text_original: We did our best to keep the time from hanging idly on our hands by devising as much variety as possible for future menus, discussing the respective merits of cinnamon _versus_ cocoanut as a flavouring, and wondering whether after all we shouldn't be more likely to buck up his desolate spirits (and more particularly his pen) if we sent a sultana cake next week, rather than gingerbread.
text_transcription: WE DID OUR BEST TO KEEP THE TIME FROM HANGING IDLY ON OUR HANDS BY DEVISING AS MUCH VARIETY AS POSSIBLE FOR FUTURE MENUS DISCUSSING THE RESPECTIVE MERITS OF CINNAMON VERSUS COCOANUT AS A FLAVOURING AND WONDERING WHETHER AFTER ALL WE SHOULDN'T BE MORE LIKELY TO BUCK UP HIS DESOLATE SPIRITS AND MORE PARTICULARLY HIS PEN IF WE SENT A SULTANA CAKE NEXT WEEK RATHER THAN GINGERBREAD
phonemes: wiː dˈɪd ˌaʊɚ bˈɛst tə kˈiːp ðə tˈaɪm fɹʌm hˈæŋɪŋ ˈaɪdli ˌɔn ˌaʊɚ hˈændz baɪ dɪvˈaɪzɪŋ æz mˈʌtʃ vɚɹˈaɪəɾi æz pˈɑːsᵻbəl fɔːɹ fjˈuːtʃɚ mˈɛnjuːz, dɪskˈʌsɪŋ ðə ɹᵻspˈɛktɪv mˈɛɹɪts ʌv sˈɪnəmən vˈɜːsᵻz kˈoʊkoʊnˌʌt æz ɐ flˈeɪvɚɹɪŋ, ænd wˈʌndɚɹɪŋ wˈɛðɚɹ ˈæftɚɹ ˈɔːl wiː ʃˌʊdənt biː mˈɔːɹ lˈaɪkli tə bˈʌk ˌʌp hɪz dˈɛsələt spˈɪɹɪts (ænd mˈɔːɹ pɚtˈɪkjʊlɚli hɪz pˈɛn) ɪf wiː sˈɛnt ɐ sʌltˈɑːnə kˈeɪk nˈɛkst wˈiːk, ɹˈæðɚ ðɐn dʒˈɪndʒɚbɹˌɛd.