The two boys reminded him of his daughter. The red coned hat boy was smart and moved quickly, just like his daughter had. Life moved too slow for her. The frog carrying boy held her childish wonder, the bit of her that never grew up.
Thought the woodsman hardly knew them, he knew his daughter would've liked them. Perhaps they could've even been friends. He could see them laughing together. Maybe the three would've all gone exploring, looking for hidden treasure or a new world.
And surely she'd have hated him had he pawned the boys off to The Beast.