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The Mary Frances Sewing Book
The Mary Frances Sewing Book

Chapter XXX

Chapter 30 of The Mary Frances Sewing Book is here in full — 71 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Jane Eayre Fryer • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Mary Frances Sewing Book
Context Illustration Reading 1/14 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.
I must hurry to finish my lessons.
Oh, dear, dear!
Why, what’s the matter, Scissors Shears―and Tommy Pin Cushion―and Emery Bag?”
“It means good-bye!” sobbed Scissors Shears.
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 Mary Frances Sewing Book

Chapter XXX

Chapter 30 of The Mary Frances Sewing Book is here in full — 71 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/14 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.
Line 2
I must hurry to finish my lessons.
/aɪ mʌst ˈhɜːri tuː ˈfɪnɪʃ maɪ ˈlesənz/
Line 3
Oh, dear, dear!
/oʊ dɪr dɪr/
Line 4
Why, what’s the matter, Scissors Shears―and Tommy Pin Cushion―and Emery Bag?”
Line 5
“It means good-bye!” sobbed Scissors Shears.
/ɪt miːnz ɡɪdˈbaɪ sɑːbd ˈsɪzərz ʃiːrz/

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.

Cushion noun US /ˈkʊʃən/

a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses

From this reading “Why, what’s the matter, Scissors Shears―and Tommy Pin Cushion―and Emery Bag?””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Emery noun US /ˈeməri/

a hard grey-black mineral consisting of corundum and either hematite or magnetite; used as an abrasive (especially as a coating on paper)

From this reading “Why, what’s the matter, Scissors Shears―and Tommy Pin Cushion―and Emery Bag?””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
muffs noun US /mʌfs/

plural of “muff” — a warm tubular covering for the hands

From this reading “MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
prettiest adjective US /ˈprɪtiəst/

superlative of “pretty” — pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading “MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Scissors noun US /ˈsɪzərz/

an edge tool having two crossed pivoting blades

From this reading “Why, what’s the matter, Scissors Shears―and Tommy Pin Cushion―and Emery Bag?””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Shears noun US /ʃiːrz/

large scissors with strong blades

From this reading “Why, what’s the matter, Scissors Shears―and Tommy Pin Cushion―and Emery Bag?””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Thimble noun US /ˈθɪmbəl/

as much as a thimble will hold

From this reading “MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
traps noun US /træps/

plural of “trap” — a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned

From this reading “MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

coming home noun + noun

In this reading “MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.”

5,984 times in 426,211 chapters
two weeks noun + noun counted as “two week”

In this reading “MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.”

9,881 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 48

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 MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
BagnounUS /bæɡ/

a flexible container with a single opening

From this reading Why, what’s the matter, Scissors Shears―and Tommy Pin Cushion―and Emery Bag?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BillynounUS /ˈbɪli/

a short stout club used primarily by policemen

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CAPSnounUS /kæps/

plural of “cap” — a tight-fitting headdress

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CushionnounUS /ˈkʊʃən/

a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses

From this reading Why, what’s the matter, Scissors Shears―and Tommy Pin Cushion―and Emery Bag?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dearadjectiveUS /dɪr/

dearly loved

From this reading Oh, dear, dear!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
EmerynounUS /ˈeməri/

a hard grey-black mineral consisting of corundum and either hematite or magnetite; used as an abrasive (especially as a coating on paper)

From this reading Why, what’s the matter, Scissors Shears―and Tommy Pin Cushion―and Emery Bag?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
explainedverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪnd/

past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/

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

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
finishverbUS /ˈfɪnɪʃ/

come or bring to a finish or an end

From this reading I must hurry to finish my lessons.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FrancesnounUS /ˈfrænsɪs/

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

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FriendsnounUS /frendz/

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
good-byenounUS /ɡɪdˈbaɪ/

a farewell remark

From this reading “It means good-bye!” sobbed Scissors Shears.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hurrynounUS /ˈhɜːri/

a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry

From this reading I must hurry to finish my lessons.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I must hurry to finish my lessons.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “It means good-bye!” sobbed Scissors Shears.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
lessonsnounUS /ˈlesənz/

plural of “lesson” — a unit of instruction

From this reading I must hurry to finish my lessons.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
letternounUS /ˈletər/

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MarynounUS /ˈmeri/

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

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
matternounUS /ˈmætər/

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading Why, what’s the matter, Scissors Shears―and Tommy Pin Cushion―and Emery Bag?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
meansnounUS /miːnz/

thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

From this reading “It means good-bye!” sobbed Scissors Shears.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MUFFSnounUS /mʌfs/

plural of “muff” — a warm tubular covering for the hands

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading I must hurry to finish my lessons.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ohnounUS /oʊ/

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

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PinverbUS /pɪn/

to hold fast or prevent from moving

From this reading Why, what’s the matter, Scissors Shears―and Tommy Pin Cushion―and Emery Bag?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PRETTIESTadjectiveUS /ˈprɪtiəst/

superlative of “pretty” — pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saysnounUS /sez/

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ScissorsnounUS /ˈsɪzərz/

an edge tool having two crossed pivoting blades

From this reading Why, what’s the matter, Scissors Shears―and Tommy Pin Cushion―and Emery Bag?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ShearsnounUS /ʃiːrz/

large scissors with strong blades

From this reading Why, what’s the matter, Scissors Shears―and Tommy Pin Cushion―and Emery Bag?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sobbedverbUS /sɑːbd/

inflected form of “sob” — weep convulsively

From this reading “It means good-bye!” sobbed Scissors Shears.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Why, what’s the matter, Scissors Shears―and Tommy Pin Cushion―and Emery Bag?”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThimblenounUS /ˈθɪmbəl/

as much as a thimble will hold

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
THISdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I must hurry to finish my lessons.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Tommy

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

From this reading Why, what’s the matter, Scissors Shears―and Tommy Pin Cushion―and Emery Bag?”

Pending verification
tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TRAPSnounUS /træps/

plural of “trap” — a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
weeksnounUS /wiːks/

plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS “THIS letter says,” explained Mary Frances, “this letter says, oh, Thimble Friends, that my mother and father are coming home in two weeks,―and Billy, too.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
what's

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

From this reading Why, what’s the matter, Scissors Shears―and Tommy Pin Cushion―and Emery Bag?”

Pending verification
WhynounUS /waɪ/

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

From this reading Why, what’s the matter, Scissors Shears―and Tommy Pin Cushion―and Emery Bag?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 30 of The Mary Frances Sewing Book by Jane Eayre Fryer holds 71 sentences, grouped into 15 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 30 of The Mary Frances Sewing Book contain?

Chapter 30 holds 71 sentences of The Mary Frances Sewing Book, unabridged, divided into 15 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 30 of The Mary Frances Sewing Book by Jane Eayre Fryer exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 71 sentences, grouped into 15 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 30 of The Mary Frances Sewing Book?

Work through the 15 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 15 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 30 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 30 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 Mary Frances Sewing Book

Common questions about reading The Mary Frances Sewing Book by Jane Eayre Fryer on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Mary Frances Sewing Book?

Yes. All 3661 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #58937 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Mary Frances Sewing Book is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #58937, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Mary Frances Sewing Book take to read?

About 305 minutes of reading across 733 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Mary Frances Sewing Book section by section

How to work through The Mary Frances Sewing Book section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 34 chapters of The Mary Frances Sewing Book 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 Mary Frances Sewing Book

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Mary Frances Sewing Book, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Sewing
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Mary Frances Sewing Book; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Begins
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Mary Frances Sewing Book; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Teach
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Mary Frances Sewing Book; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Began
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Mary Frances Sewing Book; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.