A young poverty-stricken boy was begging from door to door to feed himself. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a beautiful young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal, he asked for a glass of water, but woman thought he looked hungry so she 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 to never accept any pay for kindness."

"Then I thank you from the bottom of my heart." He said.

Years later, that young woman became critically ill. Local doctors were struggling because they could not cure her. Finally, they sent her to the big city, where they called specialists to study her rare illness. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation, and 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. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room, determined to do his best to save her life. From that day forward, he gave special attention to that case, and 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 bill.

It was sent to her room, but the woman feared opening it, for she was sure it might take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and she noticed something written at the edge of the note.

Paid in full with a glass of milk.

Tears filled her eyes as she immediately remembered the boy she had helped long ago.