In October of 2015 Reader’s Digest carried an article that featured 24 stories about what the editor called “the touching kindness of strangers.” One story was titled “The Man at the Market.” It was contributed by Leslie Wagner from Peel, Arkansas.

Ms. Wagner told of being in a supermarket one time. When she checked out, the clerk tallied up her groceries. Much to Ms. Wagner’s surprise she discovered that her bill was $12 over what she had in her purse. With embarrassment she began to remove items from the bags in her cart. Quite to her surprise another shopper saw her predicament and handed her a $20 bill. Embarrassed, Wagner said to the person making this generous offer, “Please don’t put yourself out.”

“Let me tell you a story,” said this kind person. “My mother is in the hospital wit…