 hallmark card when you carry it up to send the very best let's bring you and Baxter in the covered bridge on the hallmark playhouse hallmark brings you Hollywood's greatest stars in outstanding stories and presents as your host one of the most distinguished actors of the American theater mr. Lionel Barry. Ladies and gentlemen this is Lionel Barrymore tonight's story is woven round one of the old beloved landmarks of the American scene the covered bridge you can readily see in reading his novel that Herman Peterson must have been deeply moved by those bridges and the legends that surround them for he's written a strong poignant story of some events that were a part of the history of one of these covered bridges and against the background of this bridge he's placed a woman of unforgettable courage and determination Zoanne O'Day and as our charming guest tonight on hallmark playhouse we are happy indeed to present and Baxter and now here's Frank Goss from the makers of hallmark cards one of the particular joys of Christmas is sending and receiving Christmas cards while the pleasure Christmas cards bring can never be measured isn't it good to know that hallmark cards are priced the same this year as they were last year and the year before and the year before that and that the quality of hallmark cards has constantly improved throughout the years yes today justice for many Christmas seasons that hallmark on the back of your card is looked for and welcomed it tells your friends you cared enough to send the very best Lionel Barrymore appears by arrangement with Metro Golden mayor producers of the Technicolor picture Plymouth adventure starring Spencer Tracy Jean Terny Van Johnson and Leo again and now here's the first act of the covered bridge starring and the story of Zoanne O'Day is strong and beautiful woman who lived in the Shenango Valley in the years following the Civil War she was up before the Sun one fine June morning she walked along the river and when the Sun rose she stood quietly looking at the covered bridge tomorrow my son will be married on the covered bridge and a dream that began when I was no older than he is now will have come to completion a dream that began when I was no older than he is now I was 20 when I first talked to Michael about the covered bridge we stood on this very spot looking across the river oh my how long a living of the memories all memories of you here beside the river I'm a girl again and you're beside me and all of life is once more ahead of us Mrs. O'Day Mrs. Michael O'Day even after a year I can't believe it no other world Zoanne and all the thunder and fire and excitement of the world and I'm no match for you no one is more aware of that than I am Michael you're all the happiness in the world darling but what have you been thinking about you've been staring across the river for almost an hour I've been thinking about the future there's 400 acres across the river I'd like to own 400 acres Daniel Stone owns it now but Daniel Stone has been buying a lot of land lately I don't think he's going to be able to hold on to it all it's good farming yeah good farming land one third of its under water we can build a ditch the river and drain it then we'll have 400 good acres ready for the plow oh it just isn't practical so and even if we did all that it wouldn't be a good investment do you realize how long it would take to get plowing over there and men would have to go way down to the town bridge to get across and we cost too much to farm it wouldn't cost too much if we had a bridge we could build our own bridge right here and join the land now it's build a bridge is it do you realize what a bridge would cost it's no pasture creek that's a river even the cheapest kind of bridge I wasn't thinking of the cheapest kind of bridge Michael I was thinking of the most expensive I was thinking of one that was sturdy and durable built to stand against the years a covered bridge why all this talk of land and bridges oh and why do you suddenly want all that we've got to start a kingdom Michael a kingdom for your son my son the spring our first child will be born I want him to be born to a kingdom and I want a bridge here on this spot to be the entrance to his kingdom you about the river land my husband and I'd like to buy it we'll pay a fair price land is not for sale mr. stone you bought up thousands of acres for miles around you own the mail you own the town bridge you own the dam you won't have to buildings in town that 400 acres can never mean to you what it means to me it's not for sale mr. stone I wonder if you haven't been the law in this town a little too long the prices are too high at your mill the wood and your bridges cheap and rotten never here it gets washed up when the water spilled over your dam and the whole town is crippled till you get around to fixing things if you don't like the way things are I'm afraid that's just too bad Mrs. Oday I don't like them Mr. Stone and I think I'm going to do something about them and the first thing I'm going to do is get that land if you were the last man alive and I was starving you wouldn't get that land I thought he'd be here before too long he's mad as a wet hornet what have you done to him I found out there was a mortgage on mr. stone's land across the river that he hadn't made any payments in two years he's land poor Michael so I bought the mortgage and I had him notified that if he didn't pay I'd foreclose where did you get the money to buy this mortgage your father loaned it to me you know he hasn't any more love for stone than the rest of us come on darling let's not keep him waiting very good evening to you Mrs. Oday and my congratulations when do you intend to foreclose the mortgage I don't intend to foreclose Mr. Stone unless you force me I've offered you a fair price for that land my offer still holds why should you buy when you can foreclose because I consider it the fair thing to do you'll get no gratitude for me in exchange you and I are for this night shall we meet at the bank at ten in the morning to sign the paper a woman I've never met before I feel like a woman I've never known before it's a wonderful feeling to stand up to injustice Michael I've been afraid of many things in my life I don't think I'll ever be afraid again let Daniel stone do his worst I'll be ready for him oh Michael darling just think we own the land now now we can build a covered bridge and I could plan the bridge I walked here beside the river one morning but Michael and his father on either side of me the money that would build the bridge was Timothy's but the dream was mine you see this bridge of yours oh and I see it just about here going from this no where we're standing across to that one see it's almost directly on it's all right that's too long a span don't forget the old days of building this bridge out of their own pockets it's not a town project well then let the old days build better than the town teach everyone a lesson in economy where would you build across the shorter you do that your bridge will be swept away when the river rises just as Daniel stones is every year we're gonna do it let's do it right let it stand high above the flux strong against the elements build it from the knowledge of today and yesterday and whatever vision we can glimpse of tomorrow's station conquers the wilderness in terms like this a bridge a mill last it stood as I dreamed it feet long roofed and sided like a low barn open at both ends it was completed one day in June the day our son was born he looked like you Michael I want him to look like you looks like his mother don't like his mother I swear he opened his mouth and roared where's my bread they finished it today yes they drove the last nail did anyone cross no I wanted you to be the first he must be the first to cross him and blankets take him down the day now walk across the day he was born and mark the day on the bridge Michael June the night the year 1868 and you think you'll remember no we'll remember there'll be other things for him to remember about the bridge Michael took our son in his arms and crossed the bridge for the first time and I lay back on my pillows and wept for joy later I ran through a midnight weeping with panic and rage seeing flames leap up from my bridge and the night on fire I've got to do something about our fire last night on the bridge yes I heard you'll be sorry to hear that we managed to save it some of the floor timbers will have to be replaced but we saved it what do you mean I'll be sorry we found the remains of the fire that had been built under the bridge Mr. Stone and beside the fire we found this coal oil can it has your name on the bottom of it now see if you're trying to Mr. Stone but understand this if you ever so much as set foot on our land again I'll come after you myself you don't belong in a country like this you don't want to give anything to it you want to take what you can exploit the land but not contribute anything to it and what do you want to do Mrs. O'Day I suppose you tricked me out of that land for purely altruistic who wanted to give something to the land didn't you I intend to give something to the land I intend to cultivate it make it you don't intend to do anything different than I intended don't try to whitewash yourself woman or not you are playing the same game you know the railroads were coming across that land and that's why you wanted it no I didn't know the railroads were going to cross that property and I still don't know it but if they come we'll cultivate the land on either side the land is the important thing Mr. Stone the land in just a moment we will return to the second act of the covered bridge starring Anne Baxter have you discovered that you often know who said a certain Christmas card even before you glance the name inside something about the color or design or the getty or formality of the greeting you have in hand seems to say this is from the Johnson's just like their farm in New England or I'll bet Janet chose this car she loves everything in shades of blue it's true that a Christmas card almost always reveals the taste of the person who sends it and that is as it should be for nothing you give your friends all during the year expresses your feeling of warmth and love so completely and one pleasant way to find that perfect card for you or your family is to select from the Hallmark Christmas card albums you'll find that the collection is widely varied and that Hallmark cards are the ones you'll be proud to have printed with your name and here's a wonderful plus that Hallmark on the back of every card you mail gives added meaning to your message because it tells your friends instantly you cared enough to send the very best now back to Lionel Barrymore in the second act of the covered bridge starring Anne Baxter quietly beside the covered bridge it was the day of my son's wedding and her heart was full everywhere she saw peace and beauty but it hadn't always been like that it hadn't always been peaceful and beautiful at the covered bridge yes the covered bridge was completed the day our son Marsh was born the seven years that followed were busy happy years we drained the land across the river began to farm it and in time so part of it the railroads for the money we realized we built a mill I had little time to think of Daniel Stone and yet I was always aware of his presence I knew he was biding his time waiting for the hour when he could strike again and at last the hour came late one night I remember remember one of our farm hands pounding frantically at the front door Daniel Stone he's coming this way with a gang maybe 40 50 men I heard about it in the village and cut cross country as fast as I could come Stone's been buying drinks for hours they say they're gonna burn the bridge in the meal in the house they're gonna destroy the crops all right all right how soon do you think they'll be here 15 20 minutes come on we'll wake the hands I want you to stay here in this house this is work for the men oh no Michael this is our land it's my work as much as yours I'll fight precise you'll stay in this house where you belong Michael we're wasting time don't argue with me so Anne you'll only be in the way out there take the shotgun down from the wall and stay in this house take care of Marsh I'll do my best out there to take care of you both window and Marsha's bedroom cold and shaking afraid for Michael afraid for Marsha afraid for all we planned and built and dream I sat by that window helpless unable even to cry out as I saw the mob of men turn in by the gates all their lanterns flung at field and building their rough shouting voices now and then I saw flames leap up and then flicker out in their light I saw the figures of men struggling now and then I I fancied I could distinguish voices Michael's voice the voice of my father-in-law the voice of Daniel Stone my night was endless and I longed and yet feared for the dawn last dawn came and big Tim O'Day walked into the house carrying Michael in his arms as he put Michael on the bed he told me Daniel Stone was dead but Stone was no longer important no one was important but my husband lying still and white on that bed wet you've been crying night is over you and Marsh will never have to worry about Daniel Stone again Michael so and teach our son the ways of the land you he'll make a good farmer he comes of generations of men who loved the land so I'm take my hands Michael don't spoil them with tears don't cloud them with be glad of what we've had is as I am glad thought you were asleep come here son is something wrong father I have loved most come Marsh you must go back to bed yes mother good night father sleep well father we lived again in his son sometimes watching Marsh follow his plow I could almost believe it was Michael and always when he spoke of the land it was Michael's voice I heard he had the same feeling for earth and crops that his father has Michael would have been proud of his son mother mother it's time you were getting dressed for the wedding yes Mars you've been standing here for hours I watched it from the window as I dressed what have you been thinking about oh I've been thinking about the past and the present I was about to think of the future when you interrupted me and how does the future look to you mother away the future should look good full of hope a good crop in the barns of good planting in the fields how did it look to you on your wedding day well across the river was swamps and wild uncultivated land and here on this side was a house in a few well-tilled acres when we looked about us we saw what you see now we saw a covered bridge and we saw well-tilled land across the river we saw the mill what do you see Mars well I see more land across the river if we could buy the property or joining ours and clear it good the country must grow Mars on the dreams of the young people and you'll give to it and your sons after you it's all part of a pattern Mars a good pattern a strong pattern you just the best the most creative pattern in the world symbol of your father's dream and my dream the covered bridge and now it's yours a bridge from the past to the present to the future and death to me may it mean only life to you and promise and happiness Christmas how would you like to delight your friends with an original painting of New England by Grandma Moses or a vigorous landscape by Winston Churchill or one of Norman Rockwell's lovable pictures painted with his delightful heartwarming touch it's such an easy thing to do if you choose the Christmas card you want imprinted with your name from the Hallmark gallery artist series you'll find that all the beauty and magic of the Yuletide season has been captured by the artist who create Hallmark cards there are traditional themes to Holly candles poinsettia cards aglow with fireside scenes or elegantly lettered informal gold and you need only make your selections now at the fine stores where Hallmark cards are sold in order to have them in plenty of time for leisurely addressing so when I plan to treat your friends to the cards they'll love to display you can count on it once they see the Hallmark on the back of the card that bears your name they'll know you cared enough to send the very best here again as Lionel Barrymore it's good to have you with us on the Hallmark Playhouse tonight thanks for a wonderful performance I'm so glad you invited me Mr. Barrymore especially tonight I wanted to tell you personally how stirred I was last Sunday night when you read my country to the V and then urged us all to get out and vote as Americans oh thank you thank you you know I believe this election was good for all of us never before have so many of us shown such an interest in an election and never before have so many of us voted but the most important thing that seems to me is what it can portend for the future what's that Mr. Barrymore that we've learned that a democracy is a working partnership and we the private citizens must also be active and vigilant if we've learned that as I believe many of us have then it looks like America is headed for the greatest period in its history then we will not be just election day Americans but everyday Americans expressing ourselves forcibly for all that's good for America and expressing ourselves forcibly against all that's bad for America and we'll all be active citizens all year round and that's the best thing that could happen to our country I think all of us feel just as you do Mr. Barrymore but very few can express it so eloquently thank you and now won't you tell us about your plans for next week's Hallmark Playhouse well next week on Hallmark Playhouse we'll present the story of a small town lawyer his family and the place in the community when we dramatize Bellamy Partridge's novel Fun to Shower and to play the leading role we've invited Edward Arnold to join us a Hallmark Playhouse as every Sunday our producer director is William Gaye our music is composed and conducted by David Rose and our story tonight was adapted by Gene Holloway well until Sunday then this is Lionel Barrymore saying good night Bert and Friendly Service remember a Hallmark card when you carry enough to send the very best and Baxter will soon be seen in the Warner Brothers production I confess the role of Michael was played by Lamont Johnson others in our cast included Ted DeCorsia as Stone Polly Bear as Timothy Eddie Firestone as Marsh and Sammy Aug as the boy every Sunday Hallmark cards present two great programs for the whole family's enjoyment on radio the Hallmark Playhouse with host Lionel Barrymore and on television outstanding dramatic entertainment on the Hallmark television theater consult your paper for time and station this is Frank Goss saying good night to you all until next week at the same time when Hallmark Playhouse returns to present Edward Arnold in Bellamy Partridge's Thunder Shower and the week after that Jane G. Austin's Stendish of Stendish starring John Haudyac and the week after that Bruce Lancaster's The Secret Road on the Hallmark Playhouse this is the CDF Radio Network This is KMBC Kansas City, Missouri