The Pied Piper

The Pied Piper is likely best remembered as a folk tale from Germany, or a Brother’s Grimm “Fairy” Tale. It’s the story of a rat infestation and a rat catcher in the city of Hamelin, Germany and is often used to teach its listeners the moral lesson of the value of keeping promises.

In the story, a rat catcher agreed to rid the ailing city of an infestation of horrible rats, but for a fee of course. The city member hired him on the spot! He came through the town playing a pipe or flute and all the rats came out of their crevices, following him down the road as he played his instrument. It was to the towns people almost a miraculous event as they watched the rats follow the piper out of town to their demise. At last the city was cured of the rat infestation!

They had been cured of their plague, but the citizens failed to keep up their end of the bargain. Apparently, in their greed, they did not pay the piper his due and as a result of their unfair dealings in this business proposition, the retaliating piper played his flute again. This time the beautiful music he played lead all the children of the city, never to return.