This time, a heart of gold triumphed over heads made of lead.

It all began when the city of Attleboro, MA, threatened to file a lien against Eileen Wilbur’s home for not paying an overdue water and sewer bill. She also faced a $48 fine.

The 74-year-old woman, who happens to be blind, owed the town the sum total of 1 cent. If it wasn’t paid by Dec. 10, she could lose her home.

Once word of her plight spread, calls from people across the U.S. poured onto Attleboro City Hall, offering to pay the back balance.

Her knight in shining armor ultimately was Antonio Viveiros, an Attleboro resident who didn’t know Wilbur.

Viveiros said that it “irked” him the federal government can shell out billions in bailout funds, yet our senior citizens could lose their homes over something so trivial.

A no-doubt sheepish Mayor Kevin Dumas said the whole situation had been blown out of proportion.

Do you think this guy will get any calls asking him to play the leading role in upcoming productions of A Christmas Carol? Sounds like he wouldn’t need much practice to play Scrooge.

Tags: bailout, bill, lien