Chapter 33

"Folks who put me in a passion May find me pipe to another fashion," "How?" cried the Mayor, "d'ye think I'll brook Being worse treated than a crook? Insulted by a lazy ribald With idle pipe and vesture piebald? You threaten us, fellow? Do your worst, Blow your pipe there till you burst!" Once more he stept into the street: And to his lips again Laid his long pipe of smooth straight cane; And ere he blew three notes (such sweet Soft notes as yet musicians cunning Never gave the enraptured air), There was a rustling, that seemed like a bustling Of merry crowds pustling, at pitching and hustling, Small feet were pattering, wooden shoes clattering, Little hands clapping, and little tongues chattering, And like fowls in a farmyard when barley is scattering, Out came the children running, All the little boys and girls, With rosy cheeks and flaxen curls, And sparkling eyes and teeth like pearls, Tripping and skipping, ran merrily after The wonderful music with shouting laughter.

The Mayor was dumb, and the Council stood As if they were carved into blocks of wood, Unable to move a step, or cry To the children merrily skipping by-- And could only follow with the eye That joyous crowd at the Piper's back. But how the Mayor was on the rack, And the wretched Council's bosoms beat, As the Piper turned from the High street To where the Weser rolled its waters Right in the way of their sons and daughters! However he turned from South to West, And to Koppelberg Hill his steps addressed, And after him the children pressed; Great was the joy in every breast.

"He never can cross that mighty top! He's forced to let the piping drop, And we shall see out children stop!" When lo! as they reached the mountain's side, A wondrous portal opened wide, As if a cavern was suddenly hollowed And the Piper advanced and the children followed. And when all were in to the very last, The door in the mountain-side shut fast, Did I say all? No! one was lame, And could not dance the whole of the way!

And in after years, if you would blame His sadness, he was used to say-- "It's dull in our town since my playmates left; I can't forget that I'm bereft Of all they pleasant sights they see, Which the Piper also promised me; For he led us, he said, to a joyous land, Joining the town and just at hand, Where waters gushed and fruit trees grew, And flowers put forth a fairer hue.

[Page 181--Rat Land]

And everything was strange and new; The sparrows were brighter than peacocks here, And their dogs outran our fellow deer, And honey-bees had lost their stings; And horses were born with eagles' wings, And just as I became assured My lame foot would be speedily cured, The music stopped, and I stood still, And found myself outside the Hill, Left alone against my will, To go now limping as before, And never hear of that country more!" Alas, alas for Hamelin! There came into many a burgher's pate A text which says, that Heaven's Gate Opens to the Rich at as easy rate As the needle's eye takes a camel in!

The mayor sent East, West, North and South, To offer the Piper by word of mouth, Wherever it was men's lot to find him, Silver and gold to his heart's content, If he'd only return the way he went, And bring the children all behind him. But at length they saw 'twas a lost endeavour, For Piper and dancers were gone for ever.

Browning

The Wicked Bishop Hatto

The summer and autumn had been so wet That in winter the corn was growing yet; 'Twas a piteous sight to see all around The grain lie rotting on the ground.

Every day the starving poor Crowded around Bishop Hatto's door, For all the neighbourhood could tell His granaries were furnished well.

At last Bishop Hatto appointed a day To quiet the poor without delay: He bade them to his great Barn repair And they should have food for the winter there.

Rejoiced such tidings good to hear, The poor folk flocked from far and near; So the great Barn was full as it could hold Of women and children, and young and old.

Then when he saw it could hold no more, Bishop Hatto he made fast the door; And while for mercy with shrieks they call, He set fire to the Barn and burnt them all,

"A rare and excellent bonfire!" quoth he, "And the country is greatly obliged to me, For ridding it in these times forlorn Of Rats that only consume the corn."

So then to his palace returned he, And he sat down to supper merrily, And he slept that night like an innocent man;-- But Bishop Hatto never slept again.

In the morning as he entered the hall, Where his picture hung against the wall, A sweat like death all over him came, For the Rats had eaten it out of the frame.

As he looked, there came a man from his farm, He had a countenance white with alarm;-- "I opened your granaries this morn, And the Rats had eaten all the corn."

Another came running presently, And he was pale as pale could be;-- "Fly! my Lord Bishop, without delay, Ten thousand rats are coming this way."

"I'll go to my tower on the Rhine," quoth he, "'Tis the safest place in Germany; The walls are high and the shores are steep, And the stream is long and the water deep."

Bishop Hatto fearfully hastened away, And he crossed the Rhine without delay, And reached his tower, and barred with care All the windows, doors, and loopholes there.

He laid him down, and closed his eyes. But soon a scream made him arise: He started, and saw two eyes of flame On his pillow, from whence the screaming came.

He listened, and looked--it was only the cat; But the Bishop grew more fearful for that, For she sat screaming, mad with fear, At the army of rats that were drawing near.

For they have swum over the river so deep, And they have climed the shores so steep, And up the tower their way is bent, To do the work for which they were sent.

They are not to be told by the dozen or score-- By the thousands they come, and by myriads, and more; Such numbers have never been heard of before, Such a judgement had never been witnessed of yore.

Down on his knees the Bishop fell, And faster and faster his beads did tell, As louder and louder, drawing near, The gnawing by their teeth he could hear.

And in at the windows, and in at the door, And through the walls helter-skelter they pour, And down from the ceiling, and up from the floor, From the right and the left, from behind and before, From within and without, from above and below; And all at once to the Bishop they go.

They have whetted their teeth against the stones, And now they pick the Bishop's bones; They gnawed the flesh from every limb, For they were sent to do judgement on him.

R. Southey

What became of them!

He was a rat, and she was a rat, And down in one hole they did dwell, And both were as black as a witch's cat, And they loved one another well.

He had a tail, and she had a tail, Both long and curling and fine, And each said, "Yours is the finest tail In the world, excepting mine."

He smelt the cheese, and she smelt the cheese, And they both pronounced it good; And both remarked it would greatly add To the charms of their daily food.

So he ventured out, and she ventured out, And I saw them go with pain; But what befel them I never can tell, For they never came back again.

[Page 182--Mousey Land]

The Gingerbread Cat

A baby-girl, on Christmas night Had filled her little apron white With all a happy child could take Of Christmas toys and Christmas cake;

But on the stairway she let fall The chiefest treasure of them all-- A little cat of gingerbread All frosted white from tail to head.

Now in the moonlit midnight time, When merry mice do run and climb, A plump gray mouse come down the stair And saw the Christmas cake-cat there.

She stood still in her cruel fright And gazed upon the monster white Who seemed to feel as great surprise, And stared with both his raisin eyes.

Poor mousie dared not, could not stir! Her little brain was in a whirr! Five minutes--ten--but not a paw Had puss put forth! "I never saw

A cat like this!" the poor mouse said. A brave bold thought came in her head-- Her wee heart beating pit-a-pat, She moved her own paw--touched the cat--

Then sprang upon it with a squeal And made a most delicious meal "Ho! ho!" she cried, "Sugar! spice! And everything that's good and nice--

That's what cats are made of, The cats that we're afraid of!" Then up the stairs she madly pranced, And o'er the attic floor she danced

And then she stood upon her head And to her 'stonished friends she said, "O, joy to every mouse and rat, For I have eaten up the cat!"

The Mice

The mice are in their holes, And there they hide by day; But when 'tis still at night, They all come out to play.

They climb up on the shelves, And taste of all they please; They drink the milk and cream, And eat the bread and cheese.

But if they hear the cat, At once they stop their fun; In fright they seek their holes As fast as they can run.

Three Mice

Three Mice went into A hole to spin, Puss came by, Puss peeped in; What are you doing, My little old men? We're weaving coats For gentlemen. Shall I come and help you To wind up your threads? Oh, no, Mrs. Pussy, You'd bite off our heads!

Says Pussy, "You are So wondrous wise I love your whiskers And round black eyes; Your house is the prettiest House I see. And I think there is room For you and me." The mice were so pleased That they opened the door, And Pussy soon laid them All dead on the floor.

"Run Mousey, Run!"

I am sitting by the fireside, Reading, and very still, There comes a little sharp-eyed mouse, And run about he will.

He flies along the mantelpiece He darts beneath the fender; It's just as well that Jane's not here, Or into fits he'd send her.

And now he's nibbling at some cake She left upon the table. He seems to think I'm somebody To hurt a mouse unable.

Run, mousey, run! I hear the cat, She's scratching at the door, Once she comes in, you'll have no chance Beneath her savage claw.

Run, mousey, run! I hear Jane's foot, She's coming up to bed, If puss but makes a spring at you, Poor mousey, you'll be dead!

A Mouse Caught in a Cage

I'm only a poor little mouse, ma'am! I live in the wall of your house, ma'am! With a fragment of cheese, and a very few peas, I was having a little carouse, ma'am!

No mischief at all I intend, ma'am! I hope you will act as my friend, ma'am! If my life you should take, many hearts it would break, And the trouble would be without end, ma'am!

My wife lives in there in the crack, ma'am! She's waiting foe me to come back, ma'am! She hoped I might find a bit of rind, Or the children their dinner will lack, ma'am!

I never was given to strife, ma'am! (Don't look at that terrible knife, ma'am!) The noise overhead that disturbs you in bed, 'T is the rats, I will venture my life, ma'am!

In your eyes I see mercy I'm sure, ma'am! Oh, there's no need to open the door, ma'am! I'll slip through the crack, and I'll never come back, Oh I'll never come back any more, ma'am!

The Foolish Mouse

In a crack, near the cupboard, With dainties provided, A certain young mouse With her mother resided; So securely they lived, In that snug, quiet spot, Any mouse in the land Might have envied their lot.

But one day the young mouse, Which was given to roam, Having made an excursion Some way from her home, On a sudden returned, With such joy in her eyes, That her grey, sedate parent Expressed some surprise,

"Oh mother," said she, "The good folks of this house I'm convinced, have not any Ill-will to a mouse; And those tales can't be true You always are telling, For they've been at such pains To construct us a dwelling.

"The floor is of wood, And the walls are of wires Exactly the size that One's comfort requires; And I'm sure that we there Shall have nothing to fear, If ten cats, with kittens, At once should appear.

"And then they have made Such nice holes in the wall, One could slip in and out, With no trouble at all; But forcing one through Such rough crannies as these, Always gives one's poor ribs A most terrible squeeze.

"But the best of all is, They've provided, as well, A large piece of cheese, Of most exquisite smell; 'Twas so nice, I had put In my head to go through, When I thought it my duty To come and fetch you."

"Ah, child," said the mother, "Believe, I entreat, Both the cage and the cheese Are a terrible cheat; Do not think all that trouble They took for our good, They would catch us and kill us All there if they could.

"Thus they've caught and killed scores, And I never could learn, That a mouse who once entered Did ever return." Let young people mind What the old people say. And, when danger is near them, Keep out of the way.

[Page 183--Mousey Land]

A Clever and Good Mother Mouse

One Summer day the sun shone bright, Mid sweet flowers roved the bee, And I wandered in a garden old Beside the deep blue sea.

But close at hand, a shady path, Beneath some beech trees wound, And there. that sultry summer day, A pleasant seat I found.

Suddenly, just beside my chair, A little sound I heard; A scratch upon the gravel path, As of a mouse or bird.

I turned my head; there, on the path, What strange sight did I see! A little mouse, and in her mouth Another still more wee.

Softly she crept across the path, And then, her journey done, In a hole beneath the green grass verge She laid her little one.

And back and forth from side to side, I watched her carry five Sweet little mice, her own dear brood, Long tailed, and all alive.

She never wearied in her work, Yet oh! so small was she! And thus, that bright, hot summer day She moved her nursery.

Dear mother mouse! My verse has told Your patient loving deed; Methinks our boys and girls may learn Some lessons as they read.

Francis E. Cooke

The True History of a Poor Little Mouse

A poor little mouse Had once made him a nest, And he fancied, the warmest, And safest, and best, That a poor little mouse could enjoy; So snug and convenient, So out of the way. This poor little mouse And his family lay, They fear'd neither pussy nor boy.

It was in a store That was seldom in use, Where shavings and papers Were scattered in loose, That this poor little mouse made his hole, But alas! Master Johnny Had seen him one day, As in a great fright He had scampered away, With a piece of plum pudding he stole.

As soon as young Johnny (Who, wicked and bad, No pitiful thoughts For dumb animals had) Descried the poor fellow's retreat, He crept to the shavings And set them alight, And, before the poor mouse Could run off in its fright, It was smother'd to death in the heat!

Poor mouse! how it squeak'd I can't bear to relate, Nor how its poor little Ones hopp'd in the grate, And died, one by one, in the flame! I should not much wonder To hear, that, some night, This wicked boy's bed-curtains Catching alight, He suffered exactly the same.

Ann Taylor

The Mouse's Call

A little mouse crept out one day, When all was still about; To dollie's house he took his way, The lady being out.

He skipped about with bead-bright eyes From table down to chair; He thought the house was just the size For him to settle there.

He found some jelly cake so nice, This naughty little mouse; He nibbled first, then in a trice 'Twas gone from dollie's house.

He curl'd himself upon the floor, To have a little nap, When suddenly upon the floor There came a fearful rap.

The mouse who had not left a crumb, With fear began to shake, For dollie's mistress back had come To get her piece of cake.

She opened wide the little house, Her doll lay on her arm, And when she spied the trembling mouse She cried out with alarm.

She tumbled back upon the ground, Her dear doll falling too, While the mouse went rushing round, Not knowing what to do.

At last he tumbled down the stair, Then to his hole he flew; And which did most the other scare They never, never knew.

[Page 184--Froggy Land]

The Foolish Frog

In a tank at the foot of the hill Lived Mr. and Mrs. Frog, At the head of the sparkling rill, By the side of a queachy bog; And they had children ten-- All froggies as yellow as gold, Who loved to play on the fen, But they often were over-bold.

Now it fell out one bright day, As it never had done before, When Father Frog was away A stickleback sailed to the door. "Oh! Mrs. Frog," said he, "Your sister is very ill; And much she wants to see You down at the water mill."

Then Mother frog showed her grief In such tears as you never saw; And, having no handkerchief, She wiped her eyes with a paw. Said she, "Now, froggies dear, You must not go to the fen: There is no danger here, And I'll soon come back again!"

But the naughty little froggies, Disobeyed their mother and went.

Then a duck, which had lazily swum For hours in a reedy pool, Seeing the shadows come, And feeling the air grow cool. With a "Quack, quack, quack," came out She meant, "It is time to sup!" So finding the froggies about, She gobbled them quickly up.

So Mr. and Mrs. Frog, By the peeping stars made bold, Came back by the queachy bog, To their froggies all yellow as gold. They never saw them again-- Alas! that it should be so. They were told not to go to the fen; But the did not obey, you know.

"Early Days"

Marriage of Mr. Froggie

There was a Frog Lived in a bog-- A Frog of high degree-- A stylish youth, And yet, forsooth, A bachelor was he.

He had not wed Because, he said, He'd ne'er in all his life Seen in the bog A pollywog He cared to make his wife.

But one fine day, When drest up gay, He passed a pretty house, And there beside The window spied A most attractive mouse.

He raised his hat, And gazing at Miss Mouse, in suit of gray, He made a bow, Likewise a vow To marry her straightway.

When he was drest In scarlet vest, And coat of velvet sheen With frills of lace, And sword in place, His like was nowhere seen.

His smile was bland, His style so grand, He said with pride, "I know Miss Mouse so fair, Can find nowhere So suitable a beau!

"If she'll agree To live with me, And be my faithful wife, Oh, she shall dine On dishes fine, And lead an easy life."

When he went by, Miss Mouse so shy, Would hide her blushing face; But truth to tell Could see quite well Through curtains of thin lace.

And from her nook, Ah! many a look She gave, with heart a-stir; And oft did she Confess that he Was just the beau for her.

At last so blue Poor froggie grew, He went up to the house And rang the bell, In haste to tell His love for Mistress Mouse.

He passed the door, And on the floor He knelt and kissed her hand, "Wilt marry me?" He asked, while she Her burning blushes fanned.

She answered "Yes," As you may guess, To Mister Frog's delight; His arm he placed Around her waist, And joy was at its height.

The wedding-day Was set straightway, The town was all agog; And gifts, not few, Were sent unto Miss Mouse and Mister Frog.

And never yet Was banquet set, In country or in town, With fare more rich Than that to which The wedding guests sat down.

And, after all, There was the ball, For which the band was hired, And frogs and mice Were up in a trice, And danced till their toes were tired.

Frogs at School

Twenty froggies went to school, Down beside a rushy pool; Twenty little coats of green, Twenty vests all white and clean, "We must be in time," said they; "First we study, then we play; That is how we keep the rule When we froggies go to school."

Master Bullfrog, grave and stern, Called the classes in their turn; Taught them how to nobly strive, Likewise how to leap and dive; From his seat upon the log Showed them how to say, "Ker-chog!" Also, how to dodge a blow From the sticks which bad boys throw.

Twenty froggies grew up fast; Bullfrogs they became at last; Not one dunce among the lot, Not one lesson they forgot. Polished in a high degree, As each froggie ought to be, Now they sit on other logs, Teaching other little frogs.

[Page 185--Froggy Land]

Mouse that Lost her Tail

Once upon a time a Cat and Mouse were playing together, when, quite by accident, the cat bit off the Mouse's tail.

It was very strange that the Cat did not bite off the Mouse's head. But this Mouse was a good Mouse, and never stole any cheese; and so the Cat only bit off her tail. Mousey was very much vexed to see that her tail was gone, so she said to Pussy--

"Oh, dear Pussy! do give me my tail again." "No, that I will not," said Pussy, "till you get me some milk for my breakfast." "Oh, the Cow will give me some," said the Mouse.

So she frisked and jumped, and then she ran Till she came to the Cow, and thus began:--

"Please, Cow, give me some milk. I want to give Pussy milk, and Pussy will give me my own tail again." "So I will, Mousey, if you will get me some hay for my breakfast." said the Cow. "Oh, the Farmer will give me some," said the Mouse.

So she frisked and jumped, and then she ran Till she came to the Farmer, and thus began:--

"Please, Mr. Farmer, give me some hay; I want to give the Cow hay. The Cow will give me some milk; I will give Pussy milk; and Pussy will give me my own tail again." "So I will, Mousey, if you get me some bread for my breakfast," said the Farmer. "Oh, the Baker will give me some," said the Mouse.

So she frisked and jumped, and then she ran Till she came to the Baker, and thus began:--

"Please, Mr. Baker, give me some bread; I want to give the Farmer bread. The Farmer will give me some hay; I will give the Cow hay, the Cow will give me some milk; I will give Pussy milk; and Pussy will give me my own tail again." "So I will, Mousey, if you get me some meat for my breakfast," said the baker. "Oh, the Butcher will give me some," said the Mouse.

So she frisked and jumped, and then she ran Till she came to the Butcher, and thus began:--