The Working Genius MacDonald, George 1824-1905 creator text utu 2003 monographic en 1 online resource : multiple file formats "Gutta-Percha Willie" by George MacDonald is a children's novel set during the mid-19th century. The story revolves around Willie Macmichael, a young boy with a curious and thoughtful nature, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery and learning. Willie navigates his childhood in a rural village, learning valuable lessons about work, kindness, and the importance of being useful to others. The opening of the book introduces us to Willie and his family, providing a glimpse into his life as the son of a country doctor. We learn about Willie's playful spirit, his interactions with the village around him, and his initial reluctance towards formal education. He enjoys listening to stories, particularly from his elderly neighbor, Mrs. Wilson, who instills a sense of imagination and curiosity in him. Willie's journey soon evolves as he expresses a desire to learn practical skills, becoming adept at knitting and shoemaking, and even contemplating deeper philosophical questions about work and creativity. This opening establishes the themes of growth, learning, and the value of hands-on experience, setting the stage for Willie's adventures and development throughout the rest of the novel. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Release date is 2003-11-01 E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, Andrea Ball, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team Original publication data not identified Physicians -- Juvenile fiction Water -- Juvenile fiction Reading -- Juvenile fiction Gifted persons -- Juvenile fiction PZ Original publication data not identified https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10093 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10093 UtSlPG 260607 20260610133239.0 10093