MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

boysnounUS /bɔɪz/

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

CORNWALLISnounUS /kɔːrnˈwɔːləs/

commander of the British forces in the American War of Independence; was defeated by American and French troops at Yorktown (1738-1805)

From this reading BOMBS TELLS ALL HE KNOWS ABOUT LAURENS CORNWALLIS' MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading "How could you think of doing such a thing?" she asked.

DEATHnounUS /deθ/

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading BOMBS TELLS ALL HE KNOWS ABOUT LAURENS CORNWALLIS' MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

didn't

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

From this reading "I didn't stop to think, Miss Adelaide.

divideverbUS /dɪˈvaɪd/

separate into parts or portions

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

doingverbUS /ˈduːɪŋ/

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading "How could you think of doing such a thing?" she asked.

explainverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪn/

make plain and comprehensible

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

fireworksnounUS /ˈfaɪrwɜːrks/

plural of “firework” — (usually plural) a device with an explosive that burns at a low rate and with colored flames; can be used to illuminate areas or send signals etc.

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

fournounUS /fɔːr/

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

HEpronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading BOMBS TELLS ALL HE KNOWS ABOUT LAURENS CORNWALLIS' MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

How

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

From this reading "How could you think of doing such a thing?" she asked.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I didn't stop to think, Miss Adelaide.

KNOWSnounUS /noʊz/

plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people

From this reading BOMBS TELLS ALL HE KNOWS ABOUT LAURENS CORNWALLIS' MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

LAURENSnounUS /ˈlɔːrənz/

leader of the American Revolution and president of the Continental Congress (1724-1792)

From this reading BOMBS TELLS ALL HE KNOWS ABOUT LAURENS CORNWALLIS' MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

listenedverbUS /ˈlɪsənd/

past form of “listen” — hear with intention

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

MissverbUS /mɪs/

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading "I didn't stop to think, Miss Adelaide.

MRnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading MR.

MYSTERIOUSadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/

of an obscure nature

From this reading BOMBS TELLS ALL HE KNOWS ABOUT LAURENS CORNWALLIS' MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "How could you think of doing such a thing?" she asked.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

sentnounUS /sent/

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading "How could you think of doing such a thing?" she asked.

silentadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪlənt/

marked by absence of sound

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

stopverbUS /stɑːp/

come to a halt, stop moving

From this reading "I didn't stop to think, Miss Adelaide.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading "How could you think of doing such a thing?" she asked.

TELLSnounUS /telz/

plural of “tell” — a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer

From this reading BOMBS TELLS ALL HE KNOWS ABOUT LAURENS CORNWALLIS' MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading "How could you think of doing such a thing?" she asked.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading "How could you think of doing such a thing?" she asked.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Bombs began to explain and Adelaide listened with silent attention until he came to the point where he sent the four boys to the river bank to make Laurens divide the fireworks with them.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "How could you think of doing such a thing?" she asked.

Chapter 24 of The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury by Asenath Carver Coolidge holds 112 sentences, grouped into 23 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 24 of The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury contain?

Chapter 24 holds 112 sentences of The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury, unabridged, divided into 23 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 24 of The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury by Asenath Carver Coolidge exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 112 sentences, grouped into 23 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 24 of The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury?

Work through the 23 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 23 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 24 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 24 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 Independence Day Horror at Killsbury

Common questions about reading The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury by Asenath Carver Coolidge on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury?

Yes. All 3273 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #39479 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #39479, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury take to read?

About 272 minutes of reading across 655 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury section by section

How to work through The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 24 chapters of The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury 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 Independence Day Horror at Killsbury

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Independence
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Horror
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Killsbury
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.