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Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?


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.

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From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a 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.

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


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.

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Why was he amused by the idea?


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.

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Why did he show the thirty kronor to the peddler?


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.

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