Salem State University - Clipper Yearbook

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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

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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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Child Ccalling out to parentsj: Good-bye, mother! Good-bye, father! We are going with the Piper to a beautiful land. Second child: He says he will give us a tree of sugar plums. Third child: He's promised me a horse with wings. Then I can fly high in the air! Fourth child, We can do anything we like if we go with the Piper! QSorrowful cries and exclamations from parents in the erowdj Woman Cin tones of anguishj : Oh! Oh! He is drawing them towards the river Weser. He is going to drown them just as he did the rats. Oh! our beautiful chil- d1'9D ! Second woman: No, it is not so! See! he is turning away from the river and going towards the hill. They are safe ! He can never cross that high mountain. Only a Wizard could lead those children over it. Do not worry 3 he will have to stop play- ing, and then our children will come back. QLoud cries of joy heard on all sides, followed by a deep hush as the mountain opens and the children vanish. Grief-stricken cries from the parents. In a few min- utes Piper enters again, playing his pipe, and followed by children, whom he leads across the market place. Sounds of sweet singing and the glad voices of children die away. Men and women stand spell-bound. ELsPETH C. SAUNDERS. MILDRED A. WETMORE. l 1 l - , - L , EGTK l I - TS 4- 1. l , ML! jg F F 5 J In Ui W1.l..L f '1 -I 5 -lyxsag Z! I . .4 ---. l 'f ,V l'!f ' '11 vu T .Q.-7 ff? JMB ff h ' K jew g Ia.. NI x T as I S f I A ... W f -l El 'L K ' - 605' 2 fl s .. 4 6 F' A. l I ' Q . ,- A -Q fx .3-A -7, nA':,7,-S .. -1- -- :QA HAGAOA 1-f'5fN,-. mf.. rf.-m., , ,1kivl'K-IX:-. X r:.'i.- rE,i,',fg:,f,T9T :4-TT 2 ,Z:Q?l3-C TA j Aa- X Yi X N ' X 17