Six Little Bunkers at Grandma Bell's
little boy again, "but I want you to carry me, too. Can't I have a balloon, Daddy?" and he nestled his tired head down on his father's shoulder. Norah was carrying Margy, but the other little Bunkers could walk.

   "A balloon, is it?" said Mun's father. "Do you mean a fire-balloon?"

   "No, they burn up," said Mun Bun, in rather sleepy tones. And, in truth, several of the paper balloons sent up that evening had caught fire. "I want a big balloon I can ride in," he said, "like Jerry told about. I want to go up in a balloon!"

   "Well, maybe you'll dream about one," said Mother Bunker with a laugh. "And that will be better than a real one, because if you fall out of a dream balloon you land in bed. But if you fall out of a real balloon you may land in the river."

   Mun Bun did not answer. He was asleep on his father's shoulder.

   The next day, between times of walking around the yard looking for fire-crackers that, possibly, hadn't exploded the day before, and finding stray torpedoes, the six little Bunkers talked of the fun they had had. They went into the house, now and then, to see how Mother Bunker and Norah were coming on with the packing. For a start had been made in getting ready to go to Grandma

   Bell's, now that the Fourth of July was passed.

   Mrs. Bunker was so busy that she did not keep as close watch over the children as usual, and it was nearly time for lunch before she thought of them.

   "Norah, see if they're all in the yard, please," she said. "And count them, to be sure all six are there. Then we'll get them something to eat, and do some more packing this afternoon."

   Norah looked out in the yard.

   "I see only five of 'em, ma'am," she reported.

   "Which one is gone?" asked Mrs. Bunker quickly.

   "I don't see Mun Bun," said the cook.

   Just then Rose came running into the house.

   "Oh, Mother!" she cried. "Guess where Mun Bun is!"


 Prev. P 32/124 next 
Back Top
Privacy Statement Terms of Service Contact