Chronicle reader John Parrish shared this story of generosity just in time for the holidays.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. “How much is an ice cream sundae?” he asked his waitress. “50 cents,” she replied. The little boy counted his money. “How much is a dish of ice cream?” “35 cents,” she brusquely replied. The little boy again counted his coins. “I’ll have the ice cream,” he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress returned, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the dish, were two nickels and five pennies. He couldn’t have the sundae because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.