The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-26
NARY AND HER LAMB.
THE TRUTH ABOUT a VERY OELE-
DRAFTED CASE.

SIoFy-AAo Eoem ana the Episode
IN school-How It All Came About.
From the Brooklyn Eagle.
The MARY and Her Little Iambn contro-
versy is satisfactorily settled at last. Until
the receipt OF letter at the Eagle Office
yesterday morning Mary's prospects were
somewhat ambiguous, and the lamb was
not TO be congratulated on a fiattering out
look. 1t seemed as though both would have
to go through all the ages in company with
the Man in the Iron Mask, unless, indeed.
the author of the letters OF "Juniusn con-
sented to join the party. 1t has even been
supposed that Mary was entirely mythical
and that the lamb was woven out of whola
cloth-of the finest wool variety. of course
Mrs. Sarah j. Hale, who died in Philadel-
phia several years ago. up to the last
moment OF her otherwise uneventful life
stoutly maintained large right. title and
interest in the lamb. Later Mrs. Tyler
made out a formidable case, not in
volving full proprietorship, but es-
tablishlng momentous collateral con-
nection. 1t has not been made to appear
that the lamb had any competitors. That
fortunate animal has BEEN gathered into
an unchallenged fold to frissily wag its tail
letter
with which the Eagle was favored yester-
day throws Mrs. Tyler out of court. makes
gracious concession to Mrs. Hale, throws
the real mantle of poetic achievement over
the shoulders of one John Rollstone and
brings to the front, as the only genuine
heroine of the celebrated school episode.
Mary Elizabeth Sawyer. 1t is so circum-
stantial in its details that not a l)ophole is
anywere leftfo the escape of Mrs Tyler.
I Il T.,
days ago. She passed away in a halo of
accumulated glory which, as the com
inunicatinn clearly establishes, properly be-
longs to Mary Elizabeth Sawyer, John Roll
stone and Mrs. Hale.
TO the Editor of the Brooktun Ed0[e: I
have seen so many incJrrect accounts of
'Mary's Little Lamb" that am tempted to
send the really true version. Mary Eliza
beth Sawyer was orn in March, 1906, at
Sterling, Wooster county, Massachusetts.
In 1850 she married gentleman named
Columbus Tyler, and resided in Somerville
until her deat1, where she passed quietly
and peacefully away. her father was a
farmer, and when she was years old she
used to go vita him to look after the lambs
that were born, and one day her father told
her that three little lambs had been born,
and she went with him to look at them. AS
they came near where the lambs were. her
as though it was dead. 1t was SO very
little and pretty that Mary felt
sorry, and she thought it was a pity
that a lamb should die so soon after
it was born. She went up to it and
kindly touched and turned It's head slightly.
MARY" her father said, that lamb is
dead" "No, papa" said she, sit is not; for
when | move its head it will move it back
again" "But it cannot live,n said her
20
me take it home and take care of 1t. So
her father gave his consent and she took it
home She had seen her mother give the
little children catnip tea to strengthen
them; SO she had some made and, gave it to
the lamb. All that day she nlirsed it and
sat up nearly all that night with it. After
awhile she gave it warm milk; it lived and
grew, and the little creature seemed to
realize that it owed its life to Mary,
and 30 it was true that everywhere
that Mary went the lamb was sure
to CO." Mary made a sound that
was between song and a scream, and when
the lamb heard that note, no matter where
1t was, it would run to Mary. She always
made it point to see her lamb before sac
went to school, but this morning she had
not seen 1t; SO she had TO start for school
without G ing to look for it, as she was
afraid of beng late. She gave her signal,
1oyfully placed its head on her lap. The
children who were with Mary helped the
lamb over the store wall and it went with
them to school. Mary could not make it
go home, so took it to her seat before the
teacher came in and put her shawl over it.
Mary did not want the teacher to look that
way for fear he would see the lamb, so
she opeued her book and commenced
to study her lesson. She never studied
so hard in her lie as she
did that morning. But when the
time came for the class to say its lesson,
Mary and the others had to take their
places on the floor and stand on certain
line; but the moment Mary started the lamb
went forward with her and stood on the
line. This was very nusing; the scholars
laughed, and not only the scholars, but the
teacher. But after awhile the children
laughed and played SO much that the
teacher had to put it in the wooshed. So
this is the way that Mary's lamb followed
her to school one day." In the town where
Mary resided was q young man named
John Rollstone, about IL years of age, who
was studying at the minister's house. In
those days the clergymen we're the best edu
Gated men in the country and would take
a few young men to educate. John Roll
stone wrote the poem about Mary and her
lamb and gave it to her few days after
this occurrence.
Mary had little lamb,
His fleece was white as snow;
And everywhere that Mary went
The lamb was sure to go.
He followed her to school one day,
Which was against the rule;
1t made the children laugh and play
To see lamb at school.
But soon the teacher turned him out,
And still he fingered near,
And waited patiently about
Till Mary did appear.
Some time afterward Mary lost these
verses aud could not tell what became of
them. One day, many years after the
death of the lamb, to Mary's establishment,
she read a poem by Mrs. Sarah j. Hale,
containing the three verses written for her
by John Rollst ne and several more. This
is how Mrs. Hale printed it.:
Mary had little lamb,
Its fleece was white.as snow;
And erywhere that Mary went
The lamb was sure to go.
1t followed her to school one day.
Which was against the rule;
1t made the children laugh and play
To see lamb at school.
And so the teacher turned it out,
But still it fingered near,
And waited patiently about
Till Mary did appear;
And then it ran to her and laid
Its head upon her arm,