Well, hello well. What do you call this bea . Her names lassie. Well, lassie, how do you do . Im called mr. Nicholson. Hi, im timmy. Timmy martin. Well hello, timmy. I see youre feeding the birds at the christmas season. Its a very nice thing youre doing, my boy. They go hungry because they cant find any food because of the snow. Yes, i know. Hey i guess she isnt afraid anymore. Oh, holly. Did you think id forgotten you . Huh . Id never forget you, old friend. Ha ha. Mister nicholson, are you a mender of toys . Thats what i am, son. There arent many of us left. Boy, we could really use you fo oh . Well you see, my mom and some of the other ladies at church, theyre gathering up old toys and fixing them for the kids at the Childrens Hospital in capital city. Theres a whole bunch of stuff in our barn. Theres a lot of fixing to be done. Id be very glad to assist your ladies, timmy. Ill offer them my services tomorrow. But for today, holly and i have come an awful long way. Well have to leave you now and seek out a place to spend the night. Its been a great pleasure making your acquaintance, timmy. And you, too, lassie. Mr. Nicholson, why dont you come home with us . Ill ask mom if she can fix you a bed. Holly can sleep in the barn well, wed be indebted to you. The barn would be find for holly and for me, too, because ive got a bed in the wagon. 9hink hell be comfortable in there. He and timmy are getting holly good. You know, mr. Nicholson is such an unusual man. His manners, and the way he speaks. Almost as though hes from another century. And that quaint wagon. And the donkey want me to help you dish up . Oh yes, if you will, please. Oh my goodness. Ive only baked three potatoes. When we sit down, ill just say i dont want any. . Alright. Ruth. Look. All these christmas preparations are making you absentminded. Shh. Here, let me have your coat here, girl. Eat up. Sugar and spice the perfumes that herald christmas. My moms been baking all week. Shes the best cook in the whol oh, timmy oh, its evident to my eyes and my nose that the lad is perfectly right. Everything is so beautiful and so plentiful i know it does seem like a lot,. Sure and giving it away. She can bake enough to supply the whole town. Half the fun is sharing it. At our Christmas Eve party, you should see those cookies disappear. As your mother says, half the fun is to share. Mr. Nicholson, wont you sit over here . Thank you. Oh, thank you very much. We ask thy blessing, oh lord, on all seated around this table, and we thank thee for the food we are about to receive. Amen. Amen. Do your travels take you all over the country, mr. Nicholson . Oh, all over this country and so many lands. You know, theres never a shortage of toys to be mended wherever there are children. Ha ha. Im sure of that. Have you ever spent christmas in some foreign place, mr. Nicholson . Many a christmas has found me in far away places, timmy. For instance, i was once in a village where the childrens gifts were brought to them by a little old lady and a little old man. And theyre called mother christmas and father christmas, and they bring the gifts to the children. And in return, each child gives a present to mother christmas and father christmas. But, the gift must be made by t. Oh, what a lovely custom please tell us some more, mr. Nicholson. Well, there are other places where the children put their shoes outside on the doorstep before they go to sleep on Christmas Eve. And sometime during the night, st. Nicks elves come and fill the shoes with presents, because sometimes the very smallest children borrow their fathers shoes for the occasion. Ha ha ha. Seems to me that there as many ways to celebrate christmas as there are nationalities. Ah, yes. Please tell us some more, mr. Nicholson. Well, in some faroff places, especially in the cold and freezing regions, the blessedness of christmas means not only giving to other people, but also sharing with the animals, both domestic and in the wild, just as you and lassie were doing this afternoon. Only their custom is to use corn and grain instead of bread to feed the birds and the wood creatures. Dad, the birds. Theyre not the only things going hungry because of the snow. Why cant we. Why cant we share christmas with all of the wood animals . How would we do that, son . Well, we could have people donate hay and feed, and then we could take it out in the woods and spread it around. It would be easy for the deer and other animals to find it. I think that sounds like a grand idea. We can call it. The animals christmas relief. Alright, son. You can take a sack of feed out of the barn in the morning and start the project. Gee, thanks, dad i was hungry, and you gave me meat. And as much as you have done this unto the least of these, youve done it also unto me. Mr. Nicholson, if you dont have any other plans, wed certainly enjoy having you spend the holidays with us. Yes. We hope you can. Well, thank you both. I. Id be honored. And we can start the animal christmas relief the first thing in the morning. Good good this is good, mom. Thank you. a , timmy . uh huh. The livermores live up a ways. Ive been there a million times. Ah, good. Come on, holly. Just a little more. Id like to collect and distribute every second or third day, so if it snows again, there wont be and food lost. Sounds sensible. I guess you ca. Gee, thanks mr. Livermore. Sure appreciate it. Ill get you a sack of corn. Thanks you, mr. Davis thank you ah, thank you, sir. Bye ok, come on, holly. Thats a boy. Come on. Come on. Woah. Hi, mr. Krebbs. Ive been expecting you. Suppose youre here to done me out of some feed. Were collecting food for the wild animals, so they wont starve. Yeah, i heard about it. Well i aint aiming to give you any feed. I take good care of my animals, and the wild ones can fend for themselves. Thats the way nature intended it. But how can they fend for themselves . All their feeding grounds are being buried by the snow. Thats not my problem. As far as im concerned, animals was meant to earn their keep. This is a lot of sentimental nonsense, and im not a sentimental man. Not even in this season of sentiment, mr. Krebbs . I got chores to do. Lets go. Come on, holly. Im sorry we wasted our time talking to him. Oh, i think we gave mr. Krebbs something to think about. We may have even planted a seed in that lonely heart of his. Hes lonely. Why else should he i think hes just a mean old man. Ha ha. Timmy, dont be too hasty in your judgement. Mr. Krebbs may yet open his heart to the joy of this blessed season. Mom an dad always tell me to think the best of somebody. But its awful hard to think that of mr. Krebbs. Giddy up, boy. Dad lassie lassie, come back here lassie what is it, timmy . Wolves, dad. They look like wolves. There havent been any wolves around this area for years. They must be renegade dogs. Good girl, lassie. Come on, lassie. Come on. Yes, this is for the animal christmas project. Ha ha. You like it, lassie . Youve certainly been a big help to us at the church. Yeah. I dont know how the ladies auxiliary got along without him. I was listening to them yesterday after i finished practicing for my solo. You should have heard them. Mr. Nicholson, do you think the wreath should go over here . Oh, no, maybe it should go over there. Oh, now timmy, they were just t oh, not at all. I cant remember any christmas when our church was looking so beautiful, thanks to you. Oh. Well if youre ready, mr. Nicholson, we better start collecting for the animals. I have to be at church early so i can go over my solo again. Oh, alright. Ill be with you in just a minute, timmy. Mom . Are you expecting company . Oh goodness, i hope not. Not with all i have to do. Hi, mr. Livermore. Mr. Krebbs. Morning, timmy. Is your father around . Over here. Morning, paul. How are ya, al . Hello, matt. How are you . Hey. Im afraid weve got some bad news. Well ill come right to the point because of your sons animal feeding project, ive lost some valuable livesto. Im sorry to hear that. Come on inside and well talk a. Well alright. Morning, ruth. Morning. Mrs. Martin. Hello, dear. Now last night, wolves raided my farm. They killed a bull calf and two. They raided my place, too. And the johnstons. Then you were right, timmy. They were wolves. They were here, too. And lassie chased them away. Its funny. There havent been any wolves around here for many years. Well we got them now. I seen em good and clear, and so did livermore. The scent of the deer is what brought them here. Now those feeding grounds have got to be stopped but if its the deer theyre after, why would they attack the farm animals . Maybe the wolves were weak from hunger, timmy. Well, its easier for them to go after the domestic animals. The deer can still run away from them. Stop the feeding grounds and the deer will be forced out of this area. Then the wolves will leave, too. It was a very nice idea, timmy, but. It just wasnt practical. Als right, timmy. Youll have to stop the project. Thats all you can do, dear. Excuse me. Timmy, come into my wagon for a. Ok. Alright. Come right in, timmy. Let me clear this away a little. There we go. Golly. It looks lke santa clauss workshop. Ha. Im just one of his assistants. Did you make all of these toys . Oh, not make. Mended. Dont you recognize any of this . These all come from the toy round up. But half of that stuff was just junk. And these look brand new. Well, i thank you. But i told you that ive had many Years Experience with my trade. I remember this. I collected it for mom. But it didnt have a music box. Well, it was very easy to put one in. What does he do . Just pet him. Ha ha ha easy, lassie. Hes just a toy. Golly. Ive never seen toys like these before. Well ive just given them a lit. Where did you learn to fix them like this . Why from the elves, of course. Ha ha. All these are ready for the ladies at the church. So they can take them down to the Childrens Hospital christmas morning. You still thinking about the animal feeding project . Well now timmy, sometimes plans fail. And because we thought they were good plans, its difficult to accept disappointment. But in time, the grace of understanding is given us. I know youre right, mr. Nicholson, but. I just wish the wolves had stayed away. Youre not the first one to wish that. Wolves appear in one form or another in every mans life. But each time it happens, theres a reason. But how can there be a reason, if all those animals are left to starve . Timmy, sometimes gods way is very difficult to understand. Sometimes near impossible. But faith is more than just a word. For the moment, the joyous spirit of the season has ershadowed for the moment, the joyous spirit of the season has ershadowed for the moment, the joyous spirit of the season has ershadowed starring june lockhart, hugh reilly, john provost as timmy, and, of course, lassie. Give me a hand with the box, will you, dear . Ok. Is everything in here now, mr. Nicholson . Yes, this is the lot. You think theyll travel safely like this . Oh, im sure they will. Yes. They really are remarkable. Paul, did you see this one . Yes, mr. Nicholson showed them to me this morning. Ha ha. Made me feel just like a kid again. You know, i have a good mind to go into town with you, just to watch those ladies faces when they see these. Oh, no, mom you cant well, i mean. Um. Im having a. Final practice on my solo today, and i might get nervous if somebodys listening. Well if youre nervous with me around, what are you going to do with a whole church full of people . Well, um. I dont know. Maybe. Oh, thats alright. I have to stay here anyway and get ready for the party. Lassie, they wont allow you in church, and im not wanted, so well just have to stay here. Come on. See you later. Come on, girl. Bye, mom. Goodbye. Bye bye now. Take care. Boy, for a minute there i thought we were sunk. Oh, i have a notion your mother knows were going to pick up her presents. I just didnt want her to see what i was getting her for christmas. What are you getting mom, dad . None of your business. Well, paul, i got your packages all ready. Fine. Timmy, what can i do for you . The pink, silk umbrella. You know, the one your showed me last week. Well im sorry, timmy. I sold that this morning. You know, when you didnt come back, i thought youd changed your mind. But i didnt have the money saved until now. Look, timmy, you can pick out another present for your mother. Come on. Ill help you look. Dad, you know how hard it is for mom to admit she really wants something. I know she wants that pink silk umbrella. Youre awfully busy here. Sometimes at this season, the stock can get misplaced. Im sorry; we took inventory this morning. Well if its not too much trouble, would you take just one more look in the stock room . If its possible . Alright. But i dont think itll do any good. Look, timmy, we dont have much time. You have to get to church, and ive got some other errands to do. Ok, dad. This one is going on me. Oh, boy i dont see how i missed it this morning. These things sometimes happen. And am i glad sometimes is this time did you hear about the wolves, paul . Yeah, we heard. Matt krebbs shot and killed one last night. Went over this morning to capital city to pick up the bounty. No. Yeah. Wounded another one, too. He got away. You know, a wounded wolf running around can be pretty dangerous. Timmy, you better keep lassie out of the woods. I will, and thanks, mr. Washburn. Lassie, what is it . Whats the matter . Theres nobody out there. Here, go on. You just take a look. Lassie, come here here, girl oh, im so glad youre back. One of those wolves came back and lassie chased it off into the woods. Shes been gone now nearly two hours. Two hours . gosh, dad, lassie wouldnt stay away that long unles somethings happened. Wed better take a look around. Timmy has to be back in church by seven, so we havent got much time. Ill come along with you. Alright. I better get my gun and a couple of flash lights. Here, dear. Hold these, please. Lassie here, girl lassie dad dad, look it looks like blood. And it may be lassies now timmy, dont jump top conclusions. More than likely it was a wild animal lying there. But if it is lassie, and shes hurt, she couldnt have gotten very far. Look, timmy, you and mr. Nicholson go back to the house, over the ridge, and look there. Ill look along the base. Come on, timmy. You lead the way. Ok. Lassie lassie timmy, are you ready, dear . Almost, mom. Amen. Amen. Al sq n silent night, holy night. All is calm. All is bright. Round, young virgin, mother and child. Holy infant, so tender and mild. Sleep in heavenly peace. Sleep in heavenly peace. Christmas stars, timmy. Theyre full of promise. Mr. Nicholson . Yes . Id like you to meet mr. And mrs. Washburn. How do you do . I enjoyed your singing, timmy. Thank you, mr. Krebbs. I heard your pa and mr. Livermore talking about lassie. I dont blame you for feeling bad. Shes a fine worker. And a good watchdog, too. She was really more than that. I guess you wouldnt understand. Well how did she come to get lost . She was chasing one of those wolves. Thats funny. I killed that second wolf this afternoon. Did you see lassie . No. No, i didnt, son. Well, goodbye, mr krebbs. Goodbye, timmy. And Merry Christmas. Thanks. Same to you. Come on, lassie. Ill take you home. Where did you get this, lassie . Oh, you want to show me, huh . Alright, ill follow you. How many you got in there, lassie . Is that all of them, lassie . Well, come on. Lets go. Here, dear. Would you give me a hand and put these in the parlor on the table, please . Ok, mom. Thank you. Take that in for me, would you, dear . Might i help . Yes, please, mr. Nicholson. Thank you. Thank you very much. Oh, here they come Merry Christmas hello Merry Christmas, timmy. Thanks, mr. Washburn. And heres a Little Something for lassie. Where is she . Uh, why dont you put it under the tree, dear . Ok, mom. Lassie its lassie where was she . Well, she was on her way home when i ran across her. Was really my fault that she got lost in the first place. I didnt know it. Cubs. I almost forgot about them. Lassie found them in the cave. I guess she got trapped in there with them by a snow slide that. I guess i must have started. Its just freezing out here. Come on in, wont you, and join our ch oh, thank you maam. We have a big tree. Lots to eat. Well. Poor little things. I bet theyre hungry. Yes, now you better get inside and feed lassie. Ill take care of t. Ok. Wait a second; theres one more. Another one . Ha there we are. Alright, in the house with the both of you. Ok. Come on, girl. Come on, lassie. The only foolish one was me. Yes, i think ive learned a Little Something from timmy and lassie. And those cubs. Timmy . Yes, sir . Its a pretty small man who wont own up to his mistakes. I was wondering if youd let me help you start up your animal feeding fund again. I think i can persuade the other farmers to go along with it. Gee, thatd be swell im gonna tell mr. Nicholson right now come on, girl timmy, your jacket. oh, dear. Come on, matt. Come see our tree. Yeah, thanks. Mom . Mr. Nicholsons wagon is gone. And so are the cubs. Gone . Well thats strange. Mom. Why would mr. Nicholson leave like that . Not even saying goodbye. I dont know, dear. Maybe because he finished what he came to do. Lassie acts like she sees something we dont. You know something, mom . Mr. Nicholson said that we planted a seed that might open mr. Krebbs heart. And it did maybe we shouldnt worry too much about mr. Nicholsons leaving. After all, his visit is something that well remember and cherish always. Come on, dear. We better go back in. Mom, look. Look at the christmas stars. The happiest night of the year. Silent night holy night all is calm all is bright round young virgin, mother and child holy infant so tender and mild sleep in heavenly peace sleep in heavenly peace lassie lassie starring june lockhart, hugh reilly, john provost as timmy, and, of course, lassie. Oh, here it is. Uh, timmy, will you and lassie wait out here for us, please . Well just be a minute. Ok, mom. Alright. Well, hello there. Are you getting your shopping done