The Piper's Terrible Price
Long ago, the cheerful town of Hamelin, famous for its sweet cakes and happy children, fell under a dark shadow. A plague of rats, not small and timid, but huge, bold monsters, overran the streets. They scurried in the bakeries, swam in the soup pots, and even nested in the beds of sleeping townsfolk. A little girl named Elsa cried when she found her favorite doll chewed to pieces. The people were desperate; no trap or trick could stop the tide of rats.
One day, a strange man walked into the town square. He was dressed in clothes of bright red and yellow, a stark contrast to the grey fear of the town. He had a long, crooked nose and piercing eyes under a tall, pointed hat. A simple wooden flute was tucked into his belt. He walked straight to the town hall where the mayor and his council were arguing in despair. "I can rid you of every single rat," the stranger said, his voice calm and clear. "But my magic has a price."
The clever mayor, a man named Albrecht who valued money above all else, saw an opportunity. He whispered to the council, "Don't worry, I have a plan." Then he addressed the piper. "You want payment? Of course! We will give you one silver coin for every rat's head you bring us." The piper smiled a thin smile. "A silver coin a head it is," he agreed. "Tonight, no one must be on the streets."
As the moon rose, a strange melody drifted through Hamelin. It was an eerie, hypnotic tune that grew from a whisper to a commanding call. From every house, cellar, and sewer, the rats poured out. They formed a massive, writhing river of fur, following the piper as he walked slowly towards the deep Weser River. One by one, mesmerized by the music, the rats leaped into the water and were swept away. The last to go was a giant white rat, the king. "Is that all of them?" the piper asked. "All nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine," the rat king squeaked before plunging into the current.
The next morning, the town was blissfully silent. The piper went to the town hall. "I have done as I promised. Now, I'll take my payment." Mayor Albrecht laughed. "Of course! Let's go and count the heads." The piper's eyes narrowed. "The heads are in the river! This was not our deal!" he said, his voice cold with fury. The mayor shrugged. "No heads, no coins. But for your trouble, here are 50 silver pieces." The piper pushed the pouch away. "Keep your cursed money," he hissed. "You have broken your promise. Your children will pay the price." He then turned and vanished from the town.
No one took his threat seriously. The following Sunday, all the adults went to church, happy and carefree. But while they prayed, a different music filled the air. It was a sweet, enchanting melody, promising candy mountains and fields of toys. The children of Hamelin, including little Elsa and the mayor's own sons and daughters, poured out of their homes. They followed the piper, dancing and laughing, towards the great mountain outside the town. A secret door of rock swung open, and the children skipped inside. It closed behind them with a deep boom, leaving only three boys behind: one who was lame and couldn't keep up, one who was deaf and only vaguely heard the music, and one who was blind and got lost along the way. They were the only ones left to tell the terrible story.
The joy of Hamelin turned to ash. The mayor, consumed by guilt, searched for years, but the children were never seen again. The town became a quiet, sad place, a constant reminder of a promise broken and a terrible price paid.
Moral Values and Lessons
- A Promise is a Debt: The story's central lesson is the sacred duty to keep one's word. Breaking a promise can have devastating consequences.
- Greed Leads to Ruin: The mayor's greed and attempt to be "clever" at the expense of honesty led directly to the town's greatest tragedy.
- Actions Have Consequences: Every choice, especially dishonest ones, creates ripples that can lead to unforeseen and terrible outcomes.
- Respect All People: The townspeople judged the piper for his strange appearance and underestimated his power, a mistake that cost them dearly.
Story Questions
Comprehension Questions
- What was the main problem in the town of Hamelin at the start of the story?
- What was the deal the mayor made with the Pied Piper?
- How did the piper get rid of the rats?
- Why did the mayor refuse to pay the piper the promised amount?
- What happened to the children of Hamelin?
Critical Thinking Questions
- Do you think the piper's punishment was fair? Why or why not?
- Was the mayor being "clever" or just dishonest? What is the difference?
- If you were a citizen of Hamelin, what would you have said to the mayor when he refused to pay the piper?
Personal Connection Questions
- Why is it important to keep a promise you make to a friend?
- Have you ever felt like someone wasn't treated fairly because they looked or acted differently?
- If you could give one piece of advice to the mayor, what would it be?
Fun Activities
- Draw the Two Parades: On a large piece of paper, draw the two scenes side-by-side. On the left, draw the piper leading the dark, grey river of rats. On the right, draw him leading the colorful, happy parade of children. Talk about how the colors and feelings are different in each picture.
- Music and Moods: With a grown-up, find some videos of flute music online. Can you find a piece that sounds mysterious and a bit scary (for the rats)? Can you find another that sounds joyful and magical (for the children)?
- Rewrite the Ending: Imagine the mayor was an honest man and paid the piper. Write or tell a new, happy ending for the story. What did the piper do with the money? What did the children do that day instead?