A poor boy who was trying to pay his way through school by selling goods door to door found that he only had 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 very 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 on, he gave special attention to her 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 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 a 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.”
【日积月累】
dime n. 一角硬币
critically adv. 严重地
baffle v. 困惑，为难
specialist n. 专科医师，专家
consultation n. 咨询;诊察;会议
【参考译文】
一杯牛奶
一个贫穷的男孩为了赚取学费正挨家挨户地兜售着商品。他发现身上只有一角硬币。他很饿，决定向下一户人家讨顿饭吃。
但是，当一位年轻甜美的女子打开门时，他失去了勇气。他没有要一顿饭，只要了一杯水。她觉得他看起来很饿，所以给了他一大杯牛奶。他慢慢地喝完了，然后问：“我应该付多少钱?”
“你不用付给我什么，”她回答道，“我妈妈教我，永远不要因为帮助了别人而接受回报。”他说，“那么我只能从心底里感谢你。”霍尔顿·凯利离开那所房子的时候，他不仅觉得体力恢复了很多，而且对上帝和人类的信念也越加坚定了。本来在此之前，他都打算放弃了。
几年后那位年轻的女士患了重病。当地众医生束手无策。最后他们把她转移到了大城市，在那专家们可以为她这个罕见的病会诊。已颇有名气的霍尔顿·凯利医生也来为她会诊。当听到她家乡的名字时，他眼睛突然亮了起来。他马上站起身，走出医院会议厅来到她的病房。
他身穿白色大褂走进去，一眼就认了出来是她。他回到会诊大厅，决定尽全力救治她。从那天起，他对她的病情就特别尽心。
经过长时间的努力，手术成功了。凯利医生请财务科把医药费通知单拿给他审批。他看了一眼，在旁边写了几个字。医药费通知单送到了她的病房。她不敢打开看，因为她很肯定下半辈子都得花在偿还这笔帐上了。最后她打开一看，通知单旁边的字引起了她的注意。她看到几个字
“医药费已付：一杯牛奶。”
(签名)霍尔顿·凯利医生
喜悦的眼泪充盈着她的眼眶，她默默地祷告：“谢谢你，上帝。你的爱已通过人类的心灵和双手传播了。”
【人生启迪】
还是那句老话：“好人终有好报。”当你向他人伸出援助之手时，你就在别人心里种下了一粒种子，最后它会发芽成长，结出的果实可以造福更多人，你也可能成为其中一位受益人。如果象征着乐于助人精神的这种树在每人心中生长，我们总有一天会拥有一片森林，以及享不尽的阴凉和保护。