The Pied Piper of Hamelin

I've read this poem recently and it is hauntingly beautiful and moving. I want to relay it to you all so I will retell the story. More or less.

In the town of Hamelin, the Mayor and the Corporation ruled all. They were in charge of taking care of all the problems that plagued the town and, in this case, the problem was a rat infestation. However, they could not get rid of the rats in the town.

One day, a strange man with a strange outfit and a piper around his neck showed up to the town meeting where the Mayor and the Corporation met. The strange man introduced himself as the Pied Piper and offered a solution to the rat problem.

"How do you suppose you'll get rid of our rats?" asked the Mayor.

"I have a secret charm that can draw all living things to me, whether they creep or swim or fly or run. I use this charm to vanquish creatures who harm humans. All I would want in return would be a thousand guilders."

"A thousand?! We'll give you fifty!" replied the Corporation.

So the Pied Piper went out to the streets, smiled a smile, placed the pipe to his lips, and played a magical melody. Soon the rats started flocking to him. Fat rats, skinny rats, lazy rats, active rats, sister rats, brother rats, smart rats, and dumb rats. The rats danced, pranced, and advanced after the Piper. The rats followed him through the streets, all the way to the river. At the river, the rats drowned. All but one. The surviving rat was strong enough to swim across the river and escaped to Ratland where he told the story of the beautiful melody that had caused so many of his friends to die.

The surviving rat told his tale:

"I heard a noise which promised me food, it promised me food for the rest of my life. Then I heard a voice telling me, 'Rejoice, oh rats, the world is your dining room! So eat to your hearts content!' As I was looking forward to the food, suddenly, the river consumed me and all of my friends."

The people of Hamelin were exceedingly satisfied. And the Mayor and the Corporation were planning on rebuilding the city after the destruction the rats left behind. However, right before they could start, the Pied Piper appeared and reminded them of what they owed.

"Please do not forget my thousand guilders," reminded the Piper.

"A thousand?! Surely you knew that it was only a figure of speech. We thought you were joking when you said a thousand. Here's some money and since we're so grateful, we spare you 50 guilders, now take it and leave," replied the Mayor and the Corporation.

The Piper was distraught and extremely distressed. He threatened the Mayor and the Corporation, "You have promised me a thousand guilders, and I need my thousand guilders. If you do not provide me with my thousand guilders, then I will use my secret charms, as much as I do not wish to, to cause harm to you, Mr. Mayor, and the Corporation."

"What are you going to do to us? There are no more rats in the country for you to bring back to our town. We have nothing more to fear of you, my dear vagabond friend. Now take your money and leave."

The Pied Piper rushed out in anger. He went out to the streets, smiled a smile, lifted the pipe to his lips, and began to play another magical melody. Soon, all the children of the people of Hamelin started gathering around the Piper. The children of bakers, the children of blacksmiths, the children of librarians, the children of store clerks, the children of the Mayor, and the children of the Corporation. The children danced, pranced, and advanced behind the piper in joy and delight. The children followed him through the streets, all the way to the river. And at the river, the Piper turned towards the mountains and skipped to the base of the mountains where cave opened up. The Piper stopped as the children went in and when the last of them went in, the cave closed and all the children disappeared along with the Piper into the mountain.

Did I say all, there was actually one child left, the parents of the children found him limping towards the mountain where the hole was supposed to be. The boy was crying and very sorrowful when they found him.

"What happened, young child?" the adults asked him.

The crippled child replied, "I was too slow. I just couldn't make it in time because I was too slow. The Piper promised us that we were going to a place of endless bliss and pleasure with his song. He promised us that we would never suffer again or feel anxious or bad. This is why we all followed him. He had also promised me one more thing. He promised that the place we were going to, was going to heal me of my lame leg. I was sure that I would be healed, but the music stopped, and I was all alone in front of the mountain without a cave."

The Mayor sent people out everywhere but no one could find neither Piper nor children anywhere.

Enjoy! I may or may not post another post analyzing this story. :D