The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-10-27

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 almost frozen, and father told me l
might have it if l could make it live. So l
took it into the house, wrapped it IN
blanket, and fed it on peppermint and milk
all day. When night came could not bear
to leave it for fear it would die, SO mother
made me little bed on the settle, and |
nursed the poor thing all night, feeding it
with spoon, and by morning. it could stand.
After this we brought it up by the hand IN
til it grew to love me very much and would
stay with me wherever l went unless 1t was
tied. 1 used before going to school in the
morning to see that the lamb was all right
and securely fastened for the day.
Well, one morning, when my brother Nat
and were all ready, the lamb could not be
found, and supposing ithad gone out to pas
ture with the cows, we started on. l used
to be great singer, and the lamb would
follow the sound of my voice. Tbs morning,
after We mad gone some distance, | began to
sing, and the lamb hearing me, followed on,
and overlook Us before we got to the school
house. As it happened, We were early, SO
went in very quietly, took the lamb into my
seat, where it went to sleep, and covered It
up with my shawl. When the teacher came
and the rest of the scholars, they did not
notice anything amiSs, and all was quiet un-
til my spelling class was called. 1 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 It's
word. Of course the children all laughed
and the teacher laughed too, and the poor
creature had to be turned out of doors. But
ne kept coming back, aud 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 visit to one
of the boys, and came as spectator. He
was Boston boy and son of the riding
school master, and was fitting for Harvard
College. He was very much pleased over
what he saw in our school, and few days
after gave US the first three verses of the
song. How or when it got into print l don't
know"
Thus she ran on telling Of the care she
bestowed on her pet until it grew to be g
sheep, and she would curl its long wool ovel
a stick; and it bore lambs until there was q
flock of FIVE all her own; and finally how il
was killed by an angry COW. Then she
brought out pair of her little girls stock
ings, knitted of yarn spun from the lambs
WOOL the heels of which had been travelled
out and given away piecemeal as mementOs
No one can doubt that she, whose youth wai
rendered famous by love for an unfortunate
animal, had lived life Of benefcence anC
charity. With heart Overlooking With love
towards all Gods creatures, she has indeed
lived to care for the needy and destitute, anC
be mother to the motherless. And now
in a green old age, she is surrounded by
these whom her warm heart long since taught
to cling to her and follow as tb} lamb in hel
youth. When at lsst she shall eeoss the river
she viii find an eternal home, in the greer
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 wcve into verse
that immortalized them, both the story o.
Mary and the lamb, no one may say.