was reached. At this
place the sheep were left to be taken to Boston, when opportunity
could be had.

With Mary's lamb in his arms, Johnny Manning accompanied the messenger
who went up Boston Neck to carry a letter to the "Selectmen of the
Town." That letter has been preserved and is carefully kept among the
treasured documents of the Massachusetts Historical Society. It is too
long to be given here, but, after begging Boston to suffer and be
strong, remembering what had been done for the country by its
founders, it closes in these words: "We know you suffer, and feel for
you. As a testimony of our commiseration of your misfortunes, we have
procured a small flock of sheep, which at this season are not so good
as we could wish, but are the best we had. This small present,
gentlemen, we beg you would accept and apply to the relief of those
honest, industrious poor, who are most oppressed by the late
oppressive acts."

Then, after a promise of future help in case of need, the letter is
signed by Samuel Grey, Ebenezer Devotion, and seven other names,
ending with that of Hezekiah Manning.

[Illustration: "Give me the lamb, and I'll feed three hungry little girls
every day as long as Boston is shut up."]

A British officer, seeing the lamb in Johnny's arms, offered to buy
it, bribing him with a bit of gold; but Johnny said "there wasn't any
gold in the land that he would exchange it for," and so the lamb
reached Boston in safety before the sheep got there. As Johnny walked
along the streets he was busy looking out for some poor little girl to
give it to, according to Mary's request.

"I must wait," he thought, "until I find some one who is almost
starved."

On the Common side he met a little girl who cried "Oh! see! see! A
lamb! A live lamb in Boston Town!"

The child's eyes rested on the little white creature, which accosted
her with a plaintive bleat. Johnny Manning's eyes were riveted on the
little girl. What he thought, he never said. "Do you want it?" he
asked.

"O yes! yes! Where did you get it?"

"I've brought it from Roxbury in my arms. Mary Robbins gave it, in
Windham, for some poor little girl who was hungry in Boston. Are you
hungry?"

"No," said the child, hesitatingly.

"Are you poor?"

"My father is"--a sudden thought stopped the words she was about to
speak. "Give me the lamb," she said, "and I'll feed three hungry
little girls every day as long as Boston is shut up. I will! I will!
and Mary