Alice Meets The Pied Piper

Once upon a time there was a little fair haired girl called Alice. She was 10 years old. On a warm sunny afternoon Alice sat all alone on the banks of a brook near a forest. Lost in her thoughts, she was playing with colourful pebbles. She wore a white lace dress, an apron with a red seam, and blue sandals. Her hair was tied in a pony-tail. 

She softly hummed her favourite melody and once in a while she pitched a pebble into the water. But after a short time she was bored. She got up and picked a bunch of flowers from the meadow. But since there was nobody there she could give the flowers to, after a while she threw them sadly into the stream. Slowly they drifted away until Alice could not see them any more.

Then, all of a sudden, she heard the faint music of a pipe coming from the forest. Curious she turned around and walked towards the edge of the forest. But since she could not see anything, she wandered into the forest. Soon the music grew louder. Alice searched everywhere for the piper, but in vain. She looked behind every tree and bush. Suddenly she heard a loud trill right behind her. She turned around, and from behind an old gnarled oak tree appeared a strange looking creature: a man with black hair and bushy beard stood in front of her, gazing at her with a twinkle in his eyes. His coat was brown and haggard. His feet were emersed in tall dark boots. He twirled his silver pipe a few times over his head, and then continued to play.

Alice wondered whether the stranger might be a pied piper, come to lure her into danger. But before she could think about it any further, he came nearer and danced around her playing a merry tune. The sound of his pipe was so enchanting that Alice forgot all about her misgivings. As he whirled around her faster and faster, Alice full of childlike coquetry followed his dark, ebony eyes, and danced in a circle with him. Finally he stopped dancing and playing and looked into her eyes.

Alice: My name's Alice.

Pied Piper:  Alice! Ha, ha, ha...

And, grinning, he began to sing:

Pied Piper (sings):

Love-lighted eyes, that will not start

at frown of rage or malice!

Uplifted brow, undaunted heart

ready to dine on raspberry-tart -

Here comes the fairy Alice!

In scenes as wonderful as if

she'd flitted in a magic skiff

across the sea to Calais.

Be sure this night, in fancy's feast,

even till morning gilds the east,

this maid will dream - oh, Alice!

this maid will weary of the taste

of life's embittered chalice.

May she, in such a woeful hour,

endued with memory's mystic power

recall her dreams - oh, Alice!

With a flattered expression on her face, Alice clapped her hands enthusiastically. The Pied Piper expressed his thanks with a deep exaggerated bow. Then he put the pipe to his lips again and frollicked off playing.

Pied Piper: I'm the Pied Piper! Ha, ha, ha... The Pied Piper! Ha, ha...

Alice: Where are you going? (starts to run after him) Wait for me! 

Pied Piper: Come, Alice, Come! I'll show you something. Come with me, Alice.

Skipping and playing his pipe, he went deeper into the forest. Without much hesitation Alice followed him, enchanted by the sound of his tune. The piper went faster and faster, and Alice had difficulty following him. The forest grew denser and darker, but Alice paid no attention.

Suddenly he disappeared as if swallowed up by the earth. Alice glanced behind the tree where she had last seen him, and found herself in front of a huge cave which emitted a soft shimmer of light. There she heard the piping again. It came from deep inside the cave. Quickly she ran inside.