Six Little Bunkers at Cousin Tom's

but it was rather hard work, as they ran about so-like chickens, Mrs. Bunker was wont to say-that it was hard to keep tr

-Russ, who was eight years old. "C

ear younger. "I'm not going to roll on the grass, 'cause I'v

aid Russ. "Anyhow, I'm not going to roll much more. Let's g

third little Bunker, being the third oldest, except Laddie, of course. "Wh

ter a roll on the grass, and brushing hi

selves with it," went on Vi. "And what make

older person, he did not try to answer all

gested Rose. "Then maybe we c

s, a little boy and girl who were digging little holes in a sandy place

e a boy with curly hair and gray eyes, who was Violet's twin, dropped some pieces of wood

w some bubbles

f "little mother" air about her when the smaller chi

things to eat?"

had been playing with him in the sand. "We always

cookies from Aunt Jo," said R

ould not seem like a party, even with soap bubbles, unless t

cook might be expected to hand out cookies and cakes, another little Bunker, who was walking

ess what I hav

me of the gray-eyed and curly-haired boy, and he was very fon

ddie. "Who can guess w

saw one of her brother's cheeks puffed

dy!" he cried. "Yo

than to make his brothers an

e of cake?" a

op

ng down the side porch, she cried: "Mother, make Laddie give me some of

ed Laddie. "I only asked her

y!" insisted

't!" dispu

adikins to talk this way. Where's Margy?" she asked as she "counted noses," w

'cause we're going to have a so

y colors come in the bubb

s the sun shines through the water in th

her question had been answered, anyhow. "And now what's Laddie

ie, and he showed how he had thrust his tongue to one side, bulging out his

with a riddle!" he said to V

some real candy I won't gi

es!" exclaimed Rose. "Now we'l

won't taste nice," warned Mother Bunker. "No

Russ. "Do you think he is

may,

for the rest of the summer?" Rose wanted to know. For the six little Bunke

s. Bunker with a smile, "but I hope it will be a nice one. N

es first," said Russ. "Then w

o seemed especially fond of

de us-I mean the cookie

dle!" exclaimed Laddie. "I'm go

nd then Russ and Rose made some bowls of soapy water, and with clay pipes, which the little Bunkers had bought for their play, th

s out on the grass, they blew bubbles and let them fall on the cloth. Th

" cried Laddie. "It's mor

enly exclaimed, for he had happened to laugh just as he was blowing a big bu

ggled de

his pipe down into the bowl of water

n a voic

s! Where

!" answered Russ, l

it?" ask

explained. "He lives about two blocks from here, and I told him to come over and see us.

reeted Russ. "Want

for Sammie. He seemed to know how to use it,

ed Violet, who simply had to ask

nough to get inside of you could breathe the air, just like ou

, really?"

Sammie a

know?" Viole

ings that sink. The divers have air pumped to them, and they wear a big thing on their heads lik

t!" begged Laddie, l

ver go down like a

he other men go down. He's been a sea captai

pwrecked?"

ammie. "Then you have to get off if you don't want to be drowned. And once my f

id?" cr

him tell about i

a story?"

real," s

ut it," dema

house, my father'll tell you about it. Only he isn't home now 'cause he's got

ut it?" asked Russ. "Did your fath

"He's got one piece at home now. It's ye

he island?"

suggested Laddie. "That

" said Sammie. "It's ha

ar," said Rus

nice sand in one part of Aunt Jo's garden, and I guess she'd

e," said Sammie, looking the place

said Laddie. "Let's do th

heard the postman's whistle and stopped to get the mail. This he

usin Tom! I hope it

ie wondered what the good news

vited us all down to his seashore cottage! Won't that be fine? W