Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-10-12
NO. 242.
#iseella laaeoiis.
THE '.TRUE sreRY" or NARY's snBEP
HOW HE FOLLOWED HER 70 SCHOOL
AND HOW HE WAS EXPELLED.

AND HOW HE WAS EXPELLED.
There are floating about in the great
ocean of literature stray chips of song or
story, which from their wit or wisdom, or
from some unaccountable reason, become
popularized and cherished more carefully
than whole navics of world-renowned au-
thors. Their parentage unknown, they
come as literary foundlings to our doors,
and, once admitted. command their own
place in our affections. Among such i.
the poem, MARY had little lamb"
There is hardly child in the broad land
who has not become familiar with the
verses; not college student but has
sung them TO dozen different tunes. 1t
haS6een parodied, paraphased and trans
lated into the dead languages. And yet
scarce any one knows who is the author
or whether it is fictitious or founded on
fact 1t is, perhaps. in the truth of the
story that the secret Of its popularity lies.
For it is the account of an incident that
happened sixty-one years ago, not fifty
miles from the Cradle of Liberty. And
"Mary," delightful old lady Of three
score and ten, still lives and cherishes the
memory of the event. The writer on a
recent visit, craved from her own lips the
true story of the affair, and will reproduce
it as nearly as possible.
MARY TELLS HER TALE UNADoRNED.
ut was when was nine years DID,
she said, land we lived upon the farm.
l used to 60 out to the barn every morn
ing with father to see the cows. Old Broad
and Shorthorn and Brindle, would low a
good-morning when came to their stables.
One cold day we found that during the
night twin-lambs had been born. You
know that sheep will often disown one Of
twins, and this morning one poor little
lamb was pushed out Of the pen into the
yard. 1t was almost starved and frozen.
and father told me I might have It if l
could make it live. So took It into the
house, wrapped il in blanket and fed it on
peppermint and milk all day. When
night came l could not bear to leave it for
fear of its dying. so mother made me up
little bed on the settle and ] nursed the
poor little thing all night, feeding II with
spoon and by morning it could stand. AZ
ter this we brought it up by hand until it
grew to love me very much, and would
stay with me wherever went unless it
was tied. l used before going to school
in the morning to see that the lamb was
all right and securely fastened for the day.
and l were all ready, the lamb could not
be found, and supposing that IL had gone
out 10 pasture with The cows we started on.
used to be a great singer, and the lamb
would follow the sound Of my voice. This
morning, after we had gone some dis
tance, l began to sing, and the lamb,
hearing me, followed me and overlook us
before we got to the school-house. As it
happened, we were early, so ] went in
very quietly, took TIE lamb into my seat.
where tt went to sleep, and covered it
with my shawl se.
When the teacher. came and the rest of
the scholars, they did not notice anything
amiss, and all was quiet until my spelling
class was called. l had hardly taken my
place before the patting OF little feet was
heard coming down the aisle, and the
lamb stood beside me ready for its word.
OF course the children all laughed aud the
teacher laughed, too, and the poor esea-
ture had to be turned out Of doors. But
1t kept coming back. and at last had to be
tied in the wood-shed till night. Now,
that day, there was a young man in school,
John Roulston by name. who was on
a visit to one of the boys, and came as a
spectator. He was Boston boy and son
of the ridingschoOl master, and was fit
ting for Harvard College. He was very
much pleased over what he saw in our
school, and a few days after gave US the
first three verses of the song. How or
when it got into print don't know"
SOME RELICS OF THOSE HAPPY DAYS.
Thus she ran on, telling of the care she
bestowed on her pet until it grew to be
sheep, and she she would curl its long
wool over stick and it bore lambs un-
til there was a flock of five all her own:
and finally how it was killed by an angry
COW. Then she brought out pair Of her
little girl stockings, knitted Of yarn spun
from the lambs wool, the heels Of which
had been raveled out and given away
peacemeaf and mementos. No one can
doubt that she, whose youth was rendered
famous by love for an unfortunate ami
NAL. has lived life of beneficence and
charity. With heart overf1owing toward
Gods creatures she has indeed lived to
care for the needy and destitute, and be
mother to the motherless. And now, in
green old age, she is surrounded by those
whom her warm heart long since to cling
to her and follow as the lamb in her youth.
When at last she shall cross the river she
will find an eternal home in the green
pastures and beside the still waters, where
the Good Shepherd feeds his lambs. John
Roulston died before entering college.
What the world lost in him who wove in.
to verse that immortalized them both the
story of Mary and the lamb no one may
say. WILLIAM b. SAWYER.