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HOUSEHOLD DEPARTMENT
Mrs。 Alexander King killed all her geese the twentieth of December。 We all helped pick them。 We had one Christmas Day and will have one every fortnight the rest of the winter。
The bread was sour last week because mother wouldn't take my advice。 I told her it was too warm for it in the corner behind the stove。
Miss Felicity King invented a new recete for date cookies recently； which everybody said were excelent。 I am not going to publish it though； because I don't want other people to find it out。
ANXIOUS INQUIRER：If you want to remove inkstains place the stain over steam and apply salt and lemon juice。 If it was Dan who sent this question in I'd advise him to stop wiping his pen on his shirt sleeves and then he wouldn't have so many stains。
FELICITY KING。
ETIQUETTE DEPARTMENT
F…l…x：Yes； you should offer your arm to a lady when seeing her home； but don't keep her standing too long at the gate while you say good night。
（FELIX； ENRAGED：〃I never asked such a question。〃）
C…c…l…y：No； it is not polite to use 〃Holy Moses〃 or 〃dodgasted〃 in ordinary conversation。
（Cecily had gone down cellar to replenish the apple plate； so this passed without protest。）
S…r…a：No； it isn't polite to cry all the time。 As to whether you should ask a young man in； it all depends on whether he went home with you of his own accord or was sent by some elderly relative。
F…l…t…y：It does not break any rule of etiquette if you keep a button off your best young man's coat for a keepsake。 But don't take more than one or his mother might miss them。
DAN KING。
FASHION NOTES
Knitted mufflers are much more stylish than crocheted ones this winter。 It is nice to have one the same colour as your cap。
Red mittens with a black diamond pattern on the back are much run after。 Em Frewen's grandma knits hers for her。 She can knit the double diamond pattern and Em puts on such airs about it； but I think the single diamond is in better taste。
The new winter hats at Markdale are very pretty。 It is so exciting to pick a hat。 Boys can't have that fun。 Their hats are so much alike。
CECILY KING。
FUNNY PARAGRAPHS
This is a true joke and really happened。
There was an old local preacher in New Brunswick one time whose name was Samuel Clask。 He used to preach and pray and visit the sick just like a regular minister。 One day he was visiting a neighbour who was dying and he prayed the Lord to have mercy on him because he was very poor and had worked so hard all his life that he hadn't much time to attend to religion。
〃And if you don't believe me； O Lord；〃 Mr。 Clask finished up with； 〃just take a look at his hands。〃
FELIX KING。
GENERAL INFORMATION BUREAU
DAN：Do porpoises grow on trees or vines？
Ans。 Neither。 They inhabit the deep sea。
FELIX KING。
（DAN； AGGRIEVED：〃Well； I'd never heard of porpoises and it sounded like something that grew。 But you needn't have gone and put it in the paper。〃
FELIX：〃It isn't any worse than the things you put in about me that I never asked at all。〃
CECILY； SOOTHINGLY：〃Oh； well； boys； it's all in fun； and I think Our Magazine is perfectly elegant。〃
FELICITY； FAILING TO SEE THE STORY GIRL AND BEVERLEY EXCHANGING WINKS BEHIND HER BACK：〃It certainly is； though SOME PEOPLE were so opposed to starting it。〃）
What harmless； happy fooling it all was！ How we laughed as we read and listened and devoured apples！ Blow high； blow low； no wind can ever quench the ruddy glow of that faraway winter night in our memories。 And though Our Magazine never made much of a stir in the world； or was the means of hatching any genius； it continued to be capital fun for us throughout the year。
CHAPTER VI
GREAT…AUNT ELIZA'S VISIT
It was a diamond winter day in Februaryclear； cold； hard； brilliant。 The sharp blue sky shone； the white fields and hills glittered； the fringe of icicles around the eaves of Uncle Alec's house sparkled。 Keen was the frost and crisp the snow over our world； and we young fry of the King households were all agog to enjoy lifefor was it not Saturday； and were we not left all alone to keep house？
Aunt Janet and Aunt Olivia had had their last big 〃kill〃 of market poultry the day before； and early in the morning all our grown…ups set forth to Charlottetown； to be gone the whole day。 They left us many charges as usual； some of which we remembered and some of which we forgot； but with Felicity in command none of us dared stray far out of line。 The Story Girl and Peter came over； of course； and we all agreed that we would haste and get the work done in the forenoon； that we might have an afternoon of uninterrupted enjoyment。 A taffy…pull after dinner and then a jolly hour of coasting on the hill field before supper were on our programme。 But disappointment was our portion。 We did manage to get the taffy made but before we could sample the result satisfactorily； and just as the girls were finishing with the washing of the dishes； Felicity glanced out of the window and exclaimed in tones of dismay；
〃Oh； dear me； here's Great…aunt Eliza coming up the lane！ Now； isn't that too mean？〃
We all looked out to see a tall； gray…haired lady approaching the house； looking about her with the slightly puzzled air of a stranger。 We had been expecting Great…aunt Eliza's advent for some weeks； for she was visiting relatives in Markdale。 We knew she was liable to pounce down on us any time； being one of those delightful folk who like to 〃surprise〃 people； but we had never thought of her coming that particular day。 It must be confessed that we did not look forward to her visit with any pleasure。 None of us had ever seen her； but we knew she was very deaf； and had very decided opinions as to the way in which children should behave。
〃Whew！〃 whistled Dan。 〃We're in for a jolly afternoon。 She's deaf as a post and we'll have to split our throats to make her hear at all。 I've a notion to skin out。〃
〃Oh； don't talk like that； Dan；〃 said Cecily reproachfully。 〃She's old and lonely and has had a great deal of trouble。 She has buried three husbands。 We must be kind to her and do the best we can to make her visit pleasant。〃
〃She's coming to the back door；〃 said Felicity； with an agitated glance around the kitchen。 〃I told you； Dan； that you should have shovelled the snow away from the front door this morning。 Cecily； set those pots in the pantry quickhide those boots； Felixshut the cupboard door； PeterSara； straighten up the lounge。 She's awfully particular and ma says her house is always as neat as wax。〃
To do Felicity justice； while she issued orders to the rest of us； she was flying busily about herself； and it was amazing how much was accomplished in the way of putting the kitchen in perfect order during the two minutes in which Great…aunt Eliza was crossing the yard。
〃Fortunately the sitting…room is tidy and there's plenty in the pantry；〃 said Felicity； who could face anything undauntedly with a we