Two rough strangers sought lodging at a lonely farmhouse on Lawrence Hill Road, back in the old days. The young couple fed them and gave them lodging. During the evening the young couple revealed that this was their last night at home: tomorrow they and their small children would be evicted in the wintery weather because they fell behind in the mortgage.
The two rough strangers were sympathetic. How much was owed? $500 the young couple said. Promptly one of the strangers opened his wallet, peeled off five hundred-dollar bills and gave them to the young couple.
Be sure to get a receipt, they cautioned.
The next morning, Scrooge showed up at the house, demanding his money. To his surprise he got it and issued a receipt.
On his way back to Canandaigua Scrooge was bushwhacked on Burch Hill by two rough strangers, who then placed the money in the wallet from which it so recently left.
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