Milk of Human Kindness

Retold

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found that he had only one dime left, and he was hungry. In desperation, he had been ready to give up and quit study.

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. She brought him a large glass of milk instead. He drank it so 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.”
… …
Many year’s later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, to the Johns Hopkins for final treatment.

Dr. Howard Kelly, the founding professor was called in for the consultation. After a long struggle, the battle was won.
….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 opened it to read these words …
……”Paid in full with one glass of milk”
……….(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.

( Howard Atwood Kelly was an American gynecologist, one of the “Big Four” founding professors at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He is credited with establishing gynecology as a true specialty.)