Wichita eagle., 1890-01-24

| to every child who
MIS-. AAEf TYLER. knew her She was
q great friend to the little folks who were in
vited to play upon her lawns ON frequent oc-
| casionS.
Mrs. Tyler related the story Of the writing
of the verse year OF two ago to contribu-
tor to Yenowine's News. She was induced
to take the lamb to school by her brother
Nate, and when she arrived at the school
house put the little animal under her desk,
where it lay quietly until Mary was called
out to recite Then the lamb trotted out
after the little maid, TO the great amusement
of the teacher, Miss Polly Kilnball, while, sayA
Mrs Tyler, the children giggled outright.
She goes on:
| 1t was rare sport for them, but couldn't find
anything mirthful in the situation. was too en-
oarrassed and ashamed to laugh or even smile at
tie unlocked for appearance Of my sheep out on
| the floor. I took the lamb out and put it in a
she'd until was ready to go home at noon, when
it followed me back. Usually did not 60 homo
until night, as We carried OH lunch with us, but
thought would go at noon that day.
Visiting the school that forenoon was q young
man named John Tsoulstone, who Was nephew
of Rev Lenouel Capin, who was then settled in
Sterhng. He was then fitting for college. It was
the custom then to fit for college with ministers
The young man was very much p.eased at the
school incident and the next day he rode ocross
the fields on horseback, came to the little old
school house, and handed me a slip OF paper,
which had written upon it three verses, which
the original lines, but since then there have
been two verses added.
The lamb was killed by a vicious COW, and
its fleece was spun and knit into stockings
When the Boston people held fair to raise
money to preserve the OLD South Church. tho
stockings were raveled out and bits Of the
yarn were sold for relics, the sum raised
therefrom amounting to 500.
John Roulstone's authorship of the verses is,
however, disputed by the family of the late
Mrs. Sarah J. bale, of Philadelphia
Mrs Hale was for many years connected
with Godey's Ladies' Book She was Sarah
Buell., and married David Hale in 1873 The
Philadelphia Times says:
To Mrs Hale's family indebted for the
following account Of the circumstances which led
to it's production. In 1897 DR.. Lowell Mason was
induced to lend bis talents to Boston, and willis
there gave especial attention to the training Of
children in vocal music being the FIRST person to
introduce singing into the public schools. In
order to make these singing classes attractive,
DIR. Mason requested Mrs. Hale and other writers
to furnish him with verses suited to the capacity
of children and OF kind to interest them. In
response % this request Mrs Hale, ever ready
to lend hand in any good work, composed q
series OF little poems for children, which were set
to music 10y MI Mason and sung in the schools Of
Boston, and afterwards throughout the country
Among these were the well known IF ever
Bee, on bush tree" and the world famous
~Mary's Lamb" which WIS founded on an Incl
deut of the writer's own childish experience A
farmers daughter, She had lad in her New
Hampshire home Der own little pet lamb, that
followed her wherever she went Deyoteiiy fond
Of animals and making, pets Of birds and kittens
from her earliest to her latest yesIs, this busy
editor and mother of a family turned aside from
her pressing cares to write these verses, which
have found a sympathetic echo IN the hearts Of
children oil over the country. In 1880 the poems
thus composed were published m book form under
Mrs Hale's signature, with number of other
songs and rhymes affectionately dedicated TO I'll
good children In the United States
The real facts are probably as related by
The San Francisco Cab, which, after telling
the story as hereinbefore related by Mrs.
Tyler, says that Mrs. Hale afterwards took
the three verses written by Roulstone and,
adding to them, made the complete poem as
it has since been known.
The bold the piece has had for more than
half century on very young children, inC-
Gates that the little folk have their great lit
erary productions as we'll as their elders
But the gems for children are far more rare
than the gems fr adults.
The art of seizing and relating incidents in
manner capable of attracting different
generations OF children has been held by very
few people. While the authorship of a pos,n
as juvenile as this may not at first sight seem
to be matter worthy Of contest when the
rarity of the faculty which produced it Is
considered the author rnay we'll fight for his
rights. Indeed, it is the incident that a..
tracts the children, and the recital of it a,
simple language especially suited to them
fixed the whole in child's literature tn.
original verses were:
Mary Rad q little lamb
Its fleece was white as SLOW:
And everywhere that Nary went
The lamb was sure to go
1t followed her to school one day,
Which was against tie rule:
Il made the children laugh and play
To see The lamb ct school
And so the teacher turned it out
But stin il fingered near.
Ana waited patiently shout