365 things to do in Worcester County - visit the little lamb in Sterling. We all heard the story of the little Lamb that followed Mary to school. But how many know the origins of the story or that that poem was first said right here in Worcester County in Sterling.
In fact, now that the snow is quickly melting away, you can visit the little lamb (the statue) in the center of Sterling. There, on the common with a War Memorial statue and a Firefighter Memorial statue to the firefighters of Sterling, you can not miss this adorable little memento to a childhood rhyme.
In 1815, young Mary Sawyer was followed to Sterling's schoolhouse by her pet lamb. John Roulstone who was visiting school that day wrote a poem about the lamb and a couple days later gave Mary the poem. It was an easily remembered short twelve line poem and repeated over and over by many children, quickly spreading throughout the counties.
As time passed the author's name was forgotten and a few years later, the poem was "FINISHED" by Mrs. Hale to be more of a teaching poem of morals for children on being kind to animals. She did not change the first twelve lines, only adding twelve more of her own.
So that is the story of the origins of "Mary had a little lamb". When you're in Sterling, I hope that you too make this, one one of your 365 things to do in Worcester County - visit the little lamb in Sterling.
Comments(1)