s bungalow at Seaview the next
day, for the Bunkers were packing to go back to their home in Pineville,
Pennsylvania.
"We are very sorry to see you go," said Cousin Tom.
"Indeed we are," agreed his pretty wife, Ruth. "You must come to see us
next summer."
"We will," promised Mr. Bunker. "But just now we must hurry back home. I
hope we shall be in time."
Russ and Rose, who heard this, wondered at the reason for it. But they
did not have time to ask for, just then, along came the automobile that
was to take them from Cousin Tom's house to the railroad station.
Good-byes were said, there was much laughter and shouting; and finally
the six little Bunkers and their father and mother were on their way
home.
It was a long trip, but finally they reached Pineville and took a
carriage from the depot to their house.
"How funny everything looks!" exclaimed Russ, for they had been away
from home visiting around, for some time.
"Yes, it does look funny," agreed Rose. "Oh, I see our house!" she
called, pointing down the street. "There's our house!"
"Yes," answered Russ. "And oh, look! Daddy! Mother! There's a man on our
porch! There's a man asleep on our porch!"
The six little Bunkers, and Daddy and Mother Bunker looked. There was,
indeed, an elderly man asleep in a rocking-chair on the porch.
Who could he be?
CHAPTER II
GRANDPA FORD
Eagerly peering from the carriage in which they had ridden from the
Pineville station, the six little Bunkers looked to see who the man was
on their porch. He seemed to be asleep, for he sat very still in the
rocking-chair, which had been forgotten and left on the porch when the
family had gone away.
"Do you know him, Daddy?" asked Rose.
"Maybe he is from your office," said Laddie.
"Maybe he's the old tramp lumberman that had your papers in the old
coat, Daddy," suggested Russ.
Mr. Bunker hurried down from the carriage, and walked up the steps.
As he did so the old man on the porch woke suddenly from his nap. He sat
up, looked at the Bunker family, now crowding up on the steps, and a
kind smile spread over his face.
"Well, well!" he exclaimed. "I got here ahead of you, I see!"
"Why, Father!" cried Mr. Bunker.
"Oh, it's Grandpa Ford!" exclaimed Rose.
"Grandpa Ford!" fairly shouted Russ, dropping the valise he was
carrying, and hurrying to be clasped in the old gentleman's arms.
"Grandpa Ford!" cried Laddie and Vi together, just as twins often
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