“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. “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. At length Mr. Peterkin had it cut down and brought secretly into the Larkin’s barn. A week or two before Christmas a measurement was made of it with Elizabeth Eliza’s yard-measure. To Mr. Peterkin’s great dismay it was discovered that it was too high to stand in the back parlor. This fact was brought out at a secret council of Mr. and Mrs. Peterkin, Elizabeth Eliza, and Agamemnon. Agamemnon suggested that it might be set up slanting; but Mrs. Peterkin was very sure it would make her dizzy, and the candles would drip. But a brilliant idea came to Mr. Peterkin. He proposed that the ceiling of the parlor should be raised to make room for the top of the tree. Elizabeth Eliza thought the space would need to be quite large. It must not be like a small box, or you could not see the tree. “Yes,” said Mr. Peterkin, “I should have the ceiling lifted all across the room; the effect would be finer.”