The Very Real Story of Mary and her Little Lamb

One of the most well-known nursery rhymes in the western world is "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Although it was initially written in 1830, it has stood the test of time and is still a popular song for parents to sing to their children. It has captured the hearts of millions across the globe. Many believe that Mary is a fictional character with a maker in the background –an author. However, did you know that it is based on a true storey?

Mary in the song is Mary Elizabeth Sawyer, a Sterling, Massachusetts native. In the year 1806 she was born. The lamb that followed her about was a sickly abandoned baby lamb that she nursed back to health on her father's farm. She later says in her book that:

“In the morning, much to my girlish delight, it could stand; and from that time it improved rapidly… and from the time it would walk about, it would follow me anywhere I called it,”

Mary made a friend out of the lamb, and the two of them did everything together. Mary heard the lamb following her and her brother Nat one day as she was walking to school. The lamb was taken to school by the siblings, who thought it was a nice idea.

When Mary arrived at school, she noticed that her teacher was nowhere to be seen, so she decided to hide the lamb under her desk. She placed her blanket over the sheep and sat quietly with her new friend. The plan seemed to be going smoothly until her teacher asked Mary to recite in front of the class. She got off her chair and moved to her position, not realising that the lamb was following behind her. This shocked her teacher and class and must have done for some great show and tell.

The lamb was forced to sit outside the classroom until Mary was finished and able to take it home. I find it adorable that the lamb was so willing to wait for her new friend and go home with her. The class also found this encounter special as another student that was visiting called John Roulstone wrote Mary a three-stanza poem that he later gifted her. It went as follows:

“Mary had a little lamb;

Its fleece was white as snow;

And everywhere that Mary went,

The lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day,

Which was against the rule;

It made the children laugh and play

To see a lamb at school.

And so the teacher turned it out;

But still it lingered near,

And waited patiently about

Till Mary did appear.”

- John Roulstone

Nobody could predict the fame this poem would reach. Sarah Josepha Hale included “Mary's Lamb” in her book Poems for Our Children in 1930, but claimed she made it up. It was strange because it featured Roustone's three stanzas. Henry Ford put an end to the feud by producing a book that included Mary Elizabeth's version of events. The story of the little girl and her lamb has finally been established as series of true events, making this nursery rhyme that much cuter. Childhood level up. It’s a shame that the story was nearly stolen by someone claiming authorship. How many other narratives are actual accounts of people and their lives?

This comes as a pleasant surprise as many nursery rhymes have quite sinister histories so Mary’s story comes as a breath of fresh air. Why can’t we have more nice things with lovely pasts? I will keep my eyes out for more to share with you, so if you have any that you know let me know, I would love to know.

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