The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-19
By Robert Browning.

AS if he knew what magic slept
In his quiet pipe the while;
Then, like a musical adept,
To blow the pipe his lips he wrinkled,
And green and blue his sharp eyes twnkled,
Like candle flame where salt is sprnklcd;
And ere three shrll notes the pipe uttered,
You heard as ii an army muttercd;
And the muttering grew TO a grumhiuG;
And the grumbling grew TO a mighty Tumhing;
And out of the houses the rats came tumbline.
Great rats, small rats lean rats. brawny rats,
Brown rats, black rats, gray rats, tawny rats,
Grave old plodders. gay young trskers-
Fathers, mothers, mCles, cousins,
Cooking tails ard prickinG whiskeTs
Families by tens and dozens.
Brothers, sisters. husbands, wives
Followed the Piper for their lives
From street to street he piped advancing,
And stcp for step they followed dancing.
Uutil they came to the river Wre,cr.
Wherein all plunged and pcri-hri!
save one, who, stout as Julius Caesar.
Swan across and lived TO carry
(As he, the manuscript he CherishcdD
To Rat.ldnd home his commentary:
Which was at the dlst shrill noies of the pipe,
! heard Il sound as OF sCraping tripc.
And putting apples, wondrous ripe,
Into a cdcrprcsS's grpe
And a moving away oi pickle.tubhoards.
and a leaving ajar OF cor>oWccuvbosrds
Aud a drawing the corks OF train.oil TASKS,
And Il breaking the hoops of butter.caskS:
And II seemed as il voice
(Swceter far than by harn or by psiltery
Is brcathcD called out, oh rats, rejoice
The world is grown to one vast drysallclH!
So munich Oh, crunch on, take Your luncheon.
Breakfast, supper, dinner luncheon
And Just as 4 bulky sugar.pmchoou,
All ready STAYED, like great sun ,hone
Glorious scarce an inch before mo,
Just rs mcthOught it said, Come, bore me.'
Il found tie Wcscr rolling DER me-
VII.
You should have heard the liamelin people
Ringing the bells till they rocked the stccplc.
go" cried the Mayor, land get long poles,
Poke out the nests and block up the holes!
Consult with carpenters and builders,
And leave in our town not even a trace
oi the rats."-whcu suddenly, up the face
q! the Piper perked in the malkct.pldc.,
With 4, "FiNt, ii you please. my thouaani
guildcrs"
\ thousand guildeis! The Mayor looked blue;
So did the Cooperation too
| For council dinners made rare havoc
With Clarct, Mosellc, Vin.deGrayc, Hook;
And half the money would replenish
| Their cellars biggest butt with Rhcnish,
| To pay this SUN 10 wandering fellow
With gypsy coat of red and yellow!
Beside" quoth the Mayor with knowing
wink.
! Our business was done at the river brink;
| We saw with our eyes the yermin slnt
! And what's dead can't come TO lite, I think.
! So, friend, we're not the folks 10 shrinE
| From the duty OF giving You something ior
drink,
And matter of money TO put in your pos;
But as for the guildeIs, what We spoke
\ OF them, as you very well know, was in joke.
| Beside, our losses have made US thrifty,
4 thousand guderS! Come, take ffty."
! The Piper's face fell, and he cried
"No triAing! ] can't wait. besdel
| I've promised TO visit by dinner time
Bagdat, and accept the prime
| OF the head'Cooks pottage all he's rich in,
| For having left, in the Caliph's kitchen,
OF nest OF scorpions no survivor:
With him proved no bargain driver
With you, don't think III bate a ativer'
And folks who put me in passion
May tnd me pipe after another fashion"
"Ilow?" cried the Mayor, "d'ye think ! hrool
Being worse treated than a Cooke
lnsuted by a lazy ribald
| With idle pipe ana yesture pebald?
| You threaten US, fellow? Do your worst,
Blow your pipe there till you burstl'
XII
Once more he slept into the street,
And TO his lips again
Laid his long pipe Of smooth straight cane;
And ere he blew three notes (sucb sweet
Soft notes as yet musicians cunning
Never gave the cnraptured air)
There was & rustlins that seemed like bustline
OF merry crowds justlng at pitching and hus
| Ting;
Small feet were pa .tcring, wooden shoes clatter
ing,