 Remember a Hallmark card when you carry enough to send the very best. These cards bring you a true story from the life of Russell Conwell, starring Dick Powell on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. Our distinguished host, Mr. Lionel Barrymore. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Hallmark Hall of Fame. Tonight, a true story from the life of Russell Conwell. A man who helped found Temple University and who wrote the inspirational book Acres of Diamonds. Russell Conwell was once an atheist. But he became an outstanding man of God. Why? How? Tonight you hear his remarkable and exciting story. And we're proud to have as our star the noted actor Dick Powell. And now here is Frank Goss. If you want to remember your friends, there's one way to be sure the card you send receives an extra welcome. Look for that identifying Hallmark on the back when you select it. For words to express your feelings and designs to express your good taste. Let the Hallmark on the back be your guide. For that Hallmark tells your friends, you carry enough to send the very best. Lionel Barrymore appears by arrangement with MGM, who celebrate their 30th anniversary at your favorite theater with their new color picture in Cinemascope, Rose Marie, starring Anne Blythe, Howard Keel and Fernando Lamas. And now with Dick Powell as our star, Mr. Barrymore brings you tonight's exciting story on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. It was the year 1862 and the Civil War composed of a thousand things, battles and retreats and strategies and patrols. And so in a small valley near a river newly swollen by the spring rains, there was a Yankee captain named Russell Conwell. He was dashing and young and commanded and newly recruited artillery company of ten field pieces. And he owned a bright and shining golden sword that struck glints in the Virginia song. Fire! All right, Sergeant. Have them look alive now. Brightly now, step on it. Yes, sir. Shop now, manage quickly. Hurry's away. As you will, Captain. I'd say those salvos should give the major the diversion he wanted. I would say so, Captain. Tell the men they did right brightly. Compliments, Captain. Well, how do you like the salvos, Kent? I used my own judgment about the accident. He says put the sword back in the scamper and get rid of it. What? That sword is drawing fire rustle the way it shines. Oh, now wait a minute, Kent. That sword was given to me by the mayor. I know. Listen, I guess all he wants you to do is fix it so the Reds can't sight on the gleam it sets up. That's all. Oh, come on. Where? Back to my tent. Oh, I thought you'd want to see. He said that they expect us all back. The major got pretty red about the sword, Russell. He was going to come down the line himself and tell you about it. All right, all right, all right. You see that mud hole right by the tent? Now watch. A very muddy sword, Captain. My compliments to the major, Lieutenant. Johnny has nothing to worry about. Now come on in. Johnny Rain can step over to the field, catch it, and get us some coffee. Is he still... Shh, shh, shh. Our noise is my head with oil. My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Still at it, I see, Johnny. Yes, sir, Lieutenant. I'm sorry, Captain. I didn't hear you come in. That's all right, Johnny. Johnny ringing his Bible. I thought being in the middle of a war would make you give up your Bible, Johnny. It brings a need closer, Lieutenant. You see, Kent, it brings the need closer. Well, I'll take your sword, sir, and I'll shine it for you. I'm afraid not, Johnny. But it's all right. That's right, Johnny. I'll just hang it here on the tent post, and then when we move out of here, you can pack it with the hole. But Captain, sir... What do you want, Johnny? That sword has always been a symbol to you. A thing of faith, bright and shiny. That's why it's retired, Johnny. Johnny. Yes, sir. I got us some coffee. Yes, sir. Russell. Mm-hmm. What about him? Yeah? I mean, Johnny, why do you keep him around? Oh, he looks after me. And reading the Bible all the time. He does his work. But I don't know how to say it. You mean the way he looks? The way he weighs hardly 100 pounds, and he limps? He looks old and young. Yes, it's strange. And the ragged clothes, like little gypsies. Well, Kent, he wasn't permitted to join the army. He pleaded with me to come along anyhow as my servant. I didn't want him to. Then he told me it was a need. That he had to help somehow, and all he had to help because he felt it was a righteous call. Kent, Kent, are you all right? I'm all right, sir. We've heard two major donkeys flanking. They're pouring through. My shoulder. That's not too bad, soldier. I'll get a medic over there. Sir. Yes? We've lost haven't we, sir? Johnny Rebs got us down, and Johnny Rebs got us on the run. And we've lost him. There's dying and blood all around. I'll get a medic over to you, son. Medic. That boy back there, shoulder wound, tend him. Then send him to the rear. Now move, man, move. I will extend peace to her like a river. And the glory. And the glory like a flowing stream. And you shall be born upon her sides. And he dandled upon her knees, as one whom his mother comforteth. So will I comfort you. Johnny, he's dead, Johnny, let him be. I know he's dead. It helped him. Nate Gentler is dying. I read to him from the Bible and it helped him. That's what you've been doing, Johnny? Reading the Bible to them? It gives him comfort, sir. Comfort? What else? An easing to the pain. And where there is no pain, only numbness and shock. This word. Don't find yourself some cover, Johnny. There are still many, sir, who have asked me to read to them. In order, Johnny, try to get out of the rain. I promised them, sir. The medics will take care of the injured. Now get going, Johnny. Gavin. What? It could help you like it's helped me so the Bible, it could help you. I'll tell you what could help me, Johnny. The few pieces I lost. A company of cannon like I had before they attacked. Instead of boys with rifles, they don't even understand how to use. A company that's forgotten how to whimper at pain. Instead of boys who... Oh, can I find that in your book, Johnny? Is it written down some place from the good book, Johnny? An answer to what I need, cannon? There's more you need, sir, than that. You're not much more than a boy yourself, sir. And there are words here that could help you. Oh, the Rep Calvary. That's part of this. Company B, move out! Rep Calvary! The bridge didn't get himself a Yankee. I gave you the report for the major. Yes. He said he was going home. Said shoot him in the back if I wanted, but he was going home. One way or the other, what did you do? I said glory to him. A hero. And the battle is not lost. And don't mind the filth boy and the wounded crying, you're a hero, boy. Well, he started a sob, and he buried his face in the mud, and I walked away from him. And the others, they're beaten too. And the thing has been torn apart inside them. I'm going to go out on a bright gold bray again. Oh, not now, Johnny. Don't preach to me now. I wasn't going to preach, Captain A. It's just that... You got the word, Johnny Ring? You mark the passage in the Bible that'll heal my men, make them forget their misery and their filth? A symbol, sir. That's all they need. A bright thing that shines that leads them to courage and to forget. What are you talking about? Your sword, sir. The sword they gave you when you went to war. The sword you flurished, the sword I kept to a gleam. The symbol the men need. I'll get it, sir. I'll go back and get it. You're gone crazy, Johnny. I left it hanging back there in the command tent when we retreated. I'll find a way to get it back, sir. I'll get across a bridge. I won't let you go, Johnny. Now, that's an order, Johnny. I'll be right now. A rep officer has taken the sword for loot. You need it. I'll bring it back. Johnny, come back. Come back. You hear me, Johnny Ring? You come back! Come back! Say a prayer for Johnny Ring. In just a moment, we return to the second act of the Hallmark Hall of Fame. Yesterday, I went into town and I was amazed to see throngs of women everywhere. I remembered Easter ballads, of course. This is the time when winter doldrums disappear and women want the brightest, gayest, prettiest hat they can find. There's something about the approach of Easter that lifts the spirals of everyone, and I'm sure you'll get more of that wonderful spring feeling when you see the selection of Hallmark Easter cards. There's every type of Easter greeting in Hallmark cards. Some are bright with tulips, violets, lilies, cards that carry the fresh new beauty of the season and almost sing, have a happy, happy spring. Others have the deep reverence spirit of the sacred day. What could be more appropriate and more thoughtful than to send these Easter messages of renewed faith to members of your church? And of course, you'll want some Easter bunny cards for children, too. They'll treasure the flop-eared rabbits, the downy ducks and chicks that look as real as play things. Yes, you'll make Easter a brighter, happier day for everyone by sending Hallmark cards. And the Hallmark and Crown on the back show that you cared enough to send the very best. And now, Lionel Barrymore brings you the second act of our true story of Russell Conwell, starring Mr. Dick Powell. The sudden blaze of the genius under harsh moments then defines your coordinates and desperation. The major, as S-2, draw up these intelligence maps for his units. Here, have a look, Russell. Can hear Rebels command post this grove of trees about 500 yards back from their side of the river. Rebs infantry spread thin east to west along the banks, directly opposite. A cavalry, here. And that's where they'll come from when they're ready. Across the bridge between us. Ah, this whole campaign. All a careful, precise planning. The strategies, the plans. What went wrong, Captain? Funny. What is? How out of all of this, the terror and the bloodshed and cries of alarm. How out of the cruel panorama of it there becomes something good. I'm thinking of a man who ran into hell to fetch a sword for a symbol. Johnny? Johnny Ring? Dead now, probably. For an ideal. Well, deploy your men, Lieutenant. The orders are stand or die. My name is Johnny Ring. Now, your name is Johnny Ring. Yankee, I'd say, Corporal. Now, Johnny Ring, you turn your pockets inside out and let's see what they're about me. Won't do it. Pull a chain. Yankee, silver. And here. And I can see. Oh, and this. Your book. Let's see what else, Private. That's all I'd say he was holding. Hey, look, Danny, this is his book. It's a Bible. Now, listen, Johnny Ring, I can't say poorly about a man who warns about was just a Bible. Me neither. Especially such a poor and thin and little figure of a man like you. What are you doing here, Johnny? I want to see your commanding officer. Oh, so you shall. Come along to the command fence right by there where the Yankees once had it. The old Frankie with his cannon. Line them up over there again. There, tack it again, I'd say, soon. Make them Yankees go back home for sure this time. Major Faulkner. Yes, Corporal? This man. Yes? What about him? He said he wished to see you, sir. Oh? My name is Johnny Ring, Major. It's important that I talk to you. Quickly now, what is it you want? I would like to be your orderly, sir. Orderly? Yes, sir. A listed man who would be of more value holding a gun, this sword. Now, this sword is hanging here. What orderly would let it hang so without taking off the mud? Take it down for me, Corporal. Major? Well, it can shine it up for me to send home to Georgia. Give it to him. Now, you clean that up, mister, and we'll see what... Now, here now. Stop. Come back here with that sword. Corporal, stop that man. Stop him. Yes, sir. You can shoot straighter than that, Corporal. Get him. Yes, sir. And make it run rent, Major St. Sergeant. Yes, sir? Detail the squad. Volunteers to put torch to the bridge. Torches. At the bridge. Johnny ringing the sword on the bridge. Running to us. It was muddy, and it didn't glint when we fought them off, Johnny. And tomorrow we'll mount an attack and we'll... Outside... Outside they're waiting till the doctor said I could see you. I was reading, Johnny. Reading your Bible. And something happened in words I can't tell you. An inner peace. A faith. Doctor, quickly. You've seen so much of this. This last moments of a man's life. So then you must tell me something. What is it? If a man has lived a purpose. If a man's life has served others. You saw it? This man died gently. His body burned. Yes. No. No, not yet. I want to stay a while. There's something I must tell him. Something he needs to know. And he'll listen to me. This vow I make to you. From this moment, each of my days belong half to you. Eight hours for myself. Eight hours for you. And I will live my life as you have lived yours. And I will pray that my strength and my courage may be as great as yours. This vow I make to you, Johnny. Sleep well, Johnny Ring. After the war, Russell Conwell using Johnny Ring's Bible became a minister of the Gospel. He hung that shining sword above his bed so that each morning it would remind him of his vow and inspire him to great efforts. To serve others as gallantly as Johnny Ring had served him. Guided by this philosophy, he became the world's foremost minister. At his death, Russell Conwell was the head of Temple University. And always before he died, he loved to tell the story of Johnny Ring and the sword. And ever would he give Johnny full credit for being his inspiration for his success. Now here's Frank Ross. Last week I told you about the new Hallmark dolls from the Land of Make Believe, favorite story book figures with their stories printed in verse right inside the doll. Now, let me read you the verse of the Hallmark Little Red Riding Hood doll. Little Red Riding Hood all dressed in red from the tip of her toes to the top of her head went through the woods to her grandmas one day and met a bad wolf as she stopped there to play. The wolf was polite and said, it would be fun to ratio the grandmas. Of course, the wolf won. He ran in the house and let out a shout for Little Red Riding Hood's grandma was out. He put on a nightgown, put on a cap and acted like grandma, just taking a nap. When Little Red Riding Hood said, there's a nice basket of food for you here. The wolf growled and said, I would rather eat you. He jumped out of bed and he probably would too. If the woodcutter hadn't come in with a whoop and knocked that old wolf for a loopity loop and Little Red Riding Hood promised right then she never would speak to a bad wolf again. Wouldn't any little girl love that rhyming story? And this new set of Hallmark dolls includes 16 story book favors. They're just 25 cents each with envelope. Ask for Hallmark dolls at the fine stores that feature Hallmark cards. And now, here is Lionel Barrymore. Friggin, you gave an excellent reading of that verse. Thank you very much, Mr. Barrymore. There's such delightful lines, I'm sure it takes no special talent to read them. Oh, it takes real skill, though, to know what appeals to children. And it seems to me the Hallmark artists have their special talent that way. Don't you think so, Dick? Yes, Lionel, and these Hallmark dolls certainly bring a lot of happiness to the youngsters. I'm sure my children would enjoy this set. We'll see you at their center right away, Dick. Oh, many thanks, Lionel. By the way, what is your show for next week on the Hallmark Hall of Fame? Well, Dick, next week we're going to tell a little known story behind the founding of the world-famous Mayo Clinic. You know the Mayo Clinic, Dick? Oh, sure. Most people will be surprised to hear it took a tornado to do it. Well, that sounds like another one of those Hallmark Hall of Fame programs we all should hear. I'll surely be listening. Thanks for having me here, and goodbye to you all. So long, Dick Poults, alone. And until next week, at this same time, this is Lionel Barrymore saying good night. Contest closes at midnight tonight. Be sure your essay nominating a person whose story you'd like to hear dramatized on the Hallmark Hall of Fame is mail tonight. Winners will be announced on the April 28th issue of Scholastic magazines. Look for Hallmark cards that are so lonely in stores that have been carefully selected to give you expert and friendly service. Remember, a Hallmark card when you carry enough to send the very best. Our producer-directors, William Pruitt, are scripted tonight by Morton Fine and David Friedkin. Mr. Dick Poults will soon be seen starring with Debbie Reynolds and RKO Susan Slept here. Jack Krushen played Johnny Ring. Featured in our cast were Harry Bartell, John Boehner, Jack Edwards, Barney Phillips, Sam Edwards, and William Euler. And remember, the Hallmark Hall of Fame on television next Sunday, when we bring you the moving and inspiring story of William Penn. This is Frank Goss saying good night to you until next week at this same time when you hear an exciting true story from the life of the Doctor's Mail. This is Frank Warfare in the Hawaiian Islands starring Van Heflin on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. This is KMBC, Towns of City, Missouri.