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Engii.h a. She I. Taught
The following is a collection of varied and original ver~!IIon of that delightful
bit of folk poetry entitled "Mary Had a Little Lamb". These versions
were copied down word for word as rendered by some of the inhabitants
of a secluded and isolated spot near the Kappa Sigma house in Moscow,
Idaho. known as the University Campus. \ The reader will notice that
some of the venioRs and the author not wish1\,g to destroy their authenticity
has written just as they were rendered to him in their prolle form. For
further reference on the topic of Folk Poetry see G. M. Miller, ',he Dramatic
Element in the Popular Ballad",
As rendered by Professor Axtell:
Ma~y had" ];ttl" lamb.
BUI that il nothing new,
For A,i'loll" had" lamb,
And .0 did Homer, 100.
In the Oedipus Rex there is mention of a young sheep which later historians
have identified with the one ponessed by Mary, but there has been
a good deal of controversy in the matter. If great men and leaders of the
nations were more conversant with the world's history, misunderstandings of
the nature would not arise. I have no doubt that the present scarcity of
wool is, in part at least, caused by their ignorance on such subjects. In this
country a professor of dead languages is considered a fogy. The strength
of Germany in the present war may be seen by the fact that a professor of
dead languages is the president of the University of Berlin.
As rendered by Dr.
H. Moore:
Hahk, hahk the lahk
From hea"en's gate smgs.
And Mayri,,'s on
Her 'Way to school.
A dahling lamb
Is al her heels.
Which is against the rewl.
"To be or not," Ih" teachah said,
And then she turned him Oul.
He Juli.eu Ihe grass all up
And Rome.ioen about.
As rendered in chorus by the girls of the Gamma Phi Beta. which demonstrates
the theory of popular choice virgin of poetry:
"Damn Siorer's I"_tlll"