"The Pied Piper of Hamelin" is a famous tale about a town plagued by a rat infestation. In the story, the townspeople hire a mysterious piper, dressed in colorful clothes, to rid them of the rats. He uses his magical flute to lure the rodents away, leading them to a river where they drown. After the piper successfully eliminates the rats, the townspeople refuse to pay him the agreed amount. In revenge, he plays his flute again, this time enchanting the children of Hamelin. He leads them away to a hidden place, teaching the townspeople a lesson about keeping promises.