A young boy, characterized by his love for beauty and aversion to hard work, is sent to a strict school overseen by a harsh schoolmaster known as Mr. Toil. Daffydowndilly, feeling miserable under Mr. Toil's stern rule, decides to run away in search of his mother and a life free from toil. On his journey, he encounters a stranger who claims to have also dealt with Mr. Toil and agrees to accompany Daffydowndilly. As they travel, Daffydowndilly is repeatedly confronted by figures resembling Mr. Toil in various professions: a farmer, a carpenter, a soldier, and a fiddler, each embodying the same harshness he associates with his schoolmaster. Despite the stranger's reassurances that these are merely brothers of Mr. Toil, Daffydowndilly grows increasingly anxious, believing he cannot escape the influence of toil. Eventually, they come across a group of people lounging in the shade, where Daffydowndilly hopes to find respite. However, he again sees a figure resembling Mr. Toil, this time in the guise of a lazy man. Overwhelmed, Daffydowndilly realizes that he cannot escape toil, as it permeates every aspect of life. In despair, he wishes to return to school, only to discover that they have traveled in a circle and are back at the schoolhouse. The stranger, who has been a manifestation of Mr. Toil all along, leads him back. Through this experience, Daffydowndilly learns that diligence is not as burdensome as he once thought and begins to appreciate the value of hard work, recognizing that it can be rewarding and fulfilling. He ultimately finds that Mr. Toil's approval is as comforting as his mother's affection.
By Nathaniel Hawthorne · First published 1843 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Allegory