Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-08-01
The Pied Piper
OF H a m e lin
Gan old legend retoId. The quota
tons are from Rrownins's ballad YER
sion Of the story.


sion of the story.
You never saw a prettier town than
Hamelin was, six centuries or so ago.
Towns used to be built with walls
around them, and on one side Of the
walls of Hanelin Town was the wide
deep river Weser, and on sthe other
side the beautiful Hill of Koppelberg.
But at the time of this story
Famelin was very uncomfortable
place to live ia. The town was full
OF rats-so many Of them that traps,
and even dogs and cats, were useless.
They ate up the cheese and bread, and
would even get into the dishes and
bowls when folks we're cooking. Some
times they would make so much noise
that folks couldn't hear each other
talk. They made their nests in hats
and pockets. and even bit the babies
in their cradles!
At last the people all went to the
Town Hall to see what thew could get
the mayor and the council to do about
Just think" said they, "how much
money we pay these men, and what
fine clothes we buy for them-and
they either can't or won't help us get
rid Of these dreadful rats. Perhaps
they think because they're old and
fat that they do not need to do any
thing. They'd better wake up and get
to thinking, or we'll send them all
packing!'
So the mayor sat for an hour with
the council. Dear, DEAR" said ne.
I'm sure wish were a long way
from here! I'd sell my ernine robe
for guilder. It's easy enough to say,
Get to thinking!' I'm sure my head
aches mad. I've tried so hard! Wha.
shall we do? What shall we do?''
Just then came a tap at the door.
Bless u.s." said the fat little Mayor
to the council, what's that? I'm al
ways expecting to hear q rat
Just a scrapiug Of shoes on the
door-mat," said a councilman.
Come I'M" called the mayor.
And in came the queerest fellow.
He was very tall and thin. and wore
His eyes were sharp and blue, and
his hair was golden. but his skin was
dark. He walked up to the council
everybody liked him at once.
Please your honors.'' said to the
mayor and council II have magic
charm by which I can make any sort
of creature follow me wherever /
wish. ] use this charm mostly on
creatures that are harmful and
troublesome, like toads and snakes
People call me the Pied Piper
Then they noticed that he wore o.
scarf of red and yellow round his
neck, and that fastened to the end Of
1t was long straight pipe of cane.
But went on the stranger, al
though I'm only poor Piper, 1 have
eased people of many evils-I rid the
country of Tartary of swarns Of
gnats. and in Asia took away great
mum beers Of vampire bats. Will you
give me thousand guilders If iii
take away your rats 2"
We'll give fifty thousand" cried
the astonished mayor and council.
So the Piper went out into the
and blue, and puckered up his lips ID
play his pipe. Before he had blown
three shill notes a low rnuttering
sound was heard on all Sides
"And the muttering grew to
grumbling;
And the grumbling grew to n
mighty rumbling:
And out of the houses the rats
came tumbling.
Great rats, small rats. lean rats,
brawny rats.
Brown rats. black rats, gray rats,
tawny rats,
Grave old plodders, gay young
friskers,
Fathers, mothers. uncles, cousins.
Cooking tails and pricking whiskers,
Families by. tens and dozens.
Brothers, sisters, husbands, wives
Followed the Piper for their lives"
And the Piper led the hordes of rats
from street to street until they came
to the river Weser, where they all
f1rnYoad5 and Uera 5rounaSf
One strong young rat only escaped.
He swan the river, ran away to Rat
land. and told the rats there that Inc
Piper's music spoke of cheese and
butter-pats and cider presses and oil
TASKS, and all good things to eat
and that it seemed to say,
$50 MUNICH on. crunch on, take your
luncheon,
Breakfast. supper, dinner. luncheon"
And then, he said, just as he thought
he was going to eat fine big lump
of sugar. he found himself in the river
| Weser!
| Well. the people of Hamelin rang
the bells until the steeples shook. And
| the mayor told them to poke out the
| nests, and block up the holes. and
make repairs, until not a sign of the
rats shold be left.
But all OF sudden the Piper ap-
| peared before them.
IF you please said he. "my
| thousand guilders!'
"A thousand guilders!" exclaime1
the mayor, and he looked sorry. He
thought of the good dinners that
could be bought for him and his
council with all the money. And be-
sides, he thought, the rats were al
drowned, and couldn't come back
| again anyway. So he said "Eriend