Six little Bunkers at Grandma Bell'sHope, Laura Lee
General
Six little Bunkers at Grandma Bell's
Hope, Laura Lee
Detective and mystery stories; Siblings -- Juvenile fiction
"It was a queer mistake," said Mr. Bunker. "Rose put her doll down to
sleep in the seat right next to where the live baby was sleeping. And the
seats looked so much alike, and Rose's doll was in a white shawl, just
like the real baby, so that's how it happened."
"And the baby is such a little one, and Rose's doll is so big, that no
wonder she didn't know the difference until she saw the real baby open its
eyes," went on Mother Bunker. "Well, it was a funny happening."
The other passengers laughed and talked about it, and so did the six
little Bunkers. Then it was time to go into the dining-car for supper,
after which the berths would be made up, so those who wished could go to
bed.
The children were all sleepy, for they had gotten up early, so they
hurried through their supper. They were interested in seeing the colored
porter make the beds when they got back to their own coach.
He pulled out the bottom parts of two seats, until they met in the middle.
Then he fastened them together, pulled down what seemed to be a big shelf
overhead, and from this recess, or closet, he took blankets, curtains,
sheets, pillows, cases and everything needed for nice, clean beds.
As Mrs. Bunker was afraid the children might roll out of the upper berths
in the night if the train went fast or swayed, they all had lower berths.
Soon the children with their heaviest clothing taken off, were stretched
out and, a little later, lulled by the clickity-click-clack of the wheels,
they were deep in slumber.
The younger children did not awaken all night, but Rose and Russ both said
they did once during the hours of darkness.
"And I heard a baby cry," said Rose. "Was it the one I took for my doll?"
"I guess it was, Little Helper," answered her mother, the next morning
when Rose told about it.
After breakfast, eaten at little tables in the dining car, the lady
brought the baby down for Rose and all the other little Bunkers to see.
"Oh, isn't she cute?" cried Rose, "I wish we could keep her!"
"I'm glad you like her," said the baby's mother, "but I want to keep her
for myself."
Once more it was daylight, and as the train rumbled on toward Lake
Sagatook, the Bunkers looked from the windows, or looked again at the
picture books their father had bought for them.
"When shall we be there?" asked Russ, for perhaps the tenth time. He was
getting a bit tired of train travel.
"We'll get in at the station about noon," his father told him, "but we
have to drive about five miles in a wagon or an auto to get to Grandma
Bell's place. That is on the shore of Lake Sagatook."
"And I hope none of you fall in," said Mrs. Bunker.
"We'll get a boat," said Russ.
"And I hope it won't sink," added Vi, remembering her last boat ride.
"Oh, say! I've thought of a new riddle!" shouted Laddie. "Why don't the
tickets get mad when the conductor punches 'em? Why don't they?"
"I don't know--I give up," said Daddy Bunker. "What's the answer?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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