And then they went in ( ) and took possession of the house ( : ). Jack was afraid ( : ) the robbers would come back in the night ( ), and so when it came time ( , ) to go to bed ( ) he put the cat in the rocking-chair ( : -; rocking-chair -: ), and he put the dog under the table ( ), and he put the goat upstairs ( : ; upstairs / /, ; , ; , ), and he put the bull in the cellar ( ), and the rooster flew up on to the roof ( ), and Jack went to bed ( ).
sight [saIt], mew [mju:], upstairs [Ap`steqz]
Well, they went on till it was about dark, and they began to think of some place where they could spend the night. About this time they came in sight of a house, and Jack told them to keep still while he went up and looked in through the window. And there were some robbers counting over their money. Then Jack went back and told them to wait till he gave the word, and then to make all the noise they could. So when they were all ready Jack gave the word, and the cat mewed, and the dog barked, and the goat bleated, and the bull bellowed, and the rooster crowed, and altogether they made such a dreadful noise that it frightened the robbers all away.
And then they went in and took possession of the house. Jack was afraid the robbers would come back in the night, and so when it came time to go to bed he put the cat in the rocking-chair, and he put the dog under the table, and he put the goat upstairs, and he put the bull in the cellar, and the rooster flew up on to the roof, and Jack went to bed.
By and by ( ; by and by ) the robbers saw ( ) it was all dark ( : ) and they sent one man back to the house ( ; to send) to look after their money ( = ). Before long (: ) he came back ( ) in a great fright ( ) and told them his story ( ; to tell).
I went back to the house ( ), said he, and went in ( ) and tried to sit down in the rocking-chair ( -), and there was an old woman knitting ( , = ; to knit ), and she stuck her knitting-needles into me ( ; to stick ). That was the cat ( ), you know (// ).
I went to the table to look after the money ( , ), and there was a shoemaker under the table ( ), and he stuck his awl into me ( ). That was the dog, you know ( , // ).
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I started to go upstairs ( = ), and there was a man up there threshing ( , ), and he knocked me down with his flail ( ). That was the goat, you know ( , // ).
I started to go down into the cellar ( ), and there was a man down there chopping wood ( , ), and he knocked me up ( : ) with his axe ( ). That was the bull, you know ( , // ).
But I shouldnt have minded all that ( ) if it hadnt been for that little fellow on top of the house ( ), who kept a-hollering ( ; to keep , ; /-/), "Chuck him up to me-e ( ; to chuck ; ; )! Chuck him up to me-e!" Of course, that was the cock-a-doodle-do (, ).
awl [o:l], axe [æks], cock-a-doodle-do [kokədu:dl`du:]
By and by the robbers saw it was all dark and they sent one man back to the house to look after their money. Before long he came back in a great fright and told them his story.
I went back to the house, said he, and went in and tried to sit down in the rocking-chair, and there was an old woman knitting, and she stuck her knitting-needles into me. That was the cat, you know.
I went to the table to look after the money, and there was a shoemaker under the table, and he stuck his awl into me. That was the dog, you know.
I started to go upstairs, and there was a man up there threshing, and he knocked me down with his flail. That was the goat, you know.
I started to go down into the cellar, and there was a man down there chopping wood, and he knocked me up with his axe. That was the bull, you know.
But I shouldnt have minded all that if it hadnt been for that little fellow on top of the house, who kept a-hollering, "Chuck him up to me-e! Chuck him up to me-e!" Of course, that was the cock-a-doodle-do.
Mr Vinegar ( )
MR and Mrs Vinegar ( ) lived in a vinegar bottle ( ). Now (: ), one day (), when Mr Vinegar was from home ( : ), Mrs Vinegar, who was a very good housewife ( , ), was busily sweeping her house ( ), when an unlucky thump of the broom ( ) brought the whole house cutter-clatter, cutter-clatter ( : / / -), about her ears ( = ). In an agony of grief ( ) she rushed forth ( ) to meet her husband ( ). On seeing him she exclaimed ( , ), O Mr Vinegar (, ), Mr Vinegar, we are ruined ( ), we are ruined: I have knocked the house down ( ; to knock ; to knock down , ), and it is all to pieces ( )! Mr Vinegar then said ( ): My dear ( ), let us see ( ) what can be done ( ). Here is the door ( ); I will take it on my back ( ), and we will go forth ( ; forth ; ) to seek our fortune ( ). They walked all that day ( ), and at nightfall ( ) entered a thick forest ( ). They were both very, very tired ( , ), and Mr Vinegar said ( ): My love ( ), I will climb up into a tree ( ), drag up the door ( ), and you shall follow ( / /). He accordingly did so ( ), and they both stretched their weary limbs on the door ( ), and fell asleep ( : ; to fall asleep ).
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vinegar [`vınıgə], exclaim [ıks`kleım], weary [`wıərı]
MR and Mrs Vinegar lived in a vinegar bottle. Now, one day, when Mr Vinegar was from home, Mrs Vinegar, who was a very good housewife, was busily sweeping her house, when an unlucky thump of the broom brought the whole house cutter-clatter, cutter-clatter, about her ears. In an agony of grief she rushed forth to meet her husband. On seeing him she exclaimed, O Mr Vinegar, Mr Vinegar, we are ruined, we are ruined: I have knocked the house down, and it is all to pieces! Mr Vinegar then said: My dear, let us see what can be done. Here is the door; I will take it on my back, and we will go forth to seek our fortune. They walked all that day, and at nightfall entered a thick forest. They were both very, very tired, and Mr Vinegar said: My love, I will climb up into a tree, drag up the door, and you shall follow. He accordingly did so, and they both stretched their weary limbs on the door, and fell asleep.
In the middle of the night ( ), Mr Vinegar was disturbed ( ) by the sound of voices underneath ( ) and to his horror and dismay ( ) found that it was a band of thieves (, ; to find ) met to divide their booty (// , ). Here, Jack (, ), said one ( ), theres five pounds for you ( ); here, Bill, heres ten pounds for you (, , ); here, Bob, theres three pounds for you (, , ). Mr Vinegar could listen no longer ( : ); his terror was so great ( ) that he trembled and trembled ( ), and shook down the door on their heads ( ; to shake ). Away scampered the thieves ( ; to scamper , ), but Mr Vinegar dared not quit his retreat ( ) till broad daylight ( : ). He then scrambled out of the tree ( ), and went to lift up the door ( ). What did he see but a number of golden guineas ( , ; number ). Come down, Mrs Vinegar ( = , ), he cried ( ); come down, I say (, ); our fortunes made ( / = /; fortune ; , ; , ; to make a fortune ), our fortunes made! Come down, I say. Mrs Vinegar got down as fast as she could ( , ), and when she saw the money ( ), she jumped for joy ( ). Now, my dear (, ), said she, Ill tell you what you shall do ( , ). There is a fair at the neighbouring town ( ); you shall take these forty guineas and buy a cow ( ). I can make butter and cheese ( ), which you shall sell at market ( ), and we shall then be able to live very comfortably ( ; comfortable , / /: a comfortable income ; , : a comfortable sofa ).
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underneath [Andə`ni:T], guinea [`gını], neighbouring [`neıbərıŋ]
In the middle of the night, Mr Vinegar was disturbed by the sound of voices underneath and to his horror and dismay found that it was a band of thieves met to divide their booty. Here, Jack, said one, theres five pounds for you; here, Bill, heres ten pounds for you; here, Bob, theres three pounds for you. Mr Vinegar could listen no longer; his terror was so great that he trembled and trembled, and shook down the door on their heads. Away scampered the thieves, but Mr Vinegar dared not quit his retreat till broad daylight. He then scrambled out of the tree, and went to lift up the door. What did he see but a number of golden guineas. Come down, Mrs Vinegar, he cried; come down, I say; our fortunes made, our fortunes made! Come down, I say. Mrs Vinegar got down as fast as she could, and when she saw the money, she jumped for joy. Now, my dear, said she, Ill tell you what you shall do. There is a fair at the neighbouring town; you shall take these forty guineas and buy a cow. I can make butter and cheese, which you shall sell at market, and we shall then be able to live very comfortably.
Mr Vinegar joyfully agrees ( ), takes the money ( ), and off he goes to the fair ( = ). When he arrived ( ), he walked up and down ( -: ), and at length ( ) saw a beautiful red cow ( ). It was an excellent milker ( ), and perfect in every way ( : ). Oh! thought Mr Vinegar (! ; to think ), if I had but that cow ( ), I should be the happiest man alive ( ; alive , ). So he offered the forty guineas for the cow ( ), and the owner said that ( , ), as he was a friend ( : ), hed oblige him ( ; to oblige ; /, /; , ). So the bargain was made ( ), and he got the cow ( ) and he drove it ( ; to drive ; ) backwards and forwards to show it ( , ). By and by ( ; by and by ) he saw a man playing the bagpipes ( , ) Tweedle-dum, tweedle-dee. The children followed him about ( : ), and he appeared to be pocketing money ( = , ) on all sides ( ). Well, thought Mr Vinegar, if I had but that beautiful instrument I should be the happiest man alive ( , ), my fortune would be made ( = ). So he went up to the man ( ).
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excellent [`eksələnt], oblige [əb`laıG], bargain [`ba:gın]
Mr Vinegar joyfully agrees, takes the money, and off he goes to the fair. When he arrived, he walked up and down, and at length saw a beautiful red cow. It was an excellent milker, and perfect in every way. Oh! thought Mr Vinegar, if I had but that cow, I should be the happiest man alive. So he offered the forty guineas for the cow, and the owner said that, as he was a friend, hed oblige him. So the bargain was made, and he got the cow and he drove it backwards and forwards to show it. By and by he saw a man playing the bagpipes Tweedle-dum, tweedle-dee. The children followed him about, and he appeared to be pocketing money on all sides. Well, thought Mr Vinegar, if I had but that beautiful instrument I should be the happiest man alive, my fortune would be made. So he went up to the man.
Friend (), says he, what a beautiful instrument that is ( ), and what a deal of money you must make ( = , ).
Why, yes ( ), said the man, I make a great deal of money ( : ), to be sure (), and it is a wonderful instrument ( ).
Oh! cried Mr Vinegar, how I should like to possess it ( )!
Well, said the man, as you are a friend ( ), I dont much mind parting with it ( // = ): you shall have it ( ) for that red cow ( ).
Done ( = )! said the delighted Mr Vinegar ( ). So the beautiful red cow was given for the bagpipes ( ). He walked up and down with his purchase ( - ); but it was in vain he tried to play a tune ( ), and instead of pocketing pence ( : ), the boys followed him hooting, laughing, and pelting ( , , /; to pelt / -/, /, /).
sure [Suə], delighted [dı`laıtəd], purchase [`pə:tSəs]
Friend, says he, what a beautiful instrument that is, and what a deal of money you must make.
Why, yes, said the man, I make a great deal of money, to be sure, and it is a wonderful instrument.
Oh! cried Mr Vinegar, how I should like to possess it!
Well, said the man, as you are a friend, I dont much mind parting with it: you shall have it for that red cow.
Done! said the delighted Mr Vinegar. So the beautiful red cow was given for the bagpipes. He walked up and down with his purchase; but it was in vain he tried to play a tune, and instead of pocketing pence, the boys followed him hooting, laughing, and pelting.
Poor Mr Vinegar ( ), his fingers grew very cold ( = ; to grow , ), and, just as he was leaving the town ( ), he met a man with a fine thick pair of gloves ( ). Oh, my fingers are so very cold (, = ), said Mr Vinegar to himself ( = ). Now if I had but those beautiful gloves I should be the happiest man alive ( , ). He went up to the man, and said to him ( ): Friend (), you seem to have (, ) a capital pair of gloves there ( ).
Yes, truly (, ), cried the man ( ); and my hands are as warm as possible ( , ) on this cold November day ( ).
Well, said Mr Vinegar, I should like to have them ( = ).
What will you give ( )? said the man; as you are a friend ( ), I dont much mind ( ) letting you have them ( ) for those bagpipes ( ).
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Done ( = )! cried Mr Vinegar. He put on the gloves ( ), and felt perfectly happy ( // ) as he trudged homewards ( /; homewards , ).
At last he grew very tired ( : ), when he saw a man coming towards him ( = , ) with a good stout stick in his hand ( ).
glove [glAv], capital [`kæpıtəl], homewards [`həumwədz]
Poor Mr Vinegar, his fingers grew very cold, and, just as he was leaving the town, he met a man with a fine thick pair of gloves. Oh, my fingers are so very cold, said Mr Vinegar to himself. Now if I had but those beautiful gloves I should be the happiest man alive. He went up to the man, and said to him: Friend, you seem to have a capital pair of gloves there.
Yes, truly, cried the man; and my hands are as warm as possible this cold November day.
Well, said Mr Vinegar, I should like to have them.
What will you give? said the man; as you are a friend, I dont much mind letting you have them for those bagpipes.
Done! cried Mr Vinegar. He put on the gloves, and felt perfectly happy as he trudged homewards.
At last he grew very tired, when he saw a man coming towards him with a good stout stick in his hand.
Oh, said Mr Vinegar, that I had but that stick ( = )! I should then be the happiest man alive ( ). He said to the man ( ): Friend, what a rare good stick you have got (, = )!
Yes, said the man; I have used it for many a long mile ( : ), and a good friend it has been ( ); but if you have a fancy for it ( ; fancy , -, ), as you are a friend ( ), I dont mind giving it to you ( ) for that pair of gloves ( ). Mr Vinegars hands were so warm ( ), and his legs so tired ( ), that he gladly made the exchange ( ). As he drew ( ; to draw , ; ) near to the wood ( ) where he had left his wife ( ; to leave), he heard a parrot on a tree ( ) calling out his name ( ): Mr Vinegar, you foolish man (, ), you blockhead (, ), you simpleton (, ); you went to the fair ( ), and laid out all your money in buying a cow ( = ; to lay ). Not content with that ( = ), you changed it for bagpipes ( ), on which you could not play ( ), and which were not worth one-tenth of the money ( ). You fool (, ), you you had no sooner got the bagpipes than you changed them ( : , ) for the gloves ( ), which were not worth one-quarter of the money ( ); and when you had got the gloves ( ), you changed them for a poor miserable stick ( : ); and now for your forty guineas, cow, bagpipes, and gloves ( , , ), you have nothing to show ( , ) but that poor miserable stick ( ), which you might have cut ( ) in any hedge ( // ; hedge ). On this ( ) the bird laughed and laughed ( = ), and Mr Vinegar ( ), falling into a violent rage ( ), threw the stick at its head ( ; to throw). The stick lodged in the tree ( / ; to lodge ; , ), and he returned to his wife without money, cow, bagpipes, gloves, or stick ( , , , ), and she instantly gave him such a sound cudgelling ( ; sound , ; cudgel , ) that she almost broke every bone in his skin ( ).
exchange [iks`tSeınG], parrot [`pærət], miserable [`mızərəbl]
Oh, said Mr Vinegar, that I had but that stick! I should then be the happiest man alive. He said to the man: Friend, what a rare good stick you have got!
Yes, said the man; I have used it for many a long mile, and a good friend it has been; but if you have a fancy for it, as you are a friend, I dont mind giving it to you for that pair of gloves. Mr Vinegars hands were so warm, and his legs so tired, that he gladly made the exchange. As he drew near to the wood where he had left his wife, he heard a parrot on a tree calling out his name: Mr Vinegar, you foolish man, you blockhead, you simpleton; you went to the fair, and laid out all your money in buying a cow. Not content with that, you changed it for bagpipes, on which you could not play, and which were not worth one-tenth of the money. You fool, you you had no sooner got the bagpipes than you changed them for the gloves, which were not worth one-quarter of the money; and when you had got the gloves, you changed them for a poor miserable stick; and now for your forty guineas, cow, bagpipes, and gloves, you have nothing to show but that poor miserable stick, which you might have cut in any hedge. On this the bird laughed and laughed, and Mr Vinegar, falling into a violent rage, threw the stick at its head. The stick lodged in the tree, and he returned to his wife without money, cow, bagpipes, gloves, or stick, and she instantly gave him such a sound cudgelling that she almost broke every bone in his skin.
Nix Nought Nothing (--)
THERE once lived a king and a queen ( ) as many a one has been ( ). They were long married ( ) and had no children ( ); but at last a baby boy ( -) came to the queen ( : ) when the king was away in the far countries ( ; away ; ). The queen would not christen the boy till the king came back ( , ), and she said ( ): We will just call him Nix Nought Nothing until his father comes home ( --, ). But it was long before he came home ( : , ), and the boy had grown a fine, bonny laddie ( ; bonny , , , ). At length the king was on his way back ( = ); but he had a big river to cross ( ), and there was a whirlpool ( ), and he could not get over the water ( ). But a giant came up to him ( ), and said ( ): Ill carry you over ( ). But the king said: Whats your pay ( : )?
Oh, give me Nix, Nought, Nothing ( --), and I will carry you over the water on my back ( ). The king had never heard that his son was called Nix Nought Nothing ( / , --), and so he said ( ): Oh, Ill give you that ( ) and my thanks into the bargain ( : ). When the king got home again ( ), he was very happy to see his wife again ( ), and his young son ( ). She told him that she had not given the child any name ( , ), but just Nix Nought Nothing ( // --), until he should come home again himself ( ).
nought [no:t], whirlpool [`wə:lpu:l], giant [`Gaıənt]
THERE once lived a king and a queen as many a one has been. They were long married and had no children; but at last a baby boy came to the queen when the king was away in the far countries. The queen would not christen the boy till the king came back, and she said: We will just call him Nix Nought Nothing until his father comes home. But it was long before he came home, and the boy had grown a fine, bonny laddie. At length the king was on his way back; but he had a big river to cross, and there was a whirlpool, and he could not get over the water. But a giant came up to him, and said: Ill carry you over. But the king said: Whats your pay?
Oh, give me Nix, Nought, Nothing, and I will carry you over the water on my back. The king had never heard that his son was called Nix Nought Nothing, and so he said: Oh, Ill give you that and my thanks into the bargain. When the king got home again, he was very happy to see his wife again, and his young son. She told him that she had not given the child any name, but just Nix Nought Nothing, until he should come home again himself.
The poor king was in a terrible case ( ). He said ( ): What have I done ( )? I promised to give the giant ( ) who carried me over the river on his back ( ) Nix Nought Nothing. The king and the queen were sad and sorry ( ), but they said ( ): When the giant comes ( ) we will give him the hen-wifes boy ( ; hen ); he will never know the difference ( ). The next day the giant came to claim the kings promise ( , : ), and he sent for the hen-wifes boy ( ; to send); and the giant went away with the boy on his back ( ). He travelled till he came to a big stone ( : , ), and there he sat down to rest ( , ). He said: Hidge, Hodge, on my back ( ), what time of day is that ( // = )?
