ld miss the
exercise, and they would lose a great pleasure.

Solomon John suggested that they might sit on the fence and watch the
cow.

It was decided to keep the cow in their own pasture; and, as they were
to put on an end kitchen, it would be perfectly easy to build a dairy.

The cow proved a quiet one. She was a little excited when all the
family stood round at the first milking, and watched her slowly
walking into the shed.

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?"