The legend of the Pied Piper is old and well know. It takes
place in the German town of Hamelin, around 12th-13th century.
The city was under a plague of rats. And what ever the
townspeople did they could not get rid of them. One day a
stranger arrived, dressed half in red and half in yellow
(therefor, pied). He offered to rid the town of the rat plaque
for 1000 guilders, which was a lot of money. The mayor, who was
getting desperate, agreed, however he didn't think the Piper
would succeed.  When the Piper began playing his pipes every rat
was entranced and followed the piper as he lead them to their
doom. Out of town, through the country, and all the way to the
river Weser where they all drowned.  But when the Piper returned
to town and asked for his fee, the mayor refused. And instead
offered him a mere 50 guilders. The piper refused this offer.
Because of his treatment the piper took his revenge. This time
when he played the pipes, it wasn't the rats who ware entranced,
but the children. Every child in to