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 it
slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?” “You don’t owe
me anything,” she replied. “Mother has taught us never to 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.
Year’s 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
came 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, and
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 read these words… “Paid in full
with one glass of milk”
