PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN

Once upon a time

Beside a great river in the north of Germany lay a town called Hamelin. The years
went by, and the town grew very rich.One day, an extraordinary thing happened to
disturb the peace.Suddenly, Hamelin had many rats . The Cats that always solved
rat problem in the usual way- by kill them. All at once, a black sea of rats swarmed
over the whole town. They attacked the barns and storehouses. The terrified citizens
flocked to plead with the town councilors to free them from the drove of rats. But the
council had been sitting in the Mayors room for a long time trying to think for a
plan.What we need is an army of cats!, but all the cats were dead.Well put
down poisoned food then . . ., but most of the food was already gone and even
poison did not stop the rats.It just cant be done without help! said the Mayor
sadly. (1. Cabe)
Just then, while the citizens milled around outside, there was a loud knock at the
door. Who can that be? the city fathers wondered uneasily, mindful of the angry
crowds. They gingerly opened the door. And to their surprise, there stood a tall thin
man dressed in brightly colored clothes, with a long feather in his hat, and waving a
gold pipe at them.Ive freed other towns of beetles and bats, the stranger
announced, and for a thousand florins, Ill rid you of your rats!, Well give
you fifty thousand if you succeed! At once the stranger hurried away, saying:Its
late now, but at dawn tomorrow, there wont be a rat left in Hamelin!On the next
day at dawn , the sound of a pipe wafted through the streets of Hamelin. The pied
piper slowly made his way through the houses and behind him the rats flocked. (2.
Herpes)
As he played, the piper lured down the rats to the Weser river ,go straight into the
water and then the rats drowned by the current.Time by time there was no rat in the
town. Until piper tried to claim his payment.Fifty thousand florins? exclaimed the
councilors,Never. A thousand florins at least! the pied piper yelled angrily.
But the Mayor broke in. His eyes flashing with rage.Youll bitterly regret ever
breaking your promise, he said, but the Mayor laughed and said excitedly: Weve
saved fifty thousand florins! .On Saint John and pauls day, while the villager
were in church, the piper returned and dressed like a hunter, playing his pipe and 301
child followed him out of town, where they were lured into a cave and never seen
again. Only three child escaped this fate. It was a deaf , a blind child and a little lame
girl that cannot follow others. (3.Cabai)