Sentence:  Hugh admitting that he never had, and moreover that he couldn't read, Mrs Varden declared with much severity, that he ought to he even more ashamed of himself than before, and strongly recommended him to save up his pocket-money for the purchase of one, and further to teach himself the <WSD>contents</WSD> with all convenient diligence. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Subject matter; that which is contained in writing or speech.