
A young woodcutter named Willie returns home from the forest, his hands raw from the day's labor and his stomach empty. His mother, exhausted from endless toil, watches him with tears, while he vows to leave the hills and seek work that will lift them both from poverty. Determined and industrious, he sees his future as a chance to become the provider his family needs. He packs his meager belongings, ready to trade his small strength for the opportunities that lie beyond the familiar hills.
At dawn, with a patched coat and a hopeful heart, Willie steps onto the road, his thoughts filled with visions of a better life. Along the way he encounters a strange, translucent cloud from which rise two enormous hands, an unsettling sight that halts his progress and hints at forces beyond his simple world. The encounter sets him on a path where courage, perseverance, and the promise of industry will be tested. What lies ahead remains uncertain, but his resolve shines brighter than the sunrise that guides his steps.
Language
en
Duration
~24 minutes (23K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Internet Archive; University of Florida, David Garcia, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
Release date
2004-01-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1804–1872
Best known by the pen name Alfred Crowquill, this lively Victorian writer and illustrator brought humor, fantasy, and a strong visual flair to children's books and popular print culture. His work moved easily between stories, caricature, theater, and design, making him a distinctive creative figure of 19th-century London.
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