Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-11-11
Mary Had a Little
Lamb
BY JANE OSBORN

Ter SOpHOuOTe your III thS seobo
university that she met Bob Lamb at
a country house-party. Bob Lamb
had just finished his junior year at a
smaller college. 1t was perfectly clear
from the end of the FIRST day at the
hospltable old farmhouse that Mary
liked Bob and that Bob was smltten
with Mary. Bob did not hesitate to tell
Mary of his feelings for her. For the
time all he begged Of her was that she
would permit him to be somewhere
near her. It was Mary's idea, then, that
Bob should transfer himself from the
smaller college and enter the senior
class of the university that she at
tended.
SO when Mary went back to col
lege It was nolsed abroad that she
had brought heavy sutton" with
her. The girls in her fraternity house
laughed at her and with her. Then
one Of them sitting at the piano be-
gan softly playing the strains Of
MARY Had Little Lamb"
The girls took up the words and
Mary sat there blushing.
"But Bob Lambs fleece isn't as
white as snow" protested Mary weak
ly. "He has black hair"
"But he did follow you to school
one day-you'n have to admit It,"
laughed one Of the girls, and they
went on singing their song.
Bob Lamb had been transferred
from the fraternity in his own COL
lege to the chapter in the university
where It was soon passed around that
they had girl to thank for the trans
fer.
"Nice Culinary Lester-a Junior
Gamma Sigma" informed one Of the
men. Someone ought to drop word
Of thanks to Mary-she did US a good
turn"
One Of the men who had listened
to the remark began softly whistling
the notes Of MARY Had a Little
Lamb"
Someone with a bass. voice began
croaklng the words. A tenor took 1t
up. Two others Joined in and the I'M
promptu Quartette stood up with mock
sOlemnlty and chanted the song.
No one meant to give offense but
everywhere that Bob Lamb APP
peared with Mary-at college dances,
at concerts or football games or Just
strollIng down some country lane
there was always someone by to war
BILE or whistle the annoying tune.
SO after the end Of Mary's Junior
year and Bob Lambs senior year they
felt that they had seen great deal
less of each other than they had
hoped Bob was going to New York
to start in business with his uncle
and Mary would have to stay at home
"a thousand miles from New York.
They decided that before that long
and last separation they must spend
few weeks undisturbed in each 9TH
er's company.
Bob heard Of a college camp some
where in the next state. There was
a tent colony for the men and anoth'
err for the girls-a study camp where
serIous-minded students went to study
astronomy under the direction Of a
number Of renowned astronomers.
Neither Bob nor Mary had ever felt
more than passing interest In the
study Of the heavens, but there would
be opportunity to see each other at
lectures and on the observation ex-
cursions. They could SIT together in
the evening on mountain tops gazing
at the stars True, there would be
the other students and the learned
professors. but there would be no one
to tease them They needn't let any.
one know that they had ever met be-
fore. II was Mary's idea that their
names must not go with them. Some
one might think Of the stupid song
about Mary and her little lamb. II
would be simple enough in Mary's
case She could easily use her mid.
die name, Ella. 1t took some maneu.
verIng on Bob's part Finally he took
a friend, Bill Ball, into his confidence
and arranged to use his college certih-
cate for enrolment.
For the first two weeks of the ses.
sIons at the summer camp everything
went beautifully. Then It became ap.
parent that Bob-now Bill Ball-and
Mary-now Ella-contrived to sit next
TO each other on all occasions. One
evening when the class Of campers
were starting of up the mountain
side someone In the party began to
hum the tune of the nursery song that
H. AAfAVa ~ Nforu
seemed as II everyone took up the
air--whlstiIng or warbling as they
went. Then someone began the words:
Ella had little Ball. his fleece was
black as coal
And everywhere that Ella went the
Ball was sure to roll.
"Lefs pretend we don't know they
mean u.s." whispered Mary Ella.
"That won't work." said Bob Lamb
rather Bill Ball. Lets pretend we
like IT,"
so they stuck II out-wherever they
were seen together someone was pref.
ty sure to take up the notes of the
old song. And at the end Bob got q
letter from his uncle-offering him a
little more than he had expected by
way Of a beginners salary. On the
strength Of this Bob asked Mary to
marry him as soon as they left sum.
mer camp. Mary said she was will.
ing.
Don't let's have a church wedding"
she suggested. "The organist would
be sure to play that hateful tune in.
stead OF the wedding march,"
fCopyrightD