Six Little Bunkers at Aunt Jo's

ll here," said Mother Bunker with a laugh,

Grandma Bell. "Can you count so ma

every time we come to the woods, and each time I start for home, to be sure none

ic and have a good time at a good-bye picnic, laughed and shouted and finall

y home in Maine, near Lake Sagatook, the six little

se!" called

ered Russ, and he p

ie!" went on

" said Laddie. "I'm going to think of a

e?" she asked again. But Laddie, her twin brother, did not stop to answer the question. Indeed it would take a great deal of time to reply to the ques

f them," said Grandm

nker. "And now for th

guess, was, more properly, Margaret. "Come on, M

s, I'll say right here that he was Margy's little brother, and his r

," said Grandma B

unning across the field toward the woods. "They're all her

"I'm sorry this is your last picnic with me. I certainl

the six little Bunkers were already running about and having fun. The wood

to his sister. "We'll have

d Laddie, dropping a bundle o

dded Vi. "I

e steamboat at once!" Russ c

lay shipwreck,

of the lake, and it won't move and we can't have rides. That'll be no fun!" And the boy b

asked Rose. "I want a

uld stand on it in their bare feet and paddle about in a small cove that a bend in the shore-line of the lake made. The reason they had to take off their shoes and stockings was because the water came up over the top of the

n the steamer, to

that," put in Margy, wh

" he

aus

t w

to roll downhill where the pin

We'll roll downhill, and the

ride now!" i

," added

ther'll make me give in to you two, 'cause I'

l, the two women having walked more slowly than the children. "Has anything happened

he steamboat at once, and it is

t's the only way to do. Rose, dear, you are the oldest; you

!" cried Rose, and her voice was not j

e than I give them. Anyway, they'll soon get tired of the raft, and th

e help push with th

o that, of cour

l wait. Go on, Violet and Laddie

ss called it, the "steamboat," was tied by a rope to an old stump. Russ, with the help o

which he pushed the raft about in the shallow cove of the lake

e to watch, while Mun Bun and Margy ran over to a little hill, covered with dry, slippery pine needles, and there th

t was just about large enough for three children of the size of those who were on it, but any more would have made it sink

he ding-donged the bell and hissed, to let off steam. Violet and Laddie laughe

at long enough now, Laddie and Vi!" called Mo

re ride!" pl

more. But that's t

waded out in her bare feet and got on board, carrying a pole so she could help push the raft; for it

h Margy and Mun Bun," said Laddie, after watching

ar to be having a good time. Over and over they rolled down

nd laughter could be heard by Mother Bunker and Grandma

bottom of the hill, ending with a somersau

! What'

and Mun Bu

ar anything

Laddie. "It's so

and listened more intently, they

et me! Come

y lost in the woo

, maybe!" exc

added Mun Bun, his e

d Laddie. "If we were lost, we'd lik

was the oldest of the four, except Violet, who was just as old, except maybe

ied the voice again, and to the four l

ddie. And the children