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Page 85
In this poem each stanza, we may say each line, is unalloyed gold. Let
us examine the first line.
"Mary." The name strikes us at once as belonging to one pure as the
inside of an apple-bloom; and the rest of the poem assures us, that by
making Mary's name an index to Mary's character, we have not been
misled. A master's hand is visible from the first word.
"A little lamb." The poet does not take for granted, as one of less
genius would, that because a lamb is mentioned the reader necessarily
sees in his mind's eye one of the frolicsome, gentle, confiding
creatures commonly accepted as an emblem of meekness. Not at all. The
lamb is not only a lamb--it is a _little_ lamb. Thus never in the whole
course of the poem can we by any oversight look upon Mary's treasure as
a sheep; it retains its infantile sweetness and grace through the
entire narration. The poet thus draws our attention to the youth of the
animal, in order to palliate the little creature's after-guilt. This is
done with such grace and delicacy, that it is scarcely perceptible.
The line, as a whole, shows a touch of high art seldom seen in so short
a poem. The writer knows human nature--that, we see at a glance. Else,
would he not have entered into a detailed account of Mary's parentage,
her appearance, place of residence, or, at least, the manner in which
she became possessed of the lamb. But no; all is left to the
imagination. Mary may be as blonde as the "Fair one with golden locks,"
as dark as "Black Agnes." Each reader has a heroine after his own
heart, and each is satisfied.
"Its fleece was white as snow."
No black sheep (or lamb) could we in any way imagine as a companion of
Mary--gentle, affectionate, pure little Mary. All her associates must
be pure as herself.
"And everywhere that Mary went
The lamb was sure to go."
Does not this suit the character given to Mary by her name? We can
image to ourselves the lost lamb, the mournful bleating for its mother,
its hunger and cold. In the depth of its misery we see Mary's sweet
face bending pityingly over it; she raises it, takes it home, it
revives, and loves her; she loves it in return. Can we wonder that it
follows in her footsteps wherever she goes? Those two lines tell more
than many a volume; but they must be read feelingly, or all is lost.
Now follows a tale of wrong-doing and of subsequent punishment. This
is, indeed, a master-stroke; for this climax we were not prepared.
"It followed her to school one day,
Which was against the rule."
Although the lamb follows its mistress everywhere, school is a tabooed
place. Yet the little creature cannot live without Mary, who has
departed fair and fresh as Overbury's "Happy Milkmaid." Long are the
hours that must elapse ere Mary's return, and the lamb tires of the
waiting. "It followed her to school one day." How innocent an act that
seems!--how natural! Then we read the next line,--"Which was against
the rule," and the lamb's action is turned from innocence to guilt.
Mary's favorite, that we have seen heretofore in only a good light,
violates deliberately a rule of the school which Mary attends. The
short sight of the animal's spiritual eyes prevents it from knowing the
extent of the disgrace to which it is to be subjected. At present the
end justifies the means in its little heart, and it leaves its pleasant
home to wander schoolward, and we are left to imagine its thoughts on
the way.
A scene in the school-house bursts upon us, and
"It makes the children laugh and play
To see a lamb at school."
This is another instance in which we are shown the poet's knowledge of
human nature. At anything less than the sight of a lamb the little
scholars are too well trained to laugh. This has no precedent. They
have been told how to behave should a dog enter the room, or should a
ludicrous error in lessons occur; but when a lamb trots soberly
in,--not gamboling now; conscience already whispers; remorse eats at
the little creature's peace of mind,--it is not to be expected that
order can be longer maintained, and the school, with the exception of
Mary, runs riot. Mary is perhaps, meanwhile, reproaching her pet with a
look "more in sorrow than in anger;" she is too gentle to scold, but
that glance completely fills the lamb's cup of sorrow; it is yet to
overrun, and the drop is soon poured in--the deep beneath "the lowest
deep" is soon reached.
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