 Croft presents the Great Gilder Sleeve. He he he. Also bring you Bing Crosby every Thursday night, present each week at this time, Harold Perry as the Great Gilder Sleeve, written by John Whedon and Sam Moore. Here for the Great Gilder Sleeve in just a moment. But first, if you live in the south, you've probably already harvested many good things from your victory garden. If you live in the north, the first tender green shoots are pushing their way through the soil. Wherever you live, the chances are you're congratulating yourself on hard work that's worth it, because you're providing your family with wholesome, good-tasting food. Croft, the makers of parking margarine, get much the same feeling of satisfaction, too, in making a food that fits in so well with your cash and ration stamp budgets. For parking margarine, requires just five red ration points a pound. And besides being a delicious appetizing spread for bread, it's also a fine seasoning that'll add delicate extra flavor to garden vegetables served piping hot on your table. Yes, and parquet is a real flavor shopping for your home baking, and it's grand for pan-frying, too. What's more, parquet is one of the best energy food you can serve, and it contains vitamin A. So ask your dealer for parquet, P-A-R-K-A-Y, parquet margarine made by Kraft. Even summer feed. It's a beautiful Saturday morning in May, the kind of a Saturday morning that makes a man think twice before he starts down to the office. Mr. Gilder Sleeve, who is strictly human, has thought twice and is about to think again when the doorbell rings. Oh, who the... I think it's a postman, Leroy. Postman? Gee, maybe he's got my stuff. Huh? Hi, Mr. Underwood. Hello there, young fellow. I've got something for you. You've got 97 cents for me. 97? Hmm, just a second. Say, young, could I have my allowance now, please? Well, I guess so. Let me see. I haven't got 50 cents in chain. Isn't that so? That's funny. I was about to ask for a slight advance anyhow. Isn't that funny? Yeah, very funny. Hey, hurry up, son. The United States mail waits for no man. Oh, um, please. Just once. It's an emergency. Well, all right. Here, pay the man, and we'll discuss it later. Gee, thanks, hon. Here's the money, Mr. Underwood. All right, sonny. Thanks. Oh, boy, this is it. From the Lincoln novelty company. Wait a minute. I thought this was an emergency. Who it is? Tomorrow's Tom Ladd's birthday. Oh. So naturally, I had to get him some kind of remembrance, something worthwhile. Uh, what'd you get him? Oh, few novelties. Novelties? What are they, Leroy? Oh, just little things a boy would like. Young man, let me see that package. Oh, no, I won't. From the Lincoln novelty company. The boy's best friend since 1878. What are you buying from him, Leroy? Of course, the greatest thing you ever saw. You put it in your mouth and you can throw your voice anywhere. It makes you a regular ventriloquist. Leroy, I bought one of those things 25 years ago and it's no good. Guys, what do you expect for a dime, Edgar Burgum? Never mind. That's a dime. Now what else did you spend the money for? Well, there's this certain powder. Yeah, sneezing powder. Uh, partly. Hitching powder? Yeah. Did you buy that too, Uncle? Yeah, but you won't. My father gave me a licking. I'll never forget for that. I guess parents didn't understand children in those days, did they, Uncle? I think they understood them pretty well, Leroy. I'm going to explain a few things to you right now. Oh, for corn's sake. Just because I want to borrow 47 cents. It's not the 47 cents, my boy. It's your whole conception of money. Where it comes from, what it's for. Now, have you had a job as many boys do at your age? Can I get a job, Uncle? I think it'll do you good. Teach you the value of a dollar, the dignity of honest labor. I think it'd be fine for you to get a job, Leroy. Earn a dollar or two every week, perhaps. A dollar or two? Are you kidding? I can go right now to a cartridge factory and knock off $37.50 every Saturday. What? Well, that's what Hector Briggs makes. Never mind. You'll get a part-time job that you can handle after school or you'll have none. Now, do you want it? Oh, sure. It's better than nothing. Well, I'm not going to get one. I'll get one for you. Oh, my goodness. It's 11 o'clock. If I don't get to work pretty soon, people will say I'm a part-time water commissioner. Don't worry, Leroy. I'll get you a job. I come to ask your advice. Well, well, I don't know why you didn't come to me long ago. What do you mean? Trockmorton, you and I are old friends, aren't we? That's right, Horace. We've been through a lot together, haven't we? That's right. I guess we don't have to beat around the bush with each other, do we? Certainly not. Yeah, Leroy, let's face it. Marriage is a wonderful institution, but it's not for us. What? Well, now, don't misunderstand me. Lilo Anson is a fine woman. Hooker, I don't know what you're talking about. What I'm talking about has nothing to do with Lilo Anson, but I'll thank you to keep her out of this. Sorry, guilty. Sorry, old man. Sorry. Sorry. All right. I spoke out of turn. I'm sorry. All right. I could bite my tongue off. You don't have to do that. Ten thousand pardons, old man. I'm sorry. All right, you're sorry. What I came here to talk to you about is Leroy, judge. Leroy? Well, what has our young friend got himself into now? Nothing. It's just what I'm afraid he might get into. I think he needs something to keep him out of mischief, judge. I think he ought to have a job. Best thing in the world for him. Oh, you think so? Absolutely. Well, I'm glad to know you feel that way about it. Uh, Horace. Yes, guilty? You and I are old friends, aren't we? That's right, guilty. We've been through a lot together. You and I? We certainly have. You know, Horace, if you had a son. That's one of the sorrows of my life, guilty. But I haven't a son. I know. But if you had a son and say that son was at the age where he was ready to take a job. Yeah. You know, I'd feel positively hurt if you didn't send him to me for a job first. Would you, guilty? Absolutely. I'd feel downright hurt. Now, I haven't any son either, but I have got a nephew, judge. Guilty. Do you mean you want me to give Leroy a job? That's right. You're kidding. All right, Hooker, try and get any favors out of me. And I'd like a word with you. Uncle, guess what? I've got a surprise. Well, that's fine. But suppose you save it for a moment. Leroy, I'm afraid I'm going to have to disappoint you. Disappoint me? Yeah, that's my boy. I promised this morning that I'd get you a job, but my find is not as easy as I thought. Good uncle. Please, let me finish. I realize that you'd be disappointed, so I decided I'd give you a job myself. At your office? No, right here, my boy, mowing the lawn. Well, I did that last summer. I know, but this summer, I'll pay you. Shall we consider it settled? Well, it's just one cat junk. What's that? I've got a job myself this afternoon. PB's drugstore. What? I start tomorrow. See you later on. Wait a minute, wait a minute, who's going to mow the lawn? It's you. I haven't fixed them two shakes. That's all right. Go ahead and read the comics if you want. No harm in that. I just wanted to say I'm going to leave you in trouble. I just wanted to say I'm going to leave you in charge here for a few minutes. Oh, boy, my big opportunity. Well, now I wouldn't say that. I'll only be a minute. I just got a little errand for Mrs. Peely before the butcher shop closes. We'll cut to it. Well, I'll take your time, Mr. Peely. I can handle the store. I think you can. That's just one or two things before I go, if you don't mind me, Roy. Yes, sir? I've noticed when you answer the phone, you've been saying Peely's pharmacy. Don't you like that? Well, no. I think that's a little flashy. I prefer just a very conservative hello. Oh, all right, Mr. Peely. I'll remember. And the only other thing is this. Don't prescribe for people. I thought that was what brothers were for. Pharmacistly, Roy. We are pharmacists. Oh, I forgot. No, we never prescribe. I made an arrangement without effect with Dr. Pettibone some years ago. We agreed that I wouldn't try to cure his patients, and he wouldn't make any ice cream sodas. Just be careful, that's all. Oh, hello, Peely. Hiya, Mr. Peely. Hi, Leroy. Hi. I guess I can trust you to wait on a very young friend here, Leroy. I'll be back shortly. Hey, you'll put down that comic book. I'm just looking at it. Well, don't. I just finished reading up those magazines. I can look at it if I want to. Not unless I say so. I'm a charge here. Who says so? I say so. Why? I'm a charge here. I'm responsible. You don't want to look at your old comics anyway. I've read them all. This is a very valuable book I'm going to buy. See something if you'll tell me something. Maybe some of the candy. I can eat all I want over here. What are you going to do with that nickel? Oh, yeah, I forgot. Leroy, that's not the way to speak to a customer. Yes, sir. Hey, come with Mr. Peely. What do you have, honk? Nothing, my boy. I happened to be driving by, and I thought if you were through here, maybe you'd like to ride home. Oh, gosh, that's nice of you. But it's a little early, isn't it, hon? Well, I think if I speak to Mr. Peely, I can get him to let you off. Gee, thanks. Well, Peely, I just stopped in to ask if I could borrow this boy of mine for the rest of the afternoon. Well, I'm certainly a Mr. Gilder state. I don't think I'll be needing him. Well, thanks, Peely. Yes, thanks. You know how it is. Grass is getting a little long there at home. Grass? I quite understand. Yeah, you didn't say anything about... Hey, quiet, Leroy. I'll tell you what I'll do, Peely. I'll hire him back from you. 50 cents for the rest of the afternoon. Well, it won't be... Oh, excuse me, telephone. Yeah. And if you need him for any deliveries, just phone, and I'll send him right over. Hello? Put down 50 cents to mobile loan. I don't even get the 50 cents. Well, that's business, my boy. Business, that's slavery. It can't do it. I'll get against the Constitution. It's quiet, you. I'll get Mr. Peely's telephone. Oh, I'm very excited to hear that. Maybe this will be a lesson to you, young man, not to try to match wits with your uncle. Yes, indeed. Right away. Well, I guess we'll be running along then, Peely. Oh, thanks. Nice to do it, Steve. I'm terribly sorry. What is it? They're just phone from Judge Hooker's house. Hooker? It seems the old gentleman has just had a sonnet and tack of indigestion. I'm afraid I'm going to have to send Leroy out with some epicaque. Hooray! I mean, gosh, that's too bad. Why the old goat? Why doesn't he watch out what he eats? Who does he think he is? A 10-year-old? No wonder he gets the cobbly wobbles. You know what I think, Peely? I think he did this deliberately. Well, now, I wouldn't say that. Yeah, he did. He did this just to spite me. Ho-ho! Leroy. What a character. I think Elder Slave will be with us again in a few seconds. I believe I've said all I need to about Parquet, the delicious margarine made by Kraft. You know it's nourishing, and you know it tastes good. So now I'm going to talk about the men and women behind the counter in your favorite food store. I'm going to talk about them because they deserve a word of praise for the perfectly marvelous job they're doing in these trying times. The people in grocery stores have always worked hard. But in these days, with shortages of help, shortages of food and food rationing, well, they really have a job to do. And believe me, they're doing it. They're doing a job for the manufacturers of food for you and for Uncle Sam. And in spite of the fact that point rationing is many times more complicated for them than for any of us, they carry on cheerfully, patiently, long hours, day in and day out. Without the willing cooperation of the grocer and his helpers, rationing could not succeed. Nor could any of us eat as well as we're eating. Now, there are no awards of merit for these hard-working patriots. But they, too, are helping to win the war. Let's give them our support by budgeting ration points ahead, by shopping early in the day and early in the week. Now, let's return to Summerfield. After a week with Leroy working for Peavey, Gilders leaves Lawn has become almost a jungle. And if he's ever to conquer it, it must be done today. So how Marjorie Laws and the Hammock, we find him reluctantly trundling the moor out of his garage and calling upon the spirits of his ancestors to give him strength. All right. Grass, everywhere you look, nothing but grass. I hate this stuff. Talking to me, Uncle Moore? No, I'm talking to myself, my dear. I'm talking to the grass. All right, you can laugh. You're a woman, Marjorie. You don't have to wrestle with it. We could always get a goat. A goat? For this grass, we'd have to get a goat with a motor on it. Why not? A motor goat. You couldn't get any self-respecting goat to do this kind of work. It takes a dumb beast like a man. Oh, Uncle Moore. That's all I am, just a beast of burden, my dear, a slave. All day long, up and down, up and down. Is that any kind of a life? Oh, it'll probably be the making of you. Little exercise? In all this heat? It's the worst thing in the world for me. Say, I know. What? How's to run an incend birdie out with a nice big pitcher of lemonade, huh? That might help. All right, if you like. And some lady fingers to go with it. We've just finished lunch. Well, you can't run an engine without fuel, you know. Motor goat. This darn lawn. What good is it? We never play croquet anyway. Well, here goes. Shroff Morton. Oh, that's all right. I haven't really started here yet. Come on, Lila, let's sit down here on the grass, huh? Shall we? All right, Lila. Oh, this is nice. You know what I love? Thing is through the nice, soft griff underneath. It's pushing it up, pushing it up. Listen, Lila. What? I think I can hear it growing. I love you when you like this. Like what? Silly. Silly? Well, what's silly about it? You don't realize. I have to mow all this, every blade of it. As far as the eye can reach. All of myself and today. Oh, then Shroff Morton, I'd better be going so you can get at it. Oh, Lila, don't rush off. No. I was going to ask you to do something. Oh, I'd love to, Lila. No, not till you finish this. Well, tell me what it is. No, Shroff Morton, not till you through here. Oh, please. No. Uh, pretty please. No. Shroff Morton, let go. Here comes Birdie. Yeah? Uh, after I finish, will you? After you finish. So you hurry up and get to work now, you hear? Oh, darn lawn. Well, here goes. Here's your lemonade, Mr. Gill, please. Uh, just in the nick of time, Birdie. See? It looks mighty good, too. Yes, there. Here's a glass. Oh, never mind the glass. I'll just drink it out of the pitcher like this. Look out there, Mr. Gill, please. Look out. You don't fall in. What a man. Mr. Gill, see? You better come up for air. Oh, I tell you, there's nothing like a pitcher lemonade after a hard day's mowing. Pretty good before it, too. Yeah? Hey, Birdie. Oh, say, by the way, Birdie. Yes, sir? Uh, tell me something. Don't you get awfully tired of staying in that hot kitchen all day long? Well, sir, I was mostly drunk up in hot kitchen, so I guess I'm kind of used to it. My blood got thinned out or something. Uh, wouldn't you like to get outdoors once in a while and get a little fresh air? Oh, Mr. Gill, see? It's so long now since I had any fresh air. I don't know how I could handle it. Nonsense. Fresh air is good for you, Birdie. Yes, sir? Do you know anything about lawn mowers, Birdie? Well, yes, sir. I know the main thing about them. What's that? Cheap away from them. It'll be the death of me, yes. It sneaks up on you. It grows when your back is turned. I haven't seen you around here lately, my boy. Oh, I've been kind of busy. Well, I'll see you're doing a little lawn mowing. Yeah, just mowing the lawn. Yeah, great exercise. Great for the stomach muscles. Yeah, great. Is Marge around? Marge? Well, she's inside there somewhere. Ben? Yes, sir? You're a mechanic, Ben. I wonder if you'd come here a minute and take a look at this compounded lawn mower. Oh, is there something wrong with it? Well, I don't know if there's anything really wrong, but it seems to push awful hard. Oh, maybe you've got it set too tight. Let's turn her over and take a look. Yeah, you go right ahead, Ben. Have you tried it? Yeah, but I tried it. I've been at this thing since lunch. I mowed clear down of that hedging back, Ben. Well, I don't know what it could be then. I'll tell you what. You try it, huh? Maybe I just haven't got the knack of it. All right, sure. Yeah, here. Better take your coat off, Ben. I'll hold it. Oh, I don't need to take my coat off just to try it. Oh, well, I know, but it's a hot day. You better give it to me. Don't you do it, Ben. Marge. Gosh, I didn't see you. Neither did I. How long have you been standing there, my dear? Long enough to see what's going on. Now, Marge, nothing was further from... Nothing was further from my mind. Then what? Then, uh, you know. Your coat on, Ben. You're thrilled for the day. Oh, uh, you dropped something there, my boy. Oh, my poppy. Poppy day. I suppose some pretty girl sold you that. Well, yeah, she was kind of. Now, Marge, nothing wrong with Ben's buying a poppy. Poppy day is a very worthy cause. I'm only joking, Uncle Mort. I'm only jealous because he didn't buy it for me. Oh, gosh, well, I'd known you were selling them. Look, you'd come around a little oftener. Well, shall we, uh... Yes, let's. Oh, don't go, don't go. Sit down on the swing here. Yeah, but I, uh, you see, I've got something I'd tell you. I might talk over with it. Some news. Well, I'll talk it over with it right here. Uncle Mort. I know you two want to be alone. Doesn't take a long more to fall on me. You make yourselves comfortable here. Now, just knock off for a little while, huh? Mr. Gildersleeve. Gosh, we don't want to interrupt your work. Ben, if we don't, you'll never forgive us. Huh? Uh, Marge, I think that's hardly fair. However, things being as they are. I'll see you later. Oh. Well, just as soon as Leroy arrives, Uncle Mort. Leroy? It's Leroy this and Leroy that. Who the dickens is Leroy? He's the kid that used to mow the lawn, remember? And he'll mow it again, too. Well, let's be nice to him when he gets home. All right. After all, it's his first week's work, and that's a pretty big milestone for a boy. And Leroy working? Uh-huh. He's been working for Mr. Peavey this week, Ben. Oh. So did you? Well, something like that. No, Uncle Mort. I bet Leroy learns plenty in that drug store. That's ridiculous. Oh, yes, he will. I'll bet you that when he... Hi, everybody! Oh, thank goodness. Birdie! Birdie! I hope so. Young man, I want you to get this through your head. You're no more important than anyone else in this house. Well, no, I wouldn't say that. I take it all back, my dear. I'm sorry I'm late, folks, but wait till you see what I've got. Here, Marge, don't say I never did anything for you. My Leroy, a present! But, Leroy, you shouldn't have done this. Oh, look! It's a gadget to fix the ones in stockings. Oh. Guaranteed to fix nylon? I see the fella do it. What fella? The fella I bought it from. He had a whole suitcase full of them. Oh, Leroy, it's simply marvelous. It's just what I wanted. Well, I seem to have a pencil here. Oh, but that's not all, Uncle. It's got two different kinds of lead and a ruler down the side with genuine millimeters on it and a flashlight on the end. Oh. What, no banjo? Thank you, my boy. I don't know what to say, really. Oh, that's okay. Uncle, you're welcome. Hey, I'd better take Birdie, her present. Oh, what'd you get for Birdie, Leroy? A bracelet with rubies in it. What? Well, it might be rubies. He's really a very generous kid. He certainly is. Oh, he must have spent a pile of money on all that stuff. I'm afraid so. Thank you, Leroy. Well, it won't be long now, folks. Are you hungry? I'm all right. I didn't have time to make myself a soldier the whole afternoon. Listen to me a moment. You've been very generous and generosity is a fine trait. But I'm afraid you've spent too much money on these presents. Oh, don't worry, Uncle. I've got plenty left. I figure I'll be able to get my drum in just 14 weeks. Uh, I want to explain something to you, my boy. You're making money now. Everyone in this country is making money. Yeah. But hardly anybody is making things to sell anymore. Most of the work is going into making bullets and such for the war. Yeah. What I'm trying to say is everybody ought to spend their money on war bonds and stamps instead of things they don't need. That's the way to fight inflation. Well, you mean I shouldn't get the drum? Oh, I didn't say that. But it'd be a very good thing if we all thought more about the war and less about ourselves. Oh, gosh, Uncle. I can't be thinking about the war all the time. Would it be easier if you knew somebody who was in it? Yeah, sure. I suppose so. But I don't. Yes, you do, Leroy. No, I don't. I'm honest. Ben, can I tell? Huh? Oh, sure. I guess so. All right. Leroy, this morning Ben got his commission in the Navy. He's leaving very soon to join the ship. Gosh, the Navy. Well, I didn't know about this, Ben. Congratulations. Thank you, sir. The Navy. Yeah. Brings war a little closer, doesn't it, my boy? Yeah. I'm me worrying about a drum. Well, not a Ben's in the Navy. I'd better buy him some bullets. I'll buy bonds, Uncle. Yeah, and now you're talking like a grown-up man, Leroy, and I'm proud of you. Leroy, I hate to say it, but you're wonderful. Come here. Huh? Here. I haven't got a medal for you, but thank you. I'm glad. Oh, my God. Iron mosquitoes? Nothing happened, Leroy. I've been working here like a dog. But by George, enough is enough. I'm quitting right now. Eh, what is it you want me to do, Leroy? Oh, well, it's too late. Oh, no, it's not, Leroy. Oh, but it is. Leroy, don't be like that. It's never too late. A man's got to have a little fun. Eh, what is it you were going to suggest that we do? Well, I thought if you got through with your lawn in time, maybe you'd help me with mine. Good night, everybody. Ken Carpenter speaking for the craft, the further adventures of the Great Yielders League. Ladies are having to use ingenuity these days to make the main dish hearty. Well, here's a very clever trick. Serve a small amount of meat or chicken or eggs or vegetables creamed in a licking good macaroni and cheese ring. And make that ring the fast way with craft dinner in only seven minutes cooking time. The craft dinner macaroni is a special kind that cooks fluffy tender, just and boiling water. The craft grated in each craft dinner box puts the cheese flavor through and through the macaroni in a jiffy. Press the delicious hot craft dinner into a ring mold, let it set for a moment, and then serve with your creamed meat or vegetables. Or serve the craft dinner macaroni and cheese all by itself. Either way, you have a real wartime special. For one craft dinner box gives you macaroni and cheese for four people, and you give out just one single red ration point. Get some soon. Just ask for craft dinner. This program leads you from Hollywood.