A Glass of Milk, Paid in Full

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to

pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left,

and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next

house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman

opened the door.

Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he

looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk.

He drank slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"

"You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us

to never accept pay for a kindness."

He said, "Then I thank you from my heart."

As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger

physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had

been ready to give up and quit.

Years later, that young woman became critically ill. The local

doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where

they called in specialists to study her rare disease.

Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he

heard the name of the town she cam from, a strange light filled his

eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital

to her room.

Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized

her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined

to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special

attention to the case.

After a long Struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested

the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He

looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was

sent to her room.

She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of

her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught

her attention on the side of the bill. She began to read the

following words: "Paid for with one glass of milk"

Signed, Dr. Howard Kelly