ThePiedPiperofHamelin

The Pied Piper of Hamelin

Hamelin is a beautiful town. There are colorful houses there.

The houses have got pots of flowers by their windows.

The streets are narrow, but they are clean. There is a high mountain and a river near the town.

People in Hamelin are very rich. They eat a lot of food. The children are healthy.

They play in the gardens all day. They are very happy.

One day a lot of rats come to this town. The rats are very big and hungry.

They walk around the streets and go into every house. They take food out of the shops and kitchens.

The rats are in drawers, under tables, on stoves and in jars. They eat bread,

cheese, cake and biscuits. They eat all the food.

The cats and dogs can't go near the rats because the rats are very big and frightening.

People are shocked. They don't want the rats in their town, but they can't stop the rats.

One morning they go to the town hall. They want to talk to the mayor.

What can we do with these rats? They ask the mayor. They eat the food in our kitchens.

They play in our living rooms. They sleep in our bedrooms. They can eat our babies. We are scared.

There are rats in the town hall too. The mayor says, I don't know what to do. We can't stop them.

It is a big problem. One day a young man comes to Hamelin. He wears colorful clothes. He has got

a funny hat on his head. He has got a long thin pipe in his hands. He puts his pipe into his mouth

and plays a melody. Then he looks at his feet and dances.

The piper goes to the town hall. He sees the mayor and takes off his hat.

The mayor looks at him and says, who are you young man?

I'm a piper. I can catch all the rats in your town. I can take the rats far away.

Answers the piper.

We don't like rats. They go into our houses. They eat all our food. We are scared. Catch the rats

and I will give you a bag of gold coins. Says the mayor. The piper smiles. His eyes shine like stars.

I'm going to catch the rats now, he says. Then I will come and get my bag of gold coins.

The piper puts his hat on his head and he leaves the town hall. He starts walking in the streets

and playing his pipe. People look out of their windows and watch the piper. First the piper

plays a short melody. A few rats jump out of their holes and go near the piper.

Then he plays a long melody. A lot of rats come out and start dancing around the piper.

After a short time, all the rats are in the streets. People stay in their houses and watch

the piper and the rats from their windows. The piper starts walking fast. The rats follow him.

The piper goes out of the town and takes the rats to the river. The water is deep and black.

The piper jumps into the river. Come into the river and swim. He says. Then he swims in the cold

water. The rats jump into the river after him. They start swimming. The piper gets out of the river.

His clothes are wet. He looks at the rats. They can't get out of the river.

The water takes the rats away to the sea. There aren't any rats in Hamlin now.

People are very happy. They ring all the bells in the town. They dance and sing songs in the

streets. They play the trumpet and the drum. The piper and the mayor are happy too. They

meet at the town hall. The piper takes off his hat and says, I want my bag of gold coins now.

I haven't got any gold coins for you, says the mayor. We haven't got any food. We are poor now.

The piper is angry. You aren't poor, he says in a loud voice. You have got expensive clothes

and big houses. Give me my money or I will do something bad.

Go away, says the mayor. I won't give you any money. I don't want you here.

The piper goes into the street. He is very angry. He puts his pipe into his mouth. He plays a different

melody. All the children hear the music and they listen to it. They come out of their houses.

They dance around the piper. There aren't any children in the houses now.

The piper walks fast and the children follow him. They go out to the town. The mothers and

fathers see their children going. They cry and scream. Oh no, what is happening? Where are our

children going? They ask. The mayor is sad now. I haven't got any money for the piper, he says.

And he is taking our children now. The people are very angry with the mayor.

The mayor has got an idea. I'm very sorry, but listen to me, please, he says.

I haven't got a bag of gold coins, but we can all add some coins and get a bag of gold coins

to give the piper. People like the mayor's idea. They fill a bag with gold coins for the piper.

The next day, the piper comes to Hamlin. The mayor takes the bag and goes near him.

I'm sorry, I didn't keep my promise. These gold coins are for you, he says.

The piper takes the bag. Then the children come down the mountain. They are in the streets of

Hamlin again. All the people laugh, sing and dance. They live happily ever after in their beautiful town.