The Pied Piper of Hamelin
Once upon a time, in the quaint town of Hamelin, Germany, the townspeople faced a terrible problem. The town was overrun with rats. They scurried through the streets, invaded homes, and devoured food supplies. No matter what the townspeople did, they couldn’t get rid of the pesky rodents. The situation grew so dire that the mayor and town council offered a hefty reward to anyone who could solve the rat problem.
One day, a mysterious stranger arrived in Hamelin. He was dressed in a colorful coat of many patches, earning him the name “Pied Piper.” He carried a flute and had an air of confidence about him. The piper approached the mayor and said, “I can rid your town of rats, but it will cost you a thousand guilders.”
The mayor, desperate for a solution, agreed without hesitation. “If you can truly rid us of these rats,” he said, “you shall have your reward.”
The Pied Piper stepped into the streets, raised his flute to his lips, and began to play a strange, enchanting melody. As the music filled the air, the rats emerged from every corner of the town—from cellars, attics, and sewers. They gathered around the piper, entranced by the tune. With a smile, the piper turned and walked toward the river, playing his flute all the while. The rats followed him, their tiny feet pattering in unison.
When they reached the river, the piper waded into the water, still playing his flute. The rats, unable to resist the music, followed him in and were swept away by the current. The townspeople cheered as the last of the rats disappeared beneath the waves.
The Pied Piper returned to the town square, expecting his reward. But the mayor and town council, now that the crisis was over, began to regret their promise. “A thousand guilders is far too much,” the mayor said. “Here, take fifty guilders instead.”
The Pied Piper’s smile faded. “You promised me a thousand guilders,” he said sternly. “A deal is a deal.
The mayor scoffed. “You only played a tune! Fifty guilders is more than enough for such a simple task.”
The piper’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. Instead, he turned and walked away, his colorful coat billowing in the wind. The townspeople, relieved to be rid of the rats, thought little of it—until the next day.
At dawn, the Pied Piper returned to Hamelin. This time, he played a different tune, one even more enchanting than the first. But it wasn’t the rats who came running—it was the children of Hamelin. Boys and girls of all ages poured into the streets, their eyes glazed over as they followed the piper’s music. Parents called out to their children, but the kids didn’t respond. They simply followed the piper, mesmerized by his melody.
The piper led the children out of the town and toward the mountains. The townspeople followed, pleading and shouting, but they could do nothing to stop the procession. When they reached the foot of the mountain, a hidden door swung open, revealing a passage into the hillside. The piper stepped inside, still playing his flute, and the children followed. The door closed behind them, and the children were never seen again.
Only one child, a lame boy who couldn’t keep up with the others, was left behind. He told the townspeople what he had seen, but it was too late. The children were gone, and the Pied Piper had vanished.
The town of Hamelin was plunged into grief. The mayor and council deeply regretted their dishonesty, but there was nothing they could do to undo their mistake. From that day on, the story of the Pied Piper served as a cautionary tale about the importance of keeping promises and the consequences of greed and deceit.
