The Doers

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27650

Title

The Doers

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this charming children's classic, a five-year-old boy named David observes the various tradesmen building a new house next door. From digging cellars to painting clapboards, David imagines himself participating in each stage of construction, complete with his cat and toy cart. The story captures the wonder of childhood curiosity and the step-by-step process of building a home.

Summary up to 500 words

In William John Hopkins' *The Doers*, the narrative follows David, a curious five-year-old boy, as he observes the construction of a new house next to his own. The story unfolds through David's daily visits, where he learns about the various tradesmen responsible for building a home. His journey begins with the 'digging-men,' who use pickaxes and a large iron scoop to excavate a cellar. David imagines joining their work with his own shovel and hoe, watching the rhythmic, synchronized striking of the tools. Next, he encounters the masons, marveling at how they fit irregular stones together to form the foundation walls. He learns that the men use crowbars to maneuver heavy rocks and hammers to split stones for a perfect fit. Inside the unfinished structure, David meets the 'water-men' and plumbers. He observes them installing pipes and traps under sinks and bathtubs, often working in awkward positions. Inspired, David creates a cardboard box costume to pretend he is a plumber, lighting a candle inside to mimic the work environment. Later, painters arrive with tall ladders and a unique staging system involving ropes and pulleys to reach high walls. David learns that the first coat of paint contains oil to soak into the bare wood. As the house nears completion, moving men arrive to transport furniture and household goods. During this time, David meets his new neighbor, Dick, who is moving in with his family. The two boys explore the woods together, watching squirrels chase crows, before realizing the new house is now their shared home. The story concludes with the moving vans departing. David stands by his cart, content after a day of observation and play, having witnessed the transformation of a field into a home. The tale celebrates the diverse skills of the 'doers' who build our world and the simple joy of childhood curiosity.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27650.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg27650.epub

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Downloaded at

2026-07-06 12:33 UTC

Categories

• Children's Literature
• Home Improvement