"Well, you'll get your reward for that, whatever you believe."
"I've had my reward," he said slowly.
"Had it?"
"Yes, sir, had it. Every hand that's been lifted to receive the little I had to offer has been my reward."
He smiled, and then said in seemingly the most untimely way:
"I remember once going to a lonely woman here on New Year's Day and taking her a little something—basket of grapes or fruit of some kind it was. I was stopping a minute—never stay long, you know; just run in and say 'Happy New Year!' leave what I have and get out—and so said, 'Good morning, Aunt Mary!'
"'Good morning, Elihu,' says she.
"'Can't stay long, Aunt Mary,' I said. 'Just want to leave you these. Happy New Year!'
"Well, sir, you know I was just turning around and starting when she caught hold of my sleeve and says:
"'Elihu Burridge,' she says, 'give me that hand!' and do you know, before I knew what she was about she took it up to her lips and kissed it! Yes, she did—kissed my hand!