The Lumbar Room Hector Hugh Munro - Saki

 

  Hector Hugh Munro -Saki

Saki is the pen name of Hector Hugh Munro a British writer well know for his short stories. Saki was born in Burma, he tried to follow his father’s footsteps as a member of the Indian imperial police in Burma.                                                                                                                            

Saki then moved to London to become a writer. He published short stories and political sketches in Britain’s newspaper and magazines. He volunteered to world war1. He was killed by a German sniper in November 1916. His famous last words were “put that bloody cigarette out.”

Most of Saki’s books were collected works of his short stories, plays and political satires. He wrote novels “The unbearable Bassington", The west minster Alice, and when William came. It is said that his aunts were models for some of his characters. The aunt in  “The lumber Room” was an almost a perfect portrait of his Aunt Augusta.

Short summary

A young boy name Nicholas denies his breakfast and claims there is a frog in it. The aunt of Nicholas who lives with him warns him to stop such ridiculous tales. For it is impossible for frog to be in his breakfast. But Nicholas wants to fool his aunt so he picks a frog and put the frog in his breakfast bowl and happy to accuse his aunt. Aunt punishes Nicholas for his Naughty tricks. She arranges a trip to other cousins of Nicholas to Jagborough. Nicholas is not allowed to join with them as a punishment.

The aunt expects Nicholas to be sad, but he doesn’t seem to feel so,  for he points out about his girl- cousin who cried loudly for a small scrap in her knees, Also Bobby will not enjoy the trip as his boots are too tight. The aunt is annoyed because Bobby didn’t tell her about this. But Nicholas points out that Bobby told but aunt does not give time to listen when the children tell any important things.  This made the aunt angry and she gives severe punishment to Nicholas, she ordered him to stay away from the gooseberry garden. Aunt knows that Nicholas would plan to enter the garden, so she stays there in the garden with some menial gardening work.

Nicholas wants his aunt to be in the garden. So that he can explore to lumber room, the room he is very anxious to explore. As he planned, he finds the key and open the lumber room to explore. It was quite magical to him. The room is filled with fascinating tapestry with a portrait of hunting scene. The hunter has shot a stag with his arrow but he is unaware of wild ferocious wolves approaching him. Nicholas wonders what could happened to the hunter and his two dogs. Also, Nicholas find some valuable things such as candlesticks shaped like twisted snakes, teapot shaped like a duck. 

Suddenly Aunt calls Nicholas, he hears his scream. Nicholas locks up the Room and goes to the garden. Aunt says she has fallen into the rain water tank. She asks him to bring the ladder. But Nicholas refuses to obey as he should stay out of the garden. Then Aunt changes her mind and allows him to enter. Nicholas say it is not his Aunt but an “Evil one” in the water tank.

Nicholas wants to know the truth and asks if there will be a strawberry jam for tea. Aunts says yes but Nicholas declares that it is the Evil one pretending as his aunt. There wasn’t any strawberry jam in the house. So, Nicholas walks away without helping his aunt. She is rescued by a kitchen maid.

Later during the tea time, all are quiet, for the children didn’t enjoy the trip, because the tide was high at Jagborough. Bobby in a bad as the boot were too tight. The Aunt is upset after being stuck in the water tank. But Nicholas is quite thinking about the tapestry as the hunter and the dogs would manage to escape by giving the dead stag to the wolves.,

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