“You’ve got your hands full with those youngsters, I can see that,” chuckled the truck driver, who had said his name was Adam North. “They must keep you busy.” “They do. But they are good children,” Mrs. Bunker said, while Rose was murmuring: “I can’t think what kind of a secret it can be that you can eat and play with. Can you, Russ?” “Not unless it’s a candy cane—the kind we used to get for Christmas,” he answered. “Oh, it couldn’t be _that_!” quickly declared Rose. “Mother wouldn’t make a secret about a candy cane. I think it must have something to do with this Farmer Joel.” “Maybe,” agreed Russ. “But I have to go into the house and brush my clothes. I didn’t think they were so dusty. It’s like sliding for first base when you’re playing ball.” By this time the six little Bunkers in charge of their mother were ready to walk back toward their house. They made a pretty picture as they stood in the street, Mun Bun and Margy were first, side by side, and holding hands as the two youngest generally did. Then came the twins, Violet and Laddie, next largest in size, and back of them were Rose and Russ, while Mrs. Bunker came behind the two oldest, smiling at her “brood,” as she sometimes called them, pretending they were hungry chickens. “Well, we’re generally hungry all right,” Russ would say with a laugh when his mother spoke thus. “I suppose we look like a procession, don’t we?” asked Mrs. Bunker of Adam North, as he prepared to start his truckload of flowers. “Well, a little, yes,” he agreed, with a laugh. “But it’s a mighty nice procession. I guess Farmer Joel wishes he had one like it.” “That’s so, he has no children, has he?” remarked Mrs. Bunker. “It’s been some time since I have seen him, and I thought perhaps he might have married.” “No,” went on Mr. North, while the six little Bunkers listened to the talk, wondering, the while, what the wonderful secret might be. “Farmer Joel is still a bachelor. He lives with his sister Miss Lavina. She keeps house for him, you know.” “Oh, yes, I know Lavina Todd very well,” said Mrs. Bunker. “She and I were old chums. We went to school together when we lived in the same country town as girls. But that was quite a number of years ago, and I thought Farmer Joel might have married in all that time.” “No—old bachelor,” replied Adam North. “But he’s the kindest, jolliest soul you’d want to meet and he loves children. That’s why I say he’d like a procession like yours. Now then, where do you want these flowers? I’ve got quite a load of ’em.” “Indeed you have a wonderful load of blossoms,” said Mrs. Bunker. “It was very kind of Farmer Joel to send them. But I’m afraid I can’t set them out all alone.” “Oh, I’ll stay and help you plant the flowers,” offered Adam North, who was something of a farmer and gardener himself. “Mr. Todd said I was to do that. I’ve got to stay, anyhow, to see Mr. Bunker. He’ll be home soon, I expect.”