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The Touch of Abner
The Touch of Abner

Chapter XV

Chapter 15 of The Touch of Abner is here in full — 400 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Touch of Abner
Context Illustration Reading 1/80 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
After much thought and head scratching Zeb managed to write out an advertisement which he thought would do.
Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.
For the sum of twenty-five cents he will treat all who come to him.
Office Hours, Saturday afternoon, from 6 o’clock to midnight."
"There, how does that suit ye?"
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 Touch of Abner

Chapter XV

Chapter 15 of The Touch of Abner is here in full — 400 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/80 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
After much thought and head scratching Zeb managed to write out an advertisement which he thought would do.
Line 2
Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.
Line 3
For the sum of twenty-five cents he will treat all who come to him.
/fɔːr ðə sʌm ʌv ˈtwentifaɪv sents hiː wɪl triːt ɔːl huː kʌm tuː hɪm/
Line 4
Office Hours, Saturday afternoon, from 6 o’clock to midnight."
Line 5
"There, how does that suit ye?"

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.

advertisement noun US /ædˈvɜːrtəzmənt/

a public promotion of some product or service

From this reading “After much thought and head scratching Zeb managed to write out an advertisement which he thought would do.”

Andrews noun US /ˈændruːz/

United States naturalist who contributed to paleontology and geology (1884-1960)

From this reading “Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.”

Ash noun US /æʃ/

the residue that remains when something is burned

From this reading “Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.”

disease noun US /dɪˈziːz/

an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning

From this reading “Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.”

diseases noun US /dɪˈziːzəz/

plural of “disease” — an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning

From this reading “Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.”

remedy noun US /ˈremədi/

act of correcting an error or a fault or an evil

From this reading “Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.”

scratching noun US /ˈskrætʃɪŋ/

a harsh noise made by scraping

From this reading “After much thought and head scratching Zeb managed to write out an advertisement which he thought would do.”

specialist noun US /ˈspeʃələst/

an expert who is devoted to one occupation or branch of learning

From this reading “Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.”

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.

twenty-five cents adjective + noun counted as “twenty-five cent”

In this reading “For the sum of twenty-five cents he will treat all who come to him.”

Office Hours noun + noun

In this reading “Office Hours, Saturday afternoon, from 6 o’clock to midnight."”

All words in this reading · 59

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.

6

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

From this reading Office Hours, Saturday afternoon, from 6 o’clock to midnight."

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.

Abner

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

From this reading Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.

advertisementnounUS /ædˈvɜːrtəzmənt/

a public promotion of some product or service

From this reading After much thought and head scratching Zeb managed to write out an advertisement which he thought would do.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading After much thought and head scratching Zeb managed to write out an advertisement which he thought would do.

afternoonnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading Office Hours, Saturday afternoon, from 6 o’clock to midnight."

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 Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.

aloudadverbUS /əˈlaʊd/

using the voice; not silently

From this reading Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading After much thought and head scratching Zeb managed to write out an advertisement which he thought would do.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading After much thought and head scratching Zeb managed to write out an advertisement which he thought would do.

AndrewsnounUS /ˈændruːz/

United States naturalist who contributed to paleontology and geology (1884-1960)

From this reading Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.

AshnounUS /æʃ/

the residue that remains when something is burned

From this reading Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.

centsnounUS /sents/

plural of “cent” — a fractional monetary unit of several countries

From this reading For the sum of twenty-five cents he will treat all who come to him.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading For the sum of twenty-five cents he will treat all who come to him.

DISEASEnounUS /dɪˈziːz/

an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning

From this reading Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.

diseasesnounUS /dɪˈziːzəz/

plural of “disease” — an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning

From this reading Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading After much thought and head scratching Zeb managed to write out an advertisement which he thought would do.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

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

From this reading "There, how does that suit ye?"

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Office Hours, Saturday afternoon, from 6 o’clock to midnight."

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading After much thought and head scratching Zeb managed to write out an advertisement which he thought would do.

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading After much thought and head scratching Zeb managed to write out an advertisement which he thought would do.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading For the sum of twenty-five cents he will treat all who come to him.

HoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading Office Hours, Saturday afternoon, from 6 o’clock to midnight."

how

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

From this reading "There, how does that suit ye?"

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.

kindsnounUS /kaɪndz/

plural of “kind” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.

managedverbUS /ˈmænədʒd/

past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal

From this reading After much thought and head scratching Zeb managed to write out an advertisement which he thought would do.

midnightnounUS /ˈmɪdnaɪt/

12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night

From this reading Office Hours, Saturday afternoon, from 6 o’clock to midnight."

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading After much thought and head scratching Zeb managed to write out an advertisement which he thought would do.

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.

o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/

according to the clock

From this reading Office Hours, Saturday afternoon, from 6 o’clock to midnight."

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.

OfficenounUS /ˈɔːfɪs/

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading Office Hours, Saturday afternoon, from 6 o’clock to midnight."

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading After much thought and head scratching Zeb managed to write out an advertisement which he thought would do.

PointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.

readverbUS /red/

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.

remedynounUS /ˈremədi/

act of correcting an error or a fault or an evil

From this reading Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.

SaturdaynounUS /ˈsætərdi/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Office Hours, Saturday afternoon, from 6 o’clock to midnight."

scratchingnounUS /ˈskrætʃɪŋ/

a harsh noise made by scraping

From this reading After much thought and head scratching Zeb managed to write out an advertisement which he thought would do.

SPECIALISTnounUS /ˈspeʃələst/

an expert who is devoted to one occupation or branch of learning

From this reading Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.

suitverbUS /suːt/

be agreeable or acceptable to

From this reading "There, how does that suit ye?"

sumnounUS /sʌm/

a quantity of money

From this reading For the sum of twenty-five cents he will treat all who come to him.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "There, how does that suit ye?"

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading For the sum of twenty-five cents he will treat all who come to him.

ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then he read it aloud: DISEASE SPECIALIST "Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, has a new remedy for all kinds of diseases.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading "There, how does that suit ye?"

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading After much thought and head scratching Zeb managed to write out an advertisement which he thought would do.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading After much thought and head scratching Zeb managed to write out an advertisement which he thought would do.

treatverbUS /triːt/

interact in a certain way

From this reading For the sum of twenty-five cents he will treat all who come to him.

twenty-fiveadjectiveUS /ˈtwentifaɪv/

being five more than twenty

From this reading For the sum of twenty-five cents he will treat all who come to him.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading After much thought and head scratching Zeb managed to write out an advertisement which he thought would do.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading For the sum of twenty-five cents he will treat all who come to him.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading For the sum of twenty-five cents he will treat all who come to him.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading After much thought and head scratching Zeb managed to write out an advertisement which he thought would do.

writeverbUS /raɪt/

produce a literary work

From this reading After much thought and head scratching Zeb managed to write out an advertisement which he thought would do.

yepronounUS /jiː/

an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person

From this reading "There, how does that suit ye?"

Zeb

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

From this reading After much thought and head scratching Zeb managed to write out an advertisement which he thought would do.

Chapter 15 of The Touch of Abner by H. A. (Hiram Alfred) Cody holds 400 sentences, grouped into 80 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 15 of The Touch of Abner contain?

Chapter 15 holds 400 sentences of The Touch of Abner, unabridged, divided into 80 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 15 of The Touch of Abner by H. A. (Hiram Alfred) Cody exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 400 sentences, grouped into 80 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 15 of The Touch of Abner?

Work through the 80 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 80 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 15 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 15 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 Touch of Abner

Common questions about reading The Touch of Abner by H. A. (Hiram Alfred) Cody on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Touch of Abner?

Yes. All 6854 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #53604 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Touch of Abner is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #53604, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Touch of Abner take to read?

About 571 minutes of reading across 1371 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Touch of Abner section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 17 chapters of The Touch of Abner 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 Touch of Abner

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Touch of Abner, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Touch of Abner; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Frontiersman
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Touch of Abner; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Patrol
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Touch of Abner; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Fourth
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Touch of Abner; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.