The Notice-Board by E.V. Lucas

Name: The Notice-Board
Author: E.V. Lucas

The Morgan family — Mr. Morgan, Mrs. Morgan, and their children Christopher (twelve), Claire (nine), and Betty (seven), along with a fox-terrier, a cat, a bullfinch, a nurse, a cook, a parlourmaid, a housemaid, and a boy named William — moves house from Bloomsbury to Bayswater. While the move takes place, the three children, the dog, and the bullfinch stay at Sandgate with their grandmother, whose garden runs down to the beach. Christopher bathes from the house each morning, though Claire is forbidden by the doctor because of her cold feet, called "defective circulation." When the move is finished, the children return by taxicab to the new house at No. 23, Westerham Gardens, watching the meter tick over during the ride. They are delighted with the new home's cupboards, electric bells, speaking-tube, and especially its electric light, replacing the gas of Bloomsbury, though Mr. Morgan lectures them earnestly on always switching off the light when leaving a room. After some happy days near Kensington Gardens, the children realize something is missing: street music. Sent to Whiteley's, they pass a corner house whose railings bear a notice-board reading "ORGANS AND STREET CRIES PROHIBITED." They recall wistfully all the music of their old neighborhood — the Italian woman with the accordion-playing monkey boy, the Punch and Judy show, the wallflower seller, the band that played "Poppies," the organ with the panorama, the organ with a new tune every week, and especially the old man with a wooden leg who always smiled at Betty. Christopher proposes having a new board made reading "ORGANS AND STREET CRIES INVITED" to fix to their own railings. Mr. Randall's son, the family carpenter, makes it for four shillings, wrapping it as instructed since it's a surprise. Christopher fixes it to the area railings, and the next morning a policeman and a crowd of onlookers read it and the policeman reports it, leading Mr. Morgan to be visited at home. Mr. Morgan makes Christopher confess and explains that such a notice is rude toward the neighborhood's wishes, since removing street-music prohibition would require everyone's consent — before hurrying off to the city. Christopher and Claire decide to canvass every house in Westerham Gardens for permission. They meet mixed responses: an old lady at No. 14 privately wishes for music but says appearances must be kept up, mentioning that a Lord Mayor's widow lives opposite. A gentleman in carpet slippers tells them the matter is decided by Miss Seaton, the elderly owner of the corner house to which the prohibition notice is fixed, and treats them to cake and lemonade before sending them on. Christopher fetches the notice-board and the children call on Miss Seaton, admitted by an elderly butler after being questioned on their business. They wait in her hall beside a stuffed dancing bear, then are shown up to Miss Seaton, who sits with seven cats — one in her lap, one on the table, five on the hearthrug. Christopher shows her their invitation board, and she is astonished but softens as they talk, offering cake and syrup. She explains she names all seven cats after the days of the week — Sunday, Monday, Friday, Saturday, Wednesday, Tuesday, and Thursday — and promises to consider their request and answer later. That evening a heavy case arrives addressed to Christopher and Claire, containing a musical box and a note from Miss Seaton (of 1, Westerham Gardens), explaining she must refuse the request for the sake of her tenants' nerves, but wishes to make up for the neighborhood's lack of entertainment by giving them her old musical box as a gift. Mr. Morgan admits Miss Seaton was not really cross, though he insists this must be the end of such escapades. The box, inscribed inside with a note in violet ink listing twelve tunes, is wound up and played, its brass barrel and comb producing gentle old tunes along with a small drum and silver bells. Among the twelve tunes are "The Last Rose of Summer" and the prison song from "Il Trovatore." When the seventh tune plays, the children recognize it as the very tune once played by the old man with the wooden leg — it is "Home, Sweet Home."

By E.V. Lucas · Genre: Children's Fiction, Humorous Fiction, Coming-of-Age Fiction · 3,630 words

First lines

Once upon a time there was a family called Morgan -- Mr. Morgan the father, Mrs. Morgan the mother, Christopher Morgan, aged twelve, Claire Morgan, aged nine, Betty Morgan, aged seven, a fox-terrier, a cat, a bullfinch, a nurse, a cook, a parlourmaid, a housemaid, and a boy named William. William hardly counts, because he came only for a few hours every day, and then lived almost wholly in the basement, and when he did appear above-stairs it was always in the company of a coal-scuttle. That was the family; and at the time this story begins it had just removed from Bloomsbury to Bayswater.

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The Notice-Board is listed on Textopian as a short story by E.V. Lucas, dated Date unknown.

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Work type: Short story
Author: E.V. Lucas
Date: Date unknown
Language: English
Genres: Children's Fiction, Humorous Fiction, Coming-of-Age Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Social Satire
Length: 3,630 words
Structure: 1 section, 74 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Work identity for The Notice-Board by E.V. Lucas
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
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Genres

Children's Fiction — Protagonists are children aged 7-12, and the narrative voice directly addresses young readers with conversational asides like 'as you know' and 'you have probably also noticed,' creating the intimate connection characteristic of children's literature.
Humorous Fiction — The text is permeated with gentle wit and whimsy throughout, including absurdist comedy such as the carpenter eternally referred to as 'Mr. Randall's son,' comic observations about London street musicians and their habits, Miss Seaton's seven cats named after days of the week, and witty dialogue among the children.
Coming-of-Age Fiction — The children learn important lessons about social responsibility, respect for community property, perseverance in problem-solving, and the value of compromise through their quest, experiencing character growth and maturation.
Domestic Fiction — The narrative centers on family life and household experiences, with attention to domestic details such as electric lights, servants, coal cellars, speaking tubes, and the intimate dynamics of children within a family setting.