Margy and Rose played near her.

Mun Bun had his pail and shovel that he had brought from the beach at
Cousin Tom's, and the little boy began digging holes in the dirt near
the edge of the creek. Margy played with her Japanese doll as did Rose.

It was rather warm, for that time of year, and Mrs. Bunker, leaning up
against the tree trunk, began to feel sleepy. She closed her eyes,
meaning only to rest them a minute, but, before she knew it, she was
asleep. The children did not notice her as they were playing so nicely,
Russ and Laddie and Vi a little way down the creek, and the other three
near their mother.

After a while Margy said:

"I'm going to take a walk with my doll. She hasn't had a walk to-day."

"Where are you going?" asked Rose.

"Oh, just a little way," Margy answered. "Want to come?"

"No, my doll doesn't feel very well, and I've sent for the doctor. I've
got to stay in till he comes," replied Rose.

Of course this was only make-believe, but the children often played
that.

She made a bed for her doll in the soft grass, and covered her with
some leaves picked near by.

"I guess I'll play my doll is sick, too," said Margy, "'stead of taking
her for a walk."

"No, don't play your doll's sick," objected Rose to Margy. "She must be
a trained nurse for my doll."

"Oh, yes. That'll be more fun. I wish the doctor would hurry up and
come."

"So do I," murmured Rose, pretending to be anxious.

Then, after a while, they made believe the doctor had arrived in his
automobile, and he left some medicine for Rose's sick doll, which the
trained nurse, who was Margy's doll, had to give with a spoon. The spoon
was just a little willow twig, of course.

Down by the creek Russ and Laddie and Vi were still sailing their boats.

Pretty soon Vi said she was tired playing sail-a-boat, and was going to
take Su-San for a walk.

After a while Russ and Laddie grew tired of playing boats, and came up
the bank to where their mother was.

"Oh, look! She's asleep!" whispered Russ.

"Don't wake her," replied Rose.

But just then Mrs. Bunker opened her eyes and smiled at the children.

"I was asleep," she said, "but I heard what you said. Did you have a
nice time? Shall we go back now? It must be almost supper time. Why,
where's Vi?" she suddenly asked, as she did not see the curly-haired
girl. "Where's Violet?" and Mrs. Bunker stood up quickly and looked all
around.

CHAPTER XII

LADDIE CATCHES A RIDDL