One day a young man was walking down an unfamiliar street when he came across a house with a large front yard in which an old man was digging. The old man was already chest-deep but he showed no sign of slowing his work. The young man could not help but call out to him.

Old man, why do you dig so? Be careful not to dig too deep and trap yourself!

The old man paused and looked up at the young one, squinting his grey eyes against the afternoon sun. Wiping sweat from his brow, he reassured the young man.

Dear boy, I have dug many holes in this yard. You can see I keep this stepladder on hand for just such a reason. But I have been digging away so happily, now I see this hole is plenty deep to suit my needs.

With that the old man nodded, erected the ladder, and climbed out of his hole. He stretched his legs, then hobbled over to a wheelbarrow which was covered with a tarp. The young man was about to continue on his way when the old man pulled the tarp away, revealing thousands of dollar bills. The young man had never seen so many ones and fives; stacked and crumpled, they filled the barrow to the brim.

With a broad smile on his face despite his shaking legs, the old man took hold of the barrow and wheeled it to the edge of his hole. He gave a hearty grunt as he lifted the handles, dumping the contents of the barrow into the dirt. The young man, mouth agape, watched stray bills flutter away in the summer breeze.

Old man, this is no way to save your fortune! Is the walk to the bank so difficult that this is the vault you choose?! I am on my way to the bank now, I’ll have you know, to deposit my first paycheck from my first month of work. Please allow me to assist you there, so that you may invest your assets safely!

The old man let out a deep laugh. Merrily, he began shoveling dirt back into the hole.

Young lad, your offer is most kind, but why on earth would I take this money back to the bank? You see, I just hauled it from there this morning! Besides, I do not enjoy giving money to a teller. No, burying these bills is what I love, and burry them I shall.

The young man did not know how to respond to this. He looked at the check in his hand, then back to the grey, wiry figure who was happily dumping moist dirt onto clean cash. It was then he noticed the mounds scattered throughout the yard: dozens of them, many freshly disturbed and surrounded by various shoe prints.

Sir, do you not see that your stash has been invaded by others? Surely you must notice thieves digging in the night. Yet I doubt the authorities would fault them, for they barely need to trespass to steal from you! I insist you dig up all that remains and come with me.

But, dear boy, I find no joy in removing the bills, only in placing them in these holes. Indeed, those whom you claim steal from me actually do me a service. If not for them I would have run out of room in this yard many years ago. For all my love of burying, I truly abhor excavating.

As they talked the old man made great progress towards submerging his treasure. Grinning from ear-to-ear, he shoveled heaps of dirt into the hole with slow, but deliberate motions. The young man stared at him, exasperated.

Please, sir, if you have no need of this money, you should give it to those less fortunate. At present, it simply runs off with shovel-wielding vandals!

But, young fellow, I do not enjoy giving to charity. No, it does not compare to the joy of watching cash disappear into mud, not at all.

The old man gestured as he said this, inviting the young man to watch as the last bill was covered in dirt, vanishing from sight. With a satisfied sigh, the old man began filling the hole more quickly. The young man could tell the main event was over, so he tipped his cap to the old fool and continued down the road.

At the bank, the young man handed over his paycheck. The teller inquired whether it should be deposited into a checking or savings account. The young man did a quick calculation of his expenses. He weighed the different interest rates. He considered future investment plans. He measured his desires.

Then he stopped. He looked at the teller, and smiled.

My good man, on second thought I have decided not to deposit this check. Please, give me the sum in cash. I have some shopping to do, you see. I need to buy a shovel.