一杯牛奶的温暖

One day, a poor boy who was trying to pay his way through school by selling goods from door to door found that he had only one dime left. He was hungry so he decided to beg 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. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"

"You don't owe me anything," she replied, "Mother has taught me never to accept pay for a kindness." He said, "Then I thank you from the bottom of my heart." As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but it also increased his faith in God and the human race. He was about to give up and quit before this point.

Years later, the young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where specialists can be called in to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly, now famous 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 through the hospital hall into 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 and determined to do his best to save her life. From that day, he gave special attention to her case.

After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested from the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it and then wrote something on the side. The bill was sent to her room. She was afraid to open it because she was positive that it would take the rest of her life to pay it off. Finally she looked, and the note on the side of the bill caught her attention. She read these words:

"Paid in full with one glass of milk."

(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as she prayed silently, "Thank You, God. Your love has spread through human hearts and hands."

一天，一个可怜的小男孩为凑足学费正挨家挨户地推销商品。他发现身上只剩一角钱了，此时他却很饿，因此决定从下一家要点吃的。

然而，当一位年轻貌美的女子打开门时，他却紧张得不知所措。他没有要吃的，只是要了口水喝。女子看到小男孩饥饿的样子，顿生怜悯之心，便倒了一大杯牛奶递给他。他慢慢地喝光了牛奶，问道：“我需要付您多少钱呢?”

“你不必付钱给我，”女子答道，“妈妈教育我说，爱心善举，不求回报。”男孩说：“那么我就发自内心地向您说声谢谢!”当霍华德·凯利走出这户人家时，他觉得浑身充满了力量，也对上帝和整个人类充满了信心。原本，他打算放弃。

若干年后，那位女子得了重病，当地医生都束手无策。最后，她转院到大城市，接受专家会诊。著名的霍华德·凯利医生也参与了医疗方案的制定。当他得知这位病人来自那个城镇时，一个奇怪的念头闪过，他立即起身直奔她的病房。

身着白大褂的凯利医生走进了病房，一眼便认出了那个女子，她正是他的恩人。回到诊室，他下定决心要竭尽全力医治她。从那天起，他就对恩人给予特殊的照顾。

经过艰苦卓绝的努力，手术终获成功。凯利医生要求把医药费结算单送到他那儿，他看了一下，便在上面签了字。当结算单送到女子的病房时，她甚至不敢打开来看，因为她知道这医药费一定极其昂贵，或许她要用整个余生去偿还。最后，她还是鼓足勇气打开了看，她注意到单子旁边的一行小字，不禁小声地念起来：

“医药费已由一杯牛奶支付。”

(署名)霍华德·凯利医生

喜悦的泪水夺眶而出，她不禁默默祈祷：“感谢您，上帝!您的爱已经通过人类的心灵和双手传递开来。”