When little Sam was six years old, he began to go to school. His
teacher gave him a merit card whenever he was good all day. But
sometimes he whispered, or made a noise in school, and then he did not
get one.
"I will give you a penny whenever you bring home a card," said Sam's
father.
After that Sam was very good, and brought home a card almost every
day. He saved up his pennies, and when he was seven years old, he
bought a pretty toy boat.
Sam's sister Hattie went with him to the duck-pond to see him sail the
boat. But soon she grew tired, and went back to the house.
"I wish I had something to put into my boat," thought Sam.
He looked around and saw Hattie's doll under a tree. Hattie had
forgotten it when she went to the house. It was a pretty wax doll,
with long flaxen hair, and blue eyes that would open and shut. It was
dressed in pink silk, and had a little straw hat with a pink feather.
[Illustration: {SAM AND HIS SAILING BOAT, AND WHAT HAPPENED TO MISS
DOLLY.}]
"I will give Miss Dolly a sail," thought Sam.
He put the doll in the boat, and pushed it out on the water.
"Hattie, Hattie!" he cried, "come and see your doll taking a sail."
Just as he spoke an old duck swam against the boat, and gave it such
a push that Miss Dolly fell off into the water. Before Sam could reach
her with a long stick she sank to the bottom of the pond.
Hattie cried until she had no tears left to shed, and Sam felt like
crying, too. He knew he ought not to have taken his sister's doll.
He went on saving his pennies just as he had done before he bought the
boat. And when he opened his tin bank on his next birthday he found
that he had nearly three dollars. What do you think he bought? I am
afraid you would never guess, so I will tell you. He bought a new doll
for Hattie, and it was even prettier than the one he had drowned in
the duck-pond.