"Well, well! Six little Bunkers!" exclaimed the farmer. "And I have four of 'em! Wish I had all six to visit me!" he added. "I like children," he continued, turning to Captain Ben and Daddy Bunker. "I have none of my own, but my sister is visiting me, and she has three. Hear 'em?" he asked, holding up his hand for silence.
As the four little Bunkers and the others listened during a lull in the storm, there came from upstairs the sound of merry laughter and shouting.
"The harder it rains and thunders the harder they play and laugh," said Mr. White, as the farmer said his name was. "I'll bring my sister's three youngsters down and let 'em play with your four. Then there'll be some little Bunkers and little brooks," he went on. "My sister's name is River, and I call the children little brooks," he added, with another laugh.
"Oh, that's almost like a riddle!" declared Laddie.
"Oh, ho! So you know riddles, do you?" asked the farmer.
Just then there was a loud noise out in the hall, and down the stairs came trooping the three little "brooks," as Mr. White called his sister's children. They soon made friends with the four little Bunkers, and then the storm was forgotten.
But it still rained hard, and the automobile could not have traveled in it, so it was a good thing they all stayed at the comfortable farmhouse. Mr. White said he had plenty of room for them all to sleep, even if his sister was visiting them, and Russ was rather disappointed that he was not permitted to sleep out in the haymow.
"I wish I could get word to my wife that we will not be along until to-morrow," said Daddy Bunker, when it was certain they would have to stay all night.
"You can send her a telegram," suggested Mr. White.
So a telegram was telephoned to the nearest telegraph office, being sent to Mrs. Bunker, who, by this time, had reached Grand View. Then the Bunkers settled down to stay for the night. First, however, they were given supper, and such fun as the seven children had! They laughed and talked, and Laddie told all the riddles he knew.