VASARAMIES
by Zacharias Topelius · from Lukemisia lapsille 4
Adapted Version
Hello! I am Mr. Hammer. I sell things every day. The hall is full. So many people, people, people. They are all here. They want to buy. They want a good price. A very good price. Look at them all! So many faces! So many eyes! They look and look. They want good things.
Now, look! Big boots! Strong boots! The best boots! You see? They are very good. Very, very good. Who wants them? Who wants these big, strong boots? A little money! More money! Who gives more? One, two, three! Sold! The young man gets them! He is happy. He pays a little money. He is very happy. He takes his big boots.
More things! Empty bottles! Bird cages! A broken pot! A candle end! A cap! A broken chair! Buy them! Buy them! All good things! Who wants these things? They are good things. You need them! Yes, you do! You really do! Look here! Look there! So many things to see!
Here is a broken mirror. For you, lady! It is nice. It is very nice. Who bought the boot straps? You? Good! Now, look at this pot. This old pot. It is a coffee pot. A magic pot! It makes good coffee. It makes magic juice! It makes happy juice! Anna wants it. She says, "I will take it. I want it." She gives four beans. Only four beans! What a deal! What a magic pot! So magic!
I am Mr. Hammer. I shout all day. I shout and shout. My throat is sore. I am very tired. So very tired. People want things. They want your things. They want all the things. I give out happy pieces. My work is hot. Like I am in a big, hot oven. A very hot oven. I am so tired. So hot and tired.
I am tired. I want a nap. A little nap. Peace is nice. Peace is very nice. I want peace. I want a quiet place. A very quiet place.
Original Story
VASARAMIES.
Saliin saapuvi — eikä lakkaa —
Kaikenmoistakin kaupus-akkaa.
Myöjää kuivan ja marjankin,
Vanhaa tätiä, äijääkin,
Pilkkahintoja vartoovaista.
Luona serviisin — hei! — on naista;
Köyhä tuoss' ylioppilas;
Neito, palvelija myös, no kas!
Saapaspari! Se uljas vasta,
Ei saa vertaista Europasta:
Korko vino, ei anturaa,
Uusin kuosi! No, tarjotkaa!
Markan puolikas! Lisää siellä!
Penni!… Kymmenen!… Vielä, vielä!
Yks… kaks… Vielä! No, kolme! Hei,
Kas, sen kisälli helppoon vei!
Monta pulloa tyhjää! Anna
Vaikka viinejä täyteen panna!…
Lintuhäkkejä!… Kynttilän pää,
Huutakaatte, ken ennättää!…
Ruukku — korvaton —!… Lippulakki!
Vaunusilat!… Kah! hännystakki!
Välttämättömät!… Yksi!… kaks!…
Oiva tavara!… Kolme! Naks!
Vanha vakkanen!… Seula!… Seili!…
Rouva, tässä on teille peili.
Puitteet poikki, las' halki sen!…
Ken sai saapasten vetimen?…
Kahvipannu, kas, neitsyt Anna!
Nehtaria se suo ja mannaa,
Kuohuu piipusta koskenaan!
Papua neljä ja sakkaa vaan!
Minä vasaramies näin jauhan,
Painuksiin täten kurkun pauhaan…
Kaikkein kynnet on kurkollaan
Toisen kalua kaappaamaan.
Toimi mulla on poloisella
Onnen pirstoja paloitella…
On kuin uunissa paistuisin.
Kultaa rauhasta hetkenkin!
Story DNA
Plot Summary
An auctioneer, known as Vasaramies, presides over a lively hall filled with diverse people eager to buy. He rapidly sells a variety of items, from flawed boots to broken mirrors and peculiar coffee pots, describing each with a flourish. Amidst the clamor and the constant exchange of goods, the auctioneer reflects on his exhausting role in parceling out 'pieces of happiness' and expresses a deep yearning for a moment of peace away from the relentless demands of his work.
Themes
Emotional Arc
neutral observation to weary reflection
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Zacharias Topelius was a prominent Finnish-Swedish author, poet, and journalist, known for his fairy tales and historical novels. This poem reflects observations of daily life and commerce in his time.
Plot Beats (9)
- The auction hall is full of diverse people, from merchants to students and servants, all looking for bargains.
- The auctioneer (Vasaramies) describes a magnificent, yet flawed, pair of boots, initiating a lively bidding process.
- The boots are quickly sold to an apprentice for a low price.
- The auctioneer continues to sell a variety of items: empty bottles, birdcages, candle ends, a broken pot, a cap, carriage harnesses, and a tailcoat.
- He sells a broken mirror to a lady and asks who bought the boot straps.
- He then describes a coffee pot, claiming it produces nectar and manna, despite only having four beans and dregs.
- The auctioneer, the 'hammer-man', reflects on his job, shouting until his throat is sore, noting how everyone is eager to grab others' belongings.
- He feels his role is to parcel out fragments of happiness and compares his work to being baked in an oven.
- He concludes by wishing for a moment of peace, even if it costs gold.
Characters
Vasaramies
A man of average height and sturdy build, likely showing signs of exertion from his demanding profession. His face might be flushed from shouting, and his hands calloused from wielding a hammer.
Attire: Practical, durable clothing suitable for a working man in 19th-century Finland. This would likely include a sturdy linen or wool shirt, possibly a waistcoat, and dark trousers. His attire would be functional rather than fashionable, perhaps showing signs of wear and tear, but clean.
Wants: To successfully conduct the auction, sell items, and earn a living. He also seems motivated by a deeper, unfulfilled desire for peace and respite from his demanding role.
Flaw: His weariness and cynicism, which hint at a deeper dissatisfaction with his life and profession, making him vulnerable to burnout or a longing for escape.
The story is a snapshot, so his arc is implied rather than explicit. He expresses a momentary longing for peace, suggesting a potential internal shift or a recurring desire for change.
Energetic, boisterous, shrewd, somewhat cynical, and weary. He is skilled at his job, able to whip up excitement and drive bids, but also expresses a sense of personal weariness and a desire for peace.
The Apprentice
A young man, likely lean and agile, as he is quick to claim the boots. He would be dressed in simpler, less refined clothes than the Vasaramies, indicating his lower status.
Attire: Simple, functional peasant or working-class attire of 19th-century Finland. This would include a plain linen shirt, possibly a simple vest, and sturdy trousers, perhaps made of homespun wool. His clothes would be well-worn but clean.
Wants: To acquire goods at a good price, specifically the boots mentioned in the story.
Flaw: Perhaps a bit impulsive, driven by the immediate opportunity of a bargain.
None, he is a momentary figure in the auction scene.
Eager, quick-witted, opportunistic. He is ready to seize a good deal when it presents itself.
Maiden Anna
A young Finnish woman, likely of modest means but with a neat appearance. Her build would be typical for a young woman of the era, perhaps slender.
Attire: Simple but clean and well-maintained peasant or working-class attire. This would include a long-sleeved linen blouse, a practical wool skirt, and perhaps a simple apron. Colors would be muted and natural, such as cream, grey, or muted blue.
Wants: To acquire a useful household item, specifically the coffee pot, likely for her home or family.
Flaw: Not explicitly shown, but perhaps a tendency to be easily swayed by the auctioneer's persuasive descriptions.
None, she is a momentary figure in the auction scene.
Practical, observant, and likely thrifty, as she is interested in a coffee pot.
Locations
Auction Hall
A bustling, somewhat chaotic hall filled with a diverse crowd of people from various social strata, all eagerly bidding on an assortment of used and new goods. The air is thick with the sound of the auctioneer's voice and the murmurs of the crowd.
Mood: Lively, competitive, slightly desperate, and warm from the crowd's activity.
The primary setting for the entire poem, where the auctioneer (vasaramies) conducts his business, selling off a wide array of items to an eager crowd.