Pied Piper leading away children of German town of Hamelin. Illustration from children's book of c1899. Best known in English speaking world from Robert Browning's poem, the legend is that in 1284 town infested with rats. Piper not paid for ridding town of vermin, so returned and this time when he played his pipe all the children came out and he led them away. Only two remained, one blind and one lame. Oleograph