ADITYA VIDYASHRAM RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL

PORAIYUR, PUDUCHERY

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THE RATTRAP
BY SELMA LAGERLOF

Once there was a man who used to sell small rattraps made of wire. These rattraps were made by him in
his free time. He used to collect the material required by begging from stores or big farms. Still his
business was not earning him any profits. Therefore, he had to beg or steal in order to survive. His clothes
were old and torn. His cheeks were lowered inside due to malnutrition and one could easily see the hunger
in his eyes.
The life of the rattrap seller was very sad and boring. He was homeless and slowly, with heavy feet, he
walked along the road, lost in his own thoughts. But one day he got lost in a series of thoughts which he
found very interesting.

The man was thinking about the rattrap and suddenly, a thought came to his mind that the whole world
which includes land, sea, cities and villages was similar to a rattrap. He thought that there was no meaning
of the existence of this world. It was nothing but a temptation, just like cheese and pork which we offer as
bait to catch the rat. So according to him, as soon as someone tries to comfort himself with joy, food and
shelter he at once gets trapped into this rattrap which is known as ‘world’.

No one in the world had ever been kind to the rattrap seller. So, he started thinking ill of others. It became
a favorite pastime for him. During dull moments, these thoughts made him happy. So, he continued with
thinking ill of those who were known to him. He would imagine those people who were already trapped in
the rattrap of worldly things and also those who were about to get trapped in it.

One evening the rattrap seller was walking very slowly. He saw a little gray cottage which stood by the
road. He went up to the cottage and knocked at the door so as to get shelter for the night. Generally he was
not helped by anyone but this time he was welcomed by the old man into his cottage. He was a lonely old
man without wife and kids. The old man was happy to get company that night. So, the old man gave him
some porridge to eat and then shared his tobacco with the guest. After this, both played cards till bedtime.

The rattrap seller felt that the old man was not only liberal in sharing his porridge but also his secrets. He
tells him that he was a rich man when he used to work on the rented farm. As he was old now and couldn’t
work, so, he had to depend upon his cow for his living. The cow gave enough milk everyday to be sold in
the factory that produced cheese and cream. The old man said that he was able to earn thirty kronors last
month because of the cow’s milk.

The rattrap seller did not believe the old man’s words that a cow could earn him so much. Therefore, the
old man took a leather pouch which hung on a window and took out three notes of ten kronor each which
were old and crushed. He showed those currency notes to make him believe his words and then kept them
back in the pouch.

Next morning, both the rattrap seller and the crofter woke up early as the crofter was in a hurry to milk his
cow. Even the rattrap seller felt that as the owner of the house had awakened, so he should also leave the
bed. They both came out of the cottage at the same time. The old man locked the door and went to his
work. The rattrap seller also thanked him and went his own way.

After about half an hour the rattrap seller returned to the cottage and he broke down the window pane
where the pouch hung. He took away the money, kept it in his pocket, put the pouch back at its place and
walked off.

The peddler was quite happy as he had money in his pocket. He then thought of walking through the forest
as it was unsafe to walk on the highway because he feared being caught. So, initially it was not difficult to
walk through the forest but later on it got confusing for him as he forgot his way. He tried hard to walk in
the right direction but in vain as he found himself at the same place again and again. At this point of time
he started thinking that now he himself was caught in the trap of the world just like other people. He was
fooled by the bait of money which he had stolen from the old man’s house. The forest seemed like a
prison full of trunks and branches. It was like an impassable prison.

As it was the month of December, it got dark early. As it got dark, his hope of escaping the forest reduced.
The danger to his life increased and so did his feeling of being hopeless. There was no way left for him.
So, he sat on the ground and was so tired and terrified that he thought this was his last moment and soon
he would die. As he laid his head on the ground, he heard a very strong regular sound. It was a hard sound
that was coming at the regular intervals. He soon realized that these sounds were the sounds of hammer
strokes from an iron mill. He thought that he could find some people nearby. With this thought, he
gathered some strength and started walking with great difficulty, towards the direction of the sound.

The Ramsjo Ironworks was a large plant that had shut down a few years ago. It had a smelter, rolling mill,
and a forge. In summers, long, flat bottomed boats carrying the material would come down the canal
which led to a large inland lake for supplying material to the mill, and in winters, the roads turned black
because of the coal dust that came along due to the transportation of the charcoal crates.

On one long, dark evening near Christmas time, the master smith and his helper were sitting in the dark
forge which was built near the furnace. He was wearing a long shirt and a pair of wooden shoes. Both of
them were waiting for the pig iron which was put inside the furnace fire to be ready to put onto the anvil.
(Anvil is a heavy block with a flat top which is used to shape the metals.) They took turns to stir the liquid
which was very hot. As they could bear the heat for a few minutes, each of them would return, sweating
profusely.

One could hear different types of sounds in the forge. There was a big bellow which was blowing air in
the fire with great sound. Also, there was the sound of cracking coal. One could also hear the bang of the
charcoal which was being shoveled by the fire boy. The sounds were coming from outside the mill. These
were of the waterfall, the high-speed north wind which hit the raindrops against the brick tiled roof.

It was due to these different types of sounds that the blacksmith didn’t realize that a man had opened the
gate of the forge and had entered, till he came and stood near the furnace.

Many homeless people used to get attracted to the lights of the forge which peeked through the window
panes which were covered with the black powder of burnt coal. They would seek shelter there. They
would warm themselves with the help of the burning fire. As the blacksmiths were accustomed to visitors,
they were indifferent to the man. They just looked at him. The rattrap seller’s appearance was similar to
that of other wanderers. He had a long beard, was dirty, wore old worn out clothes and had a bunch of
rattraps hanging from his chest.
The peddler tried to seek permission from the blacksmith so that he could stay in the forge for a night. He
allowed the peddler with an arrogant consent by just nodding and didn’t say a single word to him.

The peddler also said nothing because his main aim was to warm himself and sleep. The owner of the
Ramsjo iron mill in those days was a very ambitious person whose aim was to sell only the finest iron into
the market. Therefore, he used to keep a check on the workers both during the night and the day. The
owner was on a night inspection visit when the peddler entered the forge.

Unlike the blacksmiths, the ironmaster at once noticed the peddler who was sitting so close to the furnace
that steam was coming out of his torn clothes. He not only went near him but also removed the wanderer’s
hat that was bent to one side so that he could see the man’s face clearly.

When the iron master took off the peddler’s hat, he mistook him as an old acquaintance- Nils Olof. The
peddler didn’t know him nor had he seen this man before. But he thought that if this man mistook him as
his old companion and gave him some money out of pity, then it would be a good thing. Therefore, he
didn’t let him know that he had mistaken him as Nils Olof.

So, the peddler started a conversation with the iron master by saying that things didn’t went well with him.
To this, the iron master replied that he had made a big mistake by leaving the regiment. He also added that
if he would have been working in the regiment when he resigned, he wouldn’t have let him do so. Later on
he invited him to his home.

The rattrap seller didn’t find it to be a good idea to visit the iron master’s place. He was frightened with
the idea of visiting to the large house of an old soldier which according to him was not safe. After all he
had the stolen money with him. He didn’t want to put himself in danger. His intentions were to sleep in
the forge and then go away from there without even being noticed.

The iron master was aware of his friend’s miserable condition. So he tried to make him comfortable by
saying that he should feel free to come his home as his home was an ordinary one. He told him that his
wife was no more and added that he must be aware of this. Then he let him know that both his sons were
settled abroad. Only he and his daughter were left at home. He invited him to celebrate Christmas with his
family. So, that he and his daughter may have some good company at the Christmas feast.

Though the ironmaster made many attempts to invite him, the peddler didn’t accept his invitation. So, at
last he says to the blacksmith, Stjernstrom that it seemed that Captain Von Stahle (peddler) wanted to stay
with him in the forge.

Then he laughed and went away. But the blacksmith knew that he was hiding something.

After a gap of half an hour, the ironmaster sent his daughter. He hoped that his daughter may bring his
friend home as he believed that she was better in persuading others.

The iron master’s daughter entered the mill with her attendant who was carrying a big fur coat. She was a
humble girl who was very shy. When she entered, everyone was busy the same way as they had been
earlier. The blacksmith was still sitting on the bench with his trainees and was working on the iron. She
went up to the peddler and lifted his hat. The peddler slept with one eye open and as soos as he saw her, he
got shocked and jumped up.

She introduced herself as Edla Williamson and was sorry to hear about the hard times that he was facing.
She explained to him that she had come to take him home with her father’s permission.
Edla had sympathy for the peddler. But then she noticed that the reason behind his fear could be that either
he had committed robbery or jailbreak. So, she said that he was free to leave their house at any time but
she wanted him to stay with the family just for Christmas Eve.

Edla was talking to peddler in a very nice way which made him believe her and he got ready to go with
her.

The peddler wore the fur coat offered by the valet and started following the lady. He didn’t even bother to
notice the other people in the room. On the way to the house, the peddler felt that as he had committed a
crime, he would be punished for it.

He started cursing himself that if he had not stolen the money, he would not have got trapped like this.
The money was a bait which had led him into a trap.

The next day was Christmas Eve, both the ironmaster and his daughter were at the dining table. The
ironmaster said to his daughter that they had to do something good for the peddler and should try to find
some better job for him.

The iron master’s daughter said that it was strange to see that the peddler had been in such hard times and
was doubtful whether the man had been educated. Hearing this, the ironmaster clarified that it was due to
his bad condition. He also added that the man would behave differently after getting clean and dressed up.

While both father – daughter were discussing about the peddler, he entered the room with the valet. He
was looking clean as he had bathed and his hair had been cut by the valet. He was wearing the
ironmaster’s clothes and shoes – a shirt with a starched collar and shoes which covered the entire feet.

The ironmaster seemed very angry to see his well groomed guest as now he could make out his
appearance well and realized that he was not his comrade. He understood that he mistook some stranger as
his old friend. He screamed at him and asked him to explain. The peddler knew that the iron master could
make out that he was not his old friend. As he already knew this, he was ready for the consequences and
felt that the luxurious treatment was about to end.

The peddler tried to explain that he should not be blamed. He said that he was just begging for a stay in
the forge. He also said that he had not harmed anyone and was ready to wear his rags again. To this, the
ironmaster hesitated and said that the peddler had not been quite honest and so, he wanted to call the
sheriff.

The rattrap seller gets so enraged upon hearing about the sheriff, that he struck the table very hard with his
fist. He said that this world is a rattrap and all the good things are a bait just like the rinds of cheese and
the small pieces of pork are a bait for the rat which are offered to trap it. Not only this, he also pointed out
to the ironmaster that he may today be imprisoned by the sheriff but one day, the ironmaster will also get
trapped like this.

The iron master didn’t like the peddler’s words and decided not to call the sheriff. He asked the peddler to
leave at once.

The iron master’s daughter stopped the peddler. She wanted to help the poor fellow. Since morning, she
was planning how she could make the peddler’s day happy on the occasion of Christmas. Therefore, she
went against her father’s will and stopped him by closing the door.
She tried to explain the difficulties faced by the peddler. She said that he didn’t have any house. He was
turned out from wherever he went and he always kept on running in order to safeguard himself from being
arrested. She said that she wanted him to enjoy Christmas with peace as they had promised him. They
should not send away a man on Christmas, the man whom they had promised happiness on the day. The
iron master was not able to find an answer to go against his daughter.

The only thing he could say to his daughter was that she was trying good at convincing others – better
than the priest at the church. But he also warned her that hopefully, her decision would not bring any
adverse effect on them. The girl took the peddler to the table and offered him food. She saw that her father
had consented to her wish.

The peddler didn’t say any word and started eating. Though he was doubtful about her intentions and was
wondering why she stopped him.

The peddler went to sleep after having food. He did not cause harm to anyone and lay down on the sofa in
the guest house. He was once woken up in the afternoon but after having his lunch he again went to sleep.
It was like as if he had never got the chance to sleep so peacefully as he had got at this place.

In the evening, the family woke him as they had to light up the Christmas tree. He stood there blinking as
if he was getting hurt by the bright light of the candles. He again went to sleep. Finally they called him
again for the dinner of Christmas fish and porridge.

After the dinner was over, the peddler thanked everyone present. The ironmaster’s daughter said that the
clothes which were given to him were a Christmas present from her father. So, he could carry them with
him. She even invited the peddler to be with her family for the next Christmas Eve and promised that
nothing bad would happen to him.

The peddler did not have an answer for this and stared at the girl with wonder. Next day both ironmaster
and his daughter went for the Christmas service early in the morning. They didn’t disturb their guest as he
was asleep.

Both iron master and his daughter had come to know that a rattrap seller had stolen money from the old
crofter. They realized that he was the same man whom they had over as a guest. The ironmaster said that it
was his daughter who insisted to give shelter to a thief and was wondering that how many silver spoons
had been stolen by him.

The ironmaster, on reaching home enquired about the peddler from the valet. He also told him that he was
a thief. To his surprise, the valet told him that the peddler, instead of taking something had left a small
Christmas gift for Miss Willmansson.

The ironmaster’s daughter opened the gift. It was so roughly packed that she could easily guess what was
inside the pack. Apart from a rattrap and three kronor notes, there was a letter. The peddler had thanked
his host who had taken care of him as if he was a real captain. In return, he gifted her a rattrap and also
requested her to return the stolen money to the old man. He said that it was she who let him free from the
rattrap by raising his status from that of a mere peddler to that of a Captain. At last, he undersigned as
Captain Von Stahle.
Word Meaning

Petty thievery = small thefts, minor stealing Vagabond = wanderer, drifter

Plods = walks heavily, trudges Meditations = deep thoughts, reflections

Sunken = hollow, concave

Gleamed = shone, sparkled Monotonous = boring, repetitive

Struck = hit upon, occurred to Idea = thought, concept

Whole = entire, total Rattraps = traps, snares

Begging = asking for charity, seeking alms Profitable = beneficial, gainful

Vagabond = wanderer, drifter Purpose = aim, reason

Riches = wealth, affluence Shelter = protection, refuge

Tempted = enticed, attracted Unwonted = unusual, uncommon

Pastime = hobby, leisure activity Trudging = walking slowly, plodding

Cottage = small house dwelling Loneliness = solitude, isolation

Porridge = cereal dish, gruel Confidences = trusts, secrets

Prosperity = wealth, success Crofter = small-scale farmer, peasant

Incredulous = disbelieving, skeptical, Pouch = small bag, sack

Stuffed = pushed, crammed, Crofter = small-scale farmer, peasant

Hurry = rush, Pane = glass, window glass

Thrust = push, shove Smartness = cleverness, shrewdness

Public highway = main road, open road Confusing = puzzling, bewildering

Definite = clear, certain Twisted = turned, coiled

Impenetrable = unpassable, inaccessible Prison = jail, confinement

Escape = get away, flee Season = time, period

Smashed = broke, shattered Carefully = cautiously, attentively

Realised = understood, recognized Direction = path, route

Recalled = remembered, recollected Bait = lure, attractant

Trunks = stems, bodies Branches = limbs, boughs

Thickets = shrubs, brushwood Imprison = confine, detain

Summoned = called, gathered Staggered = wobbled, tottered

Smelter = furnace, melter Barges = boats, vessels

Sifted = filtered, strained Anvil = block, base

Glowing = shining, radiating Perspiration = sweat, moisture

Bellows = blower, ventilator Charcoal = coal, black residue

Waterfall = cascade, falls Vagabonds = wanderers, drifters

Shelter = refuge, protection Intruder = invader, trespasser

Indifferently = uncaringly, apathetically Ragged = torn, tattered

Haughty = arrogant, proud Consent = approval, agreement

Prominent = well-known, distinguished Ambition = goal, aspiration

Inspection = examination, check Steam = vapor, mist

Acquaintance = contact, associate Undeceive = enlighten, inform

Comrade = companion, colleague Descending = coming down, lowering

Dangling = hanging, swinging Nodded = moved head in agreement, signaled

Furnace = heater, oven Rags = old clothes, tatters

Resigned = quit, left Regiment = military unit, troop

Acquaintance = contact, associate Alarmed = Worried, frightened

Voluntarily = Willingly, freely Inconspicuously = Stealthily, unnoticed

Embarrassed = Ashamed, uncomfortable Abroad = Overseas, in a foreign country

Preferred = Chose, favored Heel = Back part of the foot, rear

Carriage = Vehicle, wagon Valet = Servant, attendant

Modest = Humble, unassuming Shy = Reserved, timid

Apprentice = Trainee, learner Furnace = Heater, kiln

Stretched = Extended, lengthened Pig iron = Crude iron, raw iron

Abruptly = Suddenly, unexpectedly Compassionately = Kindly, sympathetically

Confidence = Trust, belief Valet = Attendant, servant

Astonished = Amazed, surprised Forebodings = Apprehensions, misgivings

Compassionately = Kindly, sympathetically Frightened = Scared, terrified

Permission = Approval, consent Bother = Trouble, disturb

Astonished = Amazed, surprised Glance = Quick look, peek

Forebodings = Apprehensions, misgivings Evil = Wicked, malevolent

Devil = Demon, fiend Satisfaction = Contentment, pleasure

Flesh = Muscle, meat Queer = Strange, odd

Downhill = Deteriorate, worsen Educated = Learned, knowledgeable

Patience = Tolerance, forbearance Embarrassed = Ashamed, self-conscious

Tramp = Vagabond, wanderer Valet = Servant, attendant

Starched collar = Stiffened neckband Puckered brow = Wrinkled forehead

Reflection = Image, likeness Uncertain = Unsure, doubtful

Thundered = Yelled loudly, roared Dissimulate = Hide, conceal

Splendour = Grandeur, magnificence Hesitating = Pausing, faltering

Sheriff = Law enforcement officer Matter = Issue, subject

Struck = Hit, smacked Cheese rinds = Outer layer of cheese

Pork = Pig meat, swine flesh Drag = Pull, haul

Locks up = Imprisons, Confines Caught = Trapped, Snared

Embarrassed = Ashamed, Shy Homelike = Cozy, Comfortable

Christmassy = Festive, Holiday-like Interceded = Intervened, Mediated

Vagabond = Wanderer, Nomad Chased away = Expelled, Driven away

Arrested = Detained, Captured Cross-examined = Interrogated,

Questioned Peace = Calm, Serenity Mumbled = Muttered, Murmured

Oppose = Resist, Contest Chase away = Expel, Drive away

Christmas cheer = Festivity, Joyfulness Preach = Advocate, Instruct

Parson = Clergyman, Priest Regret = Lament, Rue

Led = Guided, Directed Helped himself = Served, Took

Interceded = Intervened, Mediated Passed = Occurred, Happened

Blinking = Winking, Flickering Candlelight = Flame light, Wax light

Disappeared = Vanished, Faded Aroused = Awakened, Woken up

Porridge = Gruel, Oatmeal Present = Existing, Available

Intention = Purpose, Aim Rest in peace = Sleep peacefully, Rest quietly

Evil = Harm, Malice Ironmaster = Metalworker, Iron worker

Service = Worship, Ceremony Disturb = Interrupt, Bother

Church = Chapel, Sanctuary Dejectedly = Sadly, Gloomily

Crofters = Farmers, Tenants Ironworks = Foundry, Forge

Robbed = Stolen, Looted Stranger = Outsider, Unknown

Thief = Robber, Burglar Valet = Servant, Attendant

Cry of joy = Cheer, Shout Rattrap = Mousetrap, Snare

Wrinkled = Creased, Crumpled Kronor notes = Currency, Bills

Jagged = Rough, Irregular Honoured = Respected, Esteemed

Embarrassed = Ashamed, Shy Roadside = Wayside, Kerbside

Wanderers = Travellers, Nomads Caught = Captured, Trapped

High regard = Respect, Esteem