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Mary Had a Little Lamb

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36: 168:. It was the custom then for students to prepare for college with ministers, and, for this purpose, Roulstone was studying with his uncle. The young man was very much pleased with the incident of the lamb, and, the next day, he rode across the fields on horseback, to the little old schoolhouse and handed me a slip of paper, which had written upon it the three original stanzas of the poem." This account is not supported by evidence beyond Mary's memory. The "slip of paper" has never been produced as evidence. The earliest evidence of the poem's publication is Sarah Josepha Hale's 1830 collection of poems, supporting her complete authorship of the poem. 391: 489: 140: 117:. The visitor was far too distracting to be permitted to remain in the building and so Sarah 'turned him out.' The lamb stayed nearby till school was dismissed and then ran up to Mary looking for attention and protection. The other youngsters wanted to know why the lamb loved Mary so much and their teacher explained it was because Mary loved her pet. Then Sarah used the incident to get a moral across to the class: 383:
Note: This melody is the British version, which is slightly different from the American version. The melody of the fourth bar in the British version consists of one note repeated three times, whereas in the American version, the fourth bar consists of one note, then a note repeated twice that is two
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emerged to claim that she was the "Mary" from the poem. As a young girl, Mary kept a pet lamb that she took to school one day at the suggestion of her brother. A commotion naturally ensued. Mary recalled, "Visiting school that morning was a young man by the name of John Roulstone; a nephew of the
718:"LOWELL MASON, "Mary Lamb" [music] in Juvenile Lyre, Or, Hymns and Songs, Religious, Moral, and Cheerful, Set to Appropriate Music, For the Use of Primary and Common Schools, Boston: Richardson, Lord & Holbrook; Hartford, H. & F. J. Huntington, – Richards" 112:
in a small school not far from her home  ... It was at this small school that the incident involving 'Mary's Lamb' is reputed to have taken place. Sarah was surprised one morning to see one of her students, a girl named Mary, enter the classroom followed by her pet
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Even though this claim is unsupported by evidence, multiple sites in Sterling, Massachusetts, perpetuate the claim. A 2-foot (0.61 m) tall statue and historical marker representing Mary's Little Lamb stands in the town center. The
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set the nursery rhyme to a melody. However, Mason's version is not the one commonly sung today. Today, it is commonly sung to the same tune as "Merrily We Roll Along" (the chorus of "
717: 408: 524:: including Mary had a little lamb : designed for families, Sabbath schools, and infant schools : written to inculcate moral truths and virtuous sentiments 375:
in 1860. In 1927, Edison reenacted the recording, which still survives. The earliest recording (1878) was retrieved by 3D imaging equipment in 2012.
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also created a well known parody of the rhyme called ″Mary had a Bicycle″, which was sung by one of their scrapped characters, Don Music:
193: 859: 831: 176:, where Mary Sawyer attended school and purports the incident took place, was built in 1798. The property was later purchased by 20: 372: 854: 750: 617: 521: 197: 35: 814: 884: 567: 550: 494: 400: 869: 367:
in 1877. It was the first instance of recorded English verse, following the recording of the French folk song "
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Mary Had a Little Lamb – Yes, There Was a Mary and She Did Have a Little Lamb. New England Historical Society.
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on May 24, 1830, and was possibly inspired by an actual incident. As described in one of Hale's biographies:
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The nursery rhyme was first published by the Boston publishing firm Marsh, Capen & Lyon, as a poem by
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Friends, Families & Forays: Scenes from the Life and Times of Henry Ford
286: 217: 201: 767: 185: 424: 364: 181: 177: 160: 58: 578: 442: 438: 230:   Its fleece was white as snow (or black as coal). 225:         MARY’S LAMB. 139: 213: 127:
Mary loves the lamb, you know, Lamb, you know, lamb, you know,
809:. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. p. 13. 114: 19:
This article is about the nursery rhyme. For other uses, see
538:. Grantham, New Hampshire: Tompson & Rutter. p. 14. 124:
Why does the lamb love Mary so? The eager children smiled,
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Male singing the first verses of "Mary Had a Little Lamb".
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Mary loves the lamb, you know The teacher’s happy smile.
675:. Worcester Telegram & Gazette News. August 14, 2007 196:, located in Sterling, Massachusetts, was listed on the 579:
Roulstone, John; Mary (Sawyer) and her friends (1928).
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Sarah Josepha Hale: A New England Pioneer, 1788-1879
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The text as originally published consisted of three
783:"Hear the earliest known recording of voice, music" 121:Why does the lamb love Mary so? Mary so, Mary so? 720:. Forgotten Chapters of Boston's Literary History 583:. Dearborn: Mr. & Mrs. Henry Ford. p. 8. 846: 803:Georges, Robert A.; Jones, Michael Owen (1995). 599: 259:   You’ll keep me from all harm.’ 641:"Where Mary and Her Little Lamb Went to School" 164:Reverend Lemuel Capen, who was then settled in 740: 765: 692: 612:. Wayne State University Press. p. 381. 247:   But still he lingered near, 802: 741:Matthew Rubery, ed. (2011). "Introduction". 702:. Boston: Marsh, Capen & Lyon. pp.  238:   That was against the rule. 85:origin, first published by American writer 359:The rhyme was the first audio recorded by 242:   To see a lamb at school. 234:   The lamb was sure to go. 34: 743:Audiobooks, Literature, and Sound Studies 736: 734: 272:   In confidence may bind, 264:   The eager children cry. 216:, each of eight lines, although the ABAB 134: 780: 268:   The teacher did reply. 255:   His head upon her arm, 138: 880:Songs about fictional female characters 638: 251:   Till Mary did appear. 21:Mary Had a Little Lamb (disambiguation) 847: 731: 548: 533: 384:steps higher than the previous note. 605: 108:"Sarah began teaching young boys and 343:"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know, 325:It made the children laugh and play, 276:   If you are always 266:‘Oh, Mary loves the lamb, you know,’ 198:National Register of Historic Places 829: 551:"Who wrote Mary Had a Little Lamb?" 329:It made the children laugh and play 316:It followed her to school one day, 262:‘What makes the lamb love Mary so?’ 240:It made the children laugh and play 13: 766:Thomas Edison (30 November 1926). 389: 320:It followed her to school one day, 293:") with repetition in the verses: 274:And make them follow at your call, 245:And so the teacher turned him out, 236:He followed her to school one day, 64:Sarah Josepha Hale, John Roulstone 14: 896: 514: 473:And whenever Mary wanted to ride, 454:Now Mary takes the lamb to school 373:Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville 338:Why does the lamb love Mary so?" 487: 423:Problems playing this file? See 405: 334:"Why does the lamb love Mary so? 253:And then he ran to her, and laid 823: 796: 774: 759: 710: 686: 581:The Story of Mary's Little Lamb 347:Mary loves the lamb, you know," 345:Lamb, you know, lamb, you know, 327:Laugh and play, laugh and play. 318:School one day, school one day. 806:Folkloristics: An Introduction 665: 632: 587: 572: 561: 542: 527: 307:And everywhere that Mary went, 257:As if he said ‘I’m not afraid, 232:And everywhere that Mary went, 200:in 2000, but was destroyed by 1: 781:Grondahl, Paul (2012-10-26). 770:– via Internet Archive. 639:Obscura, Atlas (2015-10-21). 508: 475:the Bicycle had a flat Tire. 354: 304:Its fleece was white as snow. 96: 860:Traditional children's songs 745:. Routledge. pp. 1–21. 673:"Sterling fire called arson" 495:Children's literature portal 456:Between two hunks of bread. 322:Which was against the rules. 7: 534:Rogers, Sherbrooke (1985). 480: 471:It was painted Red as Fire. 432: 270:‘And you each gentle animal 159:In 1876, at the age of 70, 10: 901: 441:of the rhyme have entered 311:Everywhere that Mary went, 249:And waited patiently about 18: 855:American children's songs 300:Little lamb, little lamb. 56: 49: 33: 28: 768:"Mary had a little lamb" 452:Her father shot it dead. 445:, such as this example: 378: 331:To see a lamb at school. 313:The lamb was sure to go. 298:Mary had a little lamb, 186:Longfellow's Wayside Inn 29:"Mary Had a Little Lamb" 885:American nursery rhymes 450:Mary had a little lamb, 349:The teacher did reply. 340:The eager children cry. 302:Mary had a little lamb, 228:Mary had a little lamb, 207: 166:Sterling, Massachusetts 42:William Wallace Denslow 836:The Hollywood Reporter 699:Poems for Our Children 522:Poems for our children 503:List of nursery rhymes 478: 459: 401:Mary Had a Little Lamb 394: 363:on his newly invented 352: 283: 190:Sudbury, Massachusetts 156: 149:Sudbury, Massachusetts 135:Authorship controversy 132: 81:of nineteenth-century 72:Mary Had a Little Lamb 870:Songs about shepherds 555:Richards Free Library 466: 447: 393: 309:Mary went, Mary went, 295: 222: 184:, on the property of 142: 119: 606:Bryan, F.R. (2002). 549:Sonnichsen, Sandra. 204:on August 12, 2007. 155:Mary Tyler attended. 91:Roud Folk Song Index 830:Svetkey, Benjamin. 647:. The Slate Group. 469:Mary had a Bicycle, 369:Au clair de la lune 194:Mary Sawyer's house 180:and relocated to a 395: 157: 103:Sarah Josepha Hale 89:in 1830. It has a 87:Sarah Josepha Hale 865:Songs about sheep 752:978-0-415-88352-8 619:978-0-8143-3684-7 410: 336:Mary so, Mary so? 291:Goodnight, Ladies 68: 67: 892: 840: 839: 827: 821: 820: 800: 794: 793: 791: 790: 785:. Timesunion.com 778: 772: 771: 763: 757: 756: 738: 729: 728: 726: 725: 714: 708: 707: 690: 684: 683: 681: 680: 669: 663: 662: 660: 659: 636: 630: 629: 627: 626: 603: 597: 591: 585: 584: 576: 570: 565: 559: 558: 546: 540: 539: 531: 525: 518: 497: 492: 491: 490: 412: 411: 392: 93:number of 7622. 76:English language 61: 40:Illustration by 38: 26: 25: 900: 899: 895: 894: 893: 891: 890: 889: 875:Fictional sheep 845: 844: 843: 828: 824: 817: 801: 797: 788: 786: 779: 775: 764: 760: 753: 739: 732: 723: 721: 716: 715: 711: 691: 687: 678: 676: 671: 670: 666: 657: 655: 637: 633: 624: 622: 620: 604: 600: 592: 588: 577: 573: 566: 562: 547: 543: 532: 528: 519: 515: 511: 493: 488: 486: 483: 477: 474: 472: 470: 458: 455: 453: 451: 435: 430: 429: 421: 419: 418: 417: 416: 413: 406: 403: 396: 390: 381: 357: 351: 348: 346: 344: 342: 341: 339: 337: 335: 333: 332: 330: 328: 326: 324: 323: 321: 319: 317: 315: 314: 312: 310: 308: 306: 305: 303: 301: 299: 282: 275: 273: 271: 269: 267: 265: 263: 261: 260: 258: 256: 254: 252: 250: 248: 246: 244: 243: 241: 239: 237: 235: 233: 231: 229: 227: 226: 210: 174:Redstone School 147:(1798), now in 145:Redstone School 137: 99: 57: 45: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 898: 888: 887: 882: 877: 872: 867: 862: 857: 842: 841: 822: 816:978-0253329349 815: 795: 773: 758: 751: 730: 709: 685: 664: 631: 618: 598: 594:Bronze of lamb 586: 571: 560: 541: 526: 512: 510: 507: 506: 505: 499: 498: 482: 479: 467: 448: 434: 431: 420: 414: 404: 399: 398: 397: 388: 387: 386: 380: 377: 356: 353: 296: 285:In the 1830s, 223: 209: 206: 136: 133: 98: 95: 66: 65: 62: 54: 53: 47: 46: 39: 31: 30: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 897: 886: 883: 881: 878: 876: 873: 871: 868: 866: 863: 861: 858: 856: 853: 852: 850: 837: 833: 826: 818: 812: 808: 807: 799: 784: 777: 769: 762: 754: 748: 744: 737: 735: 719: 713: 705: 701: 700: 695: 694:Sarah J. Hale 689: 674: 668: 654: 650: 646: 642: 635: 621: 615: 611: 610: 602: 595: 590: 582: 575: 569: 564: 556: 552: 545: 537: 530: 523: 520:Full text of 517: 513: 504: 501: 500: 496: 485: 476: 465: 463: 462:Sesame Street 457: 446: 444: 440: 428: 426: 402: 385: 376: 374: 370: 366: 362: 361:Thomas Edison 350: 294: 292: 288: 281: 279: 221: 219: 215: 205: 203: 199: 195: 191: 187: 183: 179: 175: 169: 167: 162: 154: 150: 146: 141: 131: 128: 125: 122: 118: 116: 111: 106: 104: 94: 92: 88: 84: 80: 79:nursery rhyme 77: 73: 63: 60: 59:Songwriter(s) 55: 52: 51:Nursery rhyme 48: 43: 37: 32: 27: 22: 16:Nursery rhyme 835: 825: 805: 798: 787:. Retrieved 776: 761: 742: 722:. Retrieved 712: 698: 688: 677:. Retrieved 667: 656:. Retrieved 644: 634: 623:. Retrieved 608: 601: 589: 580: 574: 563: 554: 544: 535: 529: 516: 468: 460: 449: 437:A number of 436: 422: 382: 358: 297: 287:Lowell Mason 284: 277: 224: 218:rhyme scheme 211: 170: 158: 129: 126: 123: 120: 109: 107: 100: 71: 69: 153:schoolhouse 849:Categories 789:2014-06-14 724:2014-06-14 679:2014-06-14 658:2023-05-05 625:2019-08-17 509:References 425:media help 365:phonograph 355:Recordings 182:churchyard 178:Henry Ford 161:Mary Tyler 97:Background 653:1091-2339 645:slate.com 151:, is the 696:(1830). 481:See also 443:folklore 439:parodies 433:Parodies 83:American 74:" is an 214:stanzas 813:  749:  651:  616:  44:(1902) 379:Media 371:" by 202:arson 110:girls 811:ISBN 747:ISBN 649:ISSN 614:ISBN 278:kind 208:Text 143:The 115:lamb 706:–7. 280:.’ 188:in 851:: 834:. 733:^ 643:. 553:. 192:. 838:. 819:. 792:. 755:. 727:. 704:6 682:. 661:. 628:. 596:. 557:. 427:. 70:" 23:.

Index

Mary Had a Little Lamb (disambiguation)

William Wallace Denslow
Nursery rhyme
Songwriter(s)
English language
nursery rhyme
American
Sarah Josepha Hale
Roud Folk Song Index
Sarah Josepha Hale
lamb

Redstone School
Sudbury, Massachusetts
schoolhouse
Mary Tyler
Sterling, Massachusetts
Redstone School
Henry Ford
churchyard
Longfellow's Wayside Inn
Sudbury, Massachusetts
Mary Sawyer's house
National Register of Historic Places
arson
stanzas
rhyme scheme
Lowell Mason
Goodnight, Ladies

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