The Mary Frances Knitting and Crocheting Book

Chapter XXV

Chapter 25 of The Mary Frances Knitting and Crocheting Book is here in full — 46 sentences across 10 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Jane Eayre Fryer • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Mary Frances Knitting and Crocheting Book

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CROW SHAY HELPS KNIT EVERYONE watched Mary Frances as she tried to follow Fairly Flew’s instructions; but the little girl had to try several times before she could do the exercise well.

“You didn’t get the knack of it at first,” said the Yarn Baby, “but you do splendidly now.”

“She has had Knack in the hand all the time,” whispered Crow Shay to Knit, who began to laugh.

Hearing Knit laugh, Knack began to laugh, too.

“Why, I can scarcely hold this needle still!” exclaimed Mary Frances, and Knack and Knit stopped giggling.

Narrator

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.

Chapter XXV Reading 1/9

The Mary Frances Knitting and Crocheting Book Jane Eayre Fryer

Chapter XXV

Chapter 25 of The Mary Frances Knitting and Crocheting Book is here in full — 46 sentences across 10 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

CROW SHAY HELPS KNIT EVERYONE watched Mary Frances as she tried to follow Fairly Flew’s instructions; but the little girl had to try several times before she could do the exercise well. “You didn’t get the knack of it at first,” said the Yarn Baby, “but you do splendidly now.” “She has had Knack in the hand all the time,” whispered Crow Shay to Knit, who began to laugh. Hearing Knit laugh, Knack began to laugh, too. “Why, I can scarcely hold this needle still!” exclaimed Mary Frances, and Knack and Knit stopped giggling.

The Mary Frances Knitting and Crocheting Book

Chapter XXV

Chapter 25 of The Mary Frances Knitting and Crocheting Book is here in full — 46 sentences across 10 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/9 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

CROW SHAY HELPS KNIT EVERYONE watched Mary Frances as she tried to follow Fairly Flew’s instructions; but the little girl had to try several times before she could do the exercise well.

Line 2

“You didn’t get the knack of it at first,” said the Yarn Baby, “but you do splendidly now.”

Line 3

“She has had Knack in the hand all the time,” whispered Crow Shay to Knit, who began to laugh.

/ʃiː hæz hæd næk ɪn ðə hænd ɔːl ðə taɪm ˈwɪspərd kroʊ ʃeɪ tuː nɪt huː bɪˈɡæn tuː læf/

Line 4

Hearing Knit laugh, Knack began to laugh, too.

/ˈhiːrɪŋ nɪt læf næk bɪˈɡæn tuː læf tuː/

Line 5

“Why, I can scarcely hold this needle still!” exclaimed Mary Frances, and Knack and Knit stopped giggling.

/waɪ aɪ kæn ˈskersli hoʊld ðɪs ˈniːdəl stɪl ɪkˈskleɪmd ˈmeri ˈfrænsɪs ənd næk ənd nɪt stɑːpt ˈɡɪɡəlɪŋ/

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.

Frances noun US /ˈfrænsɪs/

plural of “france” — a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe

From this reading “CROW SHAY HELPS KNIT EVERYONE watched Mary Frances as she tried to follow Fairly Flew’s instructions; but the little girl had to try several times before she could do the exercise well.”

giggling verb US /ˈɡɪɡəlɪŋ/

-ing form of “giggle” — laugh nervously

From this reading ““Why, I can scarcely hold this needle still!” exclaimed Mary Frances, and Knack and Knit stopped giggling.”

helps noun US /helps/

plural of “help” — the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose

knack noun US /næk/

a special way of doing something

From this reading ““You didn’t get the knack of it at first,” said the Yarn Baby, “but you do splendidly now.””

knit verb US /nɪt/

make (textiles) by knitting

shay noun US /ʃeɪ/

a carriage consisting of two wheels and a calash top; drawn by a single horse

splendidly adverb US /ˈsplendədli/

extremely well

From this reading ““You didn’t get the knack of it at first,” said the Yarn Baby, “but you do splendidly now.””

Yarn noun US /jɑːrn/

the act of giving an account describing incidents or a course of events

From this reading ““You didn’t get the knack of it at first,” said the Yarn Baby, “but you do splendidly now.””

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.

several times adjective + noun

In this reading “CROW SHAY HELPS KNIT EVERYONE watched Mary Frances as she tried to follow Fairly Flew’s instructions; but the little girl had to try several times before she could do the exercise well.”

little girl adjective + noun

a youthful female person

All words in this reading · 65

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.

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 “She has had Knack in the hand all the time,” whispered Crow Shay to Knit, who began to laugh.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading “Why, I can scarcely hold this needle still!” exclaimed Mary Frances, and Knack and Knit stopped giggling.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading CROW SHAY HELPS KNIT EVERYONE watched Mary Frances as she tried to follow Fairly Flew’s instructions; but the little girl had to try several times before she could do the exercise well.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading “You didn’t get the knack of it at first,” said the Yarn Baby, “but you do splendidly now.”

BabynounUS /ˈbeɪbi/

a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk

From this reading “You didn’t get the knack of it at first,” said the Yarn Baby, “but you do splendidly now.”

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/

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

From this reading “She has had Knack in the hand all the time,” whispered Crow Shay to Knit, who began to laugh.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading “Why, I can scarcely hold this needle still!” exclaimed Mary Frances, and Knack and Knit stopped giggling.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

CROWverbUS /kroʊ/

dwell on with satisfaction

didn't

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

From this reading “You didn’t get the knack of it at first,” said the Yarn Baby, “but you do splendidly now.”

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

EVERYONEpronounUS /ˈevriwʌn/

every person

exclaimedverbUS /ɪkˈskleɪmd/

past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy

From this reading “Why, I can scarcely hold this needle still!” exclaimed Mary Frances, and Knack and Knit stopped giggling.

exercisenounUS /ˈeksərsaɪz/

the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit

FairlyadverbUS /ˈferli/

to certain extent or degree

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading “You didn’t get the knack of it at first,” said the Yarn Baby, “but you do splendidly now.”

Flew's

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

followverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊ/

to travel behind, go after, come after

FrancesnounUS /ˈfrænsɪs/

plural of “france” — a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading “You didn’t get the knack of it at first,” said the Yarn Baby, “but you do splendidly now.”

gigglingverbUS /ˈɡɪɡəlɪŋ/

-ing form of “giggle” — laugh nervously

From this reading “Why, I can scarcely hold this needle still!” exclaimed Mary Frances, and Knack and Knit stopped giggling.

girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading “She has had Knack in the hand all the time,” whispered Crow Shay to Knit, who began to laugh.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “She has had Knack in the hand all the time,” whispered Crow Shay to Knit, who began to laugh.

HearingnounUS /ˈhiːrɪŋ/

(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence

From this reading Hearing Knit laugh, Knack began to laugh, too.

HELPSnounUS /helps/

plural of “help” — the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose

holdverbUS /hoʊld/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading “Why, I can scarcely hold this needle still!” exclaimed Mary Frances, and Knack and Knit stopped giggling.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “Why, I can scarcely hold this needle still!” exclaimed Mary Frances, and Knack and Knit stopped giggling.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “She has had Knack in the hand all the time,” whispered Crow Shay to Knit, who began to laugh.

instructionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃənz/

a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “You didn’t get the knack of it at first,” said the Yarn Baby, “but you do splendidly now.”

knacknounUS /næk/

a special way of doing something

From this reading “You didn’t get the knack of it at first,” said the Yarn Baby, “but you do splendidly now.”

KNITverbUS /nɪt/

make (textiles) by knitting

laughnounUS /læf/

the sound of laughing

From this reading “She has had Knack in the hand all the time,” whispered Crow Shay to Knit, who began to laugh.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

MarynounUS /ˈmeri/

the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

needlenounUS /ˈniːdəl/

the leaf of a conifer

From this reading “Why, I can scarcely hold this needle still!” exclaimed Mary Frances, and Knack and Knit stopped giggling.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading “You didn’t get the knack of it at first,” said the Yarn Baby, “but you do splendidly now.”

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “You didn’t get the knack of it at first,” said the Yarn Baby, “but you do splendidly now.”

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “You didn’t get the knack of it at first,” said the Yarn Baby, “but you do splendidly now.”

scarcelyadverbUS /ˈskersli/

only a very short time before

From this reading “Why, I can scarcely hold this needle still!” exclaimed Mary Frances, and Knack and Knit stopped giggling.

severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

SHAYnounUS /ʃeɪ/

a carriage consisting of two wheels and a calash top; drawn by a single horse

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

splendidlyadverbUS /ˈsplendədli/

extremely well

From this reading “You didn’t get the knack of it at first,” said the Yarn Baby, “but you do splendidly now.”

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading “Why, I can scarcely hold this needle still!” exclaimed Mary Frances, and Knack and Knit stopped giggling.

stoppedadjectiveUS /stɑːpt/

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading “Why, I can scarcely hold this needle still!” exclaimed Mary Frances, and Knack and Knit stopped giggling.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading “Why, I can scarcely hold this needle still!” exclaimed Mary Frances, and Knack and Knit stopped giggling.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading “She has had Knack in the hand all the time,” whispered Crow Shay to Knit, who began to laugh.

timesnounUS /taɪmz/

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Hearing Knit laugh, Knack began to laugh, too.

triedadjectiveUS /traɪd/

tested and proved useful or correct

tryverbUS /traɪ/

make an effort or attempt

watchedverbUS /wɑːtʃt/

past form of “watch” — look attentively

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

whisperedadjectiveUS /ˈwɪspərd/

spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords

From this reading “She has had Knack in the hand all the time,” whispered Crow Shay to Knit, who began to laugh.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading “She has had Knack in the hand all the time,” whispered Crow Shay to Knit, who began to laugh.

WhynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading “Why, I can scarcely hold this needle still!” exclaimed Mary Frances, and Knack and Knit stopped giggling.

YarnnounUS /jɑːrn/

the act of giving an account describing incidents or a course of events

From this reading “You didn’t get the knack of it at first,” said the Yarn Baby, “but you do splendidly now.”

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “You didn’t get the knack of it at first,” said the Yarn Baby, “but you do splendidly now.”

Chapter 25 of The Mary Frances Knitting and Crocheting Book by Jane Eayre Fryer holds 46 sentences, grouped into 10 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 The Mary Frances Knitting and Crocheting Book contain?

Chapter 25 holds 46 sentences of The Mary Frances Knitting and Crocheting Book, unabridged, divided into 10 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 25 of The Mary Frances Knitting and Crocheting Book by Jane Eayre Fryer exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 46 sentences, grouped into 10 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 The Mary Frances Knitting and Crocheting Book?

Work through the 10 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 10 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.

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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.

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Yes. All 4095 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #52396 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #52396, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 341 minutes of reading across 819 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Chapter XXV

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