THE POCKETBOOK OWNER
Indeed it was quite strange and wonderful, as they all agreed, that
Rose's doll had been found in such a curious way. Rose, herself, was
very happy, for, though the doll was not her "best" one, she liked it
very much indeed, and had felt sad at losing Lily.
"I'm glad the airship came down at your house," said Rose to Mary.
"And I'm glad I found her for you," said the cashier.
"'Cause," remarked Vi, "she might have fallen in a house where there was
a puppy dog, and he'd have bitten her and torn her dress. I wonder where
her dress went."
"Oh, I guess the wind blew it off," said Russ. "The wind is awful strong
up high in the air. Once it busted one of my kites."
"I guess that's how it happened," said Daddy Bunker. "The toy balloons
must have gone up very high, carrying your doll along, Rose."
"No. Lily didn't have on a dress that day. I was in an awful hurry, an'
I just wrapped a handkerchief around her. That blew away, I guess."
By this time Margy was feeling all right again, and after a little more
talk with Mary, the six little Bunkers went out to play on the sandy
beach, Rose carrying her doll.
"Oh, it's lovely at Nantasket Beach!" said Russ, as he and Laddie ran
about and waded in the shallow water. "Thank you, Aunt Jo, for bringing
us here."
"Oh, I'm enjoying it as much as you children are," said Daddy's sister.
But all things must come to an end, even picnics, and when the six
little Bunkers had done about everything they wanted to at the pleasure
resort it was time to take the boat back for Boston.
On board, after the children and the grown folks were seated, Vi saw her
friend Mary Turner.
"There's the girl that found me when I was lost, and the one that had
Rose's doll," said Vi, pointing.
"Oh, so it is!" exclaimed Mrs. Bunker. "Don't you want to come over and
sit by us?" she asked the bathing-pavilion girl.
"Yes, I should like to," was the answer. "It's lonesome riding home
alone."
"Where do you live in Boston?" asked Mrs. Bunker, as Mary sat down near
her and the children, who were too tired with their fun to romp around
much.
"I board down near where I can get this steamer easily," was the answer.
"I have a pass on the boat, and by walking to the dock I save carfare.
And these days one has to save all one can," she added.
"You say you board," put in Aunt Jo. "Have you no relatives?"
"Oh, yes, I have a brother and a mother, but Mother is ill in the
hospital," was the answer.
"That's too bad," said the ladies, who felt quite sorry for Mary.
Then they talked about different things until, at dusk, the boat landed
at the wharf, and the six little Bunkers and all the other passengers
got off. Rose whispered something to her mother, who looked a little
surprised and then spoke to Aunt Jo.
"Why, yes, I'd be delighted to have her," was the low answer, for Mary
was walking on ahead, with Russ and Laddie.
"Rose thinks it would be nice to ask Mary to come to supper with us,"
said Mrs. Bunker to her husband. "Aunt Jo says that she is willing."
"Of course we'll ask her!" said Mr. Bunker kindly, and when Mary was
told about the plan she smiled and said she would be glad to come. So to
Aunt Jo's nice home they all went, and Parker had a fine supper soon
ready for them, even though she didn't expect company.
After the supper, which Mary seemed to enjoy very much, saying it was
much nicer than at her boarding-house, she and the six little Bunkers
sat on the porch and talked. Mary told about the funny things which
sometimes happened at the bathing-beach.
"Well, I'm glad we went there to-day," said Rose. "If we hadn't I'd
never have found my airship doll."
"You were very lucky," said Laddie.
"Yes," added Russ. "I wish I had such good luck as Rose. She found her
doll and she found a pocketbook."
"Oh, I didn't tell you about that!" exclaimed Rose to Mary. "I really
did find a pocketbook in the street, about two weeks ago, and it had a
lot of money in it."
"Did it?" asked the bathing-beach girl, and she seemed interested more
than usual.
"Oh, a lot of money," went on Rose. "Please, Daddy, can't I show Mary
the pocketbook I found?" she asked, for Miss Turner had told the
children to call her by her first name. "I want to show her the
pocketbook I picked up," went on the little girl.
"All right, you may," said Mr. Bunker. "I'll get it for you," and he
brought it from the house.
"There it is!" cried Rose. "Wasn't I lucky to pick that up?"
"Indeed you were," said Mary Turner, and then, as she caught sight of
the wallet in Mr. Bunker's hand she exclaimed:
"Why, there it is! There's the very one! Oh, to think that you have
it!"
"Do you know whose this is?" asked Mr. Bunker. "Ever since my little
girl found the wallet we've been trying to find the owner, but we
haven't been able to."
"That's my mother's pocketbook!" cried Mary. "And it's on account of
that she's in the hospital, and ill. Oh, how wonderful!"
"Is this really your mother's purse?" asked Mr. Bunker.
"It surely is," answered the bathing-beach girl. "She had just
sixty-five dollars in it."
"That's just how much was in this!" exclaimed Russ.
"And besides," went on Mary, "I know the pocketbook. It has a little
tear in one corner, and the clasp is bent."
"That's right," said Mr. Bunker.
"And," went on Mary, "besides the sixty-five dollars there was a funny
Chinese coin with a square hole in the middle. Did you find that in the
purse?"
"Yes," exclaimed Aunt Jo, "there was a Chinese coin in the pocketbook!
That proves it must be your mother's pocketbook."
"I'm sure of it," said Mary. "Oh, how glad she'll be that it is found,
and the money, too. That is--if we can have it back," she said softly.
"Have it back? Of course you may!" cried Mr. Bunker. "If it is your
mother's we want you to have it. Was there anything else in the purse
when your mother lost it?"
"Yes," Mary said, "there was a letter from my brother, but part of it
was torn off," and she spoke of what the note had in it. Then they were
all sure it was Mrs. Turner's purse.
The letter, from which the lower part had been torn, was from Mary's
brother John. He was a soldier in the army. His mother had written,
telling him that her brother, Mary and John's "Uncle Jack," had sent the
money to her, and that she was going to spend it in trying to get a rest
of a month, as she was very tired from overwork.
But the pocketbook had been lost by Mrs. Turner, and, as Mary said, it
made her mother ill, so she had had to go to the hospital.
But through the good luck of Rose everything had come out all right, for
Mary felt that the news of the recovery of the money would take the
worry from Mrs. Turner's mind, thus making it easier to regain her
health.
"You found my doll," exclaimed Rose, "and I found your pocketbook! We
are both lucky!"
"Indeed we are," said Mary, smiling, as she took the wallet from Mr.
Bunker. "Oh, but Mother will be happy, now!" went on the girl.
"Mother had been overworking, for we are poor and she had had us two
children to bring up, as my father is dead. She was on her way to see
about going away for a time to get a good rest, now that John and I are
old enough to look out for ourselves, when she lost the purse and the
sixty-five dollars.
"She felt so bad about it, when she couldn't find it, that she was made
ill, and had to be taken to a hospital. We did not tell my brother, as
we did not want to worry him. But I know this good news will make Mother
better.
"I walked all around the streets near where she thought she had lost her
purse, but I couldn't find it."
"Didn't you read the lost and found advertisements?" asked Mr. Bunker.
"We advertised the finding of the pocketbook in the papers."
"No, I was so worried about Mother that I never thought to," was the
answer. "And when I had her taken to the hospital, and found a
boarding-place for myself, and went to work at Nantasket Beach, I
thought there was no use to look. I never expected to get the money
back."
"But you did, and I'm glad I found it," said Rose.
They were all glad. Mr. Bunker took Mary that very night to the hospital
where her mother was, and the good news so cheered Mrs. Turner that the
doctor said she would soon get better, and, after a while, entirely
well. That is what good news sometimes does.
But the good luck of the Turners did not end with the getting back of
the lost pocketbook. Aunt Jo became interested in the little family, and
promised to give Mrs. Turner plenty of work to do at sewing as soon as
she was well. And a better place was found for Mary to work, where she
would not have to take the long trip back and forth from Nantasket
Beach.
So many good things came about just because Rose saw the pocketbook and
picked it up.
And now my story is nearly done. Not that the six little Bunkers did not
have more fun at Aunt Jo's, for they did, but I have not room for any
more about them in this book.
"But do we have to go home right away?" asked Russ, when he heard his
father and mother talking of packing up a few days later.
"Oh, no," was the answer. "We have a letter from another of our
relatives, asking us to come to see him before we go back to Pineville,
and I think we'll accept."
"Where is it?" asked Rose.
"Down at the seashore," answered her father. "Don't you remember?" And
what next happened to the children will be told in the book after this,
to be called, "Six Little Bunkers at Cousin Tom's."
It was a beautifully sunshiny day. Out on the lawn Russ and Laddie were
playing with the hose.
"Mother, make Russ stop!" suddenly Laddie cried.
"What's he doing?" asked Mrs. Bunker, who could see that not very much
was happening.
"He's squirting water on me from the hose."
"I am not, Mother," said Russ, laughing. "I'm only making believe Laddie
is in bathing down at Cousin Tom's at the seashore, and when you go in
swimming you've got to get a little wet!"
"Oh, well, if you're making believe play _that_, all right," said
Laddie, "wet me some more."
Russ did. So, at their play, we will take leave, for a time, of the six
little Bunkers, wishing them well.
THE END
THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES
By LAURA LEE HOPE
* * * * *
Author of the Popular "Bobbsey Twins" Books
Wrapper and text illustrations drawn by
FLORENCE ENGLAND NOSWORTHY
* * * * *
=12mo. BOUND IN CLOTH. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING.=
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This new series by the author of the "Bobbsey
Twins" Books will be eagerly welcomed by the
little folks from about five to ten years of age.
Their eyes will fairly dance with delight at the
lively doings of inquisitive little Bunny Brown
and his cunning, trustful sister Sue.
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE
Bunny was a lively little boy, very inquisitive.
When he did anything, Sue followed his leadership.
They had many adventures, some comical in the
extreme.
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON GRANDPA'S FARM
How the youngsters journeyed to the farm in an
auto, and what good times followed, is
realistically told.
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE PLAYING CIRCUS
First the children gave a little affair, but when
they obtained an old army tent the show was truly
grand.
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CAMP REST-A-WHILE
The family go into camp on the edge of a beautiful
lake, and Bunny and his sister have more good
times and some adventures.
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT AUNT LU'S CITY HOME
The city proved a wonderful place to the little
folks. They took in all the sights and helped a
colored girl who had run away from home.
* * * * *
=GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK=
THE BOBBSEY TWINS BOOKS
For Little Men and Women
By LAURA LEE HOPE
Author of "The Bunny Brown" Series, Etc.
* * * * *
=12mo. BOUND IN CLOTH. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING.=
* * * * *
Copyright publications which cannot be obtained
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little ones, and of which they never tire. Many of
the adventures are comical in the extreme, and all
the accidents that ordinarily happen to youthful
personages happened to these many-sided little
mortals. Their haps and mishaps make decidedly
entertaining reading.
THE BOBBSEY TWINS
THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL
Telling how they go home from the seashore; went
to school and were promoted, and of their many
trials and tribulations.
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE
Telling of the winter holidays, and of the many
fine times and adventures the twins had at a
winter lodge in the big woods.
THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON A HOUSEBOAT
Mr. Bobbsey obtains a houseboat, and the whole
family go off on a tour.
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT MEADOW BROOK
The young folks visit the farm again and have
plenty of good times and several adventures.
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT HOME
The twins get into all sorts of trouble--and out
again--also bring aid to a poor family.
* * * * *
=GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK=
THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH SERIES
By GERTRUDE W. MORRISON
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Or Rivals for all Honors.
A stirring tale of high school life, full of fan,
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THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH ON LAKE LUNA
Or The Crew That Won.
Telling of water sports and fun galore, and of
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THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH AT BASKETBALL
Or The Great Gymnasium Mystery.
Here we have a number of thrilling contests at
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mystery which had bothered the high school
authorities for a long while.
THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH ON THE STAGE
Or The Play That Took the Prize.
How the girls went in for theatricals and how one
of them wrote a play which afterward was made over
for the professional stage and brought in some
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THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH ON TRACK AND FIELD
Or The Girl Champions of the School League
This story takes in high school athletics in their
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THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH IN CAMP
Or The Old Professor's Secret.
The girls went camping on Acorn Island and had a
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By CAPTAIN QUINCY ALLEN
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motor cycles, motor boats, canoes, etc., and during their vacations go
everywhere and have all sorts of thrilling adventures. The stories give
full directions for camping out, how to fish, how to hunt wild animals
and prepare the skins for stuffing, how to manage a canoe, how to swim,
etc. Full of the spirit of outdoor life.
THE OUTDOOR CHUMS
Or The First Tour of the Rod, Gun and Camera Club.
THE OUTDOOR CHUMS ON THE LAKE
Or Lively Adventures on Wildcat Island.
THE OUTDOOR CHUMS IN THE FOREST
Or Laying the Ghost of Oak Ridge.
THE OUTDOOR CHUMS ON THE GULF
Or Rescuing the Lost Balloonists.
THE OUTDOOR CHUMS AFTER BIG GAME
Or Perilous Adventures in the Wilderness.
THE OUTDOOR CHUMS ON A HOUSEBOAT
Or The Rivals of the Mississippi.
THE OUTDOOR CHUMS IN THE BIG WOODS
Or The Rival Hunters at Lumber Run.
THE OUTDOOR CHUMS AT CABIN POINT
Or The Golden Cup Mystery.
=12mo. Averaging 240 pages. Illustrated.
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Transcriber's Notes:
Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
Page 36, "ate" changed to "mate". (asked the mate)
Page 69, "some some" changed to "some". (here is some sort of a paper)
Page 159, "It" changed to "Is". (Is this your)
Page 215, "h" changed to "his". (had all his)
Page 241, "abont" changed to "about". (was told about)
End of Project Gutenberg's Six Little Bunkers at Aunt Jo's, by Laura Lee Hope