, a little later, though it was not as big as the one Russ has
caught.

But after that Mr. Bunker caught a very large one, and Russ and Laddie
each got one more, so they had enough for a good meal, as well as some to
give to Muffin.

Then Daddy Bunker and the boys rowed home, and were told all about the
muskrat that Mun Bun had seen come out of the lake to eat the fresh-water
clams.

"How would you all like to go after wild strawberries to-day?" asked
Grandma Bell of the six little Bunkers one morning, about two days after
the fishing trip.

"Oh, we'd just love it!" said Rose.

"Well, get ready then, and we'll go over to the hill across the sheep
meadow, and see if we can find any. There used to be many strawberries
growing there, and I think we can find some to-day. Come on, children!"

Mrs. Bunker got ready, too, but Daddy Bunker did not go, as he had some
letters to write. Margy wore a little red coat her mother had made for
her, and she looked very pretty in it.

Down by the brook, and along the shore of the lake they went, until they
came to a meadow, around which was a fence.

"What's the fence for?" asked Violet.

"To keep the sheep from getting out," said Grandma Bell. "There are sheep
in this meadow belonging to Mr. Hixon, the man who owns the funny parrot."

They climbed in between the rails of the fence and started across the
sheep meadow. Grandma Bell and Mother Bunker were talking of the days when
the children's mother was a little girl. Russ and Rose were walking along
together, and Laddie was trying to think of a riddle. Violet walked with
Mun Bun, and, for a moment, no one thought of little Margy in her red
coat.

"Are you all right?" asked Mrs. Bunker, turning to look back at the
children. And then she saw Margy straggling along at the rear, all by
herself. Margy had lagged behind to pick buttercups and daisies.

"Come, Margy! Come on!" cried Mrs. Bunker. "You'll get lost."

"Doesn't she look cute in her red coat?" asked Rose.

[Illustration: THE RAM WALKED TOWARD MARGY.

_Six Little Bunkers at Grandma Bell's--Page_ 171]

And hardly had she said that when there came from a clump of tall weeds
near Margy the bleating of a ram, and the animal himself jumped out and
started for the little girl, whose red coat made her look like a bright
flower in the green meadow.

CHAPTER XVIII

LADDIE AND THE SUGAR

"Oh! Oh, Margy!" cried Mrs. Bunker.

"Oh, the poor little dear!" exclaim