text_original: Then everything was ready, and my chum had his hand on the closet door, and some kyan pepper in his other hand, and I asked Pa in low bass tones if he felt as though he wanted to turn back, or if he had nerve enough to go ahead and take the degree.
text_transcription: THEN EVERYTHING WAS READY AND MY CHUM HAD HIS HAND ON THE CLOSET DOOR AND SOME CAYENNE PEPPER IN HIS OTHER HAND AND I ASKED PA IN LOW BASS TONES IF HE FELT AS THOUGH HE WANTED TO TURN BACK OR IF HE HAD NERVE ENOUGH TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE DEGREE
phonemes: ðˈɛn ˈɛvɹɪθˌɪŋ wʌz ɹˈɛdi, ænd maɪ tʃˈʌm hæd hɪz hˈænd ɔnðə klˈɑːzɪt dˈɔːɹ, ænd sˌʌm kˈaɪən pˈɛpɚɹ ɪn hɪz ˈʌðɚ hˈænd, ænd aɪ ˈæskt pˈɑː ɪn lˈoʊ bˈeɪs tˈoʊnz ɪf hiː fˈɛlt æz ðˌoʊ hiː wˈɔntᵻd tə tˈɜːn bˈæk, ɔːɹ ɪf hiː hæd nˈɜːv ɪnˈʌf tə ɡˌoʊ ɐhˈɛd ænd tˈeɪk ðə dᵻɡɹˈiː.