资料题：According to the author, to pay too much for the whistle means to（　）。

When I was a child of seven years old, my parents, on a holiday, filled my pockets with coins. I went directly to a shop where they sold toys for children; and, charmed by the sound of a whistle, I paid all may money for one. I then came home, and went whistling all over the house, much pleased with my whistle, but disturbing my family. My brothers and sisters, when they learned what the whistle had cost, laughed at me and said I had given four times as much for it as it was worth. This made me think of all the good thing I might have bought with the rest of the money, and I became so angry with myself that the whistle no longer gave me pleasure.From this experience I learned an important lesson. Whenever I was tempted to buy someunnecessary thing, I said to myself, "Don't pay too much for the whistle,"and I saved my money.As I grew up, and observed the behavior of men, I met with many who gave too much for the whistle.When I saw one fond of popularity, courting(追求)the favor of others, and neglecting his own affairs, I said to myself,' 'This man pays too much for his whistle."If I knew a miser, who gave up every kind of comfort, all the pleasure of doing good to others, and all the joys of friendship, for the sake of accumulating(积累) wealth,“Poor man,"said I," you gave too much for your whistle.When I met a gambling man, sacrificing his fortune on horses and dice, and ruining his health by playing cards all night,' 'Alas," I said,“he has paid too much for his whistle.”In short, I am convinced that most of the miseries of mankind are brought upon them by paying too much for the whistle.