To the editor:

Last week, my husband and I experienced a modern day “Good Samaritan” act.  We are in our 80s and we monitor the bluebird trail at the Rotary Arboretum.  Monitoring consists of taking a census and getting rid of wasps, ants and sparrows.

On the day in question we had almost completed the trail when my husband’s legs gave out. At first he sat on one of the markers for the trees and then he tried to walk down the sidewalk. At that time, two or three adults in their 20s to 40s walked by with their eyes on their feet. They had to have seen that we were in trouble.

A little later a teenage couple walked by and spoke to us, and when my husband fell the young man came running. After much difficulty, he got my husband into the car and wanted to follow us home to be sure I could get him out of the car. We told him that he didn’t need to do that. We had neighbors who could help or his legs would work by then. He was insistent but we wouldn’t allow it.

We were so touched by his assistance and his willingness to go the “second mile” that we are glad that we live in Lawrence with so many fine teenagers like the young man who helped us.