HOW A LAMB UPSET A ROYAL COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 77, 31 March 1928, Page 2 (Supplement)

HOW A LAMB UPSET A ROYAL COURT.

This amusing story hag its origin in South Anmrirt, The people of the town had decided to stage a great concert the proceeds of which were to be devoted to the poor. The performers were the rich children of the town* and the arrangements were put into the hands of an English lady. It was to be all dancing, singing and scene effects, beginning at 7.30, and finishing at 11 o'clock, one hundred and thirty children taking part. Amongst the many items they bad scenes from different countries, introducing characteristic dances. One scent was an English farmyard, opening with the birds singing milkmaids with their pails, and boys with the hay ringing English nursery rhymes— "Jack and Jill" with jfceir ptu of water, and "Boy Blue" with his horn, and "Mary witl her little lamb." Lambs are unknown in that part fli the country. Owing to the great heat they will not liv«, and mutton is a great dainty which arrives in tins. Om of. the children taking part had a brother in the military school, and it happened that the school had secured a lamb for their mascot—a charm against ill-luck. On hearing about Mary requiring a toy lamb they kindly offered ti lend their real one for the performance. The school tos of course very delighted over this, and on the program was written, "Mary had a little lamb with fleece as white as snow"; this would give full effect to the lent lamb.

The final rehearsal took place on a Saturday the members of the Press were invited, and some ol thf mo6t important people. A very, small girl was chosen for Map-. They bought a piece of pale blue ribbon with belli on it for the lamb's neck, guessing at the size, as none had seen it.

On coming towards the theatre they heard the mMt awful noise, something between a donkey braying and • cat crying. They stood still and listened; what conlA it be? The nearer they got the louder the noise, and the* one of the children came running out. "It's a lamb," sit said. "We have given it water and grass, but it wont be quiet."

There, tied up, was the most funny looking thing y<w can possibly imagine. It was a cross between a camel Md a goat. "Little" lamb—it was a huge thing. They wen in a fix. To send it back was to upset the military school but the rhyme on the programme would have to be altered. "Little" must be left out; then came "fleece as white M snow"—it was the grubbiest, dirtiest looking animal! They spoke about washing it; to give it a bath was out of the question—it was far too large. Then someone suggested the hose pipe, and it seemed to understand, for it gaw them one look an<T they fled. "Mary had a lamb with fleece as black as soot*' would have been far more in keeping—the rhyme would have tQ be cut out. Then came the question of Mary, for the lamb was twice her size. So a bigger girl was chosen, but o* being her lamb she went off into fits of crying and refused to go 011, so a third Mary, larger still, had to !• substituted. On being taken to the back of the stage thi lamb stopped howling, and with the aid of a piece of string attached to the blue ribbon they managed to get it round its neck. In the scene Mary was supposed to walk twice round the stage and then retire to the side in a line with the others. The lamb went on all right, but when it got right in front of the footlights it lay down and refused to move. They tried pulling, and pushing, and kicking, but it was no use, and two men had to come on and carry it off. Once at the back of the stage again it was quite peaceful and went otf to sleep. All went well until the scene of the court of Que* Elizabeth, when the howling started again. It not only howled, it began kicking things, and a word of fear went amongst the players, then "Crash"' —it had butted into • pile of bells and tambourines and sent them flying in sfl directions. It was in fact getting very nasty, then came til® final. Making a plunge, he broke straight through the scenery of the Queen's court on to the stage, and set to ripping strips out of the court walls and eating theau Everybody fled.

_ After that tliey thought it was time to put a stop to things. So telephoning to the military school, they asked if someone who was strong and capable would come and fetch that lamb. They suggested homesickness, or intention to be playful. However, whatever it was it bsd better remain in the hands of those who understood cunning little ways.