A German Folktale

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Retold by The Legendary Connection

TLC#00005

A long time ago, in the town of Hamelin, Germany, the people had a big problem. Their town was full of rats! Rats were everywhere—in the houses, the shops, even in the churches. They stole food, chewed through clothing, and squeaked so loudly that the people couldn’t even hear each other speak.  The rats were so bad that they even fought with the dogs and scared away the cats. They bit babies in their cradles and ate up all the cheese. They ruined the food and made nests in hats! The people were at their wits' end and didn’t know what to do.

Finally, everyone in town gathered and went to the Mayor’s office. “Mayor, we pay you to keep our town running, but you haven’t solved our rat problem! If you don’t get rid of these rats soon, we’ll find someone else who can!” The Mayor was very worried. He had no idea how to get rid of all the rats. He sat with his head in his hands, thinking hard.

Just then, there was a soft knock at the door. The Mayor jumped in fright, thinking it might be a rat. But when the door opened, it wasn’t a rat at all—it was a strange man. He was tall and thin, with bright blue eyes and a cheerful smile. He wore clothes that were half red and half yellow, and around his neck was a long ribbon with a flute hanging from it.

“I hear your town has a rat problem,” said the man. “I can help you get rid of them.” The Mayor looked at the man in surprise. “You can? How? Who are you?” “People call me the Pied* Piper,” said the man. "I have a special talent—I can use my music to make animals follow me. If you want me to get rid of the rats, I can do it. But what will you give me in return?” The Mayor, desperate to save his town, said, “Anything! If you can rid us of these rats, I’ll give you one thousand gold coins.” The Pied Piper smiled. “It’s a deal.”

He stepped outside and began to play a tune on his flute. It was a strange, high-pitched melody. As soon as the music started, something amazing happened—the rats came running from every corner of the town. Big rats, small rats, brown rats, black rats—all of them followed the Pied Piper, enchanted by his music. The Piper led the rats through the streets and down to the river. One by one, the rats jumped into the water and were swept away. Soon, the town was free of rats. The people cheered with joy! They gathered in the streets, celebrating the end of the rat invasion.

The Piper went to the Mayor and said, “I have kept my promise. Now, please pay me the one thousand gold coins we agreed upon.” But the Mayor, seeing that the rats were gone, didn’t want to pay the full amount. “One thousand coins is too much,” he said. “It wasn’t that hard to play a little tune. I’ll give you just one coin instead.” The Piper’s smile faded. “A bargain is a bargain. You promised me one thousand gold coins. Will you not keep your word?”

But the Mayor refused. “I won’t pay you that much. Take one coin and be happy with it.” The Piper’s face grew serious. “If you won’t keep your promise,” he said softly, “I will play another tune. This time, it won’t be for the rats.”

With that, the Pied Piper walked to the steps of the town hall and began to play a new melody. This tune was sweet and soft, and as he played, something unexpected happened—children started to come out of their homes. Boys and girls with bright eyes and cheerful smiles began to follow the Pied Piper, skipping and laughing as they went.

The townspeople were shocked. “Stop him! He’s taking our children!” they cried. The Mayor, realizing his mistake, called after the Piper, “Wait! I’ll give you the money! Please stop!” But it was too late. The Piper continued playing, and the children followed him, dancing and laughing, until they reached a mountain outside the town. There, the mountain opened like two great doors, and the Piper and the children disappeared inside. The doors closed, and the children were never seen again.

Only one child, a little boy who couldn’t keep up because he had a limp, was left behind. When the people asked him why he had followed the music, he said, “I heard the most beautiful sounds that promised a land where we could play all day and never get tired.”

The townspeople were heartbroken, and the Mayor was filled with regret. He had learned a hard lesson that day: when you make a promise, you must keep it. And above all, honesty is always the right choice, no matter how tempting it might be to break your word.

* The word ‘Pied’ comes from the different colors of the Piper’s clothing.

Source: “How to Tell Stories to Children, and Some Stories to Tell.” Https://Www.gutenberg.org/Files/474/474-h/474-H.htm, 1 Jan. 2021, www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/474/pg474-images.html#THE_PIED_PIPER_OF_HAMELIN_TOWN. Accessed 9 Feb. 2024.