5. The carpenters
6. The soldiers
7. The merry-makers
8. His discovery of his companion's identity
9. The lesson that he learned.
Having thus obtained the literal meaning of the story—a matter of little difficulty—it remains to get its deeper significance. It is hardly probable that many pupils will be disposed to regard the story as literally true, yet few will be likely, upon a first reading, to see the principle that underlies it. In order to arrive at this, the teacher may proceed as follows:
Are there any parts of the story that strike you as improbable? (1) The reference to Mr. Toil's long residence upon the earth. (2) The frequent meetings with Mr. Toil's brothers. (3) Daffydowndilly's slowness in discovering another brother in the person of his companion. (4) Their travelling all day in a circle.
If the story is literally untrue or improbable, what object might Hawthorne have had in view in writing it? Perhaps he wished to teach some lesson; perhaps there is a meaning hidden beneath the story.
Let us discover what that hidden meaning is? What does the name "Toil" suggest to you? Work.
What, then, may Mr. Toil represent? Work.