A MAN told a little girl that he would sell his baby for a nickel. She liked babies well and thought that was very cheap. She ran home quickly to get the money. Her mama was very busy. She gave her the nickel and did not stop to listen to what the little girl wanted.

The little girl ran back to the man to get the baby. Of course, the man would not give up his baby. He did not mean what he had said. This made the little girl cry very hard.

Her mama always told the truth. She thought others meant what they said, just like her mama.

It was wrong for the man not to tell the truth. We often make others feel very bad when we say things that we do not mean.