t forgotten how it began.--O, was that the first thing that
happened?--Was the father a rich man?--Did the story say he was rich or
did you just think he was?--If he had not married a widow could things
have happened as they did?--How did the widow and her daughters treat
Cinderella?--If Cinderella had not been mistreated would her fairy
godmother have come to her aid?--If the fairy had not appeared could the
story have been the same?--How did the fairy make the golden
coach?--Could she have made it out of anything else?--If she had made
one just as good out of something else, could Cinderella have gone to
the ball just as well?--If Cinderella went to the ball in good style did
it matter how she went?--If Cinderella had not gone to the ball, could
she have met the prince?--Was it as important then that she should have
a coach made from a pumpkin as that she should go to the ball and meet
the prince?--Can you think of something else just as necessary to make
the story come out right as that Cinderella should go to the ball?--Can
you think of other things that must have happened just as they did to
make the story come out right and just as it did?--Can you think of some
things that might have happened differently and still not have hurt the
story at all?--Let us put together all the things that must have
happened to make the story right and leave out the things that could be
changed. Now, what are they?--Now let us find a few things we could
leave out or change. What are some of them?--If we left them out the
story would come out the same, but would it be as good, as
interesting?--Would you like Cinderella as well if these little things
had been left out?--Would you think as much of the prince if he had
found Cinderella right away as you do when he has to do so many hard
things before he finds her?"

Every one must realize the impossibility of providing a scheme of
questioning that would fit exactly any given case, but will not the
above suggest a method that may lead to many a happy and profitable
evening at the family round table? Even if there are older children in
the group they will renew their interest in the old stories and get more
good from them when it is seen that father and mother do not deem it
beneath their dignity, nor outside the range of their interests, to read
and study a fairy tale.

In _Journeys Through Bookland_ are here and there outlines and questions
designed to lead the children to see for thems