A lamb on Chillerton Down, Isle of Wight.
Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow,
And every where that Mary went
The lamb was sure to go;
He followed her to school one day —
That was against the rule,
It made the children laugh and play,
To see a lamb at school.
And so the Teacher turned him out,
But still he lingered near,
And waited patiently about,
Till Mary did appear;
And then he ran to her, and laid
His head upon her arm,
As if he said ‘I’m not afraid —
You’ll keep me from all harm.’
‘What makes the lamb love Mary so?’
The eager children cry —
‘O, Mary loves the lamb, you know,’
The Teacher did reply;—
‘And you each gentle animal
In confidence may bind,
And make them follow at your call,
If you are always kind.’
Précis
Mrs Hale’s much-loved children’s verse tells how a pet lamb followed little Mary to school, only to be turned out by the teacher. Seeing the lamb waiting patiently for school to end, the teacher’s heart was melted, and as the children clustered round she drew the moral that any creature will gladly be tied by the bonds of simple kindness. (60 / 60 words)