Little Daffydowndilly (From: "The Snow Image and Other Twice-Told Tales")

"Little Daffydowndilly" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is an allegorical children's story from the 19th century exploring the importance of hard work. The story introduces Daffydowndilly, a boy who loves beauty more than work and attempts to avoid the strict rules of his schoolmaster, Mr. Toil, by running away from school. A mysterious stranger joins Daffydowndilly as he tries to find his mother and avoid any form of labor. During his journey, Daffydowndilly meets people in different jobs who remind him of Mr. Toil, teaching him that he can't escape responsibility. Over time, he figures out that being lazy doesn't make him happy; he then learns that working hard is important and can be rewarding. This journey teaches Daffydowndilly that work isn't so bad after all, and that good things come from doing your best.