Oliver Optic

“ Nellie felt almost as bad as her sister, and said all she could to console her. The next day Katy was so ashamed of herself that she did not wish to see any body. But in a few [96] days she got over it; and her mother hoped the affair would do her a great deal of good. Whenever she showed a spirit of envy, Mrs. Green reminded her of her doll, and she tried to conquer the feeling; but it took many years to cure her.
When you envy others, although you may not punch out the eyes of your own doll, you hurt yourself more than any one else. ”

“ Katy was waiting for her sister to find out the mischief that had been done, and she dreaded the moment when she should do so. She did not dare to look at her, for fear her looks might betray her.
"You shall be queen without any crown," said Nellie, as she placed the doll on the table. "This pincushion shall be your throne. There, you [89] look just like a queen—don't she, mother?" ”

“ I guess she is fine enough," said Flora.
"I wish you had," replied Nellie; "but as you have not, we can't help it now. I dare say Miss Fanny will do."
"I'll tell you what you can do, Nellie." [32]
"What?"
"You can just ask Katy to lend you her dolly. We won't hurt her a mite, you know. We will use her just as if she were made of glass."
Nellie did not know what to say. She did not like to ask Katy to let her play with Lady Jane, for she knew how careful her sister was of her fine lady. And she did not like to tell Flora her thoughts, [33] lest she should think her sister was selfish. ”

“ But as Katy grew older, she seemed to want every thing that others had just as much as ever. She was now ten years old, and still she did not like to see others have any thing which she could not have. ”

“ She was not selfish. She would always divide her good things with her friends. Did you ever see a little boy or a little girl eating an apple or some candy, and another little boy or girl standing by, and looking just as if he wanted some? [14]
Nellie always gave her friends a part, and then she not only enjoyed what she ate herself, but she enjoyed what they ate. This is the way to make apples, oranges, and candy taste good.
One New Year's Day, Katy's aunt, after whom she was named, sent her a beautiful wax doll. ”

“ Green went up stairs with the children, Miss [93] Dolly had to be put to bed first, for she was a queen.
When the bureau drawer was opened, what do you think they saw? There lay Lady Jane, with both of her eyes punched out!
Katy burst into tears when she saw that her doll was entirely spoiled. Then she found that she had made a mistake. In the darkness she had punched out the eyes of Lady [94] Jane instead of Miss Dolly. This is the way that wicked people often punish themselves instead of others. ”

“ Her heart was full of envy and wickedness. To gratify her ill feeling she [82] had thrust the scissors into the eyes of the doll. She knew how badly her sister would feel, but she did not care for this. Now Lady Jane was the best doll, and she did not care for any thing else.
She staid in the room but a few moments. Closing the drawer, she hastened down stairs, and took a seat by the fire. She tried to look as [83] though nothing had happened; but she was sour and sullen, for she felt that she had done a very naughty act.
"Come, Katy ”

“ Lee's house, in Riverdale, lived a man by the name of Green. He was the agent of one of the factories in the village. Mr. Green had two little girls and three sons. The boys have nothing to do with my story, and for that reason I [9] shall not say a great deal about them. ”