Editor, The Herald:

On Sunday, January 6, at 1:30 p.m. I went to Wal-Mart to help a friend in Richmond buy ink for her computer for her college courses. I had never used 'Green Dot Money Pak' but following instructions I then found out they do not take Visa Charge Cards except to debit. I don't use debit. They don't take checks except to debit. They said I could use the ATM Machine. I don't use that and don't have a pin number.

I then stepped over to a checkout counter and asked the clerk if I could write a check for $100. He said only for $20 more than a purchase. I said I needed $104 to get the card. A very nice woman being checked out heard my request, pulled out her credit card and went over to Green Dot and told them to take it out of her card. I protested, and of course they would not accept a charge card again. What a good Samaritan she was. She also told me to do the same thing for someone else in return. I told her that was what I was trying to do at that time. Without flinching, she offered to pay $104 to a total stranger.

I managed to come up with enough in my wallet, with a small purchase, and obtained the Green Dot Card. I sent the information to Richmond by e-mail and all was well again. My only regret, I failed to obtain the nice ladies' name. I would love to reward her in some way.

Cecil Yeats

Farmville