Wood Cottage

Chapter XII

Chapter 12 of Wood Cottage is here in full — 72 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By M. E. (Mary Emma) Drewsen • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

WHAT A LITTLE CHILD CAN DO.

Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

"Are you still trying to be a brave little soldier?" she asked the morning after the adventure in the wood.

And when Ben answered with a nod--"Yes, ma'am, as hard as I can:" she replied--"That's right; the Good Captain is watching, and it will be worth all the trouble when we get His smile."

Ben gave her a pleased look.

Narrator

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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Wood Cottage

Chapter XII

Chapter 12 of Wood Cottage 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

WHAT A LITTLE CHILD CAN DO.

/wʌt ə ˈlɪtəl tʃaɪld kæn duː/

Line 2

Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

Line 3

"Are you still trying to be a brave little soldier?" she asked the morning after the adventure in the wood.

/ɑːr juː stɪl ˈtraɪɪŋ tuː biː ə breɪv ˈlɪtəl ˈsoʊldʒər ʃiː æskt ðə ˈmɔːrnɪŋ ˈæftər ðə ædˈventʃər ɪn ðə wʊd/

Line 4

And when Ben answered with a nod--"Yes, ma'am, as hard as I can:" she replied--"That's right; the Good Captain is watching, and it will be worth all the trouble when we get His smile."

Line 5

Ben gave her a pleased look.

/ben ɡeɪv hɜːr ə pliːzd lʊk/

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.

adventure verb US /ædˈventʃər/

take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome

From this reading “"Are you still trying to be a brave little soldier?" she asked the morning after the adventure in the wood.”

Ben noun US /ben/

a mountain or tall hill

From this reading “Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.”

brave adjective US /breɪv/

possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching

From this reading “"Are you still trying to be a brave little soldier?" she asked the morning after the adventure in the wood.”

cheering noun US /ˈtʃɪrɪŋ/

encouragement in the form of cheers from spectators

From this reading “Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.”

kindly adjective US /ˈkaɪndli/

showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity

From this reading “Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.”

ma'am noun US /mæm/

a woman of refinement

From this reading “And when Ben answered with a nod--"Yes, ma'am, as hard as I can:" she replied--"That's right; the Good Captain is watching, and it will be worth all the trouble when we get His smile."”

nod verb US /nɑːd/

express or signify by nodding

soldier noun US /ˈsoʊldʒər/

an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading “"Are you still trying to be a brave little soldier?" she asked the morning after the adventure in the wood.”

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.

on the road preposition + article + noun counted as “on … road”

travelling about

In this reading “Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.”

LITTLE CHILD adjective + noun

In this reading “WHAT A LITTLE CHILD CAN DO.”

from school preposition + noun

In this reading “Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.”

All words in this reading · 70

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 WHAT A LITTLE CHILD CAN DO.

adventureverbUS /ædˈventʃər/

take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome

From this reading "Are you still trying to be a brave little soldier?" she asked the morning after the adventure in the wood.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading "Are you still trying to be a brave little soldier?" she asked the morning after the adventure in the wood.

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 And when Ben answered with a nod--"Yes, ma'am, as hard as I can:" she replied--"That's right; the Good Captain is watching, and it will be worth all the trouble when we get His smile."

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/

past form of “answer” — react verbally

Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "Are you still trying to be a brave little soldier?" she asked the morning after the adventure in the wood.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading "Are you still trying to be a brave little soldier?" she asked the morning after the adventure in the wood.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "Are you still trying to be a brave little soldier?" she asked the morning after the adventure in the wood.

BennounUS /ben/

a mountain or tall hill

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

braveadjectiveUS /breɪv/

possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching

From this reading "Are you still trying to be a brave little soldier?" she asked the morning after the adventure in the wood.

CANmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading WHAT A LITTLE CHILD CAN DO.

CaptainnounUS /ˈkæptən/

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

cheeringnounUS /ˈtʃɪrɪŋ/

encouragement in the form of cheers from spectators

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

CHILDnounUS /tʃaɪld/

a young person of either sex

From this reading WHAT A LITTLE CHILD CAN DO.

DOauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading WHAT A LITTLE CHILD CAN DO.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

Frankham

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

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

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

From this reading Ben gave her a pleased look.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

GoodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

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

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Ben gave her a pleased look.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "Are you still trying to be a brave little soldier?" she asked the morning after the adventure in the wood.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

kindlyadjectiveUS /ˈkaɪndli/

showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

LITTLEadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading WHAT A LITTLE CHILD CAN DO.

lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Ben gave her a pleased look.

ma'amnounUS /mæm/

a woman of refinement

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading "Are you still trying to be a brave little soldier?" she asked the morning after the adventure in the wood.

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

nodverbUS /nɑːd/

express or signify by nodding

oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/

many times at short intervals

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

passedverbUS /pæst/

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

pleasantadjectiveUS /ˈplezənt/

affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

pleasedadjectiveUS /pliːzd/

experiencing or manifesting pleasure

From this reading Ben gave her a pleased look.

repliedverbUS /rɪˈplaɪd/

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

roadnounUS /roʊd/

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

schoolnounUS /skuːl/

an educational institution

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

smileverbUS /smaɪl/

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

soldiernounUS /ˈsoʊldʒər/

an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading "Are you still trying to be a brave little soldier?" she asked the morning after the adventure in the wood.

sometimesadverbUS /səmˈtaɪmz/

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading "Are you still trying to be a brave little soldier?" she asked the morning after the adventure in the wood.

That's

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

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

troublenounUS /ˈtrʌbəl/

a source of difficulty

tryingadjectiveUS /ˈtraɪɪŋ/

hard to endure

From this reading "Are you still trying to be a brave little soldier?" she asked the morning after the adventure in the wood.

watchingnounUS /ˈwɑːtʃɪŋ/

the act of observing; taking a patient look

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

WHATpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading WHAT A LITTLE CHILD CAN DO.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

woodnounUS /wʊd/

the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees

From this reading "Are you still trying to be a brave little soldier?" she asked the morning after the adventure in the wood.

wordnounUS /wɜːrd/

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word.

worthnounUS /wɜːrθ/

an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value

YesnounUS /jes/

an affirmative

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Are you still trying to be a brave little soldier?" she asked the morning after the adventure in the wood.

Chapter 12 of Wood Cottage by M. E. (Mary Emma) Drewsen 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 12 of Wood Cottage contain?

Chapter 12 holds 72 sentences of Wood Cottage, unabridged, divided into 15 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of Wood Cottage by M. E. (Mary Emma) Drewsen 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 12 of Wood Cottage?

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 12 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 12 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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Project Gutenberg eBook #?, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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Chapter XII

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