Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-11-09
Mary Who Had the Little Lamb.

Mrs. Mary E. Tyler, who lives in
Somerville, Mass, has given the Bos-
ton Globe the following story of the
original little lamb"
"One cold bleak March morning |
went out with father. and after the
cows had been fed. we went 10 the
sheep-pen and found two lambs which
had been born in the night. One OF
them had been forsaken by its mother.
and through neglect was about dead
from the cold and for want Of food. |
got it into the house and worked
upon mothers sympathieS. 1t couldn't
at first swallow, and the catnip tea |
had mother To make for my sick
friend it could not take for long
time got the lamb warm the first
thing. which was done 10y wrapping
her in an old garment and holding
her in my arms beside the fireplace.
All day long nursed the lamb. and
at night il could swallow just little.
O, how pleased was But | wasn't
then satisfied il would live, and | sat
up all night with it, fearing it wouldn't
be warm enough unless there was
some one there 10 look out for its com
fort. In the morning, much 10 my
girish delight. il could stand, then II
improved rapidly, soon learned To
4 q q -
walk about il would follow me any
where if | only called il. Ii was IA
fast grower. "a symmetrical IA sheep
as ever walked, and its fleece was of
the finest and whitest.
The day the lamb went to school |
hadn't seen her previous 10 starting
off, and not wanting 10 go without
getting her | called. She readily
recognized my voice, and soon heard
faint bleating away down the field.
More and more distinctly | could hear
it and | knew my pei was coming 10
greet me. Ny brother Nate said, Let's
take the lamb to school with us
Il thought it would be n good idea,
and consented. and she followed
along right behind me. There was
high stone wall TO climb, and IL was
rather hard work TO get the lamb
over We got her on top then clam
bered over to take her down, and she
stood just aS patiently as could be-
waiting for us TO take her of the wall.
when the school house was reached
the teacher had not arrived, and but
few scholars were there. Then | be
gan to think what ! should do with
the lamb while school was in session.
| took her down 10 my seat you
know we had old-fashioned, high
boarded up seats then. Well, / put
nv lamb under the seat, put on her
blanket. and she lay down just rs
quietly ~ could be. BY and 10y had
10 90 out to recite and left the lamb
all right, but in moment there was
a clatter clatter clatter on the floor,
and knew it was the pattering OF
the hoofs Of my lamb. Oh, how NOR
tilted | felt. The teacher was Miss
Polly kimball. who was the mother
Of Loring, the circulating library man
of Boston. She laughed out right,
and of course, all the children glggled.
1t was rare sport for them, but ]
couldn't find anything mirthful in the
situation. ! was too embarrassed aud
ashamed 10 laugh or even smile at
the unlooked-for appearance OF my
sheep out on the floor. ! took the
lamb out and put 1t in n shed until ]
was ready 10 go home at noon, when
il followed me back Usually ] did
not go home until night, as we carried
our lunch with us. but | thought !
would go at noon that day.
Visiting the school that forenoon
was a young man named John Roul-
stone, who was nephew Of the Rev.
Lemuel Capin who was then settled
in Sterling. He was fitting for college.
The young man was much pleased
at the school incident, and the next
day he rode across the fields on horse
back. came 10 the little old school
house. and handed me slip of paper
which had written upon it three
verses. which are the original lines,
but since then there have been two
verses added by a Mrs. Townsend.
The verses were written together
when got them:
"Mary had little lamb
Its fleece was white as snow;
And everywhere that Mary went
Trt. la NH ,vas sttre "A