Platonov: FRO: vshitoe v shapku

[Valery Belyanin]

On 3/30/07, Robert Chandler <kcf19 at dial.pipex.com> wrote:
>
> ― Пришла? ― спросил он у дочери; он рад был, когда кто-нибудь приходил в
> квартиру; он слушал все шаги по лестнице, точно постоянно ожидал
> необыкновенного гостя, несущего ему счастье, вшитое в шапку.
> The old man's hope (he is a retired engine-driver) is that a messenger may
> come from the railway depot and that he will be told to drive a train.  I
> don't know if the shapka is a glancing reference to the shapka he might
> wear
> when on duty.


At present, we have the very literal:
> 'So you're back?' he said to his daughter.  He was always glad when
> someone
> came to the apartment; he listened to all the footsteps on the staircase,
> as
> if he were constantly expecting a special visitor who would bring him
> happiness sewn into a cap.


there is a word messenger (like a delivery boy?). But here is just a guest.
The postman would wear _furazhka_ not shapka (which may be a
_shapka_ushanka_. )
Valery Belyanin

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