 Ranger Bill, warrior of the woodland, struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous trails, fighting the many enemies of nature. This is the job of the guardian of the forest, Ranger Bill. Pouring rain, freezing cold, blistering heat, snow, floods, bears, rattlesnakes, mountain lions. Yes, all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done. You know, it's a strange thing the way we accept the Lord's blessing sometimes. Perhaps it's because we try to tell the Lord the method and manner in which we like the blessing delivered. We forget that while the Lord listens to our prayers and requests, he still knows what's best for us. The Lord's wisdom is without fault, and we're the ones who fail to understand his ways because we think that we know all the answers. Our story today pretty well illustrates what I've been talking about. I think I'll call this one, The Blessings of Snow. Let's drop over to the big feed mill owned by Barney Carver. In fact, the place is known as Carver's Corners, where two main roads intersect right in the heart of the big prairie country just to the southeast of Notty Pine. It's mid-morning, and a group of the farmers are gathered around having a little gin fest. Another dry year, and I won't be bringing any grain here to be ground Barney. I guess you won't be alone, Sam. We don't get moisture pretty soon. The big prairie will be the big desert. Yeah, it's almost that now. I know. Me and the missus took a ride last week, and I had to turn back. I just couldn't stand looking at that country shriveling up like a dead branch. Leo, how long do you think you can hold out? Well, I don't know. A year, maybe two, not more than that. I don't want to use up all my savings to get blood out of a turnip. Now we have to use some of it to relocate. But I won't relocate on a farm. I'd go to the city first. Yeah, that's what I'm thinking too. You too, Bruce. Me too. There's no sense beating my head against a brick wall. The good lord isn't going to send moisture. Then I'm going to quit farming. I'm afraid you fellas reflect the attitude of most of the farmers. And that's bad. Very bad. Yeah, but what kind of work can fellas like us do in the city? Why, we've been farmers for generations. I don't know about city life. Yeah, but I still... I suppose you'd rather move to another farm and get parched out on it. Then when your stone broke, try to start all over again. Well, that's not for me. I'm giving one more year. If we don't get enough moisture to farm like this, well, I'm pulling up stakes. Leo's right. You don't call this stuff grain, do you? Look at it. This ain't grain. I don't know what it is, but... maybe you could call it a handful of nothing. A whole year's work for a handful of nothing. Well, thanks for the eco-juice. What do you have? Sure, Lefty. You got in the truck, Lefty. Why don't you know them? They're my cattle stairs. I was just wondering. They sound like stairs, but they sure don't look like stairs. They change the market now so you can get the highest price for their skittiest critters. The looks out of the way of the load I've been hauling the market. You're filled up, Lefty. Thanks, Barney. Well, gotta get going now. There's supposed to be a blizzard heading our way. What? A blizzard? Turn on the radio and you'll hear the joke of the year. Well, to be honest, we're gonna have moisture. Now, let's go inside for a while and listen to that noise box. To 10 inches of snow will fall accompanied with high winds and dropping temperatures. The storm is moving swiftly and is expected to hit this area around noon. We return to our regularly scheduled program. You hear that? You fellas had better skedaddle for a home and get your hatches battened down. Barney, you must be loco. Like Lefty said, this is the joke of the year. And hell, I'm not a better man, but I'm almost tended to put $10 on the fact that not one snowflake will fall on Big Dread. I can see the snow piled high all around now. My snow shovel has got so much rust under it that none of the handle is left. What is a snow shovel? Well, a snow shovel is a dustpan type object with a handle that you keep around the house so you have something to fall over. So that's what that Big Red Shovel I got out in the garage is used for. I was gonna give it to the museum. You fellas know I've got a wide elephant painted red. It's a snow-blow attachment for the front of my tractor. We had a big snow seven years ago. I bought it. Well, what a waste of money. You should have bought a sprinkling can for the front of your tractor. Hey, say we better hurry home. We might not make it for all the snow. I got it. Hello, Ranger headquarters, Bill Jefferson speaking. Thanks for the warning. Yes. Goodbye. Well, fellas, we better put our parkers on and get ready for a snow battle. Blizzard? Yeah. A real bad one heading this way. You sure it'd come here, Bill. Yes, that's what the weather boy just told me. Naughty pine and big prairie country will get the heaviest snowfall. Grenation in Moroccan chair. You do it. I'll put a tack there. Oh, yeah. You try it. I'll put it back. Oh, yeah. You try it. I'll put a piece of plank in my breech. All right, you two. Let's get ready for the big snow. Save your energy for that. We might need it. Look at that snow. Wow. Yeah, 20 inches out so far. Now much we can do with it blowing so fiercely either. Not quite. Using snowfall waste of time. When this comes? Sometime tonight or early tomorrow. You do that, old timer. Well, keep an eye on this wonderful snow. You talk like this blizzard's a blessing. It most certainly is, pal. But think of all the damage it's doing. I'm sure the benefits of the moisture will be more than offset by the damage, especially on the big prairie. Yeah, that's right. I never thought of it that way. A big prairie hard hit by drought. They need snow. Well, I'm sure we're getting it. That snow's going to stop me. We're kind of worried. Big prairie got plastered with the stock. You don't say. Well, pin you on me to put these stairs in. Make it number 12. Hey, what's your hurry? Gotta go back for another log. What? This weather? This ain't top weather. This stuff will be gone by the time I give back a big prairie. Hello, Sam. How do you like the snow? What snow? It's going down the river fast it came. You looked at your thermometer lately. You mean this moisture isn't going to do any good? No, I knew it was too good to be true. We need a slow thaw so the stuff will soak into the ground. This is leaving. It was fast it came. It sure is. Real runoff. If this warm spell holds out another day, the snow will be gone. Every last bit of it. It didn't get much of a workout. I'll say it didn't. This fast thaw should take the snow away in a hurry. The big prairie got some benefit in this storm. So do I. Why are they sure needed? I don't know. Well, a little bit is better than none at all. Perhaps the farmers will have enough moisture from this to sprout their spring crops and help the winter grains. If they can get that much benefit, then this snow will show some blessing. You're right there, pal. The Lord does everything for a purpose and is up to us to see the blessing in it. Sometimes we can't see the blessing until it's long past. Howdy, Sam. I see you're getting your plows ready to go. Yep. Bruno's putting the razor edge on them. I figure I might as well plant seed. There won't be much more in the hole because of it. And that's the way I figured, too. Maybe the little moisture we've got will mean not to sprout the seeds. Little moisture's right. When I turned over a couple of furrows just for the fun of it, then why the soil's like powder. Ah, ought to stop kidding ourselves, Sam. We're through farming this country and we all know it. Yep. We're hanging on to a greased row. Sure. You know, some days, flying patrol isn't worth a nickel. Just trees and trees and more trees. Throw in a couple of rivers, a dozen bricks, and that's it. You're right. Ah, you ready to take over? Yeah. No. It's an automatic palette. Then we change seats. Feel better. That exercise moves some blood around. Why, you not, uh, get out and run a while? I wouldn't, my legs aren't long enough to reach the ground from here. Build a patrol plane six. Build a patrol plane six. Over. I wonder what Bill wants. Patrol plane six to Bill. Over. Henry, gray wolf. We're coming right in. What's up? Over. Another blip. Home, James, and don't spare the horsepower. All that distance where there's storm coming up? I figure we can bait the storm and still get there and back if we hurry. Why don't we go to Carper's Corners? Well, I heard through the grapevine that they're kind of laughing at these warnings. I want to talk to Bonnie about it. If it's true, try to impress them at this time that better listen. The weather boy is telling me this is going to be a real humdinger. The plane's anchored down. Okay, let's go. Build a central city. It's crazy if he does. You're not going to drive through to Central City, are you? Sure, why not? Well, look, man, we're due for a worse blizzard than the last one we had. No, I drove through that and made it almost on time. Young fella, your roof leaks like a sieve. They can sense this is what makes life interesting, old timer. Keeps you young. I don't like the way you agree with me. You'll stay like you do. In fact, sunny or... Stumpy's right. You better stay here. Will, you see how high my rig rides off her own? Yeah? I'll have to put down 15 to 20-foot drifts to stop that diesel-job of mine. That's real power there, boy. See you later. Lefty, use your common sense. I am. You know as well as I do that there's not going to be any 15-foot drifts. Big prayer, I get 15-foot drifts. What a joke that'll be. We can stay for a couple of minutes, so I want you to listen closely to what I have to say. Go ahead, Bill. Shoot. I've heard through the grapevine that the boys out here on the big prairie are laughing at the Blizzard warning. Oh, you heard right. You'd better get ahold of the influential men out here and talk some sense into their heads before it's too late. This Blizzard coming our way is going to be a humdinger. The granddaddy of them all. You understand? Well, I understand, Bill, but I don't believe it. And you can't blame us for feeling the way we do. I haven't time to argue the point, because we've got to get back to our equipment so we can help fight the storm. But mark my words. Tell the farmers out here to take heed or they might be sorry. Awfully sorry. Let's go, man. State gear, rope, lights, blankets, and stimulant, big broods cabin. Fine, Henry. Keep the motor idling so we can be ready to go in a moment's notice. Right. Hey, look at it snowing outside. What? What? The biggest silver dollars? That's why we got to be ready. Good and ready. Yeah, you said it. I have a feeling that this is going to be one we're not going to forget for a long time. The rotary plows are in good shape, sonny, and I got their cabins, jackpool, and stuff we might need to help out. That's fine, old jammer. The snow won't be as ready. The boys at airport have skis on patrol plane. Good work, lay wolf. Now we're ready for anything. Well, let's go back in the office and set up our cuts. Get four or five hours sleep, and we'll take turns staying up and keeping our driveways cleared off so we can get out in a hurry. Sounds good to me. Let's get some shut-eye. Shut-eye good. Maybe last we get for a long time. Pasted, but for real. Well, say we're getting pasted. By the ton. Get Stumpy and Grey Wolf up. I'll make breakfast. Okay. Oh, and roll them out of the sack and open the door, pal. I'll get them up. Come on, get it, fellas. Isn't fancy, but... All right, I'll get it. Ranger headquarters. Oh, yes, Doc. For sure. Sure, we'll be right out. Goodbye. Grab what you can of breakfast, Henry, and run. Grey Wolf, Stumpy, you fellas stand by here and use your own judgment and calls for help. Come on, pal. We'll take big proof. Let's begin, merry-go-round, until storm over. Yeah, picture down, snow, a blessing. Doc Wilkins, he's out at the Sims Ranch. That little girl has appendicitis. You can't get through the snow to get her to the hospital. Big Brutal get through all right. Look at the way this cat shoves those drifts back where they belong. Turn the radio on, pal. That way we can keep our ear to and for trouble. Right. Here's the Sims place. Boy, we can't see more than 50 feet ahead of us. You said it. I'll pull as close to the house as I can and then turn around. You take over the controls then. I want to talk to the doc. Okay. Okay, take over. I'll be back shortly. How is she, Doc? Not too bad, but we can't wait. Should we take her in Big Brutal? No, sir. Why not? I can only see 50 feet. You follow us in your car. If Big Brut falls off the road, you'll see it and stop at once. I see. Well, let's get going. Right. All set? Yeah. Let me take the controls, Henry. We lose the road. I don't want it to be your responsibility. Now, hang on. Bill the Grey Wolf. I will see. I'm bringing in Doc Wilkins, the Sims girl and her parents. They're following us in Doc's car. Now, Stumpy meet us at the intersection of Highway Z and 4. Tell the old timer to get out there fast with a rotary plow. We'll proceed out Highway Z to the stranded bus and plow the highway to Carver's Corners for the bus. Over and out. How's the doc making out back there, Henry? Pretty good. He's right behind us. I guess that helps keep the snow off his windshield. Once in a while, Mr. Sims hangs out the window and knocks his snow off. Fine. We'll meet Stumpy in half an hour. Bill, that big cat of yours sure has power. Sure has, Barney. It's really two cats in one. Yeah? Well, whatever it is, it sure does the job. These passengers have you to thank for getting them to safety. How much snow do you have out there, Smart Barney? 25 inches with drifts to 15 feet. Hey, what's that? The roof! Get the people out of here! Get back. Henry's in the cab now, listening to the radio. There's more calls for help coming through. Have you got any diesel fuel left? Officially, no. Unofficially, yeah. What do you mean? Well, I thought I'd better try to conserve what I had, Bill, just in case it was needed for an emergency, like filling up Big Brew. We've got to keep that big cat going. Bill, a call just came through. What happened? Lefties just showed up in Central City. Hasn't showed up? No. As soon as Big Brew's fuel tank is full, we'll get out and look for him. There's the ship, Indo. I know, but look at those drifts. They're alive. Just keep an eye out for Lefty's truck. Roughly 50 miles. Roughly is right. I don't see any signs of life, but it's Lefty's truck all right. Should I get out and go in the cab? Just a minute. I want to clear some space around the truck for our own safety. Hold on. Okay. Huh? What's the matter? No, why does it go? On top of the truck with a canvas is flapping. Here's a man's foot. Great Scott, you're right. Come on. Is Lefty all right? He must be almost frozen to death. Not almost, pal. I'm falling. Is he dead? Yeah. He took one chance too many. Bill, you said that this snow is a blessing from the Lord? It is, pal. This snow is worth millions of dollars. It's too bad Lefty couldn't have lived to take fat cattle to market. Instead of skinny steers. Yeah. You can't defy all rules of common sense and still live to enjoy the Lord's blessings. Well, see you next week for more adventure with...