Tom the telephone boy

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of Tom the telephone boy is here in full — 158 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Frank V. Webster • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for Tom the telephone boy

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STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

He soon got the aged doctor’s house on the wire, and was inquiring of Mrs. Barton Sandow (which the physician gave as his sister-in-law’s name) whether the pocketbook had been left there.

“Yes, it’s here,” answered Mrs. Sandow shortly.

“He forgot it, as usual.

Tell him he left it on the breakfast-table.

Narrator

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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

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/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter IV Reading 1/31

Tom the telephone boy

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of Tom the telephone boy is here in full — 158 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

/streɪndʒ ˈækʃənz ðə ɪkˈspɪriəns tɑːm hæd wʌns hæd æz ə klɜːrk ɪn ə ˈɡroʊsəri stɔːr wer hiː tʊk ˈɔːrdərz ˈoʊvər ðə ˈteləfoʊn hæd meɪd hɪm ˈferli ˈekspərt ɪn ðə juːs ʌv ðə ˈɪnstrəmənt/

Line 2

He soon got the aged doctor’s house on the wire, and was inquiring of Mrs. Barton Sandow (which the physician gave as his sister-in-law’s name) whether the pocketbook had been left there.

Line 3

“Yes, it’s here,” answered Mrs. Sandow shortly.

Line 4

“He forgot it, as usual.

/hiː fərˈɡɑːt ɪt æz ˈjuːʒəwəl/

Line 5

Tell him he left it on the breakfast-table.

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.

actions noun US /ˈækʃənz/

plural of “action” — something done (usually as opposed to something said)

From this reading “STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.”

aged adjective US /eɪdʒd/

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading “He soon got the aged doctor’s house on the wire, and was inquiring of Mrs. Barton Sandow (which the physician gave as his sister-in-law’s name) whether the pocketbook had been left there.”

doctor's noun US /ˈdɑːktərz/

possessive form of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner

expert adjective US /ˈekspərt/

having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude

grocery noun US /ˈɡroʊsəri/

a marketplace where groceries are sold

inquiring adjective US /ˌɪnˈkwaɪərɪŋ/

given to inquiry

physician noun US /fəˈzɪʃən/

a licensed medical practitioner

pocketbook noun US /ˈpɑːkətbʊk/

your personal financial means

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.

grocery store noun + noun

a marketplace where groceries are sold

In this reading “STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.”

over the telephone preposition + article + noun counted as “over … telephone”

In this reading “STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.”

All words in this reading · 60

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 STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

ACTIONSnounUS /ˈækʃənz/

plural of “action” — something done (usually as opposed to something said)

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

agedadjectiveUS /eɪdʒd/

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading He soon got the aged doctor’s house on the wire, and was inquiring of Mrs. Barton Sandow (which the physician gave as his sister-in-law’s name) whether the pocketbook had been left there.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading “Yes, it’s here,” answered Mrs. Sandow shortly.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

Barton

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

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

breakfast-table

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

From this reading Tell him he left it on the breakfast-table.

clerknounUS /klɜːrk/

an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

doctor'snounUS /ˈdɑːktərz/

possessive form of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner

experienceverbUS /ɪkˈspɪriəns/

undergo or live through a difficult experience

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

expertadjectiveUS /ˈekspərt/

having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

fairlyadverbUS /ˈferli/

to certain extent or degree

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

forgotverbUS /fərˈɡɑːt/

inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering

From this reading “He forgot it, as usual.

gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

grocerynounUS /ˈɡroʊsəri/

a marketplace where groceries are sold

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading “Yes, it’s here,” answered Mrs. Sandow shortly.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

inquiringadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪərɪŋ/

given to inquiry

instrumentnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənt/

a device that requires skill for proper use

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “He forgot it, as usual.

it's

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

From this reading “Yes, it’s here,” answered Mrs. Sandow shortly.

leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

ordersnounUS /ˈɔːrdərz/

plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

physiciannounUS /fəˈzɪʃən/

a licensed medical practitioner

pocketbooknounUS /ˈpɑːkətbʊk/

your personal financial means

Sandow

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

shortlyadverbUS /ˈʃɔːrtli/

for a short time

From this reading “Yes, it’s here,” answered Mrs. Sandow shortly.

sister-in-law's

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

soonadverbUS /suːn/

in the near future

storenounUS /stɔːr/

a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

STRANGEadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/

electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

TellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading Tell him he left it on the breakfast-table.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

TomnounUS /tɑːm/

male cat

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

usenounUS /juːs/

the act of using

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading “He forgot it, as usual.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading STRANGE ACTIONS The experience Tom had once had, as a clerk in a grocery store, where he took orders over the telephone, had made him fairly expert in the use of the instrument.

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

wirenounUS /ˈwaɪər/

ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc

YesnounUS /jes/

an affirmative

From this reading “Yes, it’s here,” answered Mrs. Sandow shortly.

Chapter 4 of Tom the telephone boy by Frank V. Webster holds 158 sentences, grouped into 32 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 4 of Tom the telephone boy contain?

Chapter 4 holds 158 sentences of Tom the telephone boy, unabridged, divided into 32 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of Tom the telephone boy by Frank V. Webster exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 158 sentences, grouped into 32 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 4 of Tom the telephone boy?

Work through the 32 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 32 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 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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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Chapter IV

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