This song suggests an origin in spirituals, crossed with a play party song, converted to a minstrel song? I'm confused. Any information would be appreciated.

Lyr. Add: CARRY THE NEWS TO MARY
by Words by Charley Howard, music by Walter Bray

Oh! Martha wept and Mary cried:
We're all surrounded:
The good old man has gone and died,
We're all surrounded.
Shake off your slumbers and arise,
We're all surrounded
The sun is shining in the skies,
We're all surrounded.

Chorus:
Then carry the news,
Carry the news to Mary!
Carry the news,
We're all surrounded.
[Dance.}

The good old man we'll see no more,
We're all surrounded:
He has gone to the happy shore,
We're all surrounded.
He's gone and left us darks alone,
We're all surrounded:
And Gabriel's trumpet called him home,
We're all surrounded.

Chorus

Adam and Eve climbed up a tree,
We're all surrounded:
Their lamb and master for to see,
We're all surrounded.
Eve stole an apple from the tree,
We're all surrounded.
And Adam was stung by a bumble Bee,
We're all surrounded.

Chorus

Who is the 'good old man in this song- Lincoln? "Carry the news to Mary" was an expression that originated from the story of Martha meeting Jesus on his way to Bethany, and turning back to carry the news to Mary. It seems to have been a popular saying around Civil War time, but I am not certain of its purport.

H. De Masran, New York City, song sheet, 19th c., before 1880. Sheet music was published by R. Wittig, Philadelphia, arranged by Eddie Fox, but I haven't found a copy.
The music also appears in Cole, 1940, One Thousand Fiddle Tunes, p. 26. Anyone have that?