How do the actions of the cottagers towards their father cause the creature to change his actions towards them?

The actions of the cottagers lead the creature to seek out the reason for the cottagers' uneasiness and inspired a need within him to help. Whereas he'd once felt no guilt at taking (stealing) part of their stores for himself..... he no longer did so. He also began to help them secretly with their labors.

Nothing could exceed the love and respect which the younger cottagers exhibited towards their venerable companion. They performed towards him every little office of affection and duty with gentleness; and he rewarded them by his benevolent smiles.

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"This trait of kindness moved me sensibly. I had been accustomed, during the night to steal a part of their store for my own consumption; but when I found that in doing this I inflicted pain on the cottagers, I abstained, and satisfied myself with berries, nuts, and roots, which I gathered from a neighbouring wood.

"I discovered also another means through which I was enabled to assist their labours. I found that the youth spent a great part of each day in collecting wood for the family fire; and, during the night, I often took his tools, the use of which I quickly discovered, and brought home firing sufficient for the consumption of several days.