Elizabeth Eliza had her scarlet sack dyed brown a fortnight before. It was the one she did her gardening in, and it might have infuriated the cow. And she kept out of the garden the first day or two. Mrs. Peterkin and Elizabeth Eliza bought the best kind of milk-pans, of every size. [Illustration] But there was a little disappointment about the taste of the milk. The little boys liked it, and drank large mugs of it. Elizabeth Eliza said she could never learn to love milk warm from the cow, though she would like to do her best to patronize the cow. Mrs. Peterkin was afraid Amanda did not understand about taking care of the milk; yet she had been down to overlook her, and she was sure the pans and the closet were all clean. "Suppose we send a pitcher of cream over to the lady from Philadelphia to try," said Elizabeth Eliza; "it will be a pretty attention before she goes." "It might be awkward if she didn't like it," said Solomon John. "Perhaps something is the matter with the grass." "I gave the cow an apple to eat yesterday," said one of the little boys, remorsefully. Elizabeth Eliza went over, and Mrs. Peterkin, too, and explained all to the lady from Philadelphia, asking her to taste the milk. The lady from Philadelphia tasted, and said the truth was that the milk was sour. "I was afraid it was so," said Mrs. Peterkin; "but I didn't know what to expect from these new kinds of cows." The lady from Philadelphia asked where the milk was kept. [Illustration] "In the new dairy," answered Elizabeth Eliza. "Is that in a cool place?" asked the lady from Philadelphia. Elizabeth Eliza explained it was close by the new kitchen. "Is it near the chimney?" inquired the lady from Philadelphia. "It is directly back of the chimney and the new kitchen range," replied Elizabeth Eliza. "I suppose it is too hot!" "Well, well!" said Mrs. Peterkin, "that is it! Last winter the milk froze, and now we have gone to the other extreme! Where shall we put our dairy?" THE PETERKINS' CHRISTMAS-TREE. Early in the autumn the Peterkins began to prepare for their Christmas-tree. Everything was done in great privacy, as it was to be a surprise to the neighbors, as well as to the rest of the family. Mr. Peterkin had been up to Mr. Bromwick's wood-lot, and, with his consent, selected the tree. Agamemnon went to look at it occasionally after dark, and Solomon John made frequent visits to it mornings, just after sunrise. Mr. Peterkin drove Elizabeth Eliza and her mother that way, and pointed furtively to it with his whip; but none of them ever spoke of it aloud to each other. It was suspected that the little boys had been to see it Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. But they came home with their pockets full of chestnuts, and said nothing about it. [Illustration]