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edge of the big river； and there the piper turned sharply about and stepped
aside； and all those rats tumbled hurry skurry； head over heels； down the
bank into the river ANDWERE DROWNED。 Every single one。 No；
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there was one big old fat rat； he was so fat he didn't sink； and he swam
across； and ran away to tell the tale。
Then the Piper came back to the town hall。 And all the people were
waving their hats and shouting for joy。 The Mayor said they would have a
big celebration； and build a tremendous bonfire in the middle of the town。
He asked the Piper to stay and see the bonfire；very politely。
〃Yes；〃 said the Piper； 〃that will be very nice； but first； if you please； I
should like my thousand guineas。〃
〃H'm；erahem！〃 said the Mayor。 〃You mean that little joke of mine；
of course that was a joke。〃 （You see it is always harder to pay for a thing
when you no longer need it。）
〃I do not joke；〃 said the Piper very quietly； 〃my thousand guineas； if
you please。〃
〃Oh； come； now；〃 said the Mayor； 〃you know very well it wasn't worth
sixpence to play a little tune like that； call it one guinea； and let it go at
that。〃
〃A bargain is a bargain；〃 said the Piper； 〃for the last time；will you
give me my thousand guineas？〃
〃I'll give you a pipe of tobacco； something good to eat； and call you
lucky at that！〃 said the Mayor； tossing his head。
Then the Piper's mouth grew strange and thin； and sharp blue and
green lights began dancing in his eyes； and he said to the Mayor very
softly； 〃I know another tune than that I played； I play it to those who play
me false。〃
〃Play what you please！ You can't frighten me！ Do your worst！〃 said the
Mayor； making himself big。
Then the Piper stood high up on the steps of the town hall； and put the
pipe to his lips； and began to play a little tune。 It was quite a different little
tune； this time； very soft and sweet； and very； very strange。 And before he
had played three notes； you heard
a rustling； that seemed like a bustling Of merry crowds justling 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
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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 and laughter。
〃Stop； stop！〃 cried the people。 〃He is taking our children！ Stop him；
Mr Mayor！〃
〃I will give you your money； I will！〃 cried the Mayor； and tried to run
after the Piper。
But the very same music that made the children dance made the
grown…up people stand stock…still； it was as if their feet had been tied to
the ground； they could not move a muscle。 There they stood and saw the
Piper move slowly down the street； playing his little tune； with the
children at his heels。 On and on he went； on and on the children danced；
till he came to the bank of the river。
〃Oh； oh！ He will drown our children in the river！〃 cried the people。
But the Piper turned and went along by the bank； and all the children
followed after。 Up； and up； and up the hill they went； straight toward the
mountain which is like the roof of a house。 And just as they got to it； the
mountain OPENED；like two great doors； and the Piper went in through
the opening； playing the little tune； and the children danced after him
andjust as they got through the great doors slid together again and shut
them all in！ Every single one。 No； there was one little lame child； who
couldn't keep up with the rest and didn't get there in time。 But none of his
little companions ever came back any more； not one。
But years and years afterward； when the fat old rat who swam across
the river was a grandfather； his children used to ask him； 〃What made you
follow the music； Grandfather？〃 and he used to tell them； 〃My dears；
when I heard that tune I thought I heard the moving aside of pickle…tub
boards； and the leaving ajar of preserve cupboards； and I smelled the most
delicious old cheese in the world； and I saw sugar barrels ahead of me； and
then； just as a great yellow cheese seemed to be saying； ‘Come； bore me'
I felt the river rolling o'er me！〃
And in the same way the people asked the little lame child； 〃What
made you follow the music？〃 〃I do not know what the others heard；〃 he
said； 〃but I； when the Piper began to play； I heard a voice that told of a
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wonderful country hard by； where the bees had no stings and the horses
had wings； and the trees bore wonderful fruits； where no one was tired or
lame； and children played all day； and just as the beautiful country was but
one step away the mountain closed on my playmates； and I was left
alone。〃
That was all the people ever knew。 The children never came back。 All
that was left of the Piper and the rats was just the big street that led to the
river； so they called it the Street of the Pied Piper。
And that is the end of the story。
WHY THE EVERGREEN TREES KEEP THEIR LEAVES IN
WINTER＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Florence Holbrook's A Book of Nature Myths。
（Harrap & Co。 9d。）
One day； a long； long time ago； it was very cold； winter was coming。
And all the birds flew away to the warm south； to wait for the spring。 But
one little bird had a broken wing and could not fly。 He did not know what
to do。 He looked all round； to see if there was any place where he could
keep warm。 And he saw the trees of the great forest。
〃Perhaps the trees will keep me warm through the winter；〃 he said。
So he went to the edge of the forest； hopping and fluttering with his
broken wing。 The first tree he came to was a slim silver birch。
〃Beautiful birch…tree；〃 he said； 〃will you let me live in your warm
branches until the springtime comes？〃
〃Dear me！〃 said the birch…tree； 〃what a thing to ask！ I have to take care
of my own leaves through the winter； that is enough for me。 Go away。〃
The little bird hopped and fluttered with his broken wing until he came
to the next tree。 It was a great； big oak…tree。
〃O big oak…tree；〃 said the little bird； 〃will you let me live in your warm
branches until the springtime comes？〃
〃Dear me；〃 said the oak…tree； 〃what a thing to ask！ If you stay in my
branches all winter you will be eating my acorns。 Go away。〃
So the little bird hopped and fluttered with his broken wing till he
came to the willow…tree by the edge of the brook。
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〃O beautiful willow…tree；〃 said the little bird； 〃will you let me live in
your warm branches until the springtime comes？〃
〃No； indeed；〃 said the willow…tree； 〃I never speak to strangers。 Go
away。〃
The poor little bird did not know where to go； but he hopped and
fluttered along with his broken wing。 Presently the spruce…tree saw him；
and said； 〃Where are you going； little bird？〃
〃I do not know；〃 said the bird； 〃the trees will not let me live with them；
and my wing is broken so that I cannot fly。〃
〃You may live on one of my branches；〃 said the spruce； 〃here is the
warmest one of all。〃
〃But may I stay all winter？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the spruce； 〃I shall like to have you。〃
The pine…tree stood beside the spruce； and when he saw the little bird
hopping and fluttering with his broken wing； he said； 〃My branches are
not very warm； but I can keep the wind off because I am big and strong。〃
So the little bird fluttered up into the warm branch of the spruce； and
the pine…tree kept the wind off his house； then the juniper…tree saw what
was going on； and said that she would give the little