THE PETERKINS DECIDE TO KEEP A COW. NOT that they
were fond of drinking milk, nor that they drank very much. But
for that reason Mr. Peterkin thought it would be well to have a
cow, to encourage the family to drink more, as he felt it would be
so healthy.

Mrs. Peterkin recalled the troubles of the last cold winter, and how
near they came to starving, when they were shut up in a severe
snow-storm, and the water-pipes burst, and the milk was frozen. If
the cow-shed could open out of the wood-shed, such trouble might
be prevented.

Tony Larkin was to come over and milk the cow every morning,
and Agamemnon and Solomon John agreed to learn how to milk,
in case Tony should be "snowed up," or have the whooping-cough
in the course of the winter. The little boys thought they knew how
already.

But if they were to have three or four pailfuls of milk every day, it
was important to know where to keep it.

"One way will be," said Mrs. Peterkin, "to use a great deal every
day. We will make butter."

"That will be admirable," thought Mr. Peterkin.

"And custards," suggested Solomon John.

"And syllabub," said Elizabeth Eliza.