 Remember a hallmark card when you carry enough to send the very best The makers of hallmark greeting cards bring you Edmund O'Brien in Stephen Vincent Bonaise Oh, Halloran's luck on the hallmark playhouse Each week hallmark will bring you Hollywood's greatest stars in outstanding stories Chosen by one of the world's best-known authors the distinguished novelist mr. James Hilton Good evening ladies and gentlemen. This is James Hilton tonight on our hallmark playhouse We take pride in presenting a story by one of America's most distinguished writers Stephen Vincent Bonaise Whose death at the early age of 45 was a tragic blast to our time Already, however, he had written several stories which have earned for him an honored place in the history as well as the literature of America For Bonaise wrote with deep feeling about the growth and greatness of the nation And it is his interpretation of the virile threads that made the pattern of America which give his stories their distinctive flavor He loved to write about the plain people of America their day-to-day deeds and their heroes Tonight we have chosen a story called O'Halloran's luck in which the atmosphere of all Boston and the expanding West are happily combined And another thing that is particularly appropriate for us to remind ourselves is that Bonaise was one of the first American writers to write directly for the radio and some of his contributions to this medium have made radio history Well, we're now about ready to start and we're privileged to present Edmund O'Brien as O'Halloran Frank Goss, will you take over for a moment, please? Thank you, Mr. Hilton Ladies and gentlemen for a Christmas greeting your friends will long remember Make your selections now from the complete hallmark collection on display at the friendly store where you buy hallmark cards Whatever your taste whatever your budget you'll take special pride in sending hallmark cards And on the back of every one is the identifying hallmark that says you cared enough to send the very best Hallmark Playhouse starring Edmund O'Brien in Stephen Vincent Bonaise O'Halloran's luck It was my grandfather to Boston He came by steerage just after the middle of the last century a farm boy in his early 20s Braving the Atlantic to come to the new world to regain the long-lost O'Halloran luck And make kitty Malone his wife As the shore of Boston came in sight and then at streets and houses Tim wondered which of the precious buildings held his darling kitty our kitty has a fine talent Yeah, she was never meant to be a servant girl married to mr. Boyle. She won't be he's got money in the bank God willing it'll be a fine match old kitty and mr. Boyle I mean It's me all right Tim or Halloran only two hours off the boat and straight to the Malone's I came You shouldn't have barged in like this, but Mrs. Malone sure. I've crossed the Great Ocean to have kitty for me wife You're white how old kitty of course since we were children back in clan melly. Everyone knew we were for one another Tim or Halloran without so much as a penny to your name or a job talking about marriage kitty at last Tim Malone have you no shame and with your intended mr. Boyle sitting in the parlour show them to me kitty I'll toss him to the street not so fast me book Let me talk to Tim alone that you may do kitty so long as you tell O'Halloran straight out You've got a chance to marry mr. Boyle and end your days of slavery as a house servant on Beacon Street Come alone Don't look at me like that Tim It's they who want I should marry mr. Boyle, but you I I don't understand Servant girl Slaven with mop and bucket in the new world. It's true. I'm a maid servant The new country isn't like what they said back in clan melly. There's work to do hard work work People work here in America She didn't the section of the parish home tell us the streets of Boston were paid with gold and and riches were to be had for the Ask they were wrong Tim. There's no gold here without work then Then you mean a man must have a job I a job Tim, but there's lots of work darling If that's the case with you here in Boston, there's no jobs in Boston Tim You'll have to go to the prairies the prairie out on the prairies them that's built in the railroads is hungry for strong Irish Arm and leave you here with mr. Boyle I promise You'll find all Halloran's luck out there and come back for me. Oh Halloran's luck It may be hiding out there in the prairie You'll wait kitty I'll wait I promise you I'll go then kitty to the prairie for a job built in the railroads I pray for you I'll be back for you kitty dear When I find all Halloran's luck Life in this murderous prairie log and rails. What have I got to show for it? Give me three cards, and I'm raising you $10. I'll see you. That's $34. You're betting or Halloran three Queens beginners Kings or Halloran poor fat kings. I told you Tim You never get back to Boston. Oh tonight. I know it's true or Halloran's luck will never be found I'm walking back to camp walking while you freeze to death, and what if I do freeze? There'll be no more torture and thoughts at night and break in my back by day Poor old Halloran the black Irish mood comes over him when he's wanting to get him alone Tim oh Halloran You're a fool of a man for all your strong back and arms Not all the pookers band she's and leprechauns of Ireland could find your luck for you here you idiot and Kitty'll not wait forever What's that a woman out here in the prairie? There it is again. It's not the cry of wolves What's this? What's this a little shoe a shoe with a silver buckle? Sure if this was happening in the old country, I'd swear it was a Leprechaun shoe and start looking for the part of gold Be the piper that played before Moses am I daft I thought I heard a voice speaking a child But your voice is old Ancient clothes and shoemaker boy faith and believe you've come to find oh Halloran's luck for me I hear a man stop your silly talk and lift me out now then Where I find my pot of gold worship for leprechaun Put your worship by all the legends of Ireland a leprechaun should show his mortal finder a pot of gold Look at me tattered clothes or Halloran and these cheeks hollywood hunger and stop bothering me about your pot of gold Here here get inside my coat Highness tell me tell me how you came to be here on the Fries and prairie of America. It is a sad story that befell me. I was lazy Brian I hated work and lay a bed with six tall harp is playing for me St. Patrick laid a curse upon me for me laziness and changed me into a leprechaun Until I serve the servant of servants serve the servant of servants its centuries I've been looking but never yet have I met the servant of a servant until I do. I'll never be free But tell me what are you planning to do with me? You're a great responsibility But since you asked for help you must have it come I'll take you back to the railroad camp Well, let's see now. I I could say you were my boy. Never you Rory With this long beard I'll take care of that come back to the camp the bunkhouse and my razor More strokes. He's been sick crossing the prairie alone from the old country and he's wanton work I never said such a mouth Rory. We're short of a water boy. Oh, you'll sign him in O'Toole I'll watch out for him with the crew think about the morning now. Keep quiet. Good night Give me six backbreaking days of work each week and on Sunday. You wash your shirt Oh, never not me. It's not for work. I came from Ireland. Oh, you'd rather be with the wolves Rory In a moment James Hilton will return to present the second act of Steven Vincent Bonaise. Oh, Halloran's luck starring Edmund O'Brien How would you like to have one of America's foremost artists paint your Christmas card this Christmas a card? 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This grand old lady of American art has had a lifetime of Christmas experiences in her beloved New England And in these fine hallmark cards she recaptures the childhood excitement that most grown-ups only recall The first winter snow the steeple churches the red barns the horse-drawn slays You'll find a variety of delightful Grandma Moses cards to choose from to have imprinted with your name or to purchase by the box For your personal signature and remember these are hallmark cards when your friends receive them and look on the back as you did They'll see the hallmark and know you cared enough to send the very best And now we return to James Hilton and Steven Vincent Beniz. Oh, Halloran's luck starring Edmund O'Brien Big Tim Oh, Halloran has left his sweetheart kit him alone in Boston to seek his fortune working on the railroad being built across the prairie Instead of finding his luck Oh, Halloran encounters a leprechaun who needs help Shaving off the hungry leprechaun's long white beard Oh Halloran dresses him as a small boy Passes him off as his nephew and gets him a job as a water boy Enjoy it while you can Rory the foreman's waiting for us out at the end of the line where to start the new section That's going to be misery the new section. Now. How do you know it's going to be misery? Those fools of surveyors laid out the new section of the line where there's hidden springs of water Under the right of way what and when we start to dig in the road bed, oh There'd be the devil to pay and how do you know about the hidden springs Rory for centuries has listened to the waters running underground True a leprechaun can hear hidden water, but but what shall we do shift the new line half a mile to the west? strike a hard roadbed Here we are Rory the new section Could I have a word with your tool it may save us some trouble trouble the only kind of trouble I know is the kind oh Halloran make now in the new section. We're starting. There's water hidden springs under the right away And I suppose you've got a near of a leprechaun to know such when the engineers have approved it themselves mark my words or tool It's true. There are springs and you'll do well by yourself tell in the engineer. I'll do just that I'll tell him the grave cloud of an engineer Tim. Oh Halloran told me get your shovel into the dirt You've got to teach Rory is reading and writing McGinnis me quiet Slap the words into that thick head of yours. Let me McGinnis. Good night. Oh, you're getting too steady for good company What do you mean telling them as me you're teaching to read it yourself is learning the words Oh, get to bed your black tongue grascal. What am I to do sit and watch you? You could be thinking of the ways and means of carrying the steel rails faster and easier like I asked Well, you're saying you know now well if the engineers would have the steel rails move faster Let them use two donkeys one at each end two such beasts and carry five times the Lord of humans And you know where of your speak with me own eyes Didn't I see the donkeys fetch the great stones to the hills of Ireland centuries ago when the castles were built for the kings? Come in. They caught it in and clay knee the engineer I the foreman told me about you're saying our new section was surveyed overhead and springs the clever work Oh Halloran you save the company a lot of time and money and they should be shown some gratitude Rory Me little nephew Rory, Mr. Cain. Well, how do you do sonny? Oh, I want you to take over gang five tomorrow gang five Well, you mean that's right. You're a foreman from now on I like a man that uses his head. It can be never you come with me. I I have to look after he certainly can Thank you, sir. Uncle Tim. Why don't you tell Mr. Cainy? How you figured out the way to carry steel rails faster and easier? That's something I want to hear go ahead. Oh, I Don't you're an infidel? How can you sit there laughing when you know the memory of kitty hangs like doom on me? Just because kitty's mother wrote you're a question that you do the family a great honor and stop writing kitty letters Stop your laughing your demon It's back to Boston we go in the morning I'm off to claim kitty Malone for my wife I saw him trying to squeeze your hand kitty your leave. Sorry, Mrs. Malone, but it'll all be quiet in a minute Oh, don't the shame of you're trying to give your daughter to a horse car conductor and she might be married in a Future railroad president for a road president What's it a show for honest talk? I asked this mr. Malone a new contract and this bank book. I'm I'm a real Perhaps you'd be more comfortable talking you and kitty In the in the kitchen. I'll take care of boy, but this day would never come Hold me since the day. I walked out of here two years ago Really found Oh, Hannah and luck and by yourself that be it's late Kitty darling. There's one thing I forgot to tell you. It's this child kitty dear I I forgot to tell you this is my nephew Rory that lives with me. How do you do Rory? Welcome to Boston Won't you have a bit of cake? Thank you kitty. I will hold your tongue Yes, Rory Desire that will be your aunt. Oh, you know it's not good I'm thinking you'll make a good home for us once you're used to me ways Rory The way it's to be Tim. That's the way it's got to be kitty Rory is is my responsibility But you're free to say you'll not have me will you live with us Rory? But we'd be glad to have you kitty you're sure of course you sure thank you kitty Malone. Oh, Halloran to be and you're lucky. Oh, Halloran Or had you denied me then your luck would have left you No, the luck will stick to both here for the rest of your lives. I want another piece of cake I should break into bits for speaking like that. You're only nephew Was your wife ever in domestic service? What if she was who thinks the worst of that? Oh, not I For I've learned about mortal labor since coming to this country. It's a noble thing Do you intend to serve this wife of yours and honor her through the days of your wedded life? That is my intention. Why? then command me to tie your shoelace Tie my shoelace your black-hearted villainous anatomy You'll be going back to Ireland Better chance here ours is out there seeking his luck as you were. Oh, Halloran. I must go to help him Oh, there'll be a terrible space in my heart for you. Good day to you Tim. Not goodbye. Oh, I've not the heart to bear it No, no, it is not goodbye Tim When you christen your first barn I'll be at his cradle and so with your sons sons and their sons For all Halloran's luck has just begun He's gone But no Halloran's luck is found for keeps Kitty I Forgot to tell you the strangest thing of all that happened to me while I was gone About Rory I About Rory It seems One night when I thought you'd gone forever I Was walking all alone down the clearing that was my grandfather Tim's story of how he found his opportunity in the new world When he became the president of the railroad, he named his private car the leprechaun For that matter they say that when he took his business trips a Small boyish fellow would turn up from nowhere at some odd stop or other and he'd be let into the car at once Well, the great of the railroad world were kept waiting in the vestibule and after a while they say Sure, they'd be singing from inside the car In a moment James Hilton and Edmund O'Brien will return But first may I invite you again to see the new Hallmark Christmas cards now on display at the friend They store where you buy hallmark cards If you prefer to select cards to individually fit each one on your list You'll find a hallmark card that says just what you want to say the way you want to say it There are fascinating hallmark albums from which to select cards for imprinting with your name And there are the many boxes of assorted hallmark cards to take care of last-minute editions Yes, whatever your taste whatever your budget there are hallmark cards You'll take special pride in sending and remember when your friends receive them and look on the back as you did They'll see the hallmark and know you cared enough to send the very best Now here again is James Hilton. I think you ladies and gentlemen will agree with me that Mr. Edmund O'Brien did a Splendid job as O'Halloran in Stephen Vincent Bonaise O'Halloran's luck Mr. O'Brien on behalf of all those who make hallmark cards I want to thank you and Dan O'Hurley who took the part of the leprechaun for treating us to such outstanding performances Thank You mr. Hilton I like very much being here with you you see you people in the hallmark playhouse have said such high standards that you Make it very attractive to be here. I Might say though that your habit of doing things well doesn't surprise me not when I realize that hallmark had the reputation for fine Greeting cards long before there was radio We are happy indeed if you feel we're carrying on in the hallmark tradition And now that you've expressed yourself as liking the things that bear the hallmark name We think you'll like what we have in store next week when we present our radio version of Mary O'Hara's memorable story my friend Flicka Starring the popular young motion picture actor and winner of a special Academy Award Claude Jarman, Jr. Until next Thursday then this is James Hilton saying good night Tonight story was adapted for radio by George Corey with music composed and conducted by Lynn Murray Our director producer is D angle back Edmund O'Brien will soon be seen in the Warner Brothers Technicolor production fighter squadron Look for hallmark cards that are so lonely in stores that have been carefully selected to give you expert and friendly service remember Hallmark cards when you carry enough to send the very best This is Frank Goss saying good night to you all until next week at the same time when James Hilton returned to present Mary O'Hara's my friend Flicka starring Claude Jarman, Jr. This program came to you from the Hallmark Playhouse. This is CBS the Columbia Broadcasting System