Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Vandemark's Folly
Vandemark's Folly

Chapter XIX · Chapter 19

Chapter 19 of Vandemark's Folly is here in full — 338 sentences across 68 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Vandemark's Folly
Context Illustration Reading 1/67 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.
I never in all my life acted in a manner which was more in accordance to the dictates of my conscience.
You have seen how badly I behaved, or tended to behave in the past, and lost no friends by it.
In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.
We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.
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.

Vandemark's Folly

Chapter XIX · Chapter 19

Chapter 19 of Vandemark's Folly is here in full — 338 sentences across 68 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/67 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.
Line 2
I never in all my life acted in a manner which was more in accordance to the dictates of my conscience.
/aɪ ˈnevər ɪn ɔːl maɪ laɪf ˈæktɪd ɪn ə ˈmænər wɪtʃ wɑːz mɔːr ɪn əˈkɔːrdəns tuː ðə dɪkˈteɪts ʌv maɪ ˈkɑːnʃəns/
Line 3
You have seen how badly I behaved, or tended to behave in the past, and lost no friends by it.
Line 4
In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.
Line 5
We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

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.

acknowledges verb US /ækˈnɑːlɪdʒɪz/

third-person singular of “acknowledge” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading “GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.”

dictates noun US /dɪkˈteɪts/

plural of “dictate” — an authoritative rule

From this reading “I never in all my life acted in a manner which was more in accordance to the dictates of my conscience.”

glossed verb US /ɡlɔːst/

past form of “gloss” — give a shine or gloss to, usually by rubbing

From this reading “In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.”

granddaughter noun US /ˈɡrændɔːtər/

a female grandchild

From this reading “GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.”

jackets noun US /ˈdʒækɪts/

plural of “jacket” — a short coat

From this reading “We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.”

schoolboys noun US /ˈskuːlbɔɪz/

plural of “schoolboy” — a boy attending school

From this reading “We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.”

scot noun US /skɑːt/

a native or inhabitant of Scotland

From this reading “We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.”

tanned adjective US /tænd/

(of skin) having a tan color from exposure to the sun

From this reading “We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.”

All words in this reading · 136

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 I never in all my life acted in a manner which was more in accordance to the dictates of my conscience.

accordancenounUS /əˈkɔːrdəns/

concurrence of opinion

From this reading I never in all my life acted in a manner which was more in accordance to the dictates of my conscience.

ACKNOWLEDGESverbUS /ækˈnɑːlɪdʒɪz/

third-person singular of “acknowledge” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

actverbUS /ækt/

perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

actedverbUS /ˈæktɪd/

past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading I never in all my life acted in a manner which was more in accordance to the dictates of my conscience.

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 I never in all my life acted in a manner which was more in accordance to the dictates of my conscience.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

badlyadverbUS /ˈbædli/

to a severe or serious degree

From this reading You have seen how badly I behaved, or tended to behave in the past, and lost no friends by it.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

bearverbUS /ber/

have

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

behaveverbUS /bɪˈheɪv/

behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself

From this reading You have seen how badly I behaved, or tended to behave in the past, and lost no friends by it.

behavedverbUS /bɪˈheɪvd/

past form of “behave” — behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself

From this reading You have seen how badly I behaved, or tended to behave in the past, and lost no friends by it.

besidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/

in addition to; as well as

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

boastverbUS /boʊst/

show off

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

casenounUS /keɪs/

an occurrence of something

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

communitynounUS /kəˈmjuːnəti/

a group of people living in a particular local area

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

concealedadjectiveUS /kənˈsiːld/

not accessible to view

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

confessionnounUS /kənˈfeʃən/

an admission of misdeeds or faults

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

consciencenounUS /ˈkɑːnʃəns/

motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions

From this reading I never in all my life acted in a manner which was more in accordance to the dictates of my conscience.

dealingnounUS /ˈdiːlɪŋ/

method or manner of conduct in relation to others

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

degradedadjectiveUS /dɪˈɡreɪdəd/

unrestrained by convention or morality

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

dictatesnounUS /dɪkˈteɪts/

plural of “dictate” — an authoritative rule

From this reading I never in all my life acted in a manner which was more in accordance to the dictates of my conscience.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

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

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

dreadfuladjectiveUS /ˈdredfəl/

causing fear or dread or terror

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

easieradjectiveUS /ˈiːziər/

comparative of “easy” — posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

esteemnounUS /əˈstiːm/

the condition of being honored (esteemed or respected or well regarded)

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/

every person

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

factnounUS /fækt/

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

Fewkes

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

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

forfeitedadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrfɪtɪd/

surrendered as a penalty

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

freeverbUS /friː/

grant freedom to; free from confinement

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

friendsnounUS /frendz/

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

From this reading You have seen how badly I behaved, or tended to behave in the past, and lost no friends by it.

Gertrude

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

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

glossedverbUS /ɡlɔːst/

past form of “gloss” — give a shine or gloss to, usually by rubbing

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

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

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

GOWDY

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

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

granddaughternounUS /ˈɡrændɔːtər/

a female grandchild

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

horse-trading

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

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

how

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

From this reading You have seen how badly I behaved, or tended to behave in the past, and lost no friends by it.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

includingverbUS /ˌɪnˈkluːdɪŋ/

-ing form of “include” — have as a part, be made up out of

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

injusticenounUS /ˌɪnˈdʒʌstɪs/

an unjust act

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

jacketsnounUS /ˈdʒækɪts/

plural of “jacket” — a short coat

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

kindsnounUS /kaɪndz/

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

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

knowsnounUS /noʊz/

plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

leaveverbUS /liːv/

go away from a place

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

lessadverbUS /les/

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading I never in all my life acted in a manner which was more in accordance to the dictates of my conscience.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/

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

From this reading You have seen how badly I behaved, or tended to behave in the past, and lost no friends by it.

Magnus

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

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

mannernounUS /ˈmænər/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading I never in all my life acted in a manner which was more in accordance to the dictates of my conscience.

marriagenounUS /ˈmerɪdʒ/

the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

mindsnounUS /maɪndz/

plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading I never in all my life acted in a manner which was more in accordance to the dictates of my conscience.

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

neighborsnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/

plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading I never in all my life acted in a manner which was more in accordance to the dictates of my conscience.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading You have seen how badly I behaved, or tended to behave in the past, and lost no friends by it.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

NowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

overlookedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərlʊkt/

not taken into account

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

From this reading You have seen how badly I behaved, or tended to behave in the past, and lost no friends by it.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

plightnounUS /plaɪt/

a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

poll-evils

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

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

pooradjectiveUS /puːr/

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

propertynounUS /ˈprɑːpərti/

something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

readernounUS /ˈriːdər/

a person who enjoys reading

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

ReverendnounUS /ˈrevərənd/

a member of the clergy and a spiritual leader of the Christian Church

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

Rowena

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

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

Royall

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

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

schoolboysnounUS /ˈskuːlbɔɪz/

plural of “schoolboy” — a boy attending school

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

scotnounUS /skɑːt/

a native or inhabitant of Scotland

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

seemverbUS /siːm/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

seenverbUS /siːn/

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading You have seen how badly I behaved, or tended to behave in the past, and lost no friends by it.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

SONnounUS /sʌn/

a male human offspring

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

spavins

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

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

standingadjectiveUS /ˈstændɪŋ/

having a supporting base

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

sufferverbUS /ˈsʌfər/

undergo or be subjected to

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

tannedadjectiveUS /tænd/

(of skin) having a tan color from exposure to the sun

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

tendedverbUS /ˈtendɪd/

past form of “tend” — have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined

From this reading You have seen how badly I behaved, or tended to behave in the past, and lost no friends by it.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

Thorkelson

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

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

Thorndyke

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

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

thorough-pins

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

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

troublenounUS /ˈtrʌbəl/

a source of difficulty

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

usuallyadverbUS /ˈjuːʒəwəli/

under normal conditions

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

variousadjectiveUS /ˈveriəs/

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

VirginianounUS /vərˈdʒɪnjə/

a state in the eastern United States; one of the original 13 colonies; one of the Confederate States in the American Civil War

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I never in all my life acted in a manner which was more in accordance to the dictates of my conscience.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading GOWDY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SON Now I leave it to the reader--if I ever have one besides my granddaughter Gertrude--whether in this case of the trouble of Rowena Fewkes and her marriage to Magnus Thorkelson, I did anything by which I ought to have forfeited the esteem of my neighbors, of the Reverend and Mrs. Thorndyke, or of Virginia Royall.

whippings

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

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading We are all schoolboys who usually suffer our whippings for things that should be overlooked; and the fact that we get off scot free when we should have our jackets tanned does not seem to make the injustice any easier to bear.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading In a long life of dealing in various kinds of property, including horse-trading, very few people have ever got the best of me, and everybody knows that this is less a boast than a confession; and yet, this one good act of standing by this poor girl in her dreadful plight degraded me more in the minds of the community than all the spavins, thorough-pins, poll-evils and the like I ever concealed or glossed over.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You have seen how badly I behaved, or tended to behave in the past, and lost no friends by it.

Chapter 19 of Vandemark's Folly by Herbert Quick holds 338 sentences, grouped into 68 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 19 of Vandemark's Folly contain?

Chapter 19 holds 338 sentences of Vandemark's Folly, unabridged, divided into 68 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 19 of Vandemark's Folly by Herbert Quick exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 338 sentences, grouped into 68 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 19 of Vandemark's Folly?

Work through the 68 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 68 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 19 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 19 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 Vandemark's Folly

Common questions about reading Vandemark's Folly by Herbert Quick on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Vandemark's Folly?

Yes. All 5780 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #12179 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Vandemark's Folly is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #12179, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Vandemark's Folly take to read?

About 481 minutes of reading across 1156 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Vandemark's Folly section by section

How to work through Vandemark's Folly section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 20 chapters of Vandemark's Folly 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 Vandemark's Folly

Words and structures a reader meets early in Vandemark's Folly, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Dutch
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Vandemark's Folly; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Turnip
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Vandemark's Folly; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Begins
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Vandemark's Folly; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Career
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Vandemark's Folly; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.