♪ ♪ well, hello! well. what do you call this bea? her name's lassie. well, lassie, how do you do? i'm called mr. nicholson. - hi, i'm timmy. timmy martin. well hello, timmy. i see you're feeding the birds at the christmas season. it's a very nice thing you're doing, my boy. they go hungry because they can't find any food because of the snow. yes, i know. ♪ hey! ♪ i guess she isn't afraid anymore. ♪ oh, holly. did you think i'd forgotten you? huh? ♪ i'd never forget you, old friend. ha ha. mister nicholson, are you a mender of toys? that's what i am, son. there aren't 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, they're gathering up old toys and fixing them for the kids at the children's hospital in capital city. there's a whole bunch of stuff in our barn. there's a lot of fixing to be done. i'd be very glad to assist your ladies, timmy. i'll offer them my services tomorrow. but for today, holly and i have come an awful long way. we'll have to leave you now and seek out a place to spend the night. it's been a great pleasure making your acquaintance, timmy. and you, too, lassie. mr. nicholson, why don't you come home with us? i'll ask mom if she can fix you a bed. holly can sleep in the barn! well, we'd be indebted to you. the barn would be find for holly and for me, too, because i've got a bed in the wagon. ♪ hink he'll 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 he's 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. i've only baked three potatoes. when we sit down, i'll just say i don't want any.? - alright. ♪ ruth... look. ♪ ♪ all these christmas preparations are making you absent-minded. shh. here, let me have your coat! here, girl. eat up. sugar and spice: the perfumes that herald christmas. my mom's been baking all week. she's the best cook in the whol oh, timmy! oh, it's 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, won't 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, there's never a shortage of toys to be mended wherever there are children. ha ha. i'm 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 children's gifts were brought to them by a little old lady and a little old man. and they're 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. nick's 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 far-off 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... they're not the only things going hungry because of the snow. why can't we... why can't 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, you've done it also unto me. mr. nicholson, if you don't have any other plans, we'd certainly enjoy having you spend the holidays with us. yes. we hope you can. ♪ well, thank you both. i... i'd 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. i've been there a million times. ah, good. come on, holly. just a little more. i'd like to collect and distribute every second or third day, so if it snows again, there won't be and food lost. sounds sensible. i guess you ca. - gee, thanks mr. livermore. sure appreciate it. i'll get you a sack of corn. ♪ ♪ thanks you, mr. davis! - thank you! ♪ ah, thank you, sir. bye! ok, come on, holly. that's a boy. ♪ come on. come on. woah. - hi, mr. krebbs. i've been expecting you. suppose you're here to done me out of some feed. we're collecting food for the wild animals, so they won't starve. yeah, i heard about it. well i ain't aiming to give you any feed. i take good care of my animals, and the wild ones can fend for themselves. that's the way nature intended it. but how can they fend for themselves? all their feeding grounds are being buried by the snow. that's not my problem. as far as i'm concerned, animals was meant to earn their keep. this is a lot of sentimental nonsense, and i'm not a sentimental man. not even in this season of sentiment, mr. krebbs? i got chores to do. ♪ let's go. come on, holly. ♪ i'm 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. he's lonely. why else should he - i think he's just a mean old man. ha ha. timmy, don't 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 it's 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 haven't 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? you've certainly been a big help to us at the church. yeah. i don't 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 can't remember any christmas when our church was looking so beautiful, thanks to you. oh... well if you're 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. i'll 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. i'm afraid we've got some bad news. well i'll come right to the point: because of your son's animal feeding project, i've lost some valuable livesto. - i'm sorry to hear that. come on inside and we'll 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. it's funny. there haven't 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 it's the deer they're after, why would they attack the farm animals? maybe the wolves were weak from hunger, timmy. well, it's 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 wasn't practical. - al's right, timmy. you'll have to stop the project. ♪ ♪ that's 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 claus's workshop. ha. i'm just one of his assistants. did you make all of these toys? oh, not make. mended. don't 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 i've had many years experience with my trade. ♪ i remember this. i collected it for mom. but it didn't 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. he's just a toy. golly. i've never seen toys like these before. well i've 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 children's 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, it's difficult to accept disappointment. but in time, the grace of understanding is given us. i know you're right, mr. nicholson, but... i just wish the wolves had stayed away. you're not the first one to wish that. wolves appear in one form or another in every man's life. but each time it happens, there's a reason. but how can there be a reason, if all those animals are left to starve? timmy, sometimes god's 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 they'll travel safely like this? - oh, i'm 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 can't! well, i mean... um... i'm having a... final practice on my solo today, and i might get nervous if somebody's listening. well if you're nervous with me around, what are you going to do with a whole church full of people? well, um... i don't know.. maybe... - oh, that's alright. i have to stay here anyway and get ready for the party. lassie, they won't allow you in church, and i'm not wanted, so we'll 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 we're going to pick up her presents. i just didn't 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 i'm sorry, timmy. i sold that this morning. you know, when you didn't come back, i thought you'd changed your mind. but i didn't have the money saved until now. look, timmy, you can pick out another present for your mother. come on. i'll 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. you're awfully busy here. sometimes at this season, the stock can get misplaced. i'm sorry; we took inventory this morning. well if it's not too much trouble, would you take just one more look in the stock room? if it's possible? alright. but i don't think it'll do any good. look, timmy, we don't have much time. you have to get to church, and i've got some other errands to do. ok, dad. ♪ ♪ this one is going on me. oh, boy! i don't 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? what's the matter? ♪ there's nobody out there. here, go on. you just take a look. ♪ lassie, come here! ♪ ♪ here, girl! ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ oh, i'm so glad you're back. one of those wolves came back and lassie chased it off into the woods. she's been gone now nearly two hours. two hours?! gosh, dad, lassie wouldn't stay away that long unles something's happened. we'd better take a look around. timmy has to be back in church by seven, so we haven't got much time. i'll 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 lassie's! now timmy, don't jump top conclusions. - more than likely it was a wild animal lying there. but if it is lassie, and she's hurt, she couldn't have gotten very far. look, timmy, you and mr. nicholson go back to the house, over the ridge, and look there. i'll 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. they're full of promise. - mr. nicholson? yes? i'd 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 don't blame you for feeling bad. she's a fine worker. and a good watchdog, too. she was really more than that. i guess you wouldn't understand. - well how did she come to get lost? she was chasing one of those wolves. that's funny. i killed that second wolf this afternoon. did you see lassie? no. no, i didn't, son. well, goodbye, mr krebbs. - goodbye, timmy. and merry christmas. thanks. same to you. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ come on, lassie. i'll take you home. ♪ where did you get this, lassie? ♪ oh, you want to show me, huh? alright, i'll follow you. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ how many you got in there, lassie? ♪ is that all of them, lassie? well, come on. let's 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 here's a little something for lassie. where is she? - uh, why don't you put it under the tree, dear? ok, mom. ♪ lassie! it's 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 didn't 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. it's just freezing out here. come on in, won't you, and join our ch - oh, thank you ma'am. we have a big tree... lots to eat... well... poor little things. i bet they're hungry. yes, now you better get inside and feed lassie. i'll take care of t. - ok. wait a second; there's 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 i've learned a little something from timmy and lassie... and those cubs. timmy? - yes, sir? it's a pretty small man who won't own up to his mistakes. i was wondering if you'd 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, that'd be swell! i'm 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. nicholson's wagon is gone. and so are the cubs. - gone? well that's strange. ♪ ♪ ♪ mom... why would mr. nicholson leave like that? not even saying goodbye. i don't know, dear. maybe because he finished what he came to do. ♪ lassie acts like she sees something we don't. you know something, mom? mr. nicholson said that we planted a seed that might open mr. krebb's heart. and it did! ♪ maybe we shouldn't worry too much about mr. nicholson's leaving. after all, his visit is something that we'll 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 ♪ ♪ i suppose i had never seen a happier room, and there, in the corner, was the nicest little hearth you could ever hope for. christmas is sort of special for everybody, and we have a very special show that i sincerely believe will heighten your christmas. now, as you all know, charles dickens' "christmas carol" is one of the most famous pieces in literature. but very few people know that dickens wrote another beautiful rendering of christmas called "cricket on the hearth." matter of fact, i just found out about it myself. you never heard of the lucky cricket on the hearth? well, it all started in merry old england a long time ago. here. lend an ear. [playing keyboard] ♪ one christmas morning ♪ you may look into your stocking ♪ ♪ and find that something shocking has occurred ♪ ♪ among the candy canes and toys ♪ ♪ you'll hear a funny little noise ♪ ♪ you've got yourself a cricket on the hearth ♪ ♪ cricket on the hearth ♪ take that horseshoe off your door ♪ ♪ with a cricket on the hearth ♪ ♪ you can leave that lucky penny ♪ ♪ sitting on the floor ♪ cricket on the hearth ♪ throw that rabbit's foot away ♪ ♪ with a cricket on the hearth ♪ ♪ you can save that sticky wishbone ♪ ♪ for another day ♪ let him abide by the fireside ♪ ♪ and luck will come a-knocking on your door ♪ ♪ and the spirit of christmas will live with you ♪ ♪ forevermore ♪ cricket on the hearth ♪ leave that mistletoe above ♪ ♪ with a cricket on the hearth ♪ ♪ knock it down, you'll still be lucky ♪ ♪ step on the cracks and spill the salt ♪ ♪ cross a cat that's black, not a thing can halt ♪ ♪ your luck if you have a lucky cricket ♪ ♪ cricket on the hearth ♪ deck the halls with boughs of holly ♪ ♪ fa la la la la la la la la ♪ ♪ 'tis the season to be jolly... ♪ whoo! welcome back home. that is a chilly one. oh, right. oh, excuse me. be with you in a blink. home at last. well, merry christmas to you. mmm. i suppose you're all wondering what me, a cricket, is doing here on christmas eve with a home of me own. see, i am a part of the family, as it were. oh, and it's a lucky household what has a cricket on their hearth. and indeed i am good luck, for if it hadn't been for cricket crocket here, why, there wouldn't be no blinking family. i'll tell you how it all began. a long time ago it was. springtime, if i remembers correct. oh, i was some cracking cricket, i could tell you. ready to take on the world, i was. i was looking for a proper family to adopt when all of a sudden, i spies... about the happiest house i'd ever seen... and a toy shop, too. i'll return in a little while. here, now. here, now. you watch it. why, it's a cricket. here, now. just watch it. i am very fragile. there, there. i mean you no harm. why, i've heard that you crickets bring good luck with you. how about staying with us for a while? come on, now. just go inside and make yourself at home... if you've a mind to. oh, well, uh... oh, it's not a very exciting place. just me and my daughter and of course the toys. sir, i'd be delighted. crocket's the name. cricket crocket. i'm caleb plummer. we'll work out the arrangements later, after i deliver these toys. ta-ta. i suppose i had never seen a happier room, and there, in the corner, was the nicest little hearth you could ever hope for. perfect. [woman crying] here, now. what's this? oh, edward, i shouldn't. no, bertha. you go right ahead and cry. but i don't want you to remember me like this-- all teary. any memory of you will be the most precious a man could carry. but i promised myself that i'd be brave and smile till the very end. [crying] oh, why must you go away? i must serve out my enlistment. i must go to sea tomorrow. for 2 years? it's just not fair. darling... i'm a commissioned officer in the royal navy and-- oh, i hate that commission, and i hate that uniform, and i hate the royal navy. bertha! oh, no, i don't... really. i'm sorry. i'll release you from your promise... if you want. oh, no! oh, edward! crocket's voice: i couldn't help meself. see, that's the way it is with us crickets. we get involved. my darling, you will be here when i return? promise? oh, edward. i love you so. ♪ don't give your love away ♪ ♪ wait for me, i will come back ♪ ♪ to you ♪ and we'll have a thousand days of may ♪ ♪ don't give your love ♪ away ♪ i've kissed your smiles away ♪ ♪ i know waiting will be hard for you ♪ ♪ and i wish i could do more than say ♪ ♪ don't give your love away ♪ ♪ my longest day will be when i remember ♪ ♪ today ♪ and i'll wonder if you'll be there ♪ ♪ if the years haven't touched our love affair ♪ ♪ still moment, speak for me ♪ ♪ tell her words are much too weak for me ♪ ♪ what i feel comes to my lips one way ♪ ♪ don't give your love ♪ away crocket: well, the time passed right quick. i suppose it always does when you're busy. ooh, and busy we was. christmas was getting nearer and nearer. 2 tacks, cricket. 2 tacks on their way. more red paint, crocket, if you please. hmm...make it smiling red. smiling red you want, smiling red you get. how's that, love? ooh, divine. the perfect color for a smile. i suppose i'm being extravagant with the paint, but no child wants a doll who can't smile. [sniffles] now, now, what's this? was that a tear that i saw, bertha? now, you shouldn't get yourself all unhappy and teary over thinking about your young man. it's been a year and a half since edward went away, and, well, sometimes when i think about him, i smile and cry because i'm happy. ♪ if a tear falls when you're smiling ♪ ♪ and you're still gay inside ♪ ♪ then it means that you've found a happiness ♪ ♪ your tears can never hide ♪ ♪ smiles go with tears ♪ smiles go with tears ♪ ♪ sometimes when you're happiest ♪ ♪ smiles go with tears ♪ when you haven't seen a loved one ♪ ♪ and he suddenly appears ♪ even though you try to control yourself ♪ ♪ you'll never hide the tears ♪ ♪ smiles go with tears ♪ smiles go with tears ♪ ♪ sometimes when you're happiest ♪ ♪ smiles go with tears ♪ let a happy little tear fall ♪ ♪ let it cry right down your face ♪ ♪ let it say, "i love you. i missed you so" ♪ ♪ "no one can take your place" ♪ ♪ smiles go with tears ♪ smiles go with tears ♪ ♪ sometimes when you're happiest ♪ ♪ smiles go with tears now for the eyes. brown or black or...sky-blue pink? [laughter] [door opens] oh! [door closes] what...what can i do for you? you are a certain caleb plummer? i am. call me jeremiah bleak. i am a certain agent of her majesty the queen. oh? you have a certain bertha plummer for a daughter, who in turn was engaged to a certain edward belton? you mean...is engaged. i am sorry, but it is my melancholy duty to inform you that a certain edward belton, late of her majesty's royal navy, is lost at sea. lord have mercy. no. no! no! his small mournful effects willed to the girl. aah! [thunder] bertha. bertha, my darling daughter, it's all a mistake, i'm certain. it could be a mistake, couldn't it? hardly. oh, no. no, no. my poor baby. my poor baby. [door opens] [wind blowing] [door closes] crocket's voice: blimey. that's a day i'd soon as not remember-- the beginning of all our troubles, for you see, the shock of that awful message, delivered the way it was, turned poor bertha...blind. oh, my baby. my poor, poor baby. crocket's voice: oh, grim times was upon us, i'll tell you. how quick everything changed-- poor dear bertha living in her world of darkness, and old caleb beside himself with grief. all he did was nurse his daughter. didn't touch the unfinished toys, and christmas was only a short way off. and when the happy season came, he wasn't ready. he didn't sell one toy that year. made nary a halfpenny. yeah, what money he did have all went to the doctors he brought in, but they could do no good, and caleb, not thinking, went out and borrowed more and more money, never having any idea how he was going to pay it back. [evil laughter] and one sad day, they could no longer pay the rent, and they were deep in debt. old caleb had no choice but to pack up and leave. [wind blowing] oh, they was hard times, i can tell you. long, hungry days, looking for a bit of work, anything. and finally, one day... caleb: no use. can't go one step farther. we have no other choice. no choice, father? well, what do you mean? the poor house? oh, no. you can't give up. what else can i do? oh, if we ever needed a little bit of luck... coo... is that what i think it is? a toy factory. now, i'd wager they could use a fine toymaker like you. do you think so? let's find out, mate. let's find out. cricket, is father seeing mr. tackleton now? uh-huh, uh-huh. shh! so you want a situation as a toymaker, do you? well, toymakers come threepence a dozen. correct, uriah? [squawk] ah, yes. but i'm a very good worker, sir, and i have my own tools, and...and i'm... very good, sir. he's very good, uriah. ha ha. ha ha. my friend, uriah caw, thinks that's very funny. i'm sorry. i really best... be going. no, wait. caleb plummer, huh? aye, i've heard of your skills. well, you won't be paid anything, but you can live on the premises, and there will be leftover food for you. whatever you say, sir. where are the other toymakers? ha ha! did you hear that, uriah caw? he wants to know where the other toymakers are. [squawk] there are no other toymakers. [laughter] is this our new home, father? what's it like? well, uh... splendid. splendid. quite palatial. and mr. tackleton-- what's he like, father? oh, he's fine. and he's made me head man of his entire factory. oh, father, how i wish i could see it all. i'll see everything for you, my dear. and everything i see shall be beautiful. i promise you. ♪ through my eyes ♪ you will see the world ♪ as it should be ♪ through my eyes ♪ always gay ♪ pretty colors ♪ covering the gray ♪ through my eyes ♪ let me dry your foolish tears ♪ ♪ now and forever ♪ take my love and throw away ♪ ♪ the word called "never" ♪ let my heart teach you how to feel ♪ ♪ and my love help you to reveal ♪ ♪ the secret world ♪ a new world through my eyes ♪ ♪ through my eyes ♪ you will see the world as it should be ♪ ♪ through my eyes ♪ and one day ♪ you'll be happy that you found the way ♪ ♪ that you saw the world ♪ through my eyes ♪ through my eyes cook. oh, i can't call you cook. what's your name? becky? you're a very quiet girl, becky. and you are jarvis, are you not? "yes, milord." well, that'll be all, jarvis. you can have the night off. "thank you, milord." and it was like we lived in 2 worlds-- what was real for us and what was real for blind bertha. oh... of all the blinkety blooming hearths in all the blinkety blooming world, this hearth is the blinkingest and the bloomingest. [crash] oh, well, what's the use? "make do, cricket crocket. make do." blimey! [squawk] evening, matey. [squawk] we got no place for bugs around here. hello, hello. who are you calling a bug? i am an insect, i am. i will thank you to address me by my proper rank. i loves to mangle insects. [squawking] ow! tackleton: uriah? uriah? [squawk] what are you doing out here? naughty, naughty birdie. come to beddy-bye now. into your cage, uriah caw. it's late. [squawking] [sighs] oh...whew-ee. whew. nighty-night, little friend. [snoring] crocket's voice: well, it was obvious one of us had to go. oh, yeah, but i'm getting ahead of my story. it was about a week before christmas, and poor old caleb plummer was working night and day to keep up with the demands of the season, as it were. plummer, you're using entirely too much paint on the dolls' faces. just trying to give them nice smiles. who the blazes cares about smiles? a dot and a half is enough for any doll. paint costs money! yes, sir. oh, but tackleton toys was mean and grubby things. oh, all he cared about was the shillings and pennies they'd bring. but caleb, oh, he couldn't see them go out into the world like that, so every night, me and him would sneak in and fix them up proper, then pop them back in their boxes by morning so tackleton wouldn't find out. it was just 2 days before christmas when we met up with...him. oh, excuse me, sir. i had so much in my arms, that i couldn't see you. no, it was my fault, i assure you. here. allow me to help you pick those up. ooh! what is it, sir? my bones ache so terribly. i've no money for a room. been sleeping out-of-doors. why, that's terrible. in this weather? well, you must come home with me. i haven't much to offer, but you're quite welcome to share it with me. bless you, son. bless you. he was a funny, quiet sort of fellow. wouldn't hardly say boo. just sat there looking at bertha with them sad, old eyes. we're so glad you could stay with us. oh. oh, it is my pleasure indeed. bertha. [gasp] what is it? the way you said my name just now, it-- i'm sorry. indeed i am. i was too forward. "miss plummer" i meant to say. here now. here now. no serious formalities, for we are all one family, and it's almost christmas. and we're going to have a splendid christmas this time. aren't we, father? with mistletoe and a big tree and decorations and everything. oh, promise me, father. oh, promise me. even though i cannot see them, you will have those things? but of course. of course. crocket's voice: now, caleb had been ly-- stretching the truth for a long time now to keep bertha happy, but when it came to fibbing about christmas, well...he just wasn't quite up to it. caleb: ♪ would it be christmas without the mistletoe? ♪ ♪ would it be christmas without the winter snow? ♪ ♪ no fireplace ♪ no christmas tree ♪ no decorations, just you and me ♪ ♪ would it be christmas then? ♪ ♪ on the first christmas ♪ there was no mistletoe ♪ on the first christmas ♪ there was no winter snow ♪ ♪ no fireplace ♪ no christmas tree ♪ no decorations, just the wise men three ♪ ♪ and it was christmas then ♪ ♪ the holiday season has changed ♪ ♪ but the reason we celebrate remains ♪ ♪ it can be christmas without the mistletoe ♪ ♪ it can be christmas without the winter snow ♪ ♪ no fireplace, no christmas tree ♪ ♪ no decorations, just you and me ♪ ♪ it can be christmas then ♪ for christmas lives in the heart ♪ ♪ of men [bell tolling] wish you a merry christmas ♪ ♪ we wish you a merry christmas ♪ ♪ we wish you a merry christmas ♪ ♪ and a happy new year... crocket's voice: well, the following day, it was christmas eve. ooh, and we were really busy. tackleton: rest period. do take a rest. [squawk] i've decided to give you a christmas bonus-- 4 whole shillings. here. a shilling for you, girl. i hope it doesn't bankrupt the old skinflint. actually, i must confess to an ulterior motive. ha ha ha. this is a lonely old place for me, and i've finally decided that what i need is a wife. a wife, sir? you? and why not? i cut a splendid figure. ha! you say something? no, sir. ah. well, to get to the point, i'm happy to inform you that i've decided that the girl i would most like to so honor is none other than your own dear lucky bertha. what? we could be wed tomorrow. it's christmas, a holiday. that way, we wouldn't lose a day's work. oh, sir. now, you don't have to make up your mind right away. take your time. think it over. why, i'll give you an hour and 15 minutes. meanwhile... back to work. oh, father, i'm so very honored. but...but, my dear, you're just a child. father, i haven't been a child for a long time. you've just got to accept the fact that i am a big grown-up girl now. ♪ lullabies and fairy tales ♪ ♪ pinafores, piano scales ♪ ♪ satin bows and cheeks of rose ♪ ♪ that was yesterday ♪ little girl upon your knee ♪ ♪ that was what i used to be ♪ ♪ bunny nose, but heaven knows ♪ ♪ that was yesterday ♪ so look up, your little girl's a lady ♪ ♪ with a weighty problem ♪ daddy is her problem ♪ he thinks she's still a child ♪ ♪ carousels and wishing wells ♪ ♪ golden shoes with silver bells ♪ ♪ starry eyes and cherry pies ♪ ♪ that was yesterday ♪ carousels and wishing wells ♪ ♪ golden shoes with silver bells ♪ ♪ starry eyes and cherry pies ♪ ♪ that was yesterday ♪ yesterday [door opens] miss plummer. who's that? the old gentleman? i have happy news, sir. and i've something to tell you. i've waited too long. no, no, no. let me tell my news first, for it is bursting inside of me. the most wonderful man in the whole world has asked me to be his wife! indeed? i offer you then my heartiest congratulations. ha ha ha. they don't sound very hearty. and now...what have you to tell me? well, i, um... that is... oh, blast all this telling one another. we've got no time for it. this is an emergency. why, cricket, what a thing to say. excuse me. what's wrong with the old fellow? never mind him. think of her. what can i do? have i deceived her all this time but to break her heart at last? father... i've made up my mind. when mr. tackleton returns, i shall tell him that i accept his proposal. crocket's voice: see, i was determined that bertha would never get a chance to say yes. so i called together some of me mates. well, right on the dot, he arrives. bertha: do come and sit beside me, mr. tackleton. i've made tea. i shall. oh, i shall, my pretty little lady. one lump or 2? 2. oh, yes, 2, my pretty. 2, he says. coming up, matey. oh! ooh! ooh, is anything wrong? no. and now, my dear, we come to the reason for my presence here. ha ha ha. "ha ha ha." that's what you think, chum. pepper. and have you made up your pretty little mind? ha ha ha. well, to tell the truth, kind sir-- yes? ha ha ha. [ah-choo!] oh! oh, what was that? never mind. now-- [ah-choo!] well, what on earth? excuse me, my pretty-- [ah-choo!] [ah-choo! ah-choo!] it was that cricket made a fool of me. uriah, get rid of him once and for all. [squawk] and this time, no slip-ups. get professional help so you won't bungle the job. i want that cricket eliminated. [squawk] [piano playing] all right, quiet. moll's gonna sing. aw, shut up. [music playing] ♪ diamonds, furs, and ocean trips ♪ ♪ they don't go with twopence tips ♪ ♪ don't feed me champagne talk ♪ ♪ when we're eating fish and chips ♪ ♪ half a pint, some smoky kips ♪ ♪ where never meant to touch my lips ♪ ♪ don't speak those platinum words ♪ ♪ when we're eating fish and chips ♪ ♪ can't you get out of the habit ♪ ♪ of saying meat when you mean rabbit? ♪ ♪ or saying sable when you can't afford raccoon? ♪ ♪ you've got caviar tastes and shad-roe pockets ♪ ♪ and you never ever buy me the moon ♪ ♪ with my life i've come to grips ♪ ♪ throw away your clever quips ♪ ♪ i'm prepared to love you ♪ ♪ and to love my fish and chips ♪ [applause] [squawk] hello, strangler, slink. i've got a proper evil proposition to put to you. what's the job this time, uriah caw? we eliminates an annoying cricket. a cricket? not that easy. he's a clever one, he is. but he must be put away. i have a better idea. we'll capture him. i knows a captain who pays well for captured crickets. sells them in china for good-luck faces. [laughter] hello, and... [squawking] now, where's our pay? i've got your payoff right here, lad. [gunshots] crocket's voice: oh, i've hitched up with a lovely crew, i can tell you. there i was, setting sail for china on christmas eve, leaving poor bertha in the hands of that... [ahem] coo... what will my family do without their lucky cricket on the hearth? aye, you'll fetch a pretty price, you will-- a bolt of silk or a crate of tea. um...uh! what be the matter with you? go on! deader than a doornail he be. a dead cricket's no good to me! my plan worked perfect-like. i only overlooked one thing-- crickets can't swim. but luck was with me, for another thing i forgot was crickets float. now, i know you're not going to believe how i got back to land, but this is the way it happened. look, so help me. it was just before midnight when i got back. home at last. coo... a wedding dress. she's going to go through with it. [cuckoo clock] it's midnight, midnight on christmas eve-- the one hour in the year when magical things are supposed to happen. oh, look, maybe this bloke's still in luck. hello, hello. here now. here now. what's up? blimey. the toys. they're coming to life. hoo hoo hoo... what a sight. run around. run around. hey. oh, lovely. simply lovely. oh, we've been upstairs. dearie, humans must never see toys come to life. those are the rules. crocket: here, now. save your worries. look, i'm no human. i'm a-- an ant! an ant! blimey, no! i am a cricket. whew. crickets don't count. and let me be the first to say that i am happy to have you on my side. aw... you're all going to help stop poor bertha from marrying that crow-loving skinflint, aren't you? we'd do anything for caleb and bertha. if it wasn't for them, we'd be ugly. mama. hush, hush. but we haven't much time. in a moment, we'll have to go to sleep again. it's the rules, the rules, the rules, the rules... yeah, yeah, can't break the rules. so let's get cracking. any ideas? conference. mama. [whistles] all right, break it up. break it up! enough talk. let's have a little action. right-o. follow me, lads. huh? hey, look, why are we bothering with that old geezer? blimey. oh, look. he's coming apart. coo. that is not an old man. that's...edward belton. oh, but it couldn't be. you were lost at sea. kindly allow me to explain. you see, edward belton didn't drown when his ship went down. he built himself a raft and sailed to a beautiful unchartered island. and he was there. uh, please, sir. he was there 2 years before a whaler found him and brought him back to england. but then why the disguise? [cuckoo] well... uh-oh. our time is up. what's the matter with you toy blokes? i asked a simple question. i expect a simple answer. my beard. my wig. cricket crocket is onto you. now speak up. the whole story. well... i may as well tell you. i was shipwrecked, you see. i know all that-- the raft and the island and the whaler. what i don't understand is the whiskers and the wig. i came directly to her, but then i saw she'd gone blind, and i realized it was my fault. i couldn't just step back into her life after what i'd done to her. oh, come on now. she needs you more than she needs 6 new eyes. that's what i hoped. but i had to be sure, you see, and so i adopted the disguise. this way, i could be near her without anyone knowing. blimey! oh, there were a thousand times i was on the verge of telling her, but something always interrupted. and yesterday i made up my mind. you remember. i came in to tell her, only to see her radiant face, radiant because "the most wonderful man in the world" had asked her to be his wife. those were her very words. ooh, you nincompoop! paying any attention to the words of a gushing female. oh, no. i could tell she meant it. and he had so much more to offer her. i'm still poor. poor? why, she wouldn't trade the bank of england for you. i wish i could believe that, cricket. i came back tonight for one last look at her. i...i guess i just fell asleep watching her. you're asleep, all right. asleep all over. you romantic sentimental ninny. she don't love nobody else but you. if i could only believe that. bertha, love. bertha? wake up, now. [blows] gentle. oh, gentle. it's only me. oh. oh. oh, cricket. you're back. you're safe. cricket? cricket? oh. oh? darling. am i dreaming? i...oh, edward. edward! oh, edward, you're alive! you're alive, edward. oh, you're alive. edward... do you know about me? i'm... ♪ through my eyes ♪ you will see the world ♪ as it should be ♪ through my eyes ♪ and one day ♪ you'll be happy ♪ that you found the way ♪ that you saw the world ♪ through my eyes @@ everybody happier than larks, all except, uh... tackleton: there i was, waiting at the church. what's this? what's this? what's going on here anyway? this just isn't fair. after all i've done for you. [sobbing] oh, mr. tackleton. mr. tackleton, i'm so terribly sorry. but you see, my heart belongs to edward. it always has. nobody loves me. but we all love you, and there will always be a place in my heart for a fine and kind and noble and handsome gentleman such as you. fine... kind, noble, and... and handsome? [crying softly] but of course. dear me, i feel good all over. nobody ever said such nice things to me before. i feel as light as a lark, happy as a hummingbird. why? why? i wonder why. maybe because it's christmas. it really is christmas. but of course. ha ha ha! of course! merry christmas! merry, merry christmas! oh, cricket, you're the luckiest thing that ever happened to anyone. well, that's my story. ended happy it did. here's hoping all your stories end happy, too. may you all have good health, good cheer, and a good merry christmas. and above all, may you never, never be without a cricket on your hearth. ♪ cricket on the hearth ♪ see that mistletoe above ♪ ♪ with a cricket on the hearth ♪ ♪ knock it down, you'll still be lucky ♪ ♪ cricket on the hearth i thoroughly enjoyed playing old man plummer, and my daughter bertha in the play was played by my real-life daughter, marlo thomas. and her boyfriend, edward benton, was ed ames. and the singing cat was delightfully played by miss abbe lane. and gruff old tackleton, that fine actor and my dear friend, hans conried. and our wonderful narrator, the lucky cricket crocket, was marvelous actor roddy mcdowall. and in the song "the first christmas," there are the lines, "the holiday season has changed, but the reason we celebrate remains." yes, that reason hasn't changed since the very first day, when the wise men presented their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. and on that subject, there's a lovely poem by the author edmund cooke that sums it up pretty well. mr. cooke wrote, "'tis not the weight "of jewel or plate "or the fondle of silk or fur. "'tis the spirit in which the gift is rich "as the gifts of the wise man were. "and we are not told whose gift was gold or whose was the gift of myrrh." ♪@ sps ee♪ nderaoñ ♪usyo@@ ú ♪ icachsts en ú@@ú@úúú4 f cisasiv t ort♪d ♪usy♪ ome  p d?  íçíç áááá os úaúaaa @@ú@púpúppxxx@@@@@@@@x@xuj ⌜? @@@ppp d"d"a d"h$ púdúd÷d÷dñdñdñmñmñdñd @@@@@@@úúúú

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