 dedicated to the strength of the nation proudly we hail my son is a wise man United States Army United States Air Force presentation now here is our producer the well-known Hollywood showman CP McGregor thank you very much and greetings from Hollywood ladies and gentlemen welcome to your theater of stars or the top most stars of stage and screen join us in plays we know you'll enjoy our star is Barbara Britton the title of our Christmas story my son is a wise man we'll have the curtain for act one in just a moment but first here is your announcer with this message of importance in this holy season of peace on earth goodwill to men your men and women in army and Air Force uniform extend to you the people of America their most heartfelt wishes for continued happiness whatever station that home or at the far flung outposts and polar and tropical climbs the most fervent wish of your service men and women is that peace and tranquility reign 12 months a year for peace is the year-round work of those who are dedicated to serving their country as soldiers and airmen and all once again our producer the curtain rises on act one of my son is a wise man starring Barbara Britton as the mother this is the story of a miracle not an actual really true miracle mind you like the visitations of the great Saints of the Testament but yet one that surely st. Francis of Assisi the patron saint of all young things must look down from his cloud and smile in his beard you see there was a farm up in Idaho one of those windswept dry farms where for six months of the year the dirt blows in through the cracks and gets in your eyes and then the fall the barrenness and awful loneliness and then comes the snow great swirling suds of it and the flakes fall silently laying a white mantle over cowshed and house over barn and silo until in the chill morning the surrounding world is still and white in this house that I am speaking of a mother's spoke in the cello notes of her heart it was the day before Christmas when my son Tommy came romping into the yard clippity-clop on his black pony spud I stood at the window held back the curtain and as elite from the saddle I could see in his eyes the sparkle of some great joy he raced across the yard remember to scrape his boots on the doorstop and then the door pushed open and there he was my son Tommy yes Tommy can you guess what I'm not in a guessing mood son shut the shut the door you're letting in an awful draft okay look at your hands go to the pump all right mommy it's Briggs says so use the soap Tommy don't wipe the dirt on the towel mommy miss Briggs at the church says I'm going to be a wise man in the plate I'm gonna have to wear a costume too can I have a costume Tommy you're dripping water all over the floor can I mommy can I can you what a costume I have to have a long white gown and one of those things you wrap around your head you know mommy you know I haven't the vaguest idea what you're talking about like in the Bible mommy like in the Bible you know there were three wise men and they all brought Frank's incense and dirt the wise man mother Frank incense and myrrh yeah yeah French incense and dirt Tommy yes mommy you haven't fed your rabbits yet oh gee well I'll do it right now mom and Tommy try to help your father if you can he might need some oh here he is now hello Joseph frozen of course dear hello son daddy I'm a wise man I'm a wise man yes yes you are indeed this morning you left the pasture gate open forgot to put the oats and spud's been you're a wise man all right oh gee Dan I guess I just forgot yes I guess you just did miss Briggs at the church has said that Tommy can be one of the wise men in Sunday school play tonight yes she indeed oh daddy can I can I you can go outside round up the cows and you can feed your rabbits what about ginger your dog how long has it been since you fed him don't be too hard on him Joseph I'm going daddy but I want to be a wise man Joseph let me help you off with your coat you're very tired aren't you tired yes yes Mary I'm very tired cream black what are we going to do about Tommy what are we going to do about it it's the day before Christmas I know I know don't you think it hurts please Joseph tonight he's going to be a wise man in the Sunday school play I seem to recollect that the wise men of the Bible story came bearing gifts of gold frankincense myr Mary there isn't any gold here on this farm the only frankincense is the smell of sweating cattle Mary I'm sick at heart my dear you're tired yes yes I'm tired I'm sick and tired Mary it's the day before Christmas in my purse there's exactly 41 cents we have nothing for Tommy nothing except what it was that brought him into this world love Mary I failed so badly Joseph drink your coffee I don't want it Joseph Mary Mary don't turn away from me look at me yes is there something something we could sell you see he doesn't want very much this morning out behind the barn he kind of got me cornered he said to me yes son dad I'm through milking I've stripped her that's good son you take the milk into the creamer dad yes could I talk to you sure what do you want son well tomorrow's Christmas yes yes I know well gee dad if only I had a sled dad do you know they're on the north side of the house where it slopes down to the creek yes well gee that's a good coasting hill the ice is awful hard there too guys if I only had a sled well I bet you I'd go a million miles an hour take the milk into the creamery son start winding up the separate kind of talk from your own son is enough to break a man's heart all he wants is a sled to slide down from the north side of the house he doesn't want much Mary it's no good Joseph don't don't all right Mary Joseph my dear when did you shave last why your face is awfully stubbly Joseph look at me no into my eyes well you see my dear what we have we have we have each other and we have our son tomorrow morning is Christmas morning yes it's the birthday of Christ he was the one who taught the principle of love we have that love my dear you and I and and through him and because of him we have Tommy his world will come we've given him everything we can we'll keep on giving him everything we can and tomorrow morning if if we can give him nothing else we can at least say Tommy we love you season of Christmas can and often is a very depressing part of the year to be perfect Christmas must be within your heart that slow beating crucible where in his mixed all the elements of love faith promise yes and despair that night that early night of Christmas Eve the wind began to blow and our house was involved in a swirling blinding fume of white snow Tommy was going to be a wise man and upstairs in what I laughingly call my sewing room my son stood on a chair while I knelt and began to baste up the hem of one of my old nightgowns for his wise man robe he stood there squirming like all small things and when I stood back to look at him my he was like an angel all white and pink and very sweet this was my son this was my son that was to be a wise man Tommy turn around all right I think it hangs a little bit crooked on that one side here let me pin it up oh I'm sorry oh it didn't hurt mom how's he coming Mary how's our wise man look at me daddy look at me are you just going to better you're just getting up I'm a wise man daddy are you not daddy miss Briggs says that I have to have a sensor what's a sensor why it's a smoke pot that swings on a chain like a flower plant oh we have one on the front porch I can fix it for you son I can put some peat moss into it and set fire to it well St. Paul himself would say there goes a wise man goodness who's that I'll go I'll go it's you Silas yes it's me well come in Mary pour a cup of coffee for Mr. Weatherby I don't want no coffee I didn't come here to drink no coffee I come here to collect $1,843.48 have you got it no Mr. Weatherby I haven't won't you sit down have some coffee I'll have $1,843.48 Mr. Weatherby well do you know what day-to-day is well now that's a darn fool question what's your language Mr. Weatherby it's the 24th of December that's what it is the date your mortgage walls do and I want my money I haven't got it Silas you haven't got it none of it not one red cent of it look mr. Weatherby today is the day before Christmas my son wants a sled I can't buy him a sled and you want $1,843.48 cents a sled cost $4.50 get out mr. Weatherby before I throw you out now Mr. Weatherby this is the day before Christmas sentimental dribble the day before Christmas happens to be the 24th of December the 24th of December is a date in the calendar just like any other date it could be the 3rd of July or the 14th of January a date is a date and a bill payable is a bill payable you'll be out of here by midnight and if you're not I'll have the sheriff throw you out are you sure you wouldn't like some coffee Silas no I don't want any of your coffee I want my money and that's all I do want well Mary Joseph Christmas yes my dear remember what he said peace on earth good will toward men and Joseph don't forget our son tonight he is a wise man my son is a wise man starring Barbara Britton to bring you an important message from our government high school graduates for a job with a real future get into aviation now United States Air Force offers you unlimited career opportunities under the new airman career program you'll be trained in the job for which you are best suited and have the best chance for success you'll get good pay right from the start free room and board free clothing and equipment free medical and dental care free retirement plan this is your big opportunity look into it today get full details at your nearest US Army and US Air Force recruiting station the curtain rises on act two of my son is a wise man starring Barbara Britton as the mother downstairs in the parlor the old tower clock on the mantle is chiming seven as I finally finished draping my squirming Tommy in an old flannel nightgown and base it up the hem when we were all finished he was truly a Persian potentate now then let me look at you stop squirming is the cord around your waist tight enough all right my boy off you go I'm sorry I can't let you ride spud to the church but I'll have to take him down to the village to get some medicine for your mommy I can walk daddy I'm a good walker thank you Tommy Tommy come here yes careful you don't trip on your gown you'd better hold it up a little what are you fidgeting about didn't you go to sure I did well it's just that this old nightgown well it kind of itchy scratches well I guess I better go now Joseph don't you think it would be all right if he was to cut through Mr. Weatherby's back pasture just this once why don't see why not old Silas has done about all the damage he can do what you best hurry across Tommy the moon's very bright tonight just try not to let him see you all right daddy I'll hurry like everything oh gee willikers where's my smoke pot I almost forgot it so you did here here we are I put some dried moss in it which will be just the same thing as incense I better light it before you go should smoke for a long time all right we go smoking just like a chimney well give your mommy a kiss and be on your way wise men aren't supposed to be late goodbye son good luck hurry straight home afterwards and I'll have some hot cocoa ready for you bye mommy bye daddy bye son it's enough to break a man's heart Mary and a woman's heart as well Joseph a mother's heart Christmas Eve we can't even go see our son be a wise man you could have gone Joseph I'd be all right here alone it's one thing to fail as a father it's another to fail as a husband no Mary we'll we'll just have to hear all about it when he comes back when he comes back to what to a barren house and a sick mother I've got an idea Mary something we could do what I could go down to the ravine and chop out one of those small fir trees and the Christmas tree isn't much of a Christmas tree without decorations or we could flatten some tin cans and cut stars out of them and things that'd help but shall we do it Mary it's little enough to give an eight year old boy on Christmas Eve of course Joseph and while you're getting the tree I'll rummage around in my sewing box there might be a few pieces of ribbon or something good girl I'll just be a few minutes Mary I'll get the axe and the lantern from the wood shed and be back before you know it Silas don't you think you could have waited a little while before for closing on the Barrett's why should I wait Abigail I haven't made my money by waiting bargain is a bargain I say and that debt is a debt yes yes I know but still and all it's Christmas time and what's that got to do with it I should like to know Christmas time is no different from any other time a lot of dirt and foolishness I should say people going around with silly looks on their faces spending money they haven't got running themselves into debt and for what I asked her for what I dare say Christmas meant something to you when you were a little boy oh that was a long time ago Abigail and since then I am glad to say that I've grown up to have a little more sense people rushing about helped us skelter clapping each other on the back and screaming Mary Christmas at the top of their lungs when most of them don't know where the next meals coming from Mary Christmas indeed don't mean a dad blame thing but it does mean something Silas exactly what does it mean Christmas is the birthday of our Lord peace on earth goodwill toward men there'd be more peace and the heap more goodwill in this world if folks at pay they're just debts there's no point in arguing about it Abigail I'm a practical man and I believe in doing things in a practical way well as you say I mean my Macintosh from the peg Abigail I'm going out to the barn to see if the stock is all right before we go to bed that's locked up everything safe and sound for the night I tell you it pays to be careful what's that a great day what is that oh no no it couldn't be Abigail Abigail come here quick what is it what's the matter come here Abigail on the porch what is it Silas look look out there can you see it where they are out there moving across the back pasture can you see it Abigail good heavenly days what is it who is it it's somebody in a robe and a turban why it looks almost transparent in the moonlight oh Silas that smoke what she's swinging back and forth Abigail I'm mortally afraid I'm not afraid Silas but I do feel very strange what does it mean you know Silas I remember seeing a picture on a Christmas card once many many years ago and the picture looked just like that one out there only there were three of them it's beginning to look right pretty Joseph that star you're fast and at the top is as bright and shining as any I've ever seen it doesn't look bad does it Joseph I've got an idea what is it Mary my medicine money they're 65 cents in the sugar bowl and you said you had 41 cents that's a dollar and six cents you could ride to the village and buy something for Tommy oh no Mary Dr. Baker said you were to have your medicine regular if you to get well no we can't do that the best medicine in the world I could have would be the smile on Tommy's face when he found a present under the tree I don't need any better medicine than that but Mary please do it Joseph it's Christmas Eve if you say so Mary all right isn't that someone driving into our yard sounds like it easy enough to find out hello out there oh it's Silas whether be surely he hasn't come back to make more trouble for come on out and give me a hand with some of these things well of course more here than I can handle by myself I'm loaded down motor that greatly after the harvest what have you got there Silas oh just a few knickknacks and things to sort of help Christmas along its way here you take this stuff here what are you talking about you'll see you'll see come on come on hit the house with him Mr. Weatherby what in the world what's all this it's Christmas Eve Mrs. Barrett and I reckon neighbors ought to be neighborly on Christmas Eve here let's set the stuff down get the raps off here where's Tommy upstairs in bed no as a matter of fact he's over at the church he's in the Sunday school play is he now I didn't know there was having no shindig over at the church they're doing the play of the nativity Tommy's playing the part of one of the wise men one of the wise men whether be having four of them there tonight there were only three wise men Mr. Weatherby there'll be four of them tonight three play acting ones and one real one I don't understand all this Silas well I don't either exactly you see something happened to me tonight something pretty blamed important what was that well I don't think I could tell you you'd probably think I was touched in the head but I can say it was about the most important thing that happened in our lives Abigail in minds now we'll get your paper off here in the morning that's a sled sure it is anybody could see that the best blame sled they had in the hardware store do you think Tommy you like it you you bought that sled for Tommy well now who else would I be buying a sled for and I didn't forget you this year package is yours Joseph and this is for you Mrs. Barrett for me wait a minute Silas I don't understand all this this afternoon you were over here foreclosing on my mortgage and now you're back again with Christmas presents and I I told you something happened but I ain't saying what it was as far as the mortgage is concerned just forget what I said this afternoon don't worry not about it you can pay me the money when you get it that'll be soon enough I've got to be getting promised to help Abigail fix up a little tree tonight I don't want to keep away and well good night Merry Christmas to you Joseph Merry Christmas to you too Mary Merry Christmas to you Silas Merry Christmas Mr. Weatherby and Mrs. Weatherby too oh thank you very much and God bless you he already has Mrs. Barrett you already has a good night again Merry Christmas to you all Mary what in the world what's got into old Silas that that's the first time I've seen him smiled since I've known him well smiley he was laughing out loud it's a miracle Joseph a wonderful blessed miracle what did he mean about the four wise men only blend if I know Mary wait a minute what old Silas saw something tonight something happened he mentioned the wise man Tommy cut across his pasture on his way to the church Mary do you suppose that I've got the same thought Joseph Tommy my dear we have a fine son tonight on this Christmas Eve our boy yours and mine our Tommy was a wise man in his innocence and sweetness he was the wisest of them all his simplicity was the answer to the blessings that the good Lord has said suffer little children to come out of me for such as the kingdom of heaven so you see that we can only humble ourselves to ourselves we will all be wise men wise men in the true sense of the word and follow a star that may lead us to the realm of peace on earth goodwill toward men the curtain falls in the final act of my son is a wise man our star Barbara Britain will return for a curtain call after this timely message from Wendell Niles high school graduates there's an important place for you in the US Air Force you can continue your education learn a trade get ahead and at the same time earn good pay the United States Air Force has openings for specialists in air transport aircraft maintenance research clerical administration radio and many other fields the Air Force will train you for one of these responsible jobs two kinds of training are open to you you can learn on the job under the world's most skilled experts or if you qualify you can go to the finest Air Force technical schools as vacancies exist you will find interesting work job security good retirement benefits and opportunity for travel this is your big opportunity look into it today get full details at your nearest Air Force base our United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station now once again at the microphone our star and our producer Barbara we're very happy to have you back with us again I was hoping that we could get you to portray Mary Barrett oh that was a beautiful story CP and I'm very proud that I was invited to do your Christmas play thank you I was afraid for a while that little Tommy the wise man wasn't going to get his slid but thanks to old Silas having a change of heart he did and by the way Barbara our audience knows old Silas brought Tommy the sled now let's tell them what he brought Joseph and Mary well Joseph came up very well old Silas brought him a Mackinac and gloves that was practical and Mary he brought Mary a pair of pearl earrings and a necklace to match he was really carried away well Barbara what have you been doing at United Artists lately well we've just finished champagne for Caesar I think it will be released in about two or three weeks oh you made that with Ronald Coleman yes and Celeste home I'll be looking for it CP now that we've done the Christmas story what do you plan for your first play of the new year we have a bright comedy romance Barbara and ladies and gentlemen titled objection sustained our star will be Arlene doll it's a story about a motorcycle officer and a nurse the officer gets life because he does have a license a marriage license well that should be a grand story to start off the new year we'll be listening goodbye CP and a very very merry Christmas to you and to all of you goodbye Barbara and a very merry Christmas to you and yours and now ladies and gentlemen I wish I could greet every one of you personally but since I can't this is CP McGregor wishing you a very merry Christmas and the happiest of New Year's Barbara Besson here for the courtesy of the Hollywood Coordination Committee which arranges for the appearance of all stars on this program scripted by Kimbell S. Sant, the music of Eddie Dunstead, a program that's been inscribed in Hollywood for release at this time. Wendell Niles speaking.