The story begins in the town of Hamelin, which is plagued by a rat infestation. The townspeople are desperate to get rid of the rats, so they offer a large sum of money to anyone who can solve their problem.
The Arrival of the Pied Piper
A strange man with a pipe then appears in the town, claiming that he can rid the town of the rats. He is dressed in bright, multi-colored clothing and wears a hat adorned with a large plume. The man, who is known as the Pied Piper, is given permission to try to rid the town of the rats.
The Piper’s Music
The Pied Piper begins to play his pipe and leads the rats out of the town with his music. The rats follow him to the nearby river and drown. The townspeople are overjoyed that the Pied Piper has solved their problem.
The Town’s Betrayal
However, the townspeople soon realize that they have not paid the promised amount to the Pied Piper. In revenge, the Pied Piper then begins to play his pipe again, but this time he plays a different tune.
The Children’s Disappearance
The tune is so beautiful that it mesmerizes the town’s children and they follow him out of the town and into a nearby mountain. Once they reach the mountain, it opens up and the children are never seen again. The only child who is left behind is a lame boy who was unable to keep up with the others.
The Town’s Regret
He returns to the town and tells the adults what has happened. The townspeople are filled with regret for not paying the Pied Piper and for losing their children, but it is too late.
The Moral of the Story
The moral of the story is ‘never be ungrateful”. From the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, children can learn about the importance of honesty as opposed to deceit. It teaches children never to fall into traps and to think rationally before acting upon anything.
