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The Children of Hameln
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
In the year 1284 a mysterious man appeared in Hameln. He was wearing a
coat of many colored, bright cloth, for which reason he was called the
Pied Piper. He claimed to be a rat catcher, and he promised that for a
certain sum that he would rid the city of all mice and rats. The citizens
struck a deal, promising him a certain price. The rat catcher then took a
small fife from his pocket and began to blow on it. Rats and mice
immediately came from every house and gathered around him. When he thought
that he had them all he led them to the River Weser where he pulled up his
clothes and walked into the water. The animals all followed him, fell in,
and drowned.
Now that the citizens had been freed of their plague, they regreted
having promised so much money, and, using all kinds of excuses, they
refused to pay him. Finally he went away, bitter and angry. He returned on
June 26, Saint John's and Saint Paul's Day, early
in the morning at seven o'clock (others say it was at noon), now dressed
in a hunter's costume, with a dreadful look on his face and wearing a
strange red hat. He sounded his fife in the streets, but this time it
wasn't rats and mice that came to him, but rather children: a great number
of boys and girls from their fourth year on. Among them was the mayor's
grown daughter. The swarm followed him, and he led them into a mountain,
where he disappeared with them.
All this was seen by a babysitter who, carrying a child in her arms,
had followed them from a distance, but had then turned around and carried
the news back to the town. The anxious parents ran in droves to the town
gates seeking their children. The mothers cried out and sobbed pitifully.
Within the hour messengers were sent everywhere by water and by land
inquiring if the children -- or any of them -- had been seen, but it was
all for naught.
In total, one hundred thirty were lost. Two, as some say, had lagged
behind and came back. One of them was blind and the other mute. The blind
one was not able to point out the place, but was able to tell how they had
followed the piper. The mute one was able to point out the place, although
he [or she] had heard nothing. One little boy in shirtsleeves had gone
along with the others, but had turned back to fetch his jacket and thus
escaped the tragedy, for when he returned, the others had already
disappeared into a cave within a hill. This cave is still shown.
Until the middle of the eighteenth century, and probably still today,
the street through which the children were led out to the town gate was
called the bunge-lose (drumless, soundless, quiet) street, because
no dancing or music was allowed there. Indeed, when a bridal procession on
its way to church crossed this street, the musicians would have to stop
playing. The mountain near Hameln where the the children disappeared is
called Poppenberg. Two stone monuments in the form of crosses have been
erected there, one on the left side and one on the right. Some say that
the children were led into a cave, and that they came out again in
Transylvania.
The citizens of Hameln recorded this event in their town register, and
they came to date all their proclamations according to the years and days
since the loss of their children.
According to Seyfried the 22nd rather than the 26th of June was entered
into the town register.
The following lines were inscribed on the town hall:
In the year 1284 after the birth of Christ
From Hameln were led away
One hundred thirty children, born at this place
Led away by a piper into a mountain.
And on the new gate was inscribed:
Centum ter denos cum magus ab urbe puellos
duxerat ante annos CCLXXII condita porta fuit.
[This gate was built 272 years after the magician led the 130 children
from the city.]
In the year 1572 the mayor had the story portrayed in the church
windows. The accompanying inscription has become largely illegible. In
addition, a coin was minted in memory of the event.
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