Many years ago, in the German town of Hamelin, the people had a terrible problem with rats. There were rats everywhere, in the streets, houses, beds, and even in babies cots. The mayor did not know what to do.
One day, a peculiar man called the Pied Piper arrived and said he could deal with the problem if the mayor would pay a huge sum of money. The mayor agreed.
The Pied Piper played the pipes and the rats followed him out of Hamelin and fell out a cliff.
"I refuse to pay!" said the mayor.
So, the Pied Piper played his pipes again. This time every child followed the Pier Piper. They never returned. The mayor had learned his lesson, but much too late.
