The True Story, continued from Page 1

Since then three other stanzas have been added to it. Many happy, playful days came to Mary and her lamb, but one Thanksgiving morning when they were out in the barn a sad thing happened. The little lamb found it great fun to run along the feed boxes in front of the cows as they were fastened in their stations. One of the cows gave its head a toss, lowered its horns, and gored the lamb. Little Mary's heart was nearly broken at the loss of her dear playtellow.

And you, dear people, who read this story, as you look back upon your own childhood days, can think of the loss of some pet, and realize how lonely she was.

Mary's mother had knit two pairs of stockings from the fleece sheared from the lamb. These Mary kept for many years in memory of her pet.

When the ladies were raising money for the preservation of the Old South Church, in Boston, Mary, who was then quite an old lady unraveled the stockings and tied bits of the yarn to cards on which she wrote her autograph.

These cards were sold, the whole realizing about one hundred dollars. This helped to preserve the Old South Church, which is always an attractive place for visitors. Those of you who visit this historic old church perhaps will think of how much this little lamb did for your pleasure.

This is the true story of "Mary's Little Lamb." But would you like to know what became of Little Mary? She could not always remain a little girl. She grew up to womanhood and became a true, noble woman, ever ministering to those around her.

For a number of years she taught school. In 1835, she was married to Columbus Tyler. A few years later she became matron in a retreat for the insane, which position she held for thirty-five years. The latter part of her life was spent in Somerville, near Boston.

Mrs. Tyler died December eleventh, eighteen hundred eighty-nine, and is buried in the famous Mount Auburn Cemetery, in Cambridge. The home of her childhood still stands; and if you care to visit the interesting old town of Sterling, you will find the same little house, sheltered by the many vines and overhanging branches of the trees.

For more information contact the Sterling Historical Society, where Mary Sawyer's wedding gown and other mementos may be viewed.