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they said。 〃What of that？〃 said we。 〃Why；
Hamelin town is where the Pied Piper came；〃
they told us； 〃surely you know about the Pied
Piper？〃 〃WHAT about the Pied Piper？〃 we
said。 And this is what they told us about
him。
It seems that once； long； long ago； that little
town was dreadfully troubled with rats。 The
houses were full of them； the shops were full of
them； the churches were full of them； they were
EVERYWHERE。 The people were all but eaten out
of house and home。 Those rats；
They fought the dogs and killed the cats；
And bit the babies in the cradles；
And ate the cheeses out of the vats；
And licked the soup from the cooks' own ladles；
Split open the kegs of salted sprats；
Made nests inside men's Sunday hats；
And even spoiled the women's chats
By drowning their speaking
With shrieking and squeaking
In fifty different sharps and flats！
At last it got so bad that the people simply
couldn't stand it any longer。 So they all came
together and went to the town hall； and they
said to the Mayor （you know what a mayor is？）；
〃See here； what do we pay you your salary for？
What are you good for； if you can't do a little
thing like getting rid of these rats？ You must
go to work and clear the town of them； find
the remedy that's lacking； orwe'll send you
packing！〃
Well； the poor Mayor was in a terrible way。
What to do he didn't know。 He sat with his
head in his hands； and thought and thought and
thought。
Suddenly there came a little rat…tat at the
door。 Oh！ how the Mayor jumped！ His poor
old heart went pit…a…pat at anything like the
sound of a rat。 But it was only the scraping of
shoes on the mat。 So the Mayor sat up； and
said； 〃Come in！〃
And in came the strangest figure！ It was a
man； very tall and very thin； with a sharp chin
and a mouth where the smiles went out and in；
and two blue eyes； each like a pin； and he was
dressed half in red and half in yellowhe really
was the strangest fellow！and round his neck
he had a long red and yellow ribbon； and on it
was hung a thing something like a flute； and
his fingers went straying up and down it as if
he wanted to be playing。
He came up to the Mayor and said； 〃I hear
you are troubled with rats in this town。〃
〃I should say we were；〃 groaned the Mayor。
〃Would you like to get rid of them？ I can
do it for you。〃
〃You can？〃 cried the Mayor。 〃How？ Who
are you？〃
〃Men call me the Pied Piper；〃 said the man；
〃and I know a way to draw after me everything
that walks； or flies； or swims。 What
will you give me if I rid your town of rats？〃
〃Anything； anything；〃 said the Mayor。 〃I
don't believe you can do it； but if you can； I'll
give you a thousand guineas。〃
〃All right；〃 said the Piper； 〃it is a bargain。〃
And then he went to the door and stepped
out into the street and stood； and put the long
flute…like thing to his lips； and began to play a
little tune。 A strange； high； little tune。 And
before
three shrill notes the pipe uttered；
You heard as if an army muttered；
And the muttering grew to a grumbling；
And the grumbling grew to a mighty rumbling；
And out of the houses the rats came tumbling I
Great rats； small rats； lean rats； brawny rats；
Brown rats； black rats； gray rats； tawny rats；
Grave old plodders； gay young friskers；
Fathers； mothers； uncles； cousins；
Cocking tails and pricking whiskers；
Families by tens and dozens；
Brothers； sisters； husbands； wives
Followed the Piper for their lives！
From street to street he piped； advancing；
from street to street they followed； dancing。
Up one street and down another； till they came
to the edge of the big river； and there the piper
turned sharply about and stepped aside； and all
those rats tumbled hurry skurry； head over heels；
down the bank into the river ANDWERE
DROWNED。 Every single one。 No； there was
one big old fat rat； he was so fat he didn't
sink； and he swam across； and ran away to tell
the tale。
Then the Piper came back to the town hall。
And all the people were waving their hats and
shouting for joy。 The Mayor said they would
have a big celebration； and build a tremendous
bonfire in the middle of the town。 He asked
the Piper to stay and see the bonfire；very
politely。
〃Yes；〃 said the Piper； 〃that will be very
nice； but first； if you please； I should like my
thousand guineas。〃
〃H'm；erahem！〃 said the Mayor。 〃You
mean that little joke of mine； of course that
was a joke。〃 （You see it is always harder to
pay for a thing when you no longer need it。）
〃I do not joke；〃 said the Piper very quietly；
〃my thousand guineas； if you please。〃
〃Oh； come； now；〃 said the Mayor； 〃you
know very well it wasn't worth sixpence to
play a little tune like that； call it one guinea；
and let it go at that。〃
〃A bargain is a bargain；〃 said the Piper；
〃for the last time；will you give me my
thousand guineas？〃
〃I'll give you a pipe of tobacco； something
good to eat； and call you lucky at that！〃 said
the Mayor； tossing his head。
Then the Piper's mouth grew strange and
thin； and sharp blue and green lights began
dancing in his eyes； and he said to the Mayor
very softly； 〃I know another tune than that I
played； I play it to those who play me false。〃
〃Play what you please！ You can't frighten
me！ Do your worst！〃 said the Mayor； making
himself big。
Then the Piper stood high up on the steps
of the town hall； and put the pipe to his lips；
and began to play a little tune。 It was quite
a different little tune； this time； very soft and
sweet； and very； very strange。 And before he
had played three notes； you heard
a rustling； that seemed like a bustling
Of merry crowds justling at pitching and hustling；
Small feet were pattering； wooden shoes clattering；
Little hands clapping and little tongues chattering；
And like fowls in a farmyard when barley is scattering；
Out came the children running。
All the little boys and girls；
With rosy cheeks and flaxen curls；
And sparkling eyes and teeth like pearls；
Tripping and skipping； ran merrily after
The wonderful music with shouting and laughter。
〃Stop； stop！〃 cried the people。 〃He is taking
our children！ Stop him； Mr Mayor！〃
〃I will give you your money； I will！〃 cried
the Mayor； and tried to run after the Piper。
But the very same music that made the
children dance made the grown…up people stand
stock…still； it was as if their feet had been tied
to the ground； they could not move a muscle。
There they stood and saw the Piper move slowly
down the street； playing his little tune； with the
children at his heels。 On and on he went； on
and on the children danced； till he came to the
bank of the river。
〃Oh； oh！ He will drown our children in the
river！〃 cried the people。 But the Piper turned
and went along by the bank； and all the children
followed after。 Up； and up； and up the
hill they went； straight toward the mountain
which is like the roof of a house。 And just
as they got to it； the mountain OPENED；like two
great doors； and the Piper went in through the
opening； playing the little tune； and the children
danced after himandjust as they got through
the great doors slid together again and shut
them all in！ Every single one。 No； there was
one little lame child； who couldn't keep up with
the rest and didn't get there in time。 But none
of his little companions ever came back any
more； not one。
But years and years afterward； when the
fat old rat who swam across the river was a
grandfather； his children used to ask him；
〃What made you follow the music； Grandfather？〃
and he used to tell them； 〃My dears；
when I heard that tune I thought I heard the
moving aside of pickle…tub boards； and the leaving