Final answer:
Jeannette asks her dad for a small tin steam-boat on her 10th birthday. It is unclear whether she gets it or not based on the given information.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jeannette asks her dad for a small tin steam-boat on her 10th birthday. This toy is a gaudy little toy that can be steamed up and navigated using an alcohol lamp.
Based on the given information, it is not clear whether Jeannette actually gets the steam-boat on her 10th birthday or not. The excerpt provided only mentions her asking for it and her father holding it aloft, implying that he might be conducting some experiments before giving it to her.
Jeannette's father asks her what she wants for her tenth birthday and Jeannette, though a bit nervous about it, speaks from her heart: she wants Dad to stop drinking. Dad, having promised her whatever she wants, agrees and ties himself to his bed for a week of withdrawal.