The Rattrap

Summary

Explanation

Questions and answers

Explanation of the lesson

Once upon a time there was a man who went around selling small rattraps of wire. He made them himself at odd moments, from the material he got by begging in the stores or at the big farms.

Once upon a time a man used to make small rattraps. He made these during strange time of the day. These were made of wire. He used to roam around to sell these. He used to beg for the material in stores or at big farms.

But even so, the business was not especially profitable, so he had to resort to both begging and petty thievery to keep body and soul together. Even so, his clothes were in rags, his cheeks were sunken, and hunger gleamed in his eyes.

Though he got material free, still his business of selling rattrap did not give him enough money. So he had to beg and do minor thefts to make his living. Yet his cloths were torn. His cheeks were sunk, he appeared hungry or malnutritioned.

No one can imagine how sad and monotonous life can appear to such a vagabond, who plods along the road, left to his own meditations.

Life of the rattrap maker was sad and dull. He did not have a home. He used to walk along the road and live on side of road. Mostly he was busy in his own thoughts. (Meaning that his thoughts were not affected by anyone. He had no one to talk to)

But one day this man had fallen into a line of thought, which really seemed to him entertaining.

One day a new thought came to his mind. This new thought appeared very pleasant to him.

He had naturally been thinking of his rattraps when suddenly he was struck by the idea that the whole world about him — the whole world with its lands and seas, its cities and villages — was nothing but a big rattrap. It had never existed for any other purpose than to set baits for people.

As usual, he was thinking about his rattraps. Suddenly a new thought came to him. He thought that the whole world was a big rattrap. Meaning that all the people are trapped in this world. The world exists to tempt people into doing something.

It offered riches and joys, shelter and food, heat and clothing, exactly as the rattrap offered cheese and pork, and as soon as anyone let himself be tempted to touch the bait, it closed in on him, and then everything came to an end.

The world gives us many pleasures like money, happiness, home, food, clothes etc. This is similar to a rattrap having cheese and pork to tempt rats. As soon as a person tries to get any of the pleasure of the world, he gets trapped to obtain more such pleasures. Then he is not able to come out of ever increasing desire.

The world had, of course, never been very kind to him, so it gave him unwonted joy to think ill of it in this way.

Certainly the world was not kind to him. (Meaning that he had lot of difficulties in his life) Therefore this thought gave him special happiness to think bad about the world.

It became a cherished pastime of his, during many dreary ploddings, to think of people he knew who had let themselves be caught in the dangerous snare, and of others who were still circling around the bait.

This became his favourite thought to pass his time during his dull and boring walks. He used to think of people known to him, who were caught in the dangerous trap of the world. He also used to think of people who were still moving around the temptations. (Meaning they had not fully decided to get tempted but were about get into the trap)

One dark evening as he was trudging along the road he caught sight of a little gray cottage by the roadside, and he knocked on the door to ask shelter for the night. Nor was he refused.

One day it became dark in the evening and he was still walking with difficulty along the road. He saw a small hut of gray colour. He knocked at the door and requested permission to stay there. He was given the permission

Instead of the sour faces which ordinarily met him, the owner, who was an old man without wife or child, was happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness.

Normally rattrap maker used to meet bad tempered persons. But owner of this cottage was happy to receive him. The owner was an old person. He lived there alone. He did not have his wife or children at the cottage. He was happy to receive rattrap maker so that he could talk to him to remove his loneliness.

Immediately he put the porridge pot on the fire and gave him supper; then he carved off such a big slice from his tobacco roll that it was enough both for the stranger’s pipe and his own. Finally he got out an old pack of cards and played ‘mjolis’ with his guest until bedtime.

Immediately the cottage owner started cooking porridge. He have dinner to the rattrap maker. Then he cut a big piece of tobacco from a roll. With this rattrap maker and the cottage owner each could smoke their pipes. Then, till bed time, they played a game ‘mjolis’ with playing cards.

The old man was just as generous with his confidences as with his porridge and tobacco. The guest was informed at once that in his days of prosperity his host had been a crofter at Ramsjo Ironworks and had worked on the land.

The old man (owner of cottage) voluntarily told him many of his secrets. This was similar to giving shelter and lot of food to his guest. Rattrap maker was informed that in past the cottage owner was a rich person. He had taken a piece of land on rent at Ramsjo Ironworks. He used to live and do farming on that land.

Now that he was no longer able to do day labour, it was his cow which supported him. Yes, that bossy was extraordinary. She could give milk for the creamery every day, and last month he had received all of thirty kronor in payment.

Now the crofter was not able to do hard work. His cow was supporting him. He says that his cow is extraordinary. She gives milk every day. He sells it to creamery. Last month he had received thirty Kronor from the creamery.

The stranger must have seemed incredulous, for the old man got up and went to the window, took down a leather pouch which hung on a nail in the very window frame, and picked out three wrinkled ten-kronor bills.

The old man thought that guest did not believe him, Because of this reason, the owner of the house went to the window. He took down a leather puoch. This was hanging on a nail on the window frame. He took out three ten Kronor notes from the pouch and showed to the rattrap maker. These were folded at many places.

These he held up before the eyes of his guest, nodding knowingly, and then stuffed them back into the pouch.

The old man showed these currency notes to his guest. Then he put these back into the pouch.

The next day both men got up in good season. The crofter was in a hurry to milk his cow, and the other man probably thought he should not stay in bed when the head of the house had gotten up.

Next day both men got up early in the morning. The crofter wanted to milk his cow early. The other man probably did not want to sleep longer than his host. So the rattrap maker also got up early.

They left the cottage at the same time. The crofter locked the door and put the key in his pocket. The man with the rattraps said good bye and thank you, and thereupon each went his own way.

Both the men came out of cottage together. The crofter locked the cottage and kept key with him. The rattrap maker thanked his host and said good bye to him. Each of them went on their way.

But half an hour later the rattrap peddler stood again before the door. He did not try to get in, however.

After about half an hour, the rattrap seller reached the cottage again. He did not try to get into the cottage.

He only went up to the window, smashed a pane, stuck in his hand, and got hold of the pouch with the thirty kronor. He took the money and thrust it into his own pocket. Then he hung the leather pouch very carefully back in its place and went away.

He went to the window. He broke the pane of the window. He put his hand into the window. Caught the pouch. He took out the money, put money into his own pocket. Then he carefully put back the pouch at its place and went away. (He has stolen the money of the crofter.)

As he walked along with the money in his pocket he felt quite pleased with his smartness. He realised, of course, that at first he dared not continue on the public highway, but must turn off the road, into the woods.

He was very happy with his smartness to walk away with money in his pocket. He did not have the courage to continue his walk along the road. So he turned away from road and started walking through the jungle.

During the first hours this caused him no difficulty. Later in the day it became worse, for it was a big and confusing forest which he had gotten into.

Initially he did not have any difficulty in walking in the jungle. But later during the day he started facing problems. Because the forest was big and he got confused. He had lost his way.

He tried, to be sure, to walk in a definite direction, but the paths twisted back and forth so strangely!

He tried to walk in only one particular direction. But the way was twisting in all directions. He found it very strange. (He could not find the correct path to cross the jungle)

He walked and walked without coming to the end of the wood, and finally he realised that he had only been walking around in the same part of the forest.

He walked to a great distance. But the jungle did not end. Finally he understood that he had been walking around the same portion of the jungle.

All at once he recalled his thoughts about the world and the rattrap. Now his own turn had come. He had let himself be fooled by a bait and had been caught.

Suddenly he remembered his thoughts that the world is a rattrap. He understood that it is now his turn to get caught in the rattrap of the world. He thought that he was a fool to get tempted and get caught in a rattrap.

The whole forest, with its trunks and branches, its thickets and fallen logs, closed in upon him like an impenetrable prison from which he could never escape.

The forest was having big trees, group of bushes and big pieces of wood. These surrounded him like a prison. He thought he would never be able to come out of the forest.

It was late in December. Darkness was already descending over the forest. This increased the danger, and increased also his gloom and despair.

It was towards end of December month. It had already started becoming dark in the forest. Now it became more dangerous to be in the jungle. The rattrap maker was becoming more sad and hopeless.

Finally he saw no way out, and he sank down on the ground, tired to death, thinking that his last moment had come. But just as he laid his head on the ground, he heard a sound—a hard regular thumping.

He could not find any way to come out of the forest. He sat on the ground – exhausted and with no hope. He was very tired. He thought that his last moment had come. (Meaning he will die in the forest). As soon as he put his head on the ground, he could hear some sound. It was sound of some heavy thing hitting another thing.

There was no doubt as to what that was. He raised himself. ‘‘Those are the hammer strokes from an iron mill’’, he thought. ‘‘There must be people near by’’. He summoned all his strength, got up, and staggered in the direction of the sound.

He was sure about type of that sound. From laying on the ground he sat up. These were the sounds of a hammer striking iron in an iron mill. He thought that there must be people nearby. He gathered all his strength. He got up. And started walking unsteadily in the direction of sound.

The Ramsjo Ironworks, which are now closed down, were, not so long ago, a large plant, with smelter, rolling mill, and forge. In the summertime long lines of heavily loaded barges and scows slid down the canal, which led to a large inland lake, and in the wintertime the roads near the mill were black from all the coal dust which sifted down from the big charcoal crates.

The Ramsjo Ironworks during those days was a large factory. It is closed now. The plant had various sections like smelter, rolling mill and a forge. During summer season loaded boats moved material in the canal. The canal was connected to a lake. In the winter season lot of coal used to come to the factory. The road used to become black because of coal dust falling on the road from trucks.

During one of the long dark evenings just before Christmas, the master smith and his helper sat in the dark forge near the furnace waiting for the pig iron, which had been put in the fire, to be ready to put on the anvil.

It was long and dark evening just before the Christmas. The main worker and his helper were sitting in the forge near the furnace. They were heating the pig iron in the furnace. They were waiting for pig iron to become hot. It was to put on the anvil for hammering.

Every now and then one of them got up to stir the glowing mass with a long iron bar, returning in a few moments, dripping with perspiration, though, as was the custom, he wore nothing but a long shirt and a pair of wooden shoes.

Occasionally, one of them went near the furnace to stir the shining mass of pig iron. They used to return in a few seconds. Lot of sweat used to come from their body. As per the practice, they were wearing only a shirt and wooden shoes.

All the time there were many sounds to be heard in the forge. The big bellows groaned and the burning coal cracked. The fire boy shovelled charcoal into the maw of the furnace with a great deal of clatter. Outside roared the waterfall, and a sharp north wind whipped the rain against the brick-tiled roof.

Many types of sounds were coming from the forge section of plant. The big air bags were making sound as if they were suffering pain. The burning of coal made a sound of cracking. The fire-boy was throwing coal in the furnace using a shovel. It produced the sound of clatter. Outside the furnace a waterfall was making a huge sound. Wind coming from North direction was throwing water in the form of rain drops on the floor. The floor was tiled with bricks.

It was probably on account of all this noise that the blacksmith did not notice that a man had opened the gate and entered the forge, until he stood close up to the furnace.

Probably because of so many noises, the blacksmith (master smith) did not know that a person had opened the gate. That person had entered the forge and was standing very near to the furnace. Then the blacksmith saw him. That man was the rattrap maker.

Surely it was nothing unusual for poor vagabonds without any better shelter for the night to be attracted to the forge by the glow of light which escaped through the sooty panes, and to come in to warm themselves in front of the fire.

It was certainly usual for people without homes to come to the forge. They were attracted to the forge by the shine of the light. The light went through the blackish panes of the factory. They used to come to the forge to keep themselves warm during winter season.

The blacksmiths glanced only casually and indifferently at the intruder. He looked the way people of his type usually did, with a long beard, dirty, ragged, and with a bunch of rattraps dangling on his chest.

The blacksmith looked casually and without any sympathy to the person who had come without permission. The rattrap maker looked like a typical tramp. He had a long beard, he was dirty, wearing torn cloths. A group of rattraps were hanging around his chest.

He asked permission to stay, and the master blacksmith nodded a haughty consent without honouring him with a single word. The tramp did not say anything, either. He had not come there to talk but only to warm himself and sleep.

The vagabond requested the blacksmith to permit him to stay there. The blacksmith arrogantly gave him permission by signal of his head. He did speak any word. The tramp also did not speak. He had not come there to talk. He had come there to keep himself warm and to sleep.

In those days the Ramsjo iron mill was owned by a very prominent ironmaster, whose greatest ambition was to ship out good iron to the market.

At that time, owner of Ramsjo iron mill was a famous ironmaster. His biggest desire was to make iron of best quality and send to the market.

He watched both night and day to see that the work was done as well as possible, and at this very moment he came into the forge on one of his nightly rounds of inspection.

He inspected works of his factory during day and also at night. He wanted the work to be done in best possible manner. After arrival of tramp, the owner came to the forge on his inspection round of night.

Naturally the first thing he saw was the tall ragamuffin who had eased his way so close to the furnace that steam rose from his wet rags. The ironmaster did not follow the example of the blacksmiths, who had hardly deigned to look at the stranger.

Obviously, the ironmaster saw the person who was wearing torn cloths. The tramp was sleeping comfortably very close to the furnace. He was so close to the furnace that steam was rising from his wet clothes. The blacksmith had not considered it appropriate to talk to the tramp. But the ironmaster did not consider so.

He walked close up to him, looked him over very carefully, then tore off his slouch hat to get a better view of his face. ‘‘But of course it is you, Nils Olof!’’ he said. “How you do look!”

The ironmaster walked near to the tramp. He looked at the tramp carefully. Then he removed the hat of the tramp to look at his face. The ironmaster was surprised. He was sure that the tramp was Nils Olof. The ironmaster told the tramp that he was looking very bad. The ironmaster mistook the tramp as his old friend.

The man with the rattraps had never before seen the ironmaster at Ramsjo and did not even know what his name was. But it occurred to him that if the fine gentleman thought he was an old acquaintance, he might perhaps throw him a couple of kronor.

The tramp had never seen the ironmaster. The tramp did not know name of ironmaster. But tramp thought that this gentleman understands that he was a person known to him since olden days. The tramp thought that this person might give him some money.

Therefore he did not want to undeceive him all at once. ‘‘Yes, God knows things have gone downhill with me’’, he said.

Therefore the tramp did not want to remove doubt of ironmaster immediately. He said that situation had become difficult for him.

‘‘You should not have resigned from the regiment’’, said the ironmaster. ‘‘That was the mistake. If only I had still been in the service at the time, it never would have happened. Well, now of course you will come home with me.’’

The ironmaster said to the tramp that he should not have resigned from army. That was his mistake. If the ironmaster had been in the army at that time, then that would have never happened. (Meaning that ironmaster would not have allowed him to resign.) He further says to the tramp that now he should come to his home.

To go along up to the manor house and be received by the owner like an old regimental comrade — that, however, did not please the tramp. ‘‘No, I couldn’t think of it!’’ he said, looking quite alarmed.

The tramp did not like the idea of going to the farmhouse of ironmaster. He did not want the ironmaster to treat him as an old colleague of the regiment. So the tramp refused to go with him. He was taking precautions.

He thought of the thirty kronor. To go up to the manor house would be like throwing himself voluntarily into the lion’s den. He only wanted a chance to sleep here in the forge and then sneak away as inconspicuously as possible.

The tramp was worried about his thirty kronor. He thought that by going to the farmhouse he could get into some trouble. The tramp wanted to sleep in the forge. Then go away from there without getting noticed.

The ironmaster assumed that he felt embarrassed because of his miserable clothing.

The ironmaster thought that the tramp was ashamed of his poor clothes.

‘‘Please don’t think that I have such a fine home that you cannot show yourself there’’, He said... ‘‘Elizabeth is dead, as you may already have heard. My boys are abroad, and there is no one at home except my oldest daughter and myself.

The ironmaster told tramp that he should not think the house is very good and he cannot come there. He said that Elizabeth had died. The tramp might have heard. (Elizabeth was wife of ironmaster). My sons live in foreign countries. Only I and my eldest daughter live in the house.

We were just saying that it was too bad we didn’t have any company for Christmas. Now come along with me and help us make the Christmas food disappear a little faster.”

The ironmaster explained that they did not have any company for Christmas. They were sad about it. He requested the tramp to come to their home and eat food prepared on the occasion of Christmas.

But the stranger said no, and no, and again no, and the ironmaster saw that he must give in.

But the tramp repeatedly said no. Now ironmaster understood that he will need to stop requesting the tramp.

‘‘It looks as though Captain von Stahle preferred to stay with you tonight, Stjernstrom’’, he said to the master blacksmith, and turned on his heel.

Name of the blacksmith is Stjernstrom. The ironmaster said to blacksmith that Captain von Stahle likes to stay with him tonight. And then he turned back. (Captain von Stahle was the name of his colleague in the regiment)

But he laughed to himself as he went away, and the blacksmith, who knew him, understood very well that he had not said his last word.

The ironmaster laughed while he went away. The blacksmith knew habit of the ironmaster. So he understood that the ironmaster will surely do something more.

It was not more than half an hour before they heard the sound of carriage wheels outside the forge, and a new guest came in, but this time it was not the ironmaster.

Within half an hour there was a sound of a carriage outside the forge. (Meaning that a carriage stopped outside the forge). But in this carriage ironmaster had not come but a new person had come.

He had sent his daughter, apparently hoping that she would have better powers of persuasion than he himself.

The ironmaster had sent his daughter to persuade the tramp to come home. He might have thought that his daughter was more skillful in convincing.

She entered, followed by a valet, carrying on his arm a big fur coat. She was not at all pretty, but seemed modest and quite shy.

She came to the forge. A servant was with her. He was carrying a large coat made of fur. She was not beautiful. But she looked humble and shy.

In the forge everything was just as it had been earlier in the evening. The master blacksmith and his apprentice still sat on their bench, and iron and charcoal still glowed in the furnace.

In the forge nothing had changed since evening. The master blacksmith and his trainee were sitting on their bench. There was glow (shine) of iron and coal in the furnace.

The stranger had stretched himself out on the floor and lay with a piece of pig iron under his head and his hat pulled down over his eyes.

The stranger (tramp) was sleeping on the floor. He had kept a piece of pig iron below his head. He was using it as a pillow. His hat was covering his eyes.

As soon as the young girl caught sight of him, she went up and lifted his hat. The man was evidently used to sleeping with one eye open. He jumped up abruptly and seemed to be quite frightened.

When the young girl saw the stranger, she went to him and lifted his hat. The tramps had the habit of keeping his one eye open while sleeping. He jumped with a jerk and appeared frightened.

‘‘My name is Edla Willmansson,’’ said the young girl. ‘‘My father came home and said that you wanted to sleep here in the forge tonight, and then I asked permission to come and bring you home to us. I am so sorry, Captain, that you are having such a hard time.’’

The young girl told him that her name was Edla Willmansson. She said that her father had come home and had told her that you wanted to sleep in the forge. My father has given me permission to come here and take you home to stay with us. She addressed him as Captain and said that she felt bad to know that he was having difficult time.

She looked at him compassionately, with her heavy eyes, and then she noticed that the man was afraid.

She had large eyes. She looked at him with sympathy and she noticed that he was afraid.

‘‘Either he has stolen something or else he has escaped from, jail’’, she thought, and added quickly, “You may be sure, Captain, that you will be allowed to leave us just as freely as you came. Only please stay with us over Christmas Eve.’’

She thought the paddler has either stolen something or has run away from jail. She said that the captain will not be forcefully kept in the house. He will have the liberty to go whenever he wanted. She requested him to stay with them for the Christmas Eve.

She said this in such a friendly manner that the rattrap peddler must have felt confidence in her.

She said these words in very friendly manner. The paddler felt confidence in her. (Means he believed her)

‘‘It would never have occurred to me that you would bother with me yourself, miss,’’ he said. ‘’I will come at once.’’

The peddler told her that he could not imagine that she will herself take the trouble of coming to forge. He said that he will come immediately.

He accepted the fur coat, which the valet handed him with a deep bow, threw it over his rags, and followed the young lady out to the carriage, without granting the astonished blacksmiths so much as a glance.

While riding in the carriage to the farm house, the paddler started feeling that something bad may happen.

‘‘Why the devil did I take that fellow’s money?’’ he thought. ‘‘Now I am sitting in the trap and will never get out of it.’’

The peddler started thinking why he stole the money of the crofter. And now he found himself in the trap. He thought that he would never come out of the trap.

The next day was Christmas Eve, and when the ironmaster came into the dining room for breakfast he probably thought with satisfaction of his old regimental comrade whom he had run across so unexpectedly.

The next day was Christmas Eve. The ironmaster came to dining room for breakfast. He was feeling satisfied for having met his colleague so unexpectedly.

“First of all we must see to it that he gets a little flesh on his bones,” he said to his daughter, who was busy at the table. “And then we must see that he gets something else to do than to run around the country selling rattraps.”

His daughter was busy at the dining table. He told his daughter that first they should give the tramp some clothes to wear. Then we must ensure that he gets some work. This work should be different from moving across the country for selling rattraps.

“It is queer that things have gone downhill with him as badly as that,” said the daughter. “Last night I did not think there was anything about him to show that he had once been an educated man.”

The daughter said that it was very strange that situation had become so bad for the tramp. Last night she did not see anything in the tramp to conclude that he was an educated person. (She thought he was uneducated person)

“You must have patience, my little girl,” said the father. “As soon as he gets clean and dressed up, you will see something different. Last night he was naturally embarrassed. The tramp manners will fall away from him with the tramp clothes.”

Immediately after the ironmaster had completed his sentence, the door opened and the tramp entered the dining room. He was now clean and wearing nice clothes. The servant had cut his hair, shaved him and had given him a bath.

Moreover he was dressed in a good-looking suit of clothes which belonged to the ironmaster. He wore a white shirt and a starched collar and whole shoes. But although his guest was now so well groomed, the ironmaster did not seem pleased.

In addition to above, the tramp was wearing a nice suit of the ironmaster. He was wearing a white shirt, a stiff collar and shoes. Though the guest was now well dressed, the ironmaster did not look happy.

He looked at him with puckered brow, and it was easy to understand that when he had seen the strange fellow in the uncertain reflection from the furnace he might have made a mistake, but that now, when he stood there in broad daylight, it was impossible to mistake him for an old acquaintance.

The ironmaster looked at the peddler with raised and twisted eyebrows. He understood that he had made a mistake in recognizing him when he had seen the peddler in the dim light of the furnace. But now the tramp was standing in enough light of day time. So he made no mistake in realizing that the tramp was not his old acquaintance.

“What does this mean?” he thundered. The stranger made no attempt to dissimulate. He saw at once that the splendour had come to an end.

The ironmaster shouted at the tramp and asked him why tramp came to his house. The stranger made no excuse. He had understood that his days of luxury were over.

“It is not my fault, sir,” he said. “I never pretended to be anything but a poor trader, and I pleaded and begged to be allowed to stay in the forge. But no harm has been done. At worst I can put on my rags again and go away”.

The stranger replied that it was not his fault. He had said that he was a poor trader. He had not pretended to be any other person. The stranger had requested to allow him to stay at the forge. I have not done any harm to you. The stranger was ready to once again wear his rags and go away from there.

“Well,” said the ironmaster, hesitating a little, “it was not quite honest, either. You must admit that, and I should not be surprised if the sheriff would like to have something to say in the matter.”

The ironmaster replied that the tramp was not honest on his part. He further told that tramp must accept that. The ironmaster intends to call the sheriff to handover the tramp to him. So he says that he would like to seek opinion of Sheriff in this matter.

The tramp took a step forward and struck the table with his fist. “Now I am going to tell you, Mr Ironmaster, how things are,” he said.

The tramp came forward and hit the table with his fist. He said to ironmaster that he would explain what the situation was.

“This whole world is nothing but a big rattrap. All the good things that are offered to you are nothing but cheese rinds and bits of pork, set out to drag a poor fellow into trouble. And if the sheriff comes now and locks me up for this, then you, Mr Ironmaster, must remember that a day may come when you yourself may want to get a big piece of pork, and then you will get caught in the trap.”

This complete world is a rattrap. All good things in this world are baits meant to pull a person into the trap or trouble. If you call Sheriff he may put me into the prison. But, Mr Ironmaster, please remember someday you may also get attracted to a bait and get caught in the trap. (This was the curse rattrap maker gave to the ironmaster. This was an attempt by him to avoid getting arrested by the Sherrif)

The ironmaster began to laugh. “That was not so badly said, my good fellow. Perhaps we should let the sheriff alone on Christmas Eve. But now get out of here as fast as you can.”

The ironmaster laughed at the tramp. He said that the tramp had uttered his dialogues very well. We should not disturb the Sheriff on Christmas Eve. He asked the tramp to go out of his house immediately.

But just as the man was opening the door, the daughter said, “I think he ought to stay with us today. I don’t want him to go.” And with that she went and closed the door.

The tramp started opening the door to go out. The daughter said that she did not want him to go out, he should stay with them on that day. After saying this she closed the door.

“What in the world are you doing?” said the father. The daughter stood there quite embarrassed and hardly knew what to answer.

The ironmaster asked her what she was doing. He meant why she was doing it. The daughter was ashamed of her act. She stood there but did not reply anything.

That morning she had felt so happy when she thought how homelike and Christmassy she was going to make things for the poor hungry wretch. She could not get away from the idea all at once, and that was why she had interceded for the vagabond.

In the morning Edla had thought she would give a homely treatment to the tramp. She had considered him a poor, hungry and an unfortunate person. She will make everything good on the occasion of Christmas. So that the peddler feels it was a festival day. She could not remove her thoughts immediately. Therefore she had intervened to favour the vagabond.

“I am thinking of this stranger here,” said the young girl. “He walks and walks the whole year long, and there is probably not a single place in the whole country where he is welcome and can feel at home.

The girl explained that she was thinking about the stranger. He walks throughout the year. Probably nowhere in the country he is welcomed and can get a homely environment.

Wherever he turns he is chased away. Always he is afraid of being arrested and cross-examined. I should like to have him enjoy a day of peace with us here — just one in the whole year.”

Wherever he goes, people ask him to go away. He has a fear of getting arrested and questioned by police. I want him to have one peaceful day with us – only one day in the full year.

The ironmaster mumbled something in his beard. He could not bring himself to oppose her.

The ironmaster said something unclearly. It could not be heard. He could not oppose her thoughts.

“It was all a mistake, of course,” she continued. “But anyway I don’t think we ought to chase away a human being whom we have asked to come here, and to whom we have promised Christmas cheer.”

Edla continued to say that it was certainly their mistake to bring the stranger home. But we have brought him here and promised happiness on Christmas. Therefore we should not order him to go away.

“You do preach worse than a parson,” said the ironmaster. “I only hope you won’t have to regret this.”

The ironmaster said that her arguments were worse than teaching by a priest. He hoped that she would not have to repent her decision. [Meaning that nothing bad would happen or occur at their house]

The young girl took the stranger by the hand and led him up to the table. “Now sit down and eat,” she said, for she could see that her father had given in.

Edla held the stranger by his hand and brought him to the dining table. She requested him to eat food. She did this because she had understood that her father had accepted her thought.

The man with the rattraps said not a word; he only sat down and helped himself to the food. Time after time he looked at the young girl who had interceded for him. Why had she done it? What could the crazy idea be?

The peddler did not say anything. He sat down and ate food. Again and again he was looking at the girl who had intervened to favour him. He could not understand why she had done that. He did not know how this strange idea came to her. He could not understand her thoughts that forced her to stop him at her house.

After that, Christmas Eve at Ramsjo passed just as it always had. The stranger did not cause any trouble because he did nothing but sleep. The whole forenoon he lay on the sofa in one of the guest rooms and slept at one stretch.

After that incident, everything was usual at Ramsjo on that Christmas Eve. The stranger did not make any trouble. He was sleeping and did nothing. During full afternoon he was sleeping on the sofa of guest room. He did not wake up in between.

At noon they woke him up so that he could have his share of the good Christmas fare, but after that he slept again. It seemed as though for many years he had not been able to sleep as quietly and safely as here at Ramsjo.

In the afternoon they woke up the stranger so that he could have good food prepared for Christmas. After taking food the tramp again slept. It appeared that he had not slept since many years. Probably he had never experienced quiet and safe environment as that of house of ironmaster.

In the evening, when the Christmas tree was lighted, they woke him up again, and he stood for a while in the drawing room, blinking as though the candlelight hurt him, but after that he disappeared again.

In the evening, lights of Christmas tree were switched on. They woke up the stranger. He was standing for some time in the drawing room. His eyes were blinking as if he could not tolerate lights of candles. After that he again went to sleep.

Two hours later he was aroused once more. He then had to go down into the dining room and eat the Christmas fish and porridge.

After two hours they again woke up the peddler. He came to dining room to eat fish and porridge prepared for Christmas.

As soon as they got up from the table he went around to each one present and said thank you and good night, but when he came to the young girl she gave him to understand that it was her father’s intention that the suit which he wore was to be a Christmas present — he did not have to return it; and if he wanted to spend next Christmas Eve in a place where he could rest in peace, and be sure that no evil would befall him, he would be welcomed back again.

Everybody completed dinner and got up from the table. The tramp went to everybody and said thank you and goodnight. Then he came to say thank you to Edla. She told him that her father wants to gift him the suit he was wearing as a Christmas present. He need not return the suit. She further told him that he would be welcomed to their house on next Christmas Eve also. She assured him that he would be able to take rest in peaceful environment and nothing bad would happen to him.

The man with the rattraps did not answer anything to this. He only stared at the young girl in boundless amazement.

Next morning the ironmaster and Edla got up early in the morning to go the Church for Christmas Prayer. The tramp was sleeping and they did not wake him up.

When, at about ten o’clock, they drove back from the church, the young girl sat and hung her head even more dejectedly than usual. At church she had learned that one of the old crofters of the ironworks had been robbed by a man who went around selling rattraps.

Around ten o’ clock they were coming back from the church. The young girl was looking down. Her head was bowed. She was very sad – more than usual. At church she understood that one of their old crofters was looted by a person. That person used to move around to sell rattraps. She had understood that the person at their house was a thief.

“Yes, that was a fine fellow you let into the house,” said her father. “I only wonder how many silver spoons are left in the cupboard by this time.”

Her father told Edla that she had allowed a good person to stay in their house. He wondered how many silver tea spoons would be left in their house by the time they reached home. Father was sarcastic of her decision. He also feared about a theft in the house.

The wagon had hardly stopped at the front steps when the ironmaster asked the valet whether the stranger was still there. He added that he had heard at church that the man was a thief.

The carriage had barely stopped at the house. The ironmaster asked valet if the stranger was still in the house. The ironmaster also told him that the stranger was a thief. They had come to know about this at the church.

The valet answered that the fellow had gone and that he had not taken anything with him at all.

The servant answered that the stranger had already left the house. He had not taken anything with him.

On the contrary, he had left behind a little package which Miss Willmansson was to be kind enough to accept as a Christmas present.

Opposite to taking anything, he has left a small packet as a Christmas gift for Miss Willmansson. He has requested her to kindly accept the gift.

The young girl opened the package, which was so badly done up that the contents came into view at once. She gave a little cry of joy.

The young girl opened the packet. It was very poorly wrapped. So its contents could be immediately seen. She screamed with joy.

She found a small rattrap, and in it lay three wrinkled ten kronor notes. But that was not all. In the rattrap lay also a letter written in large, jagged characters —

The gift was a small rattrap. In the rattrap, there were three ten kronor notes. (The same notes the tramp had stolen from the crofter.) But that was not the only thing in rattrap. There was a letter. It was written in rough and big letters. (Meaning that handwriting was not good)

“Honoured and noble Miss, “Since you have been so nice to me all day long, as if I was a captain, I want to be nice to you, in return, as if I was a real captain — for I do not want you to be embarrassed at this Christmas season by a thief; but you can give back the money to the old man on the roadside, who has the money pouch hanging on the window frame as a bait for poor wanderers.

Respected and gentle Miss, you have been very nice to me throughout the day. You gave me respect as if I was a captain. I want to be nice to you as if I were a real captain. I do not want you to feel ashamed on the Christmas festival season by a thief. Please return the money to the old person living on the side of the road. His money pouch was hanging on the window frame. This was a bait for poor persons moving around.

“The rattrap is a Christmas present from a rat who would have been caught in this world’s rattrap if he had not been raised to captain, because in that way he got power to clear himself.

The rattrap is a Christmas present from the person who was a rat. He was caught in the rattrap of this world. But you have made him a Captain. Because of you he got the strength to become clear in his heart.

“Written with friendship and high regard, “Captain von Stahle.”

Written with friendship and high respect to you. He signed the letter as Captain von Stahle.

Summary

Developed on the metaphor of 'rattrap', the story ‘The Rattrap’ by Selma Legerlof boasts of the theme that the essential goodness that lives in every human being can be awakened by understanding and love. The writer of the story has a strong belief that no individual on this earth is devoid of this essential goodness and it can be brought up to the active level only love and goodness. The peddler of the story roams here and there selling his rattraps. His life is full of melancholy and boredom. No one in the world treats him friendly. He entertains an idea that the whole world is nothing but a big rattrap which offers baits in form of riches, shelter, joys and clothing. He himself falls prey to this rattrap when he steals thirty kronors of the crofter. However, he is offered a humanitarian treatment by Edla at the house of the Ironmaster. He receives a Captain like hospitality there and it helps him clear all the vices inside him. Like the peddler every individual is prone to fall into the rattrap of the world but the kindness of others can certainly help him regain the track of life. Hence, the story entertains the theme that the essential spark of goodness that inhabits in human heart seeks a behavior of love and understanding to become a full raised flame of a worthy life.

Question & Answers of the lesson

Q 1. From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?

Ans. Thee peddler used to sell small rattraps of wire. Naturally his mind was occupied with the rattraps. One day while plodding his way, an idea came to him. He thought the whole world was nothing but a big rattrap. Some had already been caught in the it and the others were still circling round the bait.

Q 2. Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?

Ans. No, the peddler did not expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter. The peddler was often not welcomed anywhere. He was always chased away. It was only sour looks that greeted him. But the old crofter showed him unusual generosity. It was something unexpected for the peddler.

Q 3. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?

Ans. The old crofter lived alone in his cottage. He had no wife or child. So when the peddler knocked on the door of his cottage and asked shelter for the night, he was happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness. That was why he was so talkative and friendly with the peddler.

Q 4. Why did the crofter show his thirty kronor to the peddler?

Ans. The crofter told the peddler that his bossy (cow) was extraordinary. She gave milk for the creamery every day. And last month, he had received thirty kronor in payment. The crofter felt that the peddler did not believe in what he said. That was why he showed him his thirty kronor.

Q 5. Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?

Ans. No, the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter. The crofter had himself shown the peddler the money kept in his pouch. He had in a way shown him the bait laid in a rattrap. The peddler was tempted by the bait and he was caught in the trap.

Q 6. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?

Ans. In order to escape being caught, the peddler had walked into a big and confusing forest. He walked and walked but could not find the way out. Now he was tired to death. At once the thought of the world being a rattrap came to his mind. He thought that now his own turn had come.

Q 7. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?

Ans. The ironmaster looked at the peddler in the dim light of the forge. He mistook him for his old regimental comrade. He moved to pity over his miserable condition. It was Christmas Eve and he was to be nice to a poor hungry man. So he invited him to his home.

Q 8. Why did the peddler decline the ironmaster's invitation to come to his home?

Ans. The peddler had the crofter's stolen money in his pocket. When the ironmaster invited him to come to his home, he thought of the thirty kronor. He thought that going up to the manor house would be like throwing himself voluntarily into the lion's den. That was why he declined the invitation.

Q 9. What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson's invitation?
Or Why did the peddler accept Edla Willmansson’s invitation?

Ans. Edla was the ironmaster’s youngest daughter. When the ironmaster failed to bring the peddler home, he sent her to persuade him to bring home. She looked at him compassionately. Her manner was very friendly. She told him that he would be free to leave the place whenever he liked. Thus she won the peddler's confidence and made him accept her invitation.

Q 10. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?

Ans. From the peddler’s looks and behaviour, Edla had some doubts about him. She thought that either he had stolen something or he had escaped from jail. It also seemed to her that he could not have been an educated man.

Q 11. When did the ironmaster realize his mistake?

Ans. It was day broad light. The peddler opened the door and came into the dining room. Now he was fully well groomed. When the ironmaster looked at the peddler in the day broad- light, he at once realized his mistake. He thought that when he had seen the strange fellow in the uncertain reflection from the furnace he might have made a mistake. Now the ironmaster could clearly see that the tramp was none of his old friend.

Q 12. How did the peddler defend himself against not having revealed his true identity?

Ans. The peddler said that he had never pretended to be a former captain. He had shown himself only as a poor trader. He also said that he had only asked for permission to stay in the forge. So it was none of his fault that he was mistaken.

Q 13. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?

Ans. Edla was a very noble-hearted girl. She was certain that it was none of the peddler's fault. She had planned to entertain the poor hungry man on Christmas Eve. She had made great preparations for it. She did not want to let away the joy all at once. So she entertained the peddler even after she knew the truth about him.

Q 14. Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?

Ans. Edla felt very dejected when she heard at the church that the peddler was a thief. But the gift left by the peddler restored her faith in him. After receiving her gift and reading the letter kept in it, she came to know the man really was a gem. Naturally she was very happy.

Q 15. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?

Ans. In spite of knowing the truth about him, Edla treated the peddler as if he were really a captain. It was in this role that he was able to save himself from falling into the rattrap of the world. That was why he signed himself as a captain.