May 24, 2011

On this date in 1830, “Mary Had a Little Lamb” (MHaLL) was published for the first time. Written by Sarah Hale, MHaLL tells the endearing story of a girl (Mary) who took a lamb (Little Lamb) to school (not pictured), causing a disruption in the classroom. That’s the whole story. She has a baby sheep, she takes it to school, it disrupts class. That’s it. Epic. Anyway, my favorite part of the rhyme is this couplet from stanza 2:

“It made the children laugh and play
To see a lamb at school.”

Oh no! Mary inspired the children to laugh AND play! I hope she was duly punished for all but inciting the kids to riot! Laughing!? Playing!? AT SCHOOL!?

OK, enough of that.