we got strapped,—do you know what that is? We spent all our money, and for days and days we hadn't a cent. But every one was kind to us, and we never wanted for anything. We enjoyed it all; and I hope you'll do the same."
He shook hands with us warmly. When we went to pay our bill, the clerk said, "All paid for, gentlemen. Glad you came to see us. Pleasant trip down the river!"
The kind old landlord was "getting even" with the Ohioans, who had treated him well forty years ago.
Another pleasant memory from Owego: when we went down to the canoes we found that Smith's boat was leaking, probably strained on a stone. He went to bail her out with his tin cup.
"You want a sponge," said a handsome big fellow, in shirt-sleeves, standing in the little crowd on the wharf. We hardly answered, the need being obvious.
"You can't get a sponge between here and Harrisburg," he added.
"That is not very consoling."
"But I'm going to give you a big sponge," he continued. "Come with me and I'll fix you out."
One of us went with him; he was the chief livery-stable-keeper in Owego; his name was
