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!” exclaimed Grandma Bell.  “The old ram has seen her red coat and doesn’t like it!  I must get her away.”

“I’ll help!” cried Mother Bunker.  Meanwhile they were both running toward Margy, where she stood with her back turned toward the ram, picking flowers.

“You had better leave the old ram to me.  I know how to drive him off,” said Grandma Bell.  “You take the children, Amy, and get on the other side of the fence.  It isn’t far,” and she pointed to the fence ahead of them.

“Won’t the ram hurt you?” asked Rose, who had taken Mun Bun and Violet by their hands to lead them along.