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 and exhausted. His mother
was very ill and his father had left them when he was very young. So it was up to him to
support the family and earn enough money for tuition.
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 she brought him a large glass of milk and some cookies.
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, 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 and some cookies"
(Signed)
Dr. Howard Kelly.
Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed:
"Thank You, God, that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and hands."