"What shall we do?" said the people. “The rats will eat everything." Just then a strange man came along. He wore such a funny coat. Half of it was yellow. Half of it was red. He had a flute. 66 "I can take all the rats away," said the strange man. "Will you give me a great deal of money if I will do it?" "Oh, yes, we will give you a great deal of money," said the people. "We shall be glad to give it to you. Do take the rats away." The man blew his flute. The rats came running out of the houses. They came out of the barns. There were big rats and little rats. You never saw so many. They all ran after the man. Soon he came to the river. The rats were with him. All the rats jumped into the river. That was the end of them. How glad the people were! How happy they were! They rang the bells. They laughed and sang. Now give me a great deal of money," said the man. But the people would not give it to him. They gave him only a little bit. What mean people they were! The man was angry. He began to play his flute again. Out came the children running. All the little boys and girls ran after the man. The people could not stop them. The man went up the mountain side. The children went with him. A door was opened in the mountain side. They all ran in. Then the door was shut. It never opened again. Where do you think the children went? |