Nursery Rhymes...

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,

How does your garden grow?

With silver bells and cockle shells,

And pretty maids all in a row.

Origin
The Mary in this rhyme is commonly supposed to be Mary Queen of Scots. She was considered frivolous by some of the people of the time as she was young, pretty, Roman Catholic and had arrived from France with 'French ways.' She was waited on by four ladies in waiting; Mary Beaton, Mary Seaton, Mary Fleming and Mary Livingstone, it's possible that they may be the 'pretty maids all in a row.'Some versions of this rhyme start with the words 'Mistress Mary.'

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,

That was agains the rules;

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.

Why does the lamb love Mary so?

The eager children cry;

Why, Mary loves the lamb you know,

The teacher did reply.

Origin

Mary had a little lamb was written by Mrs Sarah Joseph Hale of Boston in 1830. It was apparently based on an incident which was 'partly true.'