Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-11-19
AIR. EVARTS AND MARY'S
LAME.
THE IA NOUS STORY TOLD in RHYME, AS
PAnAPHRAsED IN PROSE BY THE
SECRETARY,
Few poems have been more gener
ally admired or parapbrased in the va
rious tongues Of earth than that com
mencinp with the lines

Few poems have been more gener'
ally admired or parapbrased in the va
rious tongues of earth than that com
mcncing with the lines
Mary had little lamb,
Its fleece was white As snow,
And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to 60
We'll, the story is now current at
the National Capital that the dlstin'
gushed Secretary of State, when re-
Gently in q jocular crowd OF his friends,
was desired TO condensc into prose
these immortal verses. Urgently so
licited, Mr.. Evarts yielded and wrote
US follows:
"Mary, female judged to be OF the
race of man, whose family name is un.
known, whether of native or foreign
birth, OF lofty or lowly lineage, and
whose appearance, manners and men.
tal cultivation is involved in the most
profound mystery, which probably
never will be fully ascestained, unless
through the most profound researches
of historian admirably trained in his
profession, who shall devote the ablest
efforts of his life to the investigation
of the subject, uninfuenced by either
passion or prejudice, ard having only
in view the sacred truth, at the same
time being utterly regardless of the
plaudits or censures of the world, We
are informed by one who, II has beer
stated at one time while living in that
part of the United States known a'
Massachusetts, whose fishermen hav,
frequently been involved in difficulties
with the authorities of Her Majesty
Queen Victoria, Queen of Great Britain
and Empress of the Indies, whose do
mains extend over large share of the
habitable globe, thereby endangering
peace which should so happily exist
between nations of the same blood and
language, had an infant sheep, o.
which there are many millions OF vari
Gus stocks and qualities now in oul
country, constantly adding wealth and
prosperity TO our Republic and en-
abling us TO be entirely independent o.
all other nations for our supply o.
wool, now ample for the use of iacto
ries already busily employed, and fol
those which ere long will be construct
ed in all parts of our land, working
both by water and steam power, and
in whatever direction said Mary trav
eled, this animal whose fleece was
snow.white, even as the lofty noun
tain regions in the silent soltudes Of
eternal winter, as the ethereal vapors
which oft float over an autumnal sky
"darkly, deeply, beautifully blue" OF
as the lacteal fluid, covered with
masses of delicate iroth, found in
the buckets of the fair dairy maid,
whether meandering through the
meadows in midsummer, gathering up
the luscious strawberry, strolling in
the woodland paths in search OF wild
flowers, visiting the church with her
uncles, cousins and aunts to listen to
the inspired words which came from
the lips Of the minister of the sanctu.
ary, or when retiring TO her bliesiul
couch to seek rest and enjoy sweet re
pose after the cares of the day, in fact
everywhere that Mary went this
youthful sheep, influenced, doubtless,
by that affection which is so conspicu.
ously manifested by the lower animals
in their association with human beings
was ever observed TO accompany her.
1t is stated that when the pause in
the sentence came, the Secretary, who
had read it without an inspiration, re-
sumed his solid diplomatic counte.
nance, and all mirthfulness had de-
parted from that once happy com
pany.