see if any
one had advertised for a lost pocketbook with sixty-five dollars in it.
But no one had.

And to make sure of finding the owner Mr. Bunker put an advertisement in
himself, stating that such a purse had been found, and offering to give
it to the real owner.

But no one came to claim it. The shabby wallet, with the roll of bills
and the sad little letter, was locked in Aunt Jo's safe, waiting for the
owner to come. But no one came.

"And can I keep the money?" asked Rose, who inquired, each day, whether
any one had yet come for it.

"We'll see," promised her mother.

"I'd like to have the money to spend," went on Rose.

"Oh, my dear! What would you spend so much money for?" asked Aunt Jo.

"I'd buy a lot of circus balloons," answered Rose. "I know a store,
about two blocks down the street, that sells 'em. And I want some."

"Oh, well, if you only want money for a toy balloon I'll give you that,"
said her mother.

"May I have one, too?" asked Vi.

"And me?" added Margy.

"And me?" said Mun Bun. "What is it?"

He always wanted what the others had, whether or not he knew what it
was.

"Let's all get one!" exclaimed Russ, who seemed to have an idea. "Let's
all get a balloon, and then we can tie strings to 'em and see which one
goes the highest."

"We can have a race!" suggested Laddie.

"That's right!" agreed Russ. "We'll have a race."

Thinking this would be harmless fun for the children, Mrs. Bunker gave
them money enough so each one could buy a good ten-cent toy balloon, for
Rose wanted that kind.

"The tenners are bigger than the fivers," she said, "and they go higher
and last longer."

With shouts of glee and laughter the six little Bunkers went down the
street to get the toy balloons. It was not far, and their mother knew
they would not get lost.

"I'm afraid the children aren't having as much fun here at my house in
Boston as they had at Grandma Bell's," said Aunt Jo, as the youngsters
went down the street after the balloons.

"Oh, they are indeed!" said Mother Bunker. "They always have a good
time, wherever they go. Don't worry about them."

"If the weather keeps nice we'll go down to Nantasket Beach some day,"
said Aunt Jo. "I think they'll like it there. It is a seaside resort."

"They'll be sure to," said Mrs. Bunker. "I do wish we could find the
person who owned that sixty-five dollars. I have an idea it must be the
savings of some poor woman, or rather, from the letter, mon