The original text, written by Samuel Foote, from 1755 to test the memory of the actor Charles Macklin, who claimed he could read a paragraph once, and repeat it
verbatim:
"So she went into the
garden
to cut a cabbage-leaf
to make an apple-pie;
and at the same time
a great she-bear, coming down the street,
pops its head into the shop.
What! no soap?
So he died,
and she very imprudently married the Barber:
and there were present
the Picninnies,
and the Joblillies,
and the Garyulies,
and the great Panjandrum himself,
with the little round button at top;
and they all fell to playing the game of
catch-as-catch-can,
till the gunpowder ran out at the heels of their boots."