The Pied Piper of Hamelin

A long time ago, the beautiful town of Hamelin faced a very big problem. It wasn’t a dragon or a giant; it was something much smaller, but there were thousands of them.

Rats!

They were everywhere. They fought the dogs and chased the cats. They bit the babies in the cradles and ate the cheese out of the vats. They licked the soup from the cooks’ own ladles and made nests inside men’s Sunday hats. The townspeople were furious. They marched to the Town Hall and shouted at the Mayor, “Do something, or we will send you packing!”

The Mayor and his council were shaking with fear. “We have tried traps! We have tried poison! Nothing works!” cried the Mayor.

Just then, the door opened, and in walked the strangest fellow. He was tall and thin, with sharp blue eyes. He wore a coat that was half yellow and half red (which is why he was called ‘Pied’).

“I can rid your town of rats,” said the stranger. “But it will cost you one thousand guilders.”

“One thousand?” cried the Mayor. “If you can do it, we will give you fifty thousand!”

The Piper smiled a mysterious smile. He stepped out into the street and raised a long, wooden pipe to his lips. As soon as he began to play a shrill, musical tune, the most amazing thing happened.

Out of the houses came the rats! Great rats, small rats, lean rats, brawny rats, brown rats, black rats, grey rats, tawny rats. They all followed the Piper as he marched down the street. He led them all the way to the River Weser. The Piper stepped aside, but the rats, enchanted by the music, jumped right into the water and were swept away by the current.

The town breathed a sigh of relief. The rats were gone!

The Piper went to the Town Hall. “I have done my job,” he said. “Please give me my one thousand guilders.”

But now that the rats were gone, the Mayor became greedy. “A thousand guilders for a little tune?” he scoffed. “We will give you fifty. Take it or leave it.”

The Piper’s eyes flashed with anger. “You promised,” he warned. “Folks who put me in a passion may find me pipe after another fashion.”

The Mayor just laughed.

So, the Piper stepped into the street again. This time, he played a soft, sweet tune, like a lullaby. And this time, it wasn’t rats that came out. It was the children!

Laughing and clapping, the children of Hamelin skipped out of their schools and homes. They followed the Piper, dancing to the music. Their parents stood frozen, unable to move, as the Piper led the children out of the town and towards the great Koppelberg Hill.

As they reached the mountain, a great door in the rock opened wide. The Piper and all the children walked inside, and the door shut fast.

The town was silent. The parents wept. The Mayor realized his terrible mistake. “I should have kept my promise!” he cried.

For days, the town was filled with sorrow. Finally, the Mayor took the one thousand guilders and left them on the rock where the children had disappeared, along with a note begging for forgiveness.

The next morning, the money was gone. But as the sun rose, the sound of happy laughter filled the air. The rock door opened, and out ran the children! They were safe and sound, having spent a few days in a magical, beautiful cavern eating candy and playing games.

The Piper had returned them, now that the debt was paid. The Mayor learned his lesson, and from that day on, the people of Hamelin always kept their promises.

Moral of the Story: Always keep your word; honesty is the foundation of trust.