laugh. "Then it'll go 'thump!'"

"Don't you dare talk that way about my cake!" said Norah. "The idea of
sayin' it would make a noise if it fell."

"I was only joking" rejoined the former soldier. "The cake is so light,
Norah, that I'll have to tie strings to it to keep it from goin' up to the
sky like a balloon!"

"Go 'long with you!" laughed Norah, but she seemed pleased all the same.

"We're going to see balloons to-night at the fireworks," remarked Rose.
"Did you ever see any, Jerry?"

"Yes, we had 'em in the army."

"Did you ever go up in one?" asked Russ eagerly.

"Once," said the former soldier.

"Oh, tell us about it!" begged Laddie, and Jerry did, while the six little
Bunkers sat about him, finishing the last of their cream and cake.

Then Jerry had to go to get some gasolene for the automobile, as Mr.
Bunker kept a machine, as well as a horse and carriage, and the children
were left to themselves. They were thinking about the fireworks they were
to see in the evening, and talking about the fun they would have at
Grandma Bell's, when Russ, who got up to go down on the grass and turn a
somersault, suddenly stopped and looked at a man coming up the side path.