Chapter 15

window_

_Mayor._ There he goes down the street.

_First Councilman._ What a strange looking pipe he plays!

_Second Councilman._ I believe it must be a magic one.

_Third Councilman._ Do you hear the music? What is that other noise?

_Mayor._ Look, look at the rats! Did you ever see such a sight!

_First Councilman._ The streets are crowded with them! Big and little, brown, black, and gray, they are tumbling over each other in their hurry!

_Second Councilman._ Sir! he is going toward the bridge.

_Third Councilman._ They must think he is playing a tune of apples and cheese!

_Mayor._ There they are at the river. They are plunging in! they will be drowned!

_First Councilman._ Good for the piper!

_Mayor._ Ring the bells for the people. Tell them to get long poles, poke out the nests and block up the holes!

_Second Councilman._ Here comes the Piper.

_Third Councilman._ That was well done, Mr. Piper.

_Pied Piper._ Yes, all the rats are drowned and now I've come for my pay.

_Mayor._ Pay! why what have you done? Just played a tune on your pipe. You must be joking.

_Piper._ You promised--

_First Councilman._ You impudent fellow! You certainly don't think a tune on your pipe is worth one thousand guilders? There is no work in that.

_Second Councilman._ The rats are dead and can't come to life again, I think!

_Mayor._ My friend, we are much obliged, of course. We are much obliged and will gladly give you fifty guilders. You know your time is not worth more.

_Piper._ No trifling, pray. I'll have what you promised, or you may find that I'll play a tune you do not like!

_Mayor._ What! do you threaten us, fellow? Do what you please. Do you think we care? Play on your old pipe whatever tune you wish.

_Piper._ Listen, then, and look from your window when I play again in the street below.

[_Goes out._]

_Mayor._ What does the lazy fellow mean by his threats?

_First Councilman._ Hear his wonderful music! Listen.

_Second Councilman._ Oh! what is he doing! See the children!

_Third Councilman._ They are following him. There is my son. Where are you going, my boy? Come back!

_Mayor._ Let me see! O woe! there are my own three lovely children. Run, some one, and stop them!

_Third Councilman._ I'll go; I'll go.

[_Runs out._]

_Mayor._ It is useless. Every child in our city is following the magic sound.

_Second Councilman._ The music seems to say: "Come, children, to the wonderful land of play. There flowers and fruits will welcome you. The birds and beasts will play with you, and you will never be sad or sorry in the wonderful land of play." No wonder the children follow the Piper.

_Third Councilman_ (_enters_). The children and the Piper have all disappeared! A mountain opened and let them in!

_First Councilman._ The children, the blessed children, have gone! What shall we do without the children?

_Mayor._ Oh, wicked man that I am! Why did I break my promise? Why did I not give him the thousand guilders?

_Second Councilman._ Yes, we are all wicked men, and we are punished for not keeping our word.

_Mayor._ Let us write this sad story on a column so that all may read; and let us paint the picture of the Piper with our little ones following him, on a church window, so that all men may know how our children have been stolen away.

_First Councilman._ And may this sad story teach us all to keep our word with every one.

MOTHER GOOSE'S PARTY

PERSONS IN THE PLAY--MOTHER GOOSE, JACK GOOSE, MOTHER HUBBARD, DOG, A-DILLAR-A-DOLLAR, MARY (AND HER LAMB), OLD MRS. SHOEMAN, HER SONS (TOMMY TUCKER, JACKY HORNER), MISS MUFFET, BOY BLUE, BO-PEEP, NANCY ETTICOAT, LITTLE BOY WHO LIVES IN THE LANE, OLD KING COLE, MAN IN THE MOON, TOM THE PIPER'S SON, MISTRESS MARY