Chapter 26 of The Spruce Street Tragedy is here in full — 462 sentences across 93 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXVI
Chapter 26 of The Spruce Street Tragedy is here in full — 462 sentences across 93 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
CONCLUSION. "Take it quietly, gentlemen, I beg," said Old Spicer, in his usual tones. "The jig's up. I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap." "By Jove! you shall never take me alive, Mark Spicer," exclaimed Bissell, fiercely.
Chapter 26 of The Spruce Street Tragedy is here in full — 462 sentences across 93 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/92 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading “I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."”
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading “CONCLUSION.”
in a physically fierce manner
From this reading “"By Jove! you shall never take me alive, Mark Spicer," exclaimed Bissell, fiercely.”
plural of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading “I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."”
an ability that has been acquired by training
From this reading “I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."”
comparative of “spic” — completely neat and clean
From this reading “"Take it quietly, gentlemen, I beg," said Old Spicer, in his usual tones.”
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading “"Take it quietly, gentlemen, I beg," said Old Spicer, in his usual tones.”
a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading “I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."”
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.
In this reading “I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."”
In this reading “I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."”
In this reading “I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
possessing life
From this reading "By Jove! you shall never take me alive, Mark Spicer," exclaimed Bissell, fiercely.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading "Take it quietly, gentlemen, I beg," said Old Spicer, in his usual tones.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "By Jove! you shall never take me alive, Mark Spicer," exclaimed Bissell, fiercely.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "By Jove! you shall never take me alive, Mark Spicer," exclaimed Bissell, fiercely.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading CONCLUSION.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "By Jove! you shall never take me alive, Mark Spicer," exclaimed Bissell, fiercely.
in a physically fierce manner
From this reading "By Jove! you shall never take me alive, Mark Spicer," exclaimed Bissell, fiercely.
plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement
From this reading "Take it quietly, gentlemen, I beg," said Old Spicer, in his usual tones.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Take it quietly, gentlemen, I beg," said Old Spicer, in his usual tones.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Take it quietly, gentlemen, I beg," said Old Spicer, in his usual tones.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Take it quietly, gentlemen, I beg," said Old Spicer, in his usual tones.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Take it quietly, gentlemen, I beg," said Old Spicer, in his usual tones.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The jig's up.
(Roman mythology) supreme god of Romans; counterpart of Greek Zeus
From this reading "By Jove! you shall never take me alive, Mark Spicer," exclaimed Bissell, fiercely.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
attach a tag or label to
From this reading "By Jove! you shall never take me alive, Mark Spicer," exclaimed Bissell, fiercely.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "By Jove! you shall never take me alive, Mark Spicer," exclaimed Bissell, fiercely.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "By Jove! you shall never take me alive, Mark Spicer," exclaimed Bissell, fiercely.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "Take it quietly, gentlemen, I beg," said Old Spicer, in his usual tones.
with low volume
From this reading "Take it quietly, gentlemen, I beg," said Old Spicer, in his usual tones.
plural of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Take it quietly, gentlemen, I beg," said Old Spicer, in his usual tones.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "By Jove! you shall never take me alive, Mark Spicer," exclaimed Bissell, fiercely.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
an ability that has been acquired by training
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
comparative of “spic” — completely neat and clean
From this reading "Take it quietly, gentlemen, I beg," said Old Spicer, in his usual tones.
carry out
From this reading "Take it quietly, gentlemen, I beg," said Old Spicer, in his usual tones.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "The jig's up.
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading "Take it quietly, gentlemen, I beg," said Old Spicer, in his usual tones.
a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
a source of difficulty
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "The jig's up.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading "Take it quietly, gentlemen, I beg," said Old Spicer, in his usual tones.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I acknowledge that you have shown a good deal of skill and made us some trouble; but we've got you now, like so many rats in a trap."
Chapter 26 of The Spruce Street Tragedy by Norman L. [Publisher] Munro holds 462 sentences, grouped into 93 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.
Chapter 26 holds 462 sentences of The Spruce Street Tragedy, unabridged, divided into 93 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 26 of The Spruce Street Tragedy by Norman L. [Publisher] Munro exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 462 sentences, grouped into 93 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.
Work through the 93 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 93 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 26 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.
Common questions about reading The Spruce Street Tragedy by Norman L. [Publisher] Munro on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3839 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #46523 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #46523, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 319 minutes of reading across 768 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Spruce Street Tragedy section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 26 chapters of The Spruce Street Tragedy to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Spruce Street Tragedy, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
