Cleaning the Windows. Cottage Songs
The story follows a young man named Willie who lives with his mother and sister in a small cottage near the sea. One day, while cleaning the windows of their home, he notices a beautiful girl walking along the beach. He becomes infatuated with her and sets out to find her again. After several failed attempts, he finally meets her at a local fair and they fall in love. However, their happiness is short-lived as she is forced to leave town due to family obligations. Willie is heartbroken but eventually finds solace in his work and the beauty of nature around him.
By George MacDonald · First published 1857 · Genre: Poetry, Religious, Inspirational · 276 words
First lines
Wash the window; rub it dry; Make the ray-door clean and bright: He who lords it in the sky Loves on cottage floors to light!
Looking over sea and beck, Mountain-forest, orchard-bloom, He can spy the smallest speck Anywhere about the room!
See how bright his torch is blazing In the heart of mother's store!
Strange! I never saw him gazing So into that press before!
What this Textopian page supports
Cleaning the Windows. Cottage Songs is listed on Textopian as a short story by George MacDonald, dated 1857 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: George MacDonald
- Date: 1857 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Religious, Inspirational, Pastoral
- Length: 276 words
- Structure: 1 section, 13 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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- Work identity for Cleaning the Windows. Cottage Songs by George MacDonald
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Religious — The themes include spiritual enlightenment and divine presence, common in religious literature.
- Inspirational — The text encourages self-reflection and personal growth, typical of inspirational works.
- Pastoral — The setting and imagery involve nature and rural life, aligning with pastoral themes.
Tags
poetry · cottage · songs · nature · rural · folk · spirituality · simplicity · nostalgia · imagination · childhood · whimsy