The New Hampshire Gazette

American Rustic Hospitality.—Returning from one of these excursions, I was overtaken by the night, and found my path obstructed by a deep inlet from the river; which, being choked with logs and brush, could not be crossed by swimming. Observing a house on the opposite side, I called for assistance. A half naked, ill-looking fellow came down, after dragging a canoe round from the river, with some trouble, ferried me over, and I followed him to his habitation, near to which our boat was moored for the night.—His cabin was of the meanest kind, consisting of a single apartment, constructed of logs which contained a family of seven or eight souls, and every thing seemed to designate him as a new and unthrifty settler. After drinking a bowl of milk, which I really called for by way of excuse for paying him a little more for his trouble, I asked to know his charge for ferrying me over the water, to which he good humoredly replied, 'That he never took money for helping a traveler on his way.' 'Then let me pay you for the milk.' 'I never sell milk.' 'But,' said I, urging him, 'I would rather pay you, I have money enough.' 'Well,' said he, 'I have milk enough, so we're even; I have as good right to give you milk as you have to give me money.'—Judge Hall's Letters from the West.