need not be pressed, the story leaves us with the impression that
Cinderella had been patient and industrious, and forbearing with her
sisters. We know that she was strictly obedient to her godmother, and
in order to be this she makes her dramatic exit from the ball which is
the beginning of her triumph. There are many who might say that these
qualities do not meet with reward in life and that they end in
establishing a habit of drudgery, but, after all, we must have poetic
justice in a fairy story, occasionally, at any rate, even if the child
is confused by the apparent contradiction.

Such a story is "Jesper and the Hares." Here, however, it is not at
first resourcefulness that helps the hero, but sheer kindness of
heart, which prompts him first to help the ants, and then to show
civility to the old woman, without for a moment expecting any material
benefit from such actions. At the end, he does win on his own
ingenuity and resourcefulness, and if we regret that his trickery has
such wonderful results, we must remember the aim was to win the
princess for herself, and that there was little choice left him. I
consider that the end of this story is one of the most remarkable I
have found in my long years of browsing among fairy tales. I should
suggest stopping at the words: "The Tub is full," as any addition
seems to destroy the subtlety of the story.[25]

Another story of this kind, admirable for children from six years and
upwards, is, "What the Old Man Does is Always Right." Here, perhaps,
the entire lack of common-sense on the part of the hero would serve
rather as a warning than a stimulating example, but the conduct of
the wife in excusing the errors of her foolish husband is a model of
resourcefulness.