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Tony the Tramp
Tony the Tramp

Chapter XX

Chapter 20 of Tony the Tramp is here in full — 72 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Tony the Tramp
Context Illustration Reading 1/14 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.
He could do it comfortably now, being provided with funds, thanks to Mrs. Middleton.
But there was a difficulty which gave him uneasiness.
He was liable to be arrested.
“I must disguise myself,” thought Rudolph.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Tony the Tramp

Chapter XX

Chapter 20 of Tony the Tramp is here in full — 72 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.
Line 2
He could do it comfortably now, being provided with funds, thanks to Mrs. Middleton.
/hiː kʊd duː ɪt ˈkʌmfərtəbli naʊ ˈbiːɪŋ prəˈvaɪdɪd wɪð fʌndz θæŋks tuː ˈmɪsɪz ˈmɪdəltən/
Line 3
But there was a difficulty which gave him uneasiness.
/bʌt ðer wɑːz ə ˈdɪfəkəlti wɪtʃ ɡeɪv hɪm ˌʌˈniːzinəs/
Line 4
He was liable to be arrested.
/hiː wɑːz ˈlaɪəbəl tuː biː ərˈestɪd/
Line 5
“I must disguise myself,” thought Rudolph.

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.

comfortably adverb US /ˈkʌmfərtəbli/

in mental comfort; without stress

From this reading “He could do it comfortably now, being provided with funds, thanks to Mrs. Middleton.”

disguise noun US /dɪsˈɡaɪz/

A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.

From this reading ““I must disguise myself,” thought Rudolph.”

funds noun US /fʌndz/

assets in the form of money

From this reading “He could do it comfortably now, being provided with funds, thanks to Mrs. Middleton.”

liable adjective US /ˈlaɪəbəl/

at risk of or subject to experiencing something usually unpleasant

From this reading “He was liable to be arrested.”

Middleton noun US /ˈmɪdəltən/

English playwright and pamphleteer (1570-1627)

From this reading “He could do it comfortably now, being provided with funds, thanks to Mrs. Middleton.”

quaker noun US /ˈkweɪkər/

a member of the Religious Society of Friends founded by George Fox (the Friends have never called themselves Quakers)

From this reading “THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.”

tramp noun US /træmp/

a vagrant

From this reading “THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.”

uneasiness noun US /ˌʌˈniːzinəs/

feelings of anxiety that make you tense and irritable

From this reading “But there was a difficulty which gave him uneasiness.”

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.

make inquiries verb + noun counted as “make inquiry”

In this reading “THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.”

best way noun + noun

In this reading “THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.”

provided with verb + particle counted as “provide with”

In this reading “He could do it comfortably now, being provided with funds, thanks to Mrs. Middleton.”

All words in this reading · 57

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 THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

arrestedverbUS /ərˈestɪd/

past form of “arrest” — take into custody

From this reading He was liable to be arrested.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading He could do it comfortably now, being provided with funds, thanks to Mrs. Middleton.

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

boynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But there was a difficulty which gave him uneasiness.

comfortablyadverbUS /ˈkʌmfərtəbli/

in mental comfort; without stress

From this reading He could do it comfortably now, being provided with funds, thanks to Mrs. Middleton.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading He could do it comfortably now, being provided with funds, thanks to Mrs. Middleton.

countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

decidedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪd/

recognizable; marked

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

descriptionnounUS /dɪˈskrɪpʃən/

a statement that represents something in words

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

difficultynounUS /ˈdɪfəkəlti/

an effort that is inconvenient

From this reading But there was a difficulty which gave him uneasiness.

disguisenounUS /dɪsˈɡaɪz/

A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.

From this reading “I must disguise myself,” thought Rudolph.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading He could do it comfortably now, being provided with funds, thanks to Mrs. Middleton.

FIGHTINGnounUS /ˈfaɪtɪŋ/

the act of fighting; any contest or struggle

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

fundsnounUS /fʌndz/

assets in the form of money

From this reading He could do it comfortably now, being provided with funds, thanks to Mrs. Middleton.

gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

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

From this reading But there was a difficulty which gave him uneasiness.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “I must disguise myself,” thought Rudolph.

inquiriesnounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪəriz/

plural of “inquiry” — a search for knowledge

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He could do it comfortably now, being provided with funds, thanks to Mrs. Middleton.

liableadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪəbəl/

at risk of or subject to experiencing something usually unpleasant

From this reading He was liable to be arrested.

lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

MiddletonnounUS /ˈmɪdəltən/

English playwright and pamphleteer (1570-1627)

From this reading He could do it comfortably now, being provided with funds, thanks to Mrs. Middleton.

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading He could do it comfortably now, being provided with funds, thanks to Mrs. Middleton.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “I must disguise myself,” thought Rudolph.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “I must disguise myself,” thought Rudolph.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading He could do it comfortably now, being provided with funds, thanks to Mrs. Middleton.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

partnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

providedverbUS /prəˈvaɪdɪd/

past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to

From this reading He could do it comfortably now, being provided with funds, thanks to Mrs. Middleton.

QUAKERnounUS /ˈkweɪkər/

a member of the Religious Society of Friends founded by George Fox (the Friends have never called themselves Quakers)

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

returnverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrn/

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

Rudolph

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

From this reading “I must disguise myself,” thought Rudolph.

thanksnounUS /θæŋks/

an acknowledgment of appreciation

From this reading He could do it comfortably now, being provided with funds, thanks to Mrs. Middleton.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading But there was a difficulty which gave him uneasiness.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

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

From this reading “I must disguise myself,” thought Rudolph.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

Tony

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

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

trampnounUS /træmp/

a vagrant

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

uneasinessnounUS /ˌʌˈniːzinəs/

feelings of anxiety that make you tense and irritable

From this reading But there was a difficulty which gave him uneasiness.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But there was a difficulty which gave him uneasiness.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading But there was a difficulty which gave him uneasiness.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He could do it comfortably now, being provided with funds, thanks to Mrs. Middleton.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading THE FIGHTING QUAKER The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description.

Chapter 20 of Tony the Tramp by Horatio, Jr. Alger holds 72 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 20 of Tony the Tramp contain?

Chapter 20 holds 72 sentences of Tony the Tramp, unabridged, divided into 15 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of Tony the Tramp by Horatio, Jr. Alger exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 72 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 20 of Tony the Tramp?

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 20 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 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 Tony the Tramp

Common questions about reading Tony the Tramp by Horatio, Jr. Alger on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Tony the Tramp?

Yes. All 4544 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #56730 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Tony the Tramp is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #56730, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Tony the Tramp take to read?

About 378 minutes of reading across 909 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Tony the Tramp section by section

How to work through Tony the Tramp section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 37 chapters of Tony the Tramp 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 Tony the Tramp

Words and structures a reader meets early in Tony the Tramp, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Edition
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tony the Tramp; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Seven
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tony the Tramp; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Inches
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tony the Tramp; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Plates
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tony the Tramp; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.