 Remember a hallmark card when you'll carry enough to send the very best. The speakers of hallmark cards bring you the story of Daniel, narrated by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. And now, here is our distinguished host, Mr. Edward Arnold. Ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Hallmark Hall of Fame. We are very proud to have as our guest this Sunday the distinguished author and religious leader, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale. His books such as The Power of Positive Thinking have brought new meaning to life for millions of people. Dr. Peale will narrate a dramatic story transcribed from the life of Daniel, one of the wisest and most courageous men of biblical times. Now, here is Frank Oz. You can say Merry Christmas in the very merriest way. You can wish Christmas joy in words of reverence and faith with a hallmark card that says what you want to say, just the way you want to say it. And the familiar hallmark and crown on the back of your Christmas card tells your friends too that you cared enough to send the very best. And now with Dr. Norman Vincent Peale as our narrator, Mr. Arnold brings you the story of Daniel on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. Before the birth of Christ in the town of Jerusalem, there was born under David and Abigail a son, and his name was Daniel. He was an unusual child as he grew to manhood. It was apparent he possessed great wisdom and courage. And above all else, he possessed faith. A man's faith, they've coined great things to say about it. We walk by faith, it said, not by sight. And faith is a substance of things hoped for. Faith moves mountains, these and all the others. They have a least common denominator. That faith is the inner strength that sustains us in the face of terrible trouble. Which was his belief, his faith. This young man who had been carried off as a prisoner of war, yet who won a high place in the Babylonian court of King Nebuchadnezzar. But Nebuchadnezzar died and his son Bel Shazer was made king. And Daniel was out of favor. Let there be no more talk of this God of the Jews. Let there be a feast to the old gods. And let the wine be poured in the golden vessels, and let it be drunk by all. And let us praise the gods of gold and of silver. Let there be a feast. In the days of Nebuchadnezzar, your father... I proclaimed I wanted no more talk of them, and even you may not recall them. Yes, I... O King, approach me Cyrus, and you are Mosey. And how does it go with my philosophers? We have brought a gift, or a carving in ivory, which hangs from a golden chain, plucked from the most high temple of Jerusalem. Give it to me. You see how it is fashioned most intricately. Yet at the end of it, how cleverly it is shaped into a hand used by devout priests to read the words of the screws from which they pray. Therefore, if there is magic in their prayers, there is magic in this gift. My dear. Yes. Wear it, then, about your neck, so that its magic may infuse you. It is truly beautiful. Now... What is it? What is happening? My king! Look! There! Opposite the candle stick upon the plaster of the wall, a man's hand, a disembodied hand that lights upon the wall. Oh, no! Many, many take care of Farsin. And the hand is gone. Many, many take care of Farsin. What does it mean? It's an omen. Of course it's an omen. But what does it mean? Philosopher, you are mostly learned at man most wise. The words, many, many take care of Farsin, which have been written now upon my palace wall. What do they mean? Many, many... I would need time to study, to cast certain formulae, which are known only to me, and so... Then you will tell me, Cyrus. Tell me, then, what means the omen? Speak. Speak! I do not know. Did you hear? Do you hear, my corny? My philosophers do not understand this omen, this handwriting upon the wall. Soothsayers. In no court in all the world are there soothsayers such as mine. Tell me, then, in all my kingdom, there is no wisdom who speaks. What woman's voice speaks from a brain of such cunning as will tell me the secret of those words. It is I, your mother. Then, Queen, and tell me the wisdom I neglected to inherit. When there was your father, there was a Jew whose name was Daniel. Daniel. Daniel, the name teases me. Daniel. Your father's strong right arm, and his conscience. A Jew whose name was Daniel, a youth of Judah. Yes, I remember. A youth of Judah, an interpreter of dreams. Skewful in all wisdom and understanding. Then let him show the interpretation of the words. Let Daniel be brought, talking. If you are Daniel, of the children of captivity of Judah, I am he. I have heard of you, of the spirit of the gods as in you, of the Lord God of us. That light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in you. Consider, then, the words on the wall. Many, many, taker of arson. Then make an interpretation and make it known to me, that you will be clothed with scarlet and have a train of gold about your neck, and you will be the third ruler of my kingdom. Give your rewards to another. I want nothing from you. For your sake. I hope you are cunning as well as arrogant. Listen. Listen to me and what I say. O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom and majesty and glory and honor. And all people and nations and languages trembled and feared before him. But when his heart was lifted up in his mind hardened by pride, you prattle man of Judah and there is no wisdom in you. Like your father, you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of Heaven and you have praised gods which see not nor hear nor know. Therefore was sent the hand that wrote. The words, the words. This is the interpretation of the thing. Many, many, God has numbered your kingdom and finished it. Take her. You are weighed in the balances and have been found wanting. Ufarsan, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians. This is the meaning of the thing. Then Belshazzar the king did a strange thing. He proclaimed that Daniel should be one of the most powerful men in the kingdom again. As if to make a quick atonement for all his past sins. As if Daniel should be grateful for what he received for him. But it was too late. That very night Belshazzar was murdered and the kingdom was given over to Darius the me. The first thing Darius did was to call Daniel to him. Come Daniel with me to the window and with me watch. He'll do me honor. And you receive it as it leaves their hearts for there is humbleness in you. Below the hosts of 120 princes march, I have set over them three presidents of whom you shall be the first. I will serve you. All the princes shall account to you and only you shall account for me. There is an excellent spirit in you Daniel. And I will avail myself of it. And for this spirit you have set me over the whole realm. Yes. It is the spirit of the one Lord God Darius. This is talk of which I have no understanding. Therefore the one Lord God and this is the spirit you should set over the whole realm mightier than me. Yes it mightier than you. Mightier than all men put together. Proclaim it. Do not vex me with this talk Daniel. To rule the kingdom is to know only days of trouble. Therefore do only what you must to ease my hours. Do not embitter them. We will talk of it another time. This God of whom you speak in all your wisdom you still feel the need of him to cling to him for all wisdom springs from him. Daniel. Yes. I am troubled and I am lonely and another time we will speak of it then. Daniel was a faithful friend and advisor to the king Darius. As in all courts however there were intrigues and jealousies and resentments and mostly there was resentment over the fact that an outsider a hostage really should be the second man in the kingdom. Daniel they said an interpreter of dreams that's all a reader of handwriting on the wall and what bothered many of the people was that Daniel was different. His religion was different and that was a stigma they decided. You are troubled Cyrus. Which is why I asked you to walk with me here in the garden. Oh. Consider. Yes. What if Daniel were dead. What if he were dead. But then why are not said obscurely but rather like this. What if Daniel were dead. What if we would cause his death. Murder him murder him. But how. Surely philosopher there must be a way. There is a way for all things. Therefore. There must be a way to murder Daniel. Yes. After a while the trap was set for Daniel. Man of Judah. I'm sure that during the year many of you have chuckled over the sophisticated line drawings of Steinberg and you've doubtless stopped to admire one of the hauntingly delicate illustrations by that fine American artist Holder and many of you too have read and reread the warm homie poetry of Edgar A. Guest. Well I'm proud to announce that you'll find these three distinguished favorites represented in the exciting new Hallmark Hall of Fame collection of Christmas cards. This impressive collection assembles boxes of cards by famous artists and writers in one convenient display. In addition to Holder, Steinberg and Edgar A. Guest you'll find Christmas cards by Grandma Moses, Norman Rockwell, Sir Winston Churchill, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale and others. Your friends will get added enjoyment receiving cards designed for them by famous people. And they'll be delighted to display these distinguished Hallmark cards in their homes. So be sure to look for the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection of Christmas cards now at the fine stores that feature Hallmark cards. Remember each of these cards not only bears the name of a famous artist or writer but also another famous name that familiar Hallmark and Crown on the back of the card to show you'll carry enough to send the very best. And now with Dr. Norman Vincent Peale as our narrator, Edward Arnold brings up the second act of Daniel. Cascading waterfalls and hanging gardens. A city of wealth and of corruption. And it was against this background 500 years before Christ that Daniel lived and was a member of the Royal Court. In the pagan world of men such as Daniel was a dangerous man because in power in stature Daniel was second only to the king. And in this world where men bowed only to images of gold and of silver, who more suspect, who more vulnerable than the man who bowed only to God. And this then was the plot to ruin Daniel, to murder him with his own fate. And for this they came to the palace of Darius and to his throne. King Darius, live forever. Welcome, Amosie, and rise and come close. For King Darius, live forever. Approach me, Cyrus. Welcome to me. It has been a day of loneliness and of duties done and not done. And somehow a day of emptiness and blaze of sun. But you are king? King. And no wind to stir the leaves of my gardens not to cool the great marble wastes. We have but this instant come from the council, King Darius. Let us get to the business of it. Your voice gives it an urgency, Cyrus. Was it of such stuff that boldened you to speak thus to me? It was. It was indeed. Then tell it to me. It was agreed in council that you should lay down a statute, a law to protect you from the traducers, from the disloyal, from the enemies of you and your kingdom. To protect me? A law to the effect that whoever shall pray or offer petition to any man or any God other than you, O King, this man shall be cast into the den of lions. Done by the council of prefects and satrips. Who sought for the safety of their wondrous King? Cyrus. Yes? Hear me, Cyrus. This is the urgency. This your impatience that my hand shall write death. Yes. Death to those who are treated to my King. And death to them who kneel before any man but thee. Death to him who pleads before any God but thee. Sign it. Sign it, O King. Sign it in accordance with the law of the Medes and the Persians, which is unalterable. Give me the statute. I will sign it. As of the Medes and the Persians. Now leave me. And you will live forever, O King. For eternity, O King. A mercy, yes. Evening. And a task done. And Babylon before me. If you were I, how would you use this sweet evening of Babylon? If I were you. And we are as much alike as brothers. Why, I would go to the house of Daniel. Daniel? The purified one whose house is bare of night and gales and frankincense and other joys? Why? Why to Daniel? Why, to watch him pray to a God other than our beloved King? Ah, you have done it. You have found sweet usage of the Babylon evening. Come then, Amos, hasten. Watched unobserved as Daniel prayed to his God. The evening prayer. The conspirators went again to the palace of the King and told him how three times a day Daniel offered homage, made supplication to a God other than Darius, such as they had seen this evening. Darius didn't believe them. And they said they would prove it. To come with them the next morning, to stand outside Daniel's house to hear for himself, Darius agreed. And the next morning went with them and heard. For lo, God is exalted and we cannot know. The number of his years is unsearchable. For he draws up the drops of water. They pour out his rain in his flood, which the clouds pour down. Lo, he spreads his mist about him and covers the top. Daniel! Daniel! And covers the tops of the mountains. For therewith he judges peoples. He gives food in abundance. He covers his two hands with lightning and commands it concerning the mark. You hear? You hear how he mocks you, my king? Daniel, come to me. A command, come to me. Will come. He mocked you, mighty king. Before your face, he mocked you. You see now his treachery. And him? Let Daniel tell it to me. You heard him, king. You heard how he made farce of your law, of the law of the Medes and the Persians. Oh, mighty king. They say you mock me, Daniel. Cyrus and Amos, he say it. They lie. But mine only has heard it. How gently and gently your voice. What did you say? And to whom? A prayer to my Lord God. Can you hear him? It had sweetens in it. And a plea not to me. No. Ask him, oh king. Did he not know of the law you signed? The law of death to traitors to those who... You know of it, Daniel. This law they had me sign. I knew of it. Think what you say, Daniel. Think on it. I knew of the law. There is death in the death by the jaws of the beast. And still you... Still I will pray to my God, the only God. Death to you, death to you, traitor. If it is God's will. Do not grieve me, Daniel. Nor forsake me. Recant your God. Say there is no other God but Darius. I cannot. For blessed is the name of my God forever and ever. Seize him. Seize him. Seize him for the lion. The Lord heard him. So that they did no injury to Daniel. Because I was found innocent before him. Daniel, he seems in wonders in the heavens and in the earth. Man of Judah. Part of the season that heralds the coming of Christmas. And this year to add to the enjoyment of these next few weeks and also to add to the appreciation of the true spirit of Christmas. Hallmark cards are introducing the charming old world custom of sending advent cards. Wait till you see these impressive new cards with the intriguing lift-ups. These large beautifully designed cards tell Christmas stories in pictures and verses. Children especially will love the day by day anticipation of waiting to see what's under the next lift-up. Each picture and verse is on a little window or lift-up that you open one at a time on each day between December 1st and Christmas Eve. For instance, one of the new Hallmark Advent cards tells the story of the first Christmas. It looks like a biblical painting. The first lift-up continues this inspiring story till on December 24th the last one reveals the scene in the manger. Shut-ins or friends in the hospital will also enjoy these cards that are also a gift and a Christmas decoration. For they can enjoy them day after day for 24 days. There are 10 different Hallmark Advent cards now on display at the fine stores that feature Hallmark cards. Each costs only 50 cents or $1. But remember, they should be mailed to reach your friends or favorite youngster by December 1st. So in the next few days, look for the Advent cards with the famous Hallmark and Crown to show you care enough to send the very best. Now, here is Edward Arnold with Dr. Peele. Dr. Peele, I want to tell you how honored we are by your return visit to our Hallmark Hall of Fame. I know all of our friends have admired your inspiring writings and your famous books and columns. Well, I've enjoyed this evening immensely, and especially because I believe so strongly in the value of programs like your Hallmark Hall of Fame. Your stories do more than entertain. They leave you with something to think about. And to make this doubly valuable and stimulating, your stories are about real people. I know too, Dr. Peele, that all of us in the Hallmark family are very proud of those beautiful messages you've written for a series of new Hallmark Christmas cards. I'm sure many, many people will be warmed and inspired by those words this Christmas. And I'd like to invite you to hear our program for next week. We are dramatizing the story of Wyatt Earp, perhaps the West's greatest single force for law and order. More than any other man, his fearlessness helped pave the way for America's migration west. Well, that sounds most intriguing. I shall certainly be tuned in next week. Good night, Dr. Peele. And now this is Edward Arnold saying, won't you join us next Sunday? Until then, good night. There are sold only in stores that have been carefully selected to give you expert and friendly service. Remember a Hallmark card when you will carry enough to send the very best. The Hallmark Hall of Fame is produced and directed by William Frug. Tonight's transcribed script by David Friedkin and Morton Pye. Vic Perron was featured as Daniel. Others in our cast were Edgar Barrier, John Daener, Lou Krugman, Paula Winslow, Barney Phillips and Charlotte Lawrence. Next week, the Hallmark Hall of Fame on television presents a true story from the life of Alexander Hamilton, about one of the most exciting presidential elections that the country has ever known. We wish to take this opportunity to thank Metro Golden Mayor Studios and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists for their cooperation in helping make last Sunday's broadcast possible. This is Frank Goss saying good night to you until next week at this same time. When you'll hear a true story from the life of the United States Marshal, Wyatt Earp on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. The PBS Radio Network.