Salem State University - Clipper Yearbook

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and with a startled look, exclaimsj : ff Bless us I What's that noise? Oh! Some one is knocking. QAssumes a pompous air.j Come in! fEnter Pied Piper. Advances slowly towards table, his hands twitching nervously at the pipe hung around his neck. Addresses awed assemblyg Pied Piper: Mr. Mayor, Honored Members, and Citizens of Hamelin! I have learned of the sad plight of your beautiful town. If your honors please, I am able, by means of a secret charm, to draw after me all creatures that creep, swim, fly, or run. I am called the Pied Piper. With my magic pipe I have freed many countries from pests. For a thousand guilders I will rid you of all these rats. What do you say? Mayor : That is too small a price for such a task. Rid us of the rats, and we will make you a present of fifty thousand guilde1's. Pied Piper fbowing lowj : Honored gentlemen, I accept the task which you have set for me. Although poor in appearance, I am honest. I will keep the bargain with you, even as I expect you to keep it with me. Curtain. ACT II. SCENE I. Street Scene-Town Hall in the distance. QRumbling and squealing of rats heard. Also the faint strains of a flute. Group of boys come rushing on stage, talking and gesticulating wildly. Stopping and cover- ing eyes with hands, they peer into the distance.j First boy: Look, boys, see that funny looking man coming out of the Town Hall! Second boy: Doesu't he look strange! See his dress, will you? Third boy: Oh! he has a flute. Hark! he is playing it. Hear the rats come tumbling out of their hiding places. QMusic becomes louder, and rumbling increa.ses.j First boy : Look, boys, look! Just see all those rats. There must be thousands and thousands of them. Watch them scamper after the Piper. fPeople of village come rushing from all sides. A large crowd collects to watch the procession.j Housewife Qfrom among the crowdj: Gracious! See all those rats run after the man with the pipe. See them scamper helter-skelter! If they keep rushing out at this rate, in a few minutes they will all be gone. QClaps hands gleefully.j Citizen: Come on, everybody! He's drawing the rats after him. What do you suppose he will do to them? Let's all follow him. Oh! Oh l he's going towards the river Weser! What will happen now? QRumbling and squealing become deafening. Townspeople standing looking into the distance.jp Curtain. 15

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fighting with the dogs and killing the eats. Nothing seems to do any good. Have you caught many in this trap ? Frau Schmidt : No, I-QSudden knock. Door opens, and a woman rushes into the room.j Second Neighbor: Oh ! ohl What shall I do ? The rats a.1'e eating up all my cheeses, all my cakes, and even my puddings. Johann, my brother, found a nest of those terrible creatures in his best hat. It is spoiled forever ! Just look at it l QHolding up hat.j fSquealing of rats becomes louder.j First Neighbor: Perhaps we won't have to suffer any more from this pest. There is a report going about town that the matter is to be brought before the Mayor and the Corporation to see what they can do about it. They- QNoise of rats becomes so great that the conversation is drowned. Women at first clap their hands over their ears, and then drop their a1'1ns to clutch frantically at their skirts. They go through these movements for several minutes, and then dash wildly out of the room, Frau Schmidt bushing the baby, in the rear of the processiong Curtain. SCENE Il. Interior of Town Hall. Cllownspeople assembled in hall. Mayor and members of the Corporation seated on platform.J Mayor faddressing peoplej : Citizens of the town of Hamelin, you have before you a difficult matter to be settled. First citizen Crising excitedlyj: Difiicult? Have you just discovered it? For a long time we have suffered in silence from these rats. We have endured it as long as possible. The plague increases. The time has come when something must be done. All the townspeople are assembled ll81'6 to-day for- Second citizen Qjumping up and exclairningj: You speak too mildly, fellow- citizen I VVake up, sirs l What have you Cturning to the Mayor and the Corporationj done to help the town? Nothing, nothing, nothing! Do you think that we, with our hard-earned money, buy you garments lined with erniine for that purpose? Do you think we pay you to sit with your hands folded? QSits down.j Third citizen: It's shocking! Qturning to Mayor and Corporationj. Rack your brains, gentlemen l If you do not find a remedy soon, we, the people of Ilainelin, will remove you from oflicc. fhlayor and members of Corporation exchange looks. Dismay and consternation soon on their faces. Mutterings and cxclarnations of approval heard throughout audi- oiuw-, Mayor rises and comes forward. Deep silence prevails.j Mayor fwoai'il.viJ : filadly would I sell this crlnine gown which you mock. You say I liavo dono nothing for yon, but that is not true. My hea.d fairly aches I have thought. so bard about this matter. fri gentle tap is heard at the door. Mayor jumps, 14

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ACT II. SCENE II. Market Place. Ringing of church bells heard in the distance. Towmpeople, in fes- tive dress, talking and laughing gailg. Mayor, in centre, surrounded by members of Cor- poration.j Mayor Cgiving orders in a loud voicej : Men, let us not have a trace of a rat left in this town. Go! Get long poles and poke out every nest that you can find. Tell the carpenters and masons to stop up every hole. QSudden appearance of Pied Piper, who places himself in the Ma.yor's pathj Piper Qfirmlyj: Before you do this, sirs, I should like to have my thousand guilders. QMayor and Corporation exchange looks. Converse aside in low tones.j First member of Corporation : One thousand guilders ! Pay that wandering beggar a thousand guilders Y It's utter foolishness. Besides, the rats can bother us no longer. Tell him to begone at once. fOthers nod approvalg Mayor Qturning to Piperj: One thousand guilders! Nonsense! Do you think we have unlimited wealth at our command Z Besides, you did not rid us of the rats. Didn't we, the people of Hamelin, see the rats themselves jump into the river and droxm? You cannot hold us to the bargain, fellow! But since we are a generous people, we will fully reward you for the slight service which you have rendered us. Here are fifty guilders. COlI61'S bag of coins to Piper.j The Piper Cwaving bag aside and drawing himself up haughtily. Appears angry, with eyes flashingj : Keep that paltry sum for yourself, sirs! I have played my pipe to help you in your trouble. Now, if you do not pay me fully, I will play my pipe so as to bring upon you a greater misfortune than the one from which you have just been freed. Mayor Csneeringlyj : What? You threaten us, fellow l Do you think tlanghinglyj that you can scare us into paying you? fsnaps fingers in Piper's facej Do your worst Y Blow on your tin pipe until therels not a breath left in your worthless body! QAmid the jeers of the members of the Corporation and the townspeople, the piper pulls his hat down over his eyes, and rushes out of the market place without glancing at any one.j Curtain. ACT II. , SCENE III.-Street Scene. I Strains of sweet music heard in the distance. Townspeople come from all directions. lllusifr becomes louder as Piper comes into view, playing his pipe, and followed by all the children of the town. Children are dancing, singing, and clapping hands joyously. Loud vrclumatinnnf rom parentaj 16