Flamingo Chapter 4 The Rattrap

One day the peddler went round selling his rattraps. All of a sudden he was left to his own meditations. He thought that the whole world about him was nothing but a rattrap. Its lands, seas, cities, villages existed only to set baits for people. It offered riches, joys, shelter, food, heat and clothing to the people as the rattrap offered cheese and pork for the rats. As soon as anyone got tempted to touch the bait, it closed him in and thus everything came to an end for him.

Tips: -

Imp.

The peddler was amused by the idea that the whole world around him was nothing but a big rattrap. The riches, happiness, food, clothing and shelter etc. were like baits to trap the people in. He thought of his life dull and sad life. But he was satisfied that he was not the one who was caught in the vicious circle of poverty. There were many more like him who were still circling around the bait. This idea amused him a lot.

No, the peddler had never expected the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter. He expected sour faces when he knocked the door and requested for the night shelter. But the crofter was happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness. He immediately put the porridge pot on the fire and gave the peddler supper. Then he gave him a big slice of tobacco for the stranger's pipe to smoke. Finally, he entertained the stranger by playing the game of cards “Majolis” until bed time.

The crofter allowed the peddler to stay for the night in his cottage. He welcomed the peddler with a smiling face. He was an old man without wife or child. Therefore, he became happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness. He served him supper and gave him tobacco. He played ‘Majolis’ the game of cards to entertain himself also. He got more friendly with the peddler by showing him the money kept in the pouch.

The crofter lived alone in the roadside cottage. Therefore, he was happy to get the peddler to talk to in his cottage. He gave him supper, tobacco for his pipe and played cards with him until bedtime.

The old man informed him of his days of prosperity at Ramsjo Ironworks. He told him of his cow that supported him now and he received thirty kronor in payment last month.

He showed the stranger the thirty kronor picking out of the pouch hung at the window frame. He stuffed them back and put it as usual. He did so to test the integrity of the peddler. In other words it was a bait for the peddler to verify his honesty.

Of course not. The old crofter was a man of liberal beliefs. So he gladly allowed the stranger to stay in his cottage for the night. Not only that, he served him with supper and tobacco for his pipe, but amused him with the game of cards also. He showed him the thirty kroner from the pouch he received in payment for the cow's milk last month. But the peddler was a wretch-fellow. Both left the cottage at the same time. But half an hour later the peddler came, smashed the window frame and took out the thirty kroner notes from the pouch.

Thus, the peddler breached the confidence reposed in him by the crofter.

Tips: -

Imp.

After, stealing money from the old crofter, the man was pleased with his smartness.

He dared not to walk on the public highway. So he turned off into the forest to avoid being caught.

It was a big and confusing forest. The paths turned back and forth so strangely. He walked, and walked the whole day but he realised that he had only been walking around in the same part of the forest.

Suddenly he recollected his ideas about the world and the rattrap. Now his own turn had come. He had let himself be tempted by a bait and had been caught. The whole forest, had closed in upon him like an impenetrable prison from which he could not escape.

Tips: -

V. Imp.

The ironmaster of the Ramsjo Iron works watched both night and day that the work at the mill was being done well. On his nightly round for inspection, he saw the ragged fellow near the furnace. He walked near to him to look closely. Considering him as an old acquaintance he called him “Nils Olof.” He told him that there was none at home. It would be more pleasant with him to have him for Christmas. So he spoke kindly to the peddler and invited him home.

The peddler was passing a very hard time. He looked alarmed and troubled. He had come there to pass the night so he could not accompany him to his home for Christmas.

He had thirty kroner which he had stolen from the cottage of the old crofter. Going to the manor house would be like throwing himself voluntarily into the lion's den. The peddler thought that the invitation was perhaps a bait for him and he did not want to be caught in. So he declined the invitation.

Tips: -

Imp.

When the ironmaster failed to persuade the stranger to accompany home he sent his daughter Edla Williamansson to bring him home.

She went to the stranger and lifted his hat and told that she was Edla.

She said, “I am so sorry captain, that you are having such a hard time.” She looked at him mercifully and assured, that he would be allowed to leave them just as freely as he had come. She requested to stay with them over Christmas Eve. Her friendly manners aroused confidence in the peddler and he accepted his invitation.

At the pursuastion of the ironmaster his daughter Edla Willmansson came to bring him home. On reaching the forge, she went up to him and lifted his hat. He jumped up suddenly and looked quite frightened. Telling her name, she felt sorry for the captain for having such a hard time.

She looked at him mercifully and noticed that the man was afraid. She thought that the man had stolen something or else he had escaped from jail. Moreover there was nothing in him to show that he was an educated man. Of course she was right.

The ironmaster came into the dining room for breakfast with the satisfaction that he had met his old regimental comrade by chance.

He assured her that once the stranger got cleaned and well-dressed up, she would see something different.

Just as he said this, the door opened and the stranger entered truly cleaned and nicely dressed up. The ironmaster looked at him with puckered brow. He realised soon that he made a mistake in taking the stranger as an old acquaintance in the reflection of the furnace. He couldn't mistake him, for his old regimental friend. He felt cheated and realised his mistake.

When the ironmaster understood that he mistook the stranger fellow as an old acquaintance, he asked the stranger in a loud voice, “What does this mean?”

The stranger did not try to make any excuse. He said it was not his fault. He never pretended to be anything but a poor trader. He pleaded and begged to be allowed to stay in the forge for the night. He concluded that no harm had been done. He could, at the worst, put on his rags again and go away.

Tips: -

Imp.

When the ironmaster came to know that he mistook the stranger as an old regimental comrade, he ordered him to get out at once. Just as the stranger was opening the door, Edla didn't want him to go. So she went and closed the door.

That morning she had felt very happy as she was going to make things for the poor hungry wretch homelike and Christmassy. She could not think of missing this cheerful chance all at once. She revealed all her sympathetic thoughts for him who was always chased away throughout the year. She wanted to let him enjoy a day of peace with them there just one in the whole year.

Finally, she could not think they ought to chase away a human being whom they had to stay with them and promised a Christmas cheer. She wanted to be kind, sympathetic and friendly with the stranger on the Christmas Eve. She took hold of the stranger by hand and led him to the dining table.

At the church, Edla Willmanssan learnt that one of the old crofters of the ironworks had been robbed by a man selling rattraps. That was the fellow she had left into her house. Her father thought of the silver spoons left if any in the cupboard. When they returned, their valet informed that the fellow had gone and had taken nothing at all with him. It was a great relief for both the ironmaster and his daughter.

Moreover, the stranger had left a little package for Miss Willmansson as a Christmas gift.

She gave a little cry of joy while opening the gift package and found a small rattrap, three wrinkled ten kronor notes to be handed over to the crofter. The letter praised Edla for her kindness and hospitality at the Christmas Eve. The young girl Edla was happy to receive a reward of her goodness shown to the poor peddler.

Tips: -

V. Imp.

The peddler was mistaken as Captain Von Stahle (Nils Olof) by the ironmaster in the forge. The things took a sharp turn when he was invited to the manor house to stay with them on the Christmas Eve.

He thought that he was allowing himself in the lion's den. But the ironmaster daughter showed him hospitality and requested her father to have the Christmas in his company.

She wanted him to stay with them and enjoy the Christmas cheer as promised, enjoy a day of peace with them just once in the whole year. It was her friendly, loving and sympathetic behaviour that awakened the essential goodness in the stranger. He was treated as if he had been a real captain. So he decided to treat her as a real captain did. Before leaving their house he left a Christmas present for her and wrote a letter signing himself as ‘Captain Von Stahle’. Thus Edla showered her sympathetic attitude on him that turned the stranger to pose as “Captain Von Stahle.”

The peddler was a man who went around selling his self-made small rattraps of wire. He was leading a hard, monotonous, dull and lonely life of a vagabond. While moving along the road, it became dark. So he knocked at the door of the cottage of a crofter who showered all possible hospitality over the peddler. He gave him porridge, bed, lodging and played Majolis till bed time. He even proudly displayed the thirty kroner that he had got as payment for the cow's milk and put them in his leather pouch. This tempted the peddler to steal away his money. In a way he betrayed the confidence reposed in him by the crofter.

On the other hand, the owner of the Ramsjo Ironworks mistook him to be as his old acquaintance. He invited him for spending the Christmas Evening but the peddler firmly declined his offer though it was a bait for a vagabond to be the guest of honour at the manor house. The peddler had the view that the owner might give him some Kroner. So he did not reveal his identity. The owner sent his daughter Edla to bring the peddler. She pleaded most sympathetically and friendly. He agreed to go home. On his way to the manor house, he had ‘evil forebodings’. He was feeling guilty for stealing the crofter's money. Similarly he thought that bring upto the manor house was like throwing himself voluntarily into the lion's den. When the ironmaster came to know that the peddler was not his old acquaintance, he asked him to go out of the house immediately. But Edla insisted to let the stranger spend the Christmas evening one day in peace since they had called him. Her nice treatment, kindness, hospitality awoke the essential goodness in him. She moved the peddler so much that he left a Christmas gift with a letter to send thirty Kroner for the Crofter. Thus the peddler expressed his gratitude to her. He became a reformed persons.

Naturally the character of the ironmaster is different from that of his daughter Edla in many ways. Being the owner of the Ramsjo Ironworks, it had been his constant endeavour that only the quality goods be sent in the market. Consequently he had his schedule of both day and night inspection and the best work was done at his mill. In addition to this he was a man of social, sympathetic and sober nature. Considering the peddler as his old acquaintance of regiment, he invited him at his house for Christmas. He felt deep for peddler's hard days. The peddler declined his offer so the ironmaster sent his daughter Edla to request the stranger for the Christmas company because she had more persuasive powers than her father. Being a keen observer, she told her father that the stranger did not look like an educated man and he looked frightened as if he had been a thief or ran out from a jail. But the ironmaster consoled her that she could see him a good gentlemen when his clothes of tramp were taken away. He wished that his friend should get a little flesh on his bones. In addition to this Edla had all the basic qualities of a human being. When the truth was known and the peddler was ready to leave, she closed the door. She asked her father let the peddler should enjoy a day of peace with them. She took him at the breakfast table and the family had the Christmas Cheer in his company. While leaving,the peddler left a Christmas pesent and a thirty Kroner note for the crofter. She felt that the peddler was not a thief. On the other hand, his sympathic attitude reformed the stranger.

Tips: -

V. Imp.

The story ‘Rattrap’ has many instances of unexpected reactions from the character to others behaviour. In the first instance we can note contractions in the character of the rattrap man. He sells his self made rattraps and to keep his body and soul together, he does petty thievery but he has no mind for begging. Rather he possesses a philosophical attitude towards life and the people. He considers the whole world as a big rattrap. Then he goes to the crofter's cottage for a night shelter. Though he expects ‘sour faces’ but the open-heartedness of the crofter as a host shows unexpected attitude. The crofter gives him food, logding and plays ‘majolis’. He shows his thirty Kroner notes. But the evilness plays an upper hand in the peddler. He steals his money and does an act of thanklessness.

Similarly the ironmaster mistakes the peddler as his old acquaintance and invites him at his house but he flatly refuses. Still he follows Edla when she persuades him very much. Knowing the reality about the peddler, the ironmaster threatens to call the sheriff but one can notice the commendable role played by Edla. She stops the peddler against the wish of her father and pleads that the person has been invited by them. Let him enjoy a single day of •peace with them as a peddler who never finds a single place where he is welcome. In the end, one can notice that the peddler rises above all heroic qualities by presenting a Christmas gift for the daughter alongwith thirty Kronor notes for the crofter. Thus one can note the series of unexpected reactions from the characters to other's behaviour.

Tips: -

V. Imp.

The writer has highlighted the fact that a petty peddler-cum thief gets an opportunity to rise himself to the standard of a real captain through the goodness, sympathy, love and considerate behaviour of Edla Willmansson. His philosophical attitude towards life is changed and he turns out to be a reformed man.

At her father’s request, Edla brings the peddler to her house for the Christmas Cheer since her father has considered him to be his old aquaintance of a regiment. While on his way to the manor house, the peddler realises that he has voluntarily offered himself to the lion's den. After reaching the ironmaster's house, the peddler is beautifully dressed and shaved by the valet. When he enters for the breakfast, the ironmaster realises his mistake about him. The truth is exposed and the ironmaster threatens to call for the Sheriff. But here Edla plays a significant role. She intercedes for the vagabond and pleads that the peddler hardly finds a single home where he is welcome. He is always chased away. She advocates to let him enjoy a day of peace in their company. She even does not think it nice to chase away a man whom they have themselves invited for Christmas cheer. The rattrap man does not utter a word but goes on looking at the girl in utter astonishment. All these circumstancial events go on jolting the peddler from his evil ways. In a way the ironmaster has declared the peddler a thief. When they return from the church service, they find everything infact. The valet tells about a package has been left by the peddler while leaving the house. She finds a letter a rattrap and a thirty Kroner bill. She feels utmost happy since the peddler has shown true faith in her. His letter states that the rattrap is a Christmas present from a ‘rat’ who would have been caught if he had not been raised to a captain.

The writer Selma Lagerlof sends a universal theme through all her stories. One cannot imagine how dull and sad a vagabond might be walking slowly along the roads for his bread. The metaphor of the rattrap struck on one such occasion. He was ploding along the road, duly lost in his own meditations.

The whole world about him—the whole world with its lands, seas, cities and villages was nothing but a big rattrap. The world had never existed for any other purpose than to set baits for people to trap them. The world offered riches and joys, heat and clothing, shelter and food exactly as the rattrap offered cheese and pork as bait. As soon as anyone is tempted and he touches the bait, it closes on him and then everything came to an end for him in life.

Like the poor wretch rattrap seller, people get tempted to the pouch baits hung on the window frame, break the window pane and steal the Kroner. For self-temptation people like the peddler don't want to undeceive others about themselves. The touching of the bait always makes people realise that they are caught in the world rattrap now. It is their turn now, they must stop cherish it as their pastime of thinking about the known who get trapped and others who are circling around the trap. They must rise above the baits and shun evil doings like Captain von Stahle.

The peddler is presented with a great sense of humour by the writer. He goes around selling self-made small rattraps of wire. The rattraps are dangling over his chest and not a single one is shown sold. His business was not profitable so he indulges in begging and petty thievery to keep body and soul alive. He has fallen into a line of thought that the whole world is nothing but a big rattrap offering riches joys, shelter, food, like the bait of a rattrap. Anyone who touches it, it is closed in on him bringing an end for everything to him. Still he steals thirty Kronor of the old crofter who gave him a good hospitality later he thinks that it is his turn now to be caught in the big world rattrap when he is unable to move out of the forest.

The ironmaster of the Ramsjo, Ironmills talks to him thinking to be his old regimental comrade. But he does not clear his identity and answers. “Yes, God knows things have gone downhill with me.“The peddler keeps quiet when he is told that he should not have resigned from the regiment, that was his mistake. He knowingly befools the iron-master. While going to the manor house he feels that he has thrown himself voluntarily into the lion’s den. The ironmaster feels his mistake and threatens to call the shiriff. The peddler says, “It is not my fault, sir.” But no harm has been done. At worst I can put on my rags again and go away.”

While leaving in his letter to Edla he says.

“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.” It sounds surprisingly mysterious.

Finally, he gives a rattrap to Edla as a “Christmas present from a rat.” He writes that he would have been caught in the world's rattrap, if he had not been raised to a captain.

Right from the beginning the peddler is shown going around selling small rattraps of wire. He is struggling hard begging the wires to make the rattraps himself in his odd times. The business is not profitable so he takes to begging and small thievery also.

Once the peddler fell in the line of thought and concluded that the whole world with all its things, lands, seas, mountains, cities, villages is a big world rattrap. It offers joys, riches, clothing, shelter, food, heat which tempt anyone; if he touches the bait he is trapped and can never come out. This is a universal theme.

One knows and sees people trapped and others circling around the bait to get trapped. Even then everyone is moving downhill so does the peddler do. He steals from the old crofter's pouch, he does not like to undeceieve the ironmaster under temptation.

The reader feels himself moving along with the peddler without indulging in what he does. The reader sympathises with him because everytime he touches the bait, he clearly speaks of the big world rattrap. And it is his turn to be caught. He has evil forebodings but even then he flows downhill and finally, finds trapped. 'It is because of the young girl who has been remained nice also to him all day long on Christmas Eve that he musters up courage and behaves as if he is a real Captain, otherwise he would have been caught in the world rattrap. Finally, the change in the ways of the peddler wins the sympathy of all the readers, at the end of the story too.

Tips: -

Imp.

Man is a social animal. His interaction with others makes him, generally, unwelcome by every one. When the peddler knocked on the door of the roadside cottage to ask shelter for the night, he was allowed with a welcoming face of the owner. He was an old man without wife and child. So he was happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness.

At once, he prepared for him and served him super. After that he took out enough tobacco for his pipe and played “majolis.”

The old crofter informed his guest that in his days of prosperity he had been a crofter at the Ramsjo Ironworks. Now he was old and his cow supported him. He got thirty Kronor he received last month for cow's milk. He got up and took out the pouch and showed him the three wrinked ten Kronor notes moving them knowingly before his guest's eyes.

The story focuses also on the need to bond with others.

Tips: -

M. Imp.

There is no dearth of such episodes where good deeds or acts of kindness changed persons' views of the world. Once upon a time a saint lived in an Indian forest. In his ashram he had a beautiful horse which was the fastest of' its time. Whenever the saint rode the horse it used to talk with air. Its fame spread soon all around.

A bandit got very much interested in the saint's horse, He went to the saint to buy the horse at any price but he refused to sell the horse. But the bandit did not give in.

One day disguised as a saint he lay groaning on the path, the saint was riding on his steed. He signalled and the rider saint stopped near him. He pretended to be suffering and asked for a ride. The saint helped him ride first and the disguised robber made the horse gallop leaving behind the saint. He revealed his robber's identity.

The saint called him back and requested him not to tell this incident to anyone otherwise nobody would be prepared to help a sufferer or a person in need.

This theme changed the life of the bandit totally. He returned the horse to the saint at once. One day he became a prominent saint in India.

The story “The Rattrap” is set amidst the iron ore rich area of Sweden. It has figured as a legend of that country. The story is told somewhat in the manner of a fairy tale. That is why, it keeps entertaining the reader or listener from its beginning to end, and also sends a universal theme.

The rattrap peddler is imagined to be making the small rattraps of wire. He is seen going around selling the rattraps of wire. Yet he finds himself unable to pull on with life, so he resorts to begging and small thievery. The old crofter who entertained him in his cottage with supper, tobacco, game of cards and amusing talks of his past, was robbed by that peddler.

But the world rattrap of the forest caught him and he was about to meet his death there. The hammer strokes sound was heard by him through earth. He reached the Ramsjo Ironworks. The ironmaster mistook him his old regimental comrade. The peddler was again tempted for getting Kroner but this time he was caught. He was a stranger and not the captain.

Then the young girl Edla Willmanson came to rescue him. She treated him very friendly with understanding and love all day long on Christmas Eve. It awakened the essential goodness of the peddler who also behaved with them as if he was a real captain and no more a thief.

The man selling the rattraps is referred to by many terms in the story text. They are given below along with the context of the attitude of the people around him :

There are different words with similar meanings in every language. The words: Happy, glad, cheerful, merry, all mean the same. Words with similar meanings:

1. As soon anyone let himself be tempted to touch the bait, it closed in as him.

Here: The reflexive pronoun ‘himself’ is used in place of personal pronoun to signal that it refers to the same subject ‘anyone’ in the sentence.

2. Think of the people he knows who had let themselves be caught in the dangerous snare.

Here: The reflextive pronoun ‘themselves’ is used in place of the personal pronoun to signal that it refers to the same subject ‘people’ in the sentence.

3. He had not come there to talk but only to warm himself and sleep.

Here: The reflexive pronoun “himself” is used to convey emphasis.

4. He thought to go to the manor house would be like throwing himself voluntarily into the lion's den.

Here: The reflexive pronoun ‘himself’ is used to convey the emphasis.

5. You cannot show yourself there.

Here: The reflexive pronoun yourself is used to convey the emphasis.

(i) a hard regular thumping

[sound of the regular powerful hammer strokes on pig iron]

(ii) a large plant with smelter, rolling mill and forge.

[A big iron mill with all machinery of turning iron-ore into iron]

(iii) coal dust which shifted down from the big charcoal crates.

[the black soot falling down while the big charcoal crates were loaded and unloaded]

(iv) dark forge near the furnace [the forge was not lit when furnace was in use at night]

(v) Put on the anvil

[the glowing iron from furnace is put on the iron block on which blacksmith works]

(vi) stir the glowing mass

[moving with iron rod the motten pig iron mass]

(vii) big belows groaned

[The sound of the big air driving pipes into fire]

Indoor games played in our region: Chopar, chess, card games, table-tennis, badminton, snooker, billiard.

Uncommon terms for ‘a small farmers’: Crofter, kissan, farmer, haali, gittey.

The peddler was passing his time from hand to mouth. He used to beg wires from the stores and big farms for making rattraps. Being insufficient to lead his life, he had taken a resort to both begging and petty thievery. It was not a profitable business. He wore rags and his cheeks were sunken. Hunger gleamed in his eyes. He lead a dull and monotonous life.

Tips: -

Imp.

One day the peddler was moving round selling his rattraps. He suddenly thought that the whole world about him was nothing but a rattrap. Its land, cities, and villages existed only to set baits for the people. It offered riches, joys, shelter, food, heat and clothing etc. as the rattrap offered cheese and pork for the rats.

The rattrap man viewed that the whole world was a big rattrap to trap the people in. It offered riches, joys, shelter, food, heat and clothing like the rattrap offered cheese and pork to tempt the rats. The world had been very unkind to him. So he got good please in thinking ill about them. Some had let themselves caught in the big rattrap and the others were circling around the bait.

The peddler knocked the door of a crofter and requested for night shelter. The crofter happily took him inside as he wanted someone to talk to. He offered him hot supper. Then he gave him a big slice of tobacco for his pipe to smoke. Finally, he entertained the stranger by playing the game of cards ‘Majolis’ with him until bed time.

The peddler was not welcomed wherever he went. He was looked with great despire and was always chased away by the people. Only sour looks greeted him everywhere. But the crofter welcomed him warmly and showed him unusual generosity. The peddler had not expected such kind of warm welcome from him.

The peddler was happy at the smartness of taking thirty kronor from the crofter’s pouch. In order not to be chased away, he turned into the forest instead of walking on the road. He was of the view that he would be caught if went on the highway. So he took his way through the forest.

The forest became his rattrap. After stealing the old crofter's money he walked through the forest. It was a big and confusing forest with twisting ways. He was trapped in the forest and was caught now with its trunks, branches, fallen logs and ferns. He found it impossible to escape.

Tips: -

V. Imp.

Walking hungry and thirsty all day long in the forest, the peddler lay on the ground tired to death. Then he heard a hard regular thumping. Undoubtedly, he realised that those were the hammer strokes from an ironmill. He tottered in direction of the sound and reached the ironmill.

Tips: -

V. Imp.

The peddler was walking through the forest. It was a big and confusing forest. His paths turned back and forth very strangely. The peddler walked and walked but always moved around in the same part of the forest. He realised that now his turn had come. He was in the forest rattrap.

In the reflection of the furnace light, the iron-master eyes caught sight of a man. In the reflection he considered him on an old regimental comrade and called him Nils Olof. The rattrap man did not know him at all rather it came to him that he might throw him a couple of kronor. So he did not want to undeceive him all at once.

The peddler was caught in a complicated forest where there seemed no outlet for the peddler. It was like an impenetrable prison from which he could not escape. Whenever he tried to go out, it looked as if he had been again on the same path. He was completely exhausted, tired, full of gloom and despair. Finding no way out, he sank to the ground. He was tired to death and thought that his last moment had come.

Tips: -

Imp.

The Ramsjo Ironworks was a big plant consisting of a smelter, rolling mill, and a forge. The master smith and his helper were working with the mass of a pig iron. The big bellows groaned and the burning coal cracked. There was a thumping on the anvil and the fire-boy put the charcoal into the mouth of the furnace. In the midst of the sounds, the blacksmith could not notice the peddler.

The ironmaster was a prominent person with special care for quality. On his night inspection, his eyes caught sight of a man near the furnace. In the reflection, he considered him as his old acquaintance of the regiment. He called him ‘Nils Olof’. He invited him for a Christmas Eve at his house but the peddler declined his offer because he was with thirty knoner notice with him. He did not think it safe to throw himself voluntarily into the lion's den.

Tips: -

Imp.

Earlier the ironmaster had tried his best to persuade the peddler to his house for Christmas. He even told that he was alone except his daughter. He wanted his company but the peddler declined his offer. So the iron master sent his daughter who had better powers of persuation. She looked at the peddler compassionately. She assured that he was at liberty to go away at any time. Her friendly manners aroused confidence in him so he followed her. He agreed to go to the iron master house.

When Edla reached the ironmill, the peddler was sleeping with a piece of pig iron under his head. He had a hat on his face. When she removed his hat, he jumped in fear. She noticed that the man was afraid. She realised that either the man had stolen something or he had escaped from jail. In order to make further guess, she asked him to leave as he liked.

The ironmaster and his daughter Edla tried their best to make the peddler comfortable at their home. The ironmaster ordered his valet to dress well and shave him. He was ordered to give a good bath. So he was dressed with the clothes of the ironmaster. He was served with Christmas fish and porridge.

After having fully dressed, the peddler presented himself at the breakfast table. The ironmaster saw him with keen eyes but he did not look pleased. He realised that the stranger was not an old acquaintance of him. He had appropriately misunderstood him. So the ironmaster thundered and threatened to call the Sheriff. He asked him to go away at once.

The owner of a roadside cottage gave shelter to the peddler. He showed him warm hospitality and told him how he earnt thirty kronors by selling cow-milk in his old days. Then the old man took down a leather pouch hung on the nail of a window frame and showed thirty kronor bills to him. Then he stuffed them back into the pouch. The act of showing the kronor bills surprised the peddler since he was a perfect stranger.

The peddler pleaded that it was not his fault. He had never pretended to be anything but only a poor trader. He only begged that he should be allowd to stay for the night near the forge. Since he had done them no harm, so he was ready to put on his old rags again and would leave at once.

Tips: -

Imp.

The peddler defended himself that he was a poor man. On threatening to call the sheriff, the peddler said that the whole world is nothing but a big rattrap. All the good things that are offered to him were just baits. The baits were set out to drag a poor fellow into trouble. In case the Sheriff came to lock him up, the day was not far when the ironmaster would be trapped himself.

Tips: -

V. Imp.

On realising that the peddler was an old acquaintance, the ironmaster asked him to go away from there at once. But Edla intervened and told her father that the poor fellow was chased away by all and welcomed by none. He should be allowed to enjoy a day at peace with them. Since they had invited them and promised Christmas cheer, it was improper to send him away.

When the ironmaster and his daughter, Edla visited the Church, they heard that a person selling rattraps had robbed one of the crofter of the ironmaster. On hearing this, the ironmaster was worried about his silver spoons in the cupboard and Edla was deeply dejected. She hung her head in extreme disbelief. They ran to save their house for being thieved.

At 10 O’clock the ironmaster and Edla drove back from the church. The valet at the front steps told that the stranger had gone and he had not taken any thing with him at all. On the contrary he had left a Christmas package for Miss Edla Willmansson.

The peddler wrote since you have been nice to me all day long, as if I were a captain. So I want to be nice to you as a real captain. I do not want to be embarrassed at this Christmas season as a thief. You can give back the money to the old crofter. The rattrap is a 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” So he siged himself as Captain Von Sahle.

Edla cleared before the peddler about the ‘will’ of her father for the suit that he wore. She declared that it was a Christmas gift on his behalf. If he wanted to spend the next Christmas Eve in a place where he could relax in peace, and with full faith that no evil would reach him, he would be welcome again.

When a man is struggling hard in life and fails to make his both ends meal, he starts re-thinking. He is tempted to light, quick and easy gains of the baits of the world rattrap. He switches on to petty thievery, dishonesty, cheating etc. to keep his body and soul together.

Tips: -

V.V. Imp.

The peddler had gone leaving behind a little package for Miss willmansson as a Christmas gift. It contained a small rat-trap and three wrinkled ten kroner notes. The letter had words of praise for Edla’s kindness and hospitality. She was happy to see the gift which was a reward of his goodness.

The rattrap peddler was a tall man who had his own, imagination and meditation. Instead of flowing some goodness in him, he had the human weakness of petty thievery and begging to keep his body and soul together. He wore rags and hunger gleamed in his eyes. He went round selling self-made small rattrape of wire. Devoid of any sheltering place, he could spend his night wherever he desired. Mostly he came across sour faces and was a victim of his cruel circumstances. He could of knock at the door any person for his night shelter.

He philosophises his existence and inside the world as a big rattap. According to him all the riches, joys, food, clothing and shelter are just baits. Anyone who touches the bait, the rattrap closes on him. Then everything comes to an end. He stole away the thirty knonor of the crofter though the later offered him supper, bed and shelter. With that money he reached the Ramsjo Ironworks and the ironmaster mistook him as his old acquaintance. With the persuasion of Edla, the ironmaster's daughter, the peddler accepted the invitation for the Christmas cheer. When the ironmaster realised his mistake about the peddler he ordered him to go. Edla intrceded and took the peddler at the breakfast table. Her sympathy, noble attitude, open heartedness, hospitality and kindness had a significant impact on the peddler. While leaving he left behind a Christmas present for Edla, thirty kronor for crofter and a letter stating that her nobleness had given him a chance to cleanse himself.

Tips: -

V. Imp.

The writer has highlighted a universal theme in this story. It is that we can arouse the goodness in the life of a man by love, understanding, sympathy, and respect. Once upon a time there was a man who went around selling self-made small rattraps of wire. His condition was too miserable to beg and do petty thefts. He was in rags, with sunken cheeks and hungry eyes.

One day an ideal flashed into his mind. He thought that the whole world around him was a big rattrap. It offered riches, joys, food, shelter and clothing like a bait offering cheese and pork in a rattrap for the rats. Those who were tempted to touch the bait, it closed on them bringing an end to everything.

One dark evening while staying at a crofter's cottage, he was given food and lodging. But the next morning the tramp stole his thirty kronor. He kept on walking all day long on the same path in the forest. On hearing the sound of hammer strokes, he reached the ironmill and lay near the furnace.

The ironmaster mistook him to be his old acquaintance and invited him for Christmas cheer but he refused. He sent his daughter Edla who persuaded him to their house. After having him well dressed, the ironmaster found that he mistook him Captain “Nils Olof.” So he ordered him to get out at once. The young girl interceded for him and said she wanted him to stay as they promised him Christmas cheer. He was treated like a real captain with food. In their absence when they were at church he left. At the Church they learnt the rattrap seller had robbed the old crofter. So they became worried.

When they returned the valet told that the stranger had taken nothing with him and left behind a Christmas gift for Miss Willmansson. She found a small rattrap thirty kroner and a letter in it. The letter stated that she had took him as if he were a captain, so he would be nice to her as a captain. It had given him power to cleanse himself.

Edla is the modest, kind, considerate and a noble kind of girl. She has more persuasive power than her father. When the peddler refuses the ironmaster's request for the Christmas, he sends his daughter. She introduces herself and requests to come for the Christmass. She feels sorry for his hard time. She assures the captain that he will be allowed to leave them just as freely as he comes. Her manners, attitude and openness create confidence in the peddler. He accompanies her because she has better insight of human understanding.

At the manor house the young girl pleads for the stranger saying, “I think he ought to stay with us today.” She closes the door and takes the stranger by the hand to the dining table. She further says “Wherever he turns, he is chased away. I should like to have him a day of peace with us just once in the whole year.” We should not chase him away whom we have asked to come and have a Christmas cheer.”

Her deep kindness and sympathy have a magic effect on the peddler. It awakens essential goodness in the stranger. So he rises above the evils of greed and cheating because of a young girl. He thanks her for saving him from falling into the world's rattrap.

Tips: -

M. Imp.

The Rattrap man happens to get refuge for a night shelter at the Ramsjo Iron works. By chance the owner mistakes him as an old acquaintance and inuites to spend for the Christmas eve but the Rattrap declines his offer. The ironmaster sends his daughter Edla to bring and persuade the mar at their house. Haring milk of human kindness flowing in her body, she finds the peddler in a very miserable condition through her kind, considerate and persuasive power, she gets success in taking the peddler alongwith her. She promises to him to leave as and when he desires. Being a perfect host, she takes every care to make her guest feel comfortable at home. She is a practical and fine observer of people. She immediately tells her father that the peddler seems to be both an uneducated and thief. But the father points out that the stranger will be fine after properly dressed.

When the truth is known, the ironmaster becomes ugly and threatens to call the shrieft. He orders to peddler to leave away at once. But Edla intercedes for the vagabond and lets her father concede for his proper stay till the Christmas Eve. She is against chasing away a person whom they have invited for a promised “Christman Cheer”. Her persuasive powers make the stranger surrender to her wish. She is happy when the peddler leaves for her with a Christmas present and a thirsty kroner note. In his letter to Edla, he thanks for being so, nice to him. He finally thanks her saving him from falling into the “world’s rattrap”. It is thus, the love and understanding brings out a basic human goodness in the peddler.

63 Jor Bagh

New Delhi

26 July 200...

Dear Lalitha,

You will be surprised to know that I have recently succeeded in awakening the essential human virtue of goodness in a poor peddler selling small rattraps. One dark evening my father mistook him as a captain from his regiment. The stranger was in rags, with sunken cheeks, hunger gleaming eyes and a long beard. Many rattraps hung on his chest. My father persuaded him to stay with them in the manor house on the Christmas Eve. But he refused. At my father's request. I had to go to pursuade him. He develops faith in me. Still he looked frightened as if he had stolen something or had escaped from jail. Not to speak of his being a captain once, he even did not look an educated man. Later when he was well dressed on wearing my father's lovely suit, my father realised his mistake of taking him a regimental comrade. But I treated him nice and made him comfortable at home. My father was admant for his presence but I pleaded for his stay. I extended him the invitation for the next Christmas Eve. While leaving he left a Christmas present and thanked for saving him from falling into the world’s rattrap. Rest when meet in the near future.
Yours truly
Edla Willmansson.

Tips: -

V. Imp.

The peddler was given food, lodging and bed by the crofter at his cottage when the tramp requested for a night shelter. The crofter pointed out about his living and he deposited thirty kronor in a leather pouch before him. After having a sound sleep at night, the peddler took leave of him. Hardly half an hour had passed, the stranger smashed the window- pane and stole the money. He dared not move on the public highway for fear of being caught. So he changed his way into the woods.

In the forest he went on moving for hours together. It was a very complex and complicated forest. He felt that he was returning to the same path from where he had started. He failed to understand the strategy to be adopted. He tried to move in a definite direction but the paths twisted back and forth in a strange manner. There was no end to it. Then the rat trap peddler realised his thought about the world and the rattrap. He felt that he had himself befooled by a bait and had been caught into it. The whole forest seemed to be like a prison from where he could never escape.

Finding no way out in the impenetrable forest, the rattrap was totally tired. He lay on the ground and heard the striking of the hammer. He proceeded in that direction and reached the Ramsjo Ironworks. Here he requested the smith for the night shelter near the furnace. On his usual visit, he glanced at a tall ragamuffin near the furnace and mistook him to be his old acquaintance from some regiment. He called him “It is for, Nils Olof ! How do you look”.

The rat-trap man recalled his memory but failed to get any idea about him. But it struck in his mind that the gentleman might offer him some kroner, still he was his old acquaintance. The tramp revealed that it was his bad time. The iron master pleaded that he should not have resigned from the regiment but rather requested the peddler to accompany to his manor house on the Christmas Eve. The peddler was in no mood to accept his invitation. He was much afraid to go there since it would be like throwing himself voluntarily into the lion's den. He knew about his thievery at the Crofter's cottage and thirty Kroner were with him. A slight wink might put him in a great difficulty. So the peddler declined his offer. The ironmaster too left the iron mill. He rather asked the blacksmith about the lonely stay of Captain with him.

The writer Selma Langerlof has given an appropriate and logical title to this story. The story starts with the selling of rattraps by a peddler and it ends with the same rattrap. The peddler offers a rattrap to the ironmaster's daughter Edla Willmansson and turns out to be a changed fellow. Accordingly the whole world is nothing but a big rattrap. All riches, joys, food and shelter are just baits. The moment anyone touches the bait, the rattrap closes in one him. Then everything comes to an end. In this story under reference a peddler while selling his rattraps requests for a right shelter at some crofter's house. He offers his food and lodging. But in the morning he steals his thirty kroners and walks by the side of the road. For fear of being caughts he starts walking in the forest. Darkness spreads its wings and he is tired to death. He gathers some strength and courage. He drags himself to the ironmill. By chance the iron master visits and mistakes him for his old comrade. He invites him to spend the Christmas but he refuses his invitation.

The ironmaster sends his daughter who brings the peddler to her manor house. The peddler thinks, that he will be caught there.

There the peddler is given a bath. In his new clothes, the ironmaster realises that the tramp is not his old acquintance. So he becomes angry and orders to go out immediately. But the young daughter helps the peddler to enjoy a day with them. He is properly served. But at the church they heard that a man selling the rattraps has robbed an old crofter. They become doubtful. When they return, it is informed by the valet that the peddler has left with a package. Edla opens it and finds a letter and a small rattrap with thirty kroners. The letter states that the rattrap was a Christmas present from a rat. Thus the title is quite justified and appropriate.

While trapping into the woods, the peddler turned gloomy and despaired thinking that his last day had come, he sank down on the ground and heard the hammer strokes from an ironmill. He moved towards that direction and reached the Ramsjo Ironworks during the dark hours of the evening, he entered the forge close to the furnace and got permission for the night stay. On his usual rounds, the ironmaster arrived and mistook him to be his old regiment friend. He invited him to his man or house for the Christmas eve but he declined his offer. On the persuation of Edla, the tramp followed the young lady. The ironmaster was satisfied to meet his old friend.

For the breakfast, the tramp was properly dressed. When he entered for the breakfast table, he looked quite different. The ironmaster looked at him with puckered brow. He realised soon that he had made a mistake in taking the stranger as an old acquaintance in the reflection of the furnace. He felt cheated and realised his mistake. He orderd him to leave at once but Edla did not want to miss him at the happy Christmas since he was invited by them. She wanted to let him enjoy a day of peace with them just once in the whole year she led him to the dining table. On the Christmas Eve, the tramp did nothing and went to bed after dinner. She gave him her fathers suit as Christmas present and welcomed again for the next Christmas.

Edla pleaded her father not to send the vagabond away as she became sympathetic seeing the plight of the poor peddler. She requested her father to allow him to spend one day with them in peace as a respite from the struggle he had to endure round the year.

'The Rattrap' is a story of a peddler who used to earn his living by selling small rattraps of wire. Since his business was not profitable, he resorted to petty thievery. Nobody treated him with kindness or respect. The first act of compassion was shown by the crofter who takes the poor peddler in. Bu the peddler stole his money and ran away. Later, he was given a place to stay by the noble ironmaster and his daughter. Though she was suspicious of him, they promised him Christmas cheer. When his truth was discovered, Edla fought with her father for the peddler. She not only requested her father to let the peddler stay for Christmas, but also treated him like a real captain. The peddler was highly touched by this act of concern -143- and compassion and before leaving the house, left the money he had stolen. This shows that goodness is latent in the human heart which can be brought out by love, care and understanding.

The ironmaster misunderstood the peddler for an old acquaintance, whereas his daughter could make out that the man was afraid, which was suggestive of him having stolen something. Though the father and the daughter express compassion for the vagabond both do so for different reasons.The ironmaster was sure to help the vagabond get over his tramp manners because he had mistaken the latter for his old comrade. The daughter, however, wishes to feed him and welcome him in spite of knowing that he was not Captain Von Stahle. The father acts impulsively and casually and invites him without confirming the stranger’s identity. On realising his mistake he recklessly wants to hand him over to the sheriff. Only when he is threatened to be ensnared by the rattrap of this world, he thinks otherwise. Edla, on the other hand, shows a strong sense of observation. She rightly judges him to be a tramp without any education. She persuades her father to let him stay because they had promised him Christmas cheer. When the blacksmith’s daughter infects the protagonist with her true altruism the peddler’s inner soul experiences a rapid transformation form an ugly duckling to a dazzling swan.

The crofter allowed the peddler to stay for the night in his cottage. He welcomed the peddler with a smiling face. E was an old man without wife or child. Therefore, he became happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness. He served him supper and gave him tobacco. He played ‘‘majolis’’ the game of cards to entertain him also. He got friendlier with the peddler by showing him the money kept in the pouch.

The life of the peddler is bound with loneliness. This idea of being completely alone made the peddler a pessimist. After stealing the money, the peddler tried to escape through the forest but got lost. Left in despair, he recollected his own thoughts on the world being a giant rattrap. A sudden realization came to him that he had finally got himself caught in the rattrap because he allowed himself to be tempted by the bait, the thirty kronor bills. Even the kindness of the ironmaster and especially his daughter failed to make the peddler optimistic about the world. Unlike the other characters in the story, peddler is the only one who got succumbed to loneliness and is far away from the human bonds of love and sympathy that made him the cynic and consider the world as a rattrap.