'The receipt printed and I almost collapsed': Secret Santa leaves generous tip for single Maine mom

A Maine mother is celebrating Christmas early, thanks to a secret Santa who left a hefty tip just in time for the holidays.Trisha Murphy, of Sullivan, works at Denny's in Ellsworth and at a nursing home.She is also going to school while raising her four children.Saturday, her car had been towed in the morning and she went into work."Work was terribly dead and I thought for sure, I was screwed!" she wrote on Facebook. "I got this table: 3 men. I figured an average tip."That average tip turned into $500."When I gave him the bill, he told me I had to cash him out," Murphy said. "I let him know that the hostess does that. He insisted I go to the register and cash him out. I thought it a little odd, but obliged anyway. When he put his card in, he had a huge, ear to ear, smile. The receipt printed and I almost collapsed!"Murphy said the customer said "Merry Christmas, my dear," and left."I don't know this man's name, but I hope he realizes that he literally saved Christmas for my children and I! Good people do still exist," she said. "Yesterday was the day I met Santa!"

A Maine mother is celebrating Christmas early, thanks to a secret Santa who left a hefty tip just in time for the holidays.

Trisha Murphy, of Sullivan, works at Denny's in Ellsworth and at a nursing home.

She is also going to school while raising her four children.


Saturday, her car had been towed in the morning and she went into work.

"Work was terribly dead and I thought for sure, I was screwed!" she wrote on Facebook. "I got this table: 3 men. I figured an average tip."

That average tip turned into $500.

"When I gave him the bill, he told me I had to cash him out," Murphy said. "I let him know that the hostess does that. He insisted I go to the register and cash him out. I thought it a little odd, but obliged anyway. When he put his card in, he had a huge, ear to ear, smile. The receipt printed and I almost collapsed!"

Murphy said the customer said "Merry Christmas, my dear," and left.

"I don't know this man's name, but I hope he realizes that he literally saved Christmas for my children and I! Good people do still exist," she said. "Yesterday was the day I met Santa!"