open(FILE, '<', 'sample.txt') or die "Could not open 'sample.txt' for input: $!\n";
print scalar(<FILE>);   # print ONE LINE from the file
$line2 = <FILE>; # get ONE LINE from the file
close FILE;
print $line2;

### OR, alternatively

open(FILE, '<', 'sample.txt') or die "Could not open 'sample.txt' for input: $!\n";
print <FILE>;    # print WHOLE FILE
seek FILE, 0, 0; # go to beginning of file
$line1 = <FILE>; # get ONE LINE from the file
close FILE;
print $line1;