The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-07
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun
 N VERY considerable part of the V American public has for some
 time been more or less familiar with the apparently immortal verse con- cerning 'Mary's Lamb,' and what hap pened to the innocent creature when 1t make somewhat informal visit to an in- stitution of learning whose presiding pedagogue received 1t in a manner to be characterized as inhospitable, to say the least But 1t is probably within the bonds of strictest accuracy to say com paratively few persons have any wide &C., quaintance with the details of Marys early history and unbringing or with the life, works and character of her justly celebrated pet.
 It is only fair to say that the informa- ton here given is the result of extensive researches made upon tho collection of curios belonging to Charles D. Chade- ayne of Ossining, N. Y., and about to be sold at auction by the Merwin-Clay ton Sales company of 20 East Twentieth street.
 The collection contains exhibits which demonstrates to certainty that the lamb was born some time in the year 1917, in the village of Sterling, Mass. where Mary (surname Sawyer) was then residing with her parents. It appears that the little creature destined to be so famous was in Its earliest hours in frail health. Ac- cording to the account, for which MT Chadeayne vouches, several lambs were born at about the same time and Mary made visit to the fold with her papa
 Mary" said her father. that lamb IS dead"
 'No, papa" replied the intelligent little girl, flor when I move its head 1t will move it back again.
 'But 1t cannot live" said her father
 "Oh yes, maybe it can" replied Mary. Let me take it home and nurse it and tend it."
 To this Mary's kind-hearted papa con- scented. So Mary took her little lamb and carried 1t home and warmed 1t and fed 1t.
 It appears that Mary was in the habit of saying goodby to the lamb every morn ing before starting off to school. One morning she forgot to do so and, know ing that the lamb would feel hurt by this omission, she decided to repair her error. Now Marry had a little sound that she made that was half way between U scream and a song, and no matter where the lamb was when 1t heard that sound it would run to Mary All unwilling the sig nificance of her act, Mary now made that half way between sound Sure enough, the lamb came running, and not knowing what else to do with the little thing Mary wrapped it up in her shawl and took it to school.
 Mary said" to resume the account, "that she never studied so hard in her life as she did that morning. Crhe lamb, by the way, was under her bench, still wrapped up in the shawl) She did not want the teacher to look that way for fear she would see the lamb. But when the time came to say lessons the scholars in Marys class had to go out and stand along a certain crack in the floor. And what should happen but the moment Mary started the lamb started and went right forward and stood on the crack with Mary"
 Just how long after these historic events 1t was that the original poet em- bodied his inspiration in its immortal form we cannot be sure, but the proofs show that Mary expressed the opinion that it was not more than few days. John Rollestone was the poet He was at that time not more than 17 years old
 He was engaged in completing his studies under the guidance Of the village par son. and as soon as he heard about the lambs unavailing attempt to improve it's mind he saw at once that here was his opportunity. In kind of divine frenzy he dashed off the first stanzas, which according to Mary ran exactly thus; Mary has 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; It made the children laugh and play To see the lamb at school. And so the teacher turned him out And still he fingered near, And waited patiently about I'll Mary did appear.