Original subtitles

oh the dreams we wove jed and i of a better life on that free land

but i should have known nothing is free

come on jasper jed had his work to keep him busy

But I was left alone, with only the memories of my two girls.

I rocked them.

I held them.

I prayed for them.

And though they were gone, I could not let them go.

it had happened only that spring and i had been cold ever since

I had

prayed

for understanding, but it seemed the Lord had stopped listening.

My heart had not yet healed when the boy came.

You think you can keep old Bud from running off?

I'll leave you to it.

All right.

Hey, I thought I recognized that buggy.

How are you, Pastor Clay?

Nice to see you.

What a surprise.

Good to see you, Jed. Thank you.

Martha.

How are you?

I'm managing just fine.

Good.

I want you to meet someone.

This is Daniel.

Daniel Maris.

Daniel's mama died on the trek.

His papa passed away last week.

I need to find him a good home, and I thought that you'd care for him.

Daniel?

This is Jed and Martha Richards.

Can't you say hello, son?

Hello there, young man.

That's a mighty fancy hat you got there, huh?

What would you rather be called, Danny or Daniel?

Daniel's the name I get called on by.

When I'm good, I'm Danny.

William, don't you worry about anything. I think we can make a good home here for

the boy, don't you think, Martha?

Martha, I think Danny wants you to have this flower.

Thank you, Daniel.

So what do you think, Martha?

You think we can give the boy here a good home?

Maybe she's not ready for this yet.

You can bring the boy back to me if need be.

You understand what I'm saying?

I understand that you brought me a fine son, William.

And I'm obliged to you.

Dear Lord, we are truly grateful for the many gifts that thou hast bestowed upon

us today.

This good food, the company of a friend, or most of all, the addition of a new

member to our family.

Bless this food to our body's use and us to thy service.

Amen. Amen.

Let's eat.

Daniel, slow down.

This isn't a race. You may have all you like.

His pa's cooking probably wasn't much good.

He's probably starved for the taste of a woman's cooking.

Now look what you've done.

The next time you want some more Johnny Cake, just ask someone to please pass

you the Johnny Cake.

Now, Martha, no real harm done there. You know, there's no need in crying over

you-know-what.

The boy's just hungry.

Needs time to adjust.

There'll be plenty of time for learning manners later on.

I always did like my Johnny Cake soaked in milk.

It's delicious.

Hey, would anybody like some honey for the cake?

Martha.

Honey, the food's delicious tonight.

Thank you, Jed.

Thank you, Martha.

Now, don't you worry about me anymore. I'll just bed down in the wagon for the

night.

We need to make some arrangements about your sleeping.

I want to go with you.

Well, I guess sleeping under the stars for one more night won't do any harm, if

it's all right with you, Jed.

Well, I see no harm in it, but you sure you don't want to stay in here with us?

Now, if you may need anything, you just give me a holler, okay? Much obliged.

Good night.

At the time, I could not see his pain.

He had lost everyone he loved.

He was much more alone than I was.

All I could see was that for Jed to have... so readily accepted the boy,

appeared a betrayal to me and to my little girls.

I'll be stopping by the Tanner place on the way back, see how they're doing.

Well, please give my regards.

I'll do that.

Good luck to you here, Jed. Thank you very much.

Daniel, you mind your manners now.

Ma'am?

Mr. Clay?

Let's go. Come on. Bye-bye.

It's okay. It's okay.

It's okay.

Didn't you know that you were going to stay here?

Don't you want me to be your pa?

Well, then what are you in such a big, old, fired hurry to get out of here for?

Hey.

Sit down a second. I want to talk to you.

Listen.

I want you to try to understand something about Aunt Martha, okay?

I mean, she may seem just a little bit rough around the edges right now, but

deep down inside of her, she's got one fine heart.

And that heart's still grieving the loss of our two little girls.

So your two little girls are in the same place as my mama and papa?

Yeah.

She doesn't like me.

No, it's not that she doesn't.

like you. It's just that people change.

You might say that people can go through different seasons in their lives.

When I first met Martha, she was like a warm summer day. It was nice to just

even be near her.

But when we lost the two girls, she lost some of that fire inside of her.

She's kind of going through

She's going through winter now.

Well, the sun's going to shine on us again.

And springtime's going to come again for Martha.

When's that going to happen?

I don't know.

I really don't know.

But I know that when Sarah and Lucy died,

that it left a real icy spot in my heart.

And since you've come here, my heart doesn't feel so cold anymore.

So I'm glad that you've come to stay with us.

But would you just give Martha another chance?

And if she doesn't come around,

we'll both spill milk on her, okay?

So Daniel came to stay with us as we attempted to settle this desolate Valley

I Had to admit the boy was a big help to Jed in spite of his young age

All

right,

good work buddy

bit me right in the rear.

Well, that's nice. Look what Martha's made for you today.

You lucky boy.

My very own... Hold on there.

You're not going anywhere near this nice clean bed looking like this.

You have got plenty of washing up to do.

Don't go looking at me. Do what she said.

A good bath ain't never hurt anybody.

I'll tell him when he had his last one.

That should make it nice and warm.

Get in.

Do you need some help?

Suit yourself.

Let me know when you're in.

So, hon, how was your day today?

Fine.

Just fine.

We had more eggs today than we have in the last three weeks.

Daniel, are you in yet?

Yes, ma'am.

Daniel!

Now, that's a rather clever piece of thinking right there, hon.

Boy's taking a bath and washing his clothes at the same time. I mean, think

all the time he's gonna save hauling water back from the well.

Daniel.

Are you trying to smart aleck me? What's wrong?

No, get back in.

Come on.

He gives the boy such a hard time. I mean, he ain't trying to smart aleck you

or anything there. I think he's just embarrassed about taking a bath with a

woman in the room.

I mean, he probably don't even know how to take a proper bath.

It's been a while since he's had a mom.

Okay, son, get them clothes off.

Come on up. Take this stuff.

I'm cleaning you up so good you won't even know what's going on.

Let me get them big muscles.

Don't forget his ears.

Martha, where do you think I'm going to leave them?

Well, he does turn into a smart aleck. I'll know where he got his learning.

You got some spots on this face that I don't think are going to ever wash off.

Hallelujah, hallelujah.

Got freckles on this boy's face here.

Rub-a-dub-dub, bugs in the tub.

That was excellent.

Thank you.

Did I eat good, Aunt Martha?

Yes, you did.

Very good.

You did very good.

Now you can hit your head.

Well, Jed, on your way back in, will you fetch me some water for tomorrow

morning?

Why, I didn't think of that.

Thank you for the bed, Aunt Martha.

You're welcome.

Don't you think I'd best be saying my prayers long about now?

I suppose now would be a good time.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

What's hallowed mean?

being wonderful.

Oh, that makes sense.

Help me mind my manners like a good boy would.

Take care of my mama and my pa, and my new pa and Aunt Martha, and Aunt

Martha's two little girls.

Amen.

Have you ever seen God?

No.

No, I haven't.

My mama has.

Yes, I suppose she... she has.

No illness extinguished the flame of human life as swiftly as cholera.

The death illness, we called it, for it left few survivors.

Sarah and Lucy took sick in the afternoon, just after running to me with

some wildflowers they'd found.

By the next morning their sufferings had ceased.

the hardest thing i ever had to do was leave them there food for the wolves

that forever shadowed the wagon train

Hey, sounds like you know who.

Hold on to your ears, son.

It is.

Oh, I haven't even prepared yet. The cabinet's cleaning up.

Look at all these dishes.

Who's that, Pa?

That's the Tanners, son. They're the closest thing we have to neighbors.

Looks like they have a boy.

Is he my age?

Sort of.

Well, isn't that a lucky deal?

Now I have somebody to play with.

Daniel Sinead's tender too.

Tender too?

Way there.

Hello,

Helena. What an unexpected visit.

It's so good to see you.

It's good to see you too.

Oh, you have no idea how lonely I've been. I must have missed the company of

another sweet woman.

Eber, stop lollygagging around up there in that wagon and get down here and say

how do to our neighbors.

Here, pass me that angel.

Hello,

Martha. Hello, Jed. Hi, Eber. How are you?

Oh, aren't you glad the cool weather's here?

Oh, Martha, it's been a long time since you've seen Pauline.

Hasn't she grown?

Isn't she perfect?

And she's the sweetest baby that ever was. Oh, next to Nate, of course.

Oh, and this must be Dennis.

Oh, Pastor Clay told us all about how he'd brought you here. Oh, that's why we

came. We wanted to welcome you to the neighbourhood, so to speak.

Oh, Eber, get that parcel out of the wagon.

Oh, what a fine-looking young man you are. Isn't he fine, Eber?

He's fine.

What a blessing you must be to the Richards.

I brought you some clothes that Nate has outgrown.

I thought you might be needing them for Danny here.

Oh, we also brought you some bacon.

Ma. Oh, I'm sorry, son. I almost forgot in all this excitement.

Danny, climb up into the wagon. Nate has something he wants to give you.

Eber, help Danny up in the wagon.

A pig, my very own pig.

Ain't he something?

Him and you'll be my best friend.

Bear Cavaney.

Bear.

That's what I'll call him, Nate.

I'll call him Bear. What do you think?

Bear. Oh, I'm awful sorry, Martha.

That was the bacon I was telling you about.

That? Well, it's still quite fresh, as you can see.

Thank you, Aunt Martha.

I promise I won't let Bear be a bother to you.

Don't thank me. I didn't give it to you.

Thank the Tanners.

Thanks, Nate.

Oh, you're more than welcome, son.

Oh, giving gifts brings much pleasure to a boy such as Nate.

Even if it isn't the gift he intended.

Oh, my.

My, that's a dusty road, isn't it?

Martha?

Oh, yes, it is.

Why don't you come in for a rest, Eleanor?

Oh, thanks. I don't mind if I do.

Nate, come and throw this parcel on up to the cabin for me.

Oh, there they go, off to hide in the barn.

Well, it's just as well, I suppose.

You can hardly get a word in edgewise with men around.

Oh, Martha, there's dirty dishes. Did we interrupt your meal? I'm terribly sorry.

We have just finished. What did you have?

Oh, boy, put the parcel up on the table.

Go ahead, open it up, see what you can use.

Daniel, get that pig outside.

Yes, ma'am.

You may need to do a little bit of humming, but it's just a sweater and

some pants.

Oh, what a luxury this must be.

Having your own looking glass and being able to look at yourself in the mirror

every day.

Why, I'd almost forgotten what I looked like.

Oh, look at the crooked way I parted my hair.

It's a pity it's cracked.

It is?

No, I mean the glass.

It happened on our way out here.

Oh, yes, of course.

Well, it's a wonder anything so fragile survived a journey like that, even this

well.

Here, Martha, take hold of Pauline so I can get a better look at myself in the

mirror. I was just going to fix us something to drink.

Oh, it's a shame how living out here just takes the prettiness right out of a

woman. Oh, makes her all dried up and tough like a piece of old jerky.

Oh, but then if you stayed soft and pretty with delicate feelings, oh, you

probably wouldn't last long.

How old are you, Martha?

Oh, never mind. I can judge for myself.

I was 37 when I gave birth to Pauline and...

I'm guessing you're younger than I am.

Surely you have time for one or two more.

Heavens, Eleanor.

You know, I hear tell that when an Indian woman wants a little papoose, she

unbraids her hair and lets it hang long and loose on her shoulders.

Bill.

Hey, that's real good, Nate. Wait till I show Aunt Martha.

Aunt Martha, look!

It's Bear!

Daniel!

What do you mean, marring my Bible like this?

I can't keep my eyes on you all the time.

I have to be able to trust you not to do something like this when my back is

turned.

Come on, Nate.

Boys.

Martha, Danny didn't draw this picture.

Nate did.

Oh, the boy is starved for something to draw on. I let him draw on the inside

cover of all our books because there's nothing else to use.

Well, now he thinks that's what this inside cover is for.

Oh, I'm terribly sorry.

He should have said something. Just let me carry on.

But he was protecting my Nathan.

It's a good boy you've got there, Martha.

Come on, Nate, come on!

We'll be able to start again.

Down! Good.

Daddy, I'm sorry.

I'm a bad boy.

No, you're not.

It's okay.

I don't know why she got so upset. She never reads that old Bible anyways.

If I had a book, I'd let you draw on it for sure.

My real mama and papa had lots of books.

Do you want to see something that belonged to my real mama and papa?

I ain't showed no one these things before.

This here's a lucky penny my pal gave me.

I'm never supposed to spend it.

Want to hold it?

Yeah, man.

This here is a curl from my mama's hair.

Feel how soft it is.

Ooh, it's soft.

Now you promise never to tell nobody what's in this box.

Promise?

Do you really promise?

Promise.

Look, Nate, there's a big old garter snake.

Don't worry, he probably won't hurt us. I'll throw a cloud at him and scare him

away.

What are you doing? Are you afraid of it?

You caught him, Nate! You caught him!

Let me see him.

He kind of looks like Aunt Martha.

Touch it.

Touch it.

Why'd you let him go?

You're smart, Nate.

I'm a smart boy. It's fine.

Too harsh, I saw.

I'll never get it.

Sparks.

Keep smiling.

Wait till I show pie.

Come on, Bear.

Come on.

Come on.

Come on.

Sure has been nice visiting you folks, hasn't it, Eba? Nice visit. Well, you

know, you're always welcome here.

Bye-bye.

Come on, boy. Come on.

Whoa! There's to be a sociable in town. First Saturday of next month. I was to

pass the word along.

We'll be seeing you there, I hope.

Yeah, I... We won't be able to make it. Come on!

It'll be our last chance to socialise before winter sets in.

What's the matter, Bear?

Don't you want me to be your paw?

He

won't

cause you any trouble at all, I promise. No, absolutely not. He will not be

having his little pig drinks in this cabin.

don't get you.

Sure hate to picture that.

One more squeal out of you and compared to me, a wolf is going to look like your

best friend.

Come on, Barry.

Starting tomorrow, that pig sleeps outside.

Stem piece and buffalo?

Chad, fix it. No, you fix it. You broke it. Chad, fix it. You made it. You broke

it. You did it.

Chad, fix it. Danny, you fix the bed.

to go and get it and bring it back to me, okay?

Go fetch!

What's wrong?

Don't you have pig ears?

Bear.

What do you find there, boy?

He's gonna tell my mom I miss her.

She'll be glad to see her pretty bird in heaven.

Though my heart was locked tightly around the memory of my little girls, at

times I felt ashamed that I could deny love to a child, any child.

And I made up my mind to try harder.

I suppose the boy's education's been neglected long enough.

Yes, I would say so.

I'll commence teaching him myself.

There's a primer I can use in the trunk.

Nobody can say I didn't try to educate the boy.

Daniel!

All right, Martha.

Yes, indeed.

Daniel!

Yes, indeed.

Then the winter snows blanketed the earth, and the grasshopper could find no

more food.

Starving, he went to the ant's house and begged for something to eat.

Daniel.

Try as I might, I couldn't help comparing Daniel to my daughters.

He said, have you any food that I might borrow?

What were you doing all summer, cried the ant.

Didn't you store any food away when the days were long and sunny?

They had been such a pleasure to hold close.

Well, scoffed the ant.

Then sing and dance now, for it is best to prepare today for the needs of

tomorrow. And the aunt shut the door.

While Daniel always seemed so far away.

What did we learn from this story, Daniel?

Grasshoppers can sing?

All right, you may go.

We can go outside now.

Let's go play.

The girls had played quietly in the house with their dolls.

But Daniel preferred the outdoors and different company.

Well,

I forget the name of it, but it's a certain kind of fish that lives in the

ocean.

And it goes through a whole lot of trouble swimming up rivers and jumping

up waterfalls.

Just so its babies will be born safe.

But then it dies.

And those baby fish are all alone when they're born.

Oh, you know what I think you're talking about? I think you're talking about

salmon.

Yep, that's the kind of fish I like to catch.

Well, I hate to tell you, but I don't think you're going to find any salmon

around here. They're a long ways away.

How come you know so much about them?

My pa told me.

That's why this hat is so big.

It was his.

I figure the more things you know, the more your head's got to grow.

To make room for him.

I think you're right.

No, you remember all the good times you had with your pa.

I can tell you that every single day I think about my pa.

See that big one out there? That's the one we're going to get.

He used to joke with me because I liked to fish so much.

He said, Jedediah, he said, when the good Lord made woman...

He knew that he was going to have to invent something for man so that he

could get away from it every once in a while, so he taught us how to fish.

You see, what happens is that woman thinks that we're out here working real

hard, bringing home meat for the supper table, right?

And I can promise you, if she knew that we were having as good a time as we're

having, she'd say, uh-uh, I'm going to find something for us to do at the

house, you know?

More work.

So we don't have to make it our secret, okay?

Watch out. Watch your cork.

I was glad Jed gave the boy attention.

But at times I felt he had grown to love Daniel more than he did me.

This is your new snake house.

There you are. I've been wondering what you've been up to. Now I need... Daniel,

what are you doing with my cat? You're not supposed to be playing with that.

I need it.

Won't you let go?

Daniel, let go.

And come help me with supper.

Fine.

Daniel! I'm waiting.

Here, can you whip these eggs for me?

You sure you know how?

Never mind.

I'll do it.

I need that kettle.

What is it here?

Let...

the cabin you have some explaining to do Danny

how I got tucked into this. Oh, watch it. You're just letting yourself relax.

You have a grand time.

Nate, I promised your Ma I'd have you wear this.

Goodness gracious.

Oh.

There's so many people.

I never knew this many people even lived around here.

Oh, Jed, look at the moon.

What a beautiful night for a dance.

Told you.

Jed, it's been so long, I don't know if I'll remember everyone's names.

You don't have to worry about anybody else

forgetting your name. The whole world has just been announced.

What a way to see you.

Danny!

Nate!

Were you a good boy riding into town?

Oh, of course you were. Why bother to ask?

Now you two run along and have some fun.

Oh, I don't know about you, but this beats sitting at home squatting

mosquitoes. They've been really pesky lately.

Doesn't seem to be much of them around here.

We haven't had any trouble with them.

Oh, you're lucky, Pat.

There's thick as fog in the creek bottom.

Oh, look, there's Widow Olsen.

Oh, I wonder how she's managing to cope.

From the look of things, I think she's doing right well.

I don't know about you, but I don't think we need to let this good music go

to waste.

Heber, Eleanor, if you'll excuse us, let's dance, honey. Hold on. Jim, what

are you doing? Jim, I'm not ready.

you suppose our Nate has run off too?

Well, excuse me, ma'am. I don't think I've had the pleasure of making your

acquaintance. I'm Eleanor Tanner, and this is my husband, Eva.

And this little darling is our baby, Pauline. Oh, I'm sure you'd love... Too

old for a bit.

Come on, Iba.

Go ahead, take our seats.

Don't be shy.

We won't be needing them for a tune.

Or two.

Oh, we haven't danced like this since our wedding.

And it doesn't cost nothing?

It's okay.

Oh, it's okay.

So when the sideshow get in town, huh?

It's not funny.

It's okay.

Well, it's funny to me.

And it's funny to him. So what are you going to do about it, huh?

So what, do you think you're big enough, huh?

Huh, do you?

You boys ever have so much fun in one night in all your lives? No, sir.

These certainly are the best of times, aren't they?

Then why don't you boys go enjoy this dance someplace else?

I'd be honored if you'd have this dance with me.

I'll find you after a while, Nate.

You okay?

Yeah.

First of all, we hold hands here.

Put your head here.

And this is how you lead a woman where you want to go.

Now we'll take two steps to your left.

Oops. Well, kind of side-by-side steps, a little or so.

And then we go the other direction two steps.

Evening, Jed.

Hi, Pastor Clay. How are you, sir?

I really think that Martha and Danny are going to make a real good match.

I think so.

That certainly sets my mind at ease.

I've had enough trouble lately.

You know, some of the settlers have come down with yellow fever.

No. It's a terrible illness.

You've got the chills and fever all at the same time. Makes a grown man weaker

than a newborn baby. That bad, huh? I found Ephraim Walters lying in his hog

pen.

Listen, do me a favor. I would appreciate it if you wouldn't say

anything to Martha about it. No need. No need. As long as you know.

Why do people like to dance?

Well, it gives a girl a chance to get closer to a handsome man.

Like you.

You know, I was really proud of you, the way you stuck up for Nate.

The next dance is ladies' choice.

Girls, don't be shy. Go find yourselves a partner.

Would you

like to dance?

May I have this dance?

You!

I'll get you for this!

I'll be right back after this.

Hey Nate, did you see what happened to those bullies?

That's funny!

Get along home, Cindy, Cindy. Well, get along home, Cindy.

Well, get along home, Martha, Martha. Get along home, Martha, Martha. Get

along home, Martha, Martha.

I'll marry you someday.

That's not the way it goes. It's the way it goes when I sing it, honey.

I wish I was an apple hanging from a tree. And every time that Martha passed,

she'd take a...

I had glimpses of myself happy with the boy and being a family again

but for every step i took forward it seemed something would happen to push me

back too

What's wrong? Where's your mom and pa?

What's happened, son?

My mom and my pa didn't help.

Okay, you did good. We're gonna help your mom and pa. Come on, Martha.

No, Jed, you go. I'll stay here with Nate and Daniel.

No, Martha, you're gonna go.

Eleanor needs help, and there's no telling what's happened.

Danny, help Nate.

Mom, my mom needs help.

Okay, Nate.

necessary? Come on, jump in.

Danny, hand me my gun, son.

Martha!

Danny, help me get him to bed.

I think it's the yellow fever.

Yellow fever?

Easy, easy, easy, easy, easy.

Turn the lights down.

Easy.

She's burning up.

And so is he, shaking like a leaf.

I don't know what to do.

They're gonna die, Jed.

No, they're not.

They're gonna die, and there's nothing we can do to stop that from happening.

I can hold them, and I can care for them.

She's gonna die anyway.

I'm gonna make a fire.

Please, Aunt Martha.

Yellow fever.

Please, Aunt Martha.

Don't let him die like my mom and pa did.

Let go of me.

You just gotta save him.

Don't let him die.

Martha, you just gotta...

I'll do the best that I can. I just don't know that much about Dr. and

yellow fever.

Eleanor?

Eleanor?

I've got some water for you.

Here.

Sip it slow.

That's good.

Oh, Martha.

Thank the Lord.

I'm here now. I'm going to take care of you.

Jed, fetch me a chicken. These folks need some nourishment.

Nate, bring us some more water, quick.

I'll get the chicken.

Here you go.

Oh, she's fine. She just needs to eat, and that I can't do.

Dana, can you help the cow?

I want you to try to eat as much of this as you can.

Have you ever wondered, Nate, if God is so far away in heaven, how can he hear

us when we pray?

He never hears.

Oh, that makes sense.

Do you think we should say a prayer so your mom and pop will get better?

I did.

So did I.

That's her daddy.

That one? Yep.

You're a trusting man, Huber.

Thank you.

Can I take a turn?

Pauline, your mom is much better today.

So the leaves are still hanging on.

Some fall early and some make it to the very end of the season.

It just doesn't make sense.

Hey, why are you so sad?

Eleanor and Heber are going to be just fine because of your doctrine, you know.

But I doctored Sarah and Lucy just the same.

So why did Eleanor and Heber live and not my girls?

Sweetie, we have to get on with our lives.

We've got to make a future for ourselves here. Come on.

I have big plans for this family, big plans, and I need your help. We lost our

family.

We have everything in the world to look forward to, everything.

We have nothing.

Jed, I used to feel like someone was watching out for us.

Nothing bad would ever happen to us because the good Lord loved us. He was

going to take care of us and watch over us.

But it's just not true.

Whatever happens, happens, and we're on our own. No, no, no, no, Martha.

Sweetie, I don't understand everything, but I know the Lord loves you.

Yeah, now, come on.

Look, Pa, she's asleep.

She's gonna tuck it out.

What she did for Nate's poker was pretty hard on her, you know.

You're right, Pa, about Aunt Martha.

She does have a good heart.

First, I thought she was just gonna stand there.

But she didn't.

She did good.

She did real good.

She was hallowed

They

got plenty of food they just singing to each other come on now

get cold

No, I want you to fetch.

Go get it.

Don't do that in the cabin, Daniel.

I can do it.

Watch.

You just gotta learn how.

Now you go get it, okay?

This is it. Now you go get it, okay?

I'm sorry.

Sorry won't fix this mirror.

Came clear from France, you know.

not to take things that don't belong to you?

Help? Yes, you could help.

You can try doing something constructive for a change.

Why do you always feel like you have to be breaking something or tearing

something up?

Why can't you ever just sit quietly and try to learn how to read?

Playing's fun.

Reading's just... sitting there.

We gotta start being better, Bear.

Or else I'll end up without a home again. And you'll end up in hog heaven.

I'll just find that dumb old book to look at.

Where's she keep that stupid thing?

Don't cry.

I'll take care of you.

Hi, I'm Daniel.

What's your name?

Daniel, who told you you could get in that trunk?

I was looking for something to read.

I thought I'd save you the trouble.

In all their lives, my girls never caused me as much trouble as you do in

one day.

I didn't break nothing, honest.

I was just having fun.

I'll put them back. No, don't touch them.

My shawl.

I wrapped my babies in this shawl, and look how you've just flung it on the

floor.

You had no call to do this, Daniel. These are my things.

If you ever get in this trunk again, I'll give you a whipping.

I can't see you.

It's Daniel.

I want you to take her to the settlement tomorrow and give it back to Pastor

Clay.

Martha, Danny doesn't do things wrong on purpose.

He's a high-spirited kid. He's got a great imagination.

Boys are like that sometimes.

I'll talk to him again.

No, Jed, you already talked to him. It's not going to make any difference.

I've tried all that I can try, Jed. I just don't have it in me.

I don't feel any love for that boy, and I never will.

Martha, what about me?

What about me, Martha? Do you think that I don't miss the girls?

Do you think that every day that I get up that I don't see the girls also?

Do you think maybe that you could give it one minute and think about what this

boy might mean to me?

I wish things were different, Jed, but they're not.

Fine, I'll take them back.

I hope everything goes on good.

Shall I tell him no Martha you don't tell him I'll tell him As

you see best

I'm sure old Bear will be all right.

Oh, he'll be fine.

Why? Well, Aunt Martha, she's been extra sad lately.

I just hope she doesn't have a mind for making Bear into bacon while we're gone.

What do you think?

Oh, I think Bear's going to be okay.

He's not the one I'm worried about.

Good.

May I ask you, how'd you like living with Pastor Clay before he brought you

to us?

Oh, he was nice enough.

He wasn't like a part of me.

He wasn't like you.

He wasn't like you at all.

He didn't love me.

Danny, I've been wanting to talk to you about some things, you know?

You know, sometimes in life, when things were... Oh, dang!

What's the matter?

Thought I lost my tin there for a bit.

Pa, how much do you think a penny will buy?

I don't know what you're buying, son.

Well, I'm hoping it's enough for a looking glass and some writing paper.

I'd sure hate to have to pick between the two.

But if I had to pick, I'd pick the looking glass.

For Aunt Martha.

Because I feel real bad about breaking her looking glass.

The day it rained.

And the writing paper's for Nate.

So he won't have to go writing on the insides of books no more.

So that's what you've been carrying around that little bitty tin, huh?

Where'd you get it?

My pa gave it to me.

He gave it to me for good luck.

I had the best luck a fella could ever have.

I got you for a pa.

I figure if I spend it, then Aunt Martha might have some good luck, too.

What was that you were telling me about?

Well, son, I tell you, I think you're just going to have to hold on to that

good luck penny for a little bit longer. It looks like old Jasper here is getting

a limp, don't you think?

I can't tell.

Well, he's definitely getting a limp there. We're going to have to get on

back home here.

We'll do this some other time, okay?

Yeah, I guess.

Get along home, Danny, Danny.

Get along home, Danny boy.

You seem pretty happy for a fella who just had a mule go lame.

Casper gone lame.

By the well. Okay.

There!

Jet, there is nothing wrong with this mule.

Martha, if I tell you the mule is lame, the mule is lame, and I don't want to

hear another word about it.

Then you can take him back next month.

I'm not going to the settlement until after Christmas, and I can promise you

that.

But come January, that boy is going back.

I had always looked forward to Christmas.

But that year, the thought of Christmas approaching brought me nothing but

heartache.

Martha!

Martha!

Martha! Whoo!

Goodness.

Well, guess what I found south of the Tanner's place?

A little bitty Christmas pine about so tall. It's nothing like we're used to

seeing, but she'll do, I promise you that.

Things may be different around here, but we can sure have ourselves a good

Christmas.

I don't want a tree.

A tree is not going to make this like the Christmases we used to know. Nothing

will.

I don't want to celebrate Christmas this year.

Martha, we're going to have to do something.

Nothing else for the boy.

Or the children put a big store in Christmas.

I know all about children and Christmas.

Honey, that is over with.

Danny has the right to have a Christmas like he remembers.

Oh, Jed, he'll never know the difference.

He was five when his ma died, and I doubt his pa did much about Christmas.

Mother, we... Jed, he couldn't even remember how to take a bath.

Christmas. What's the... Jed, I don't want to celebrate Jesus' birthday this

year. He's done nothing for us.

Paul, wait!

You going with me?

My decision not to celebrate Christmas remained unchanged.

Jed knew it, and as for Daniel, he mentioned it only once.

Can you sing?

I can't sing.

I used to, but not anymore.

My mama used to sing a pretty song at Christmas.

I wish I could remember it.

Perhaps Daniel did recall snatches of past Christmases.

But still, I was sure he didn't remember enough that it would make any difference

to him.

As for me, I remembered too much about Christmas's past.

All right, pumper.

There you go. All right, sweetie.

All right, there you go.

That's good. Take her on up the house. Be careful. Don't you spill it.

So just remember what I told you. You don't want to be too fat or too thin,

right?

Jed, have you talked to Daniel yet?

No, not yet, Martha. I haven't.

Why?

Because I don't want to tell the child something like that on Christmas Eve.

Martha, I mean, we have so little to offer the guy in the first place.

I mean, we got no Christmas tree, we got no gifts for him, we got no spice cakes.

I mean, can't we just let him think that he has a place to live on Christmas Day?

Where are you going?

I'm going to the Tanners to help him with some chores again.

I'm sure they've fully recovered by now.

I don't mind helping, Martha.

Pa, wait.

You better take this.

It's pretty cold out.

Feels perfect, doesn't it? Sure does.

Pa, you're a handsome dog.

Let's see you tonight, okay?

Bye. Bye.

Eber? Jed, I found one. Oh, good, good, good.

How are you? Good, thank you.

Oh,

hi, Eleanor. Jed. Nate.

Oh, wonderful.

Have a seat.

Oh, thank you.

Look.

Oh, what do you have here?

That's the real reason why Eber risked going to the settlement.

He wanted Nate to have that drawing paper for Christmas.

But then he couldn't wait till tomorrow to give it to him.

Sentimental fool.

Nate hasn't stopped drawing for a second.

Oh, pretty good. It looks like someone I know, but for the life of me, I can't

figure out who.

How about a piece of pie, Jed? Fresh baked. No, no, no, no, Eleanor, I've got

to get back.

Thanks very, very much, though.

I don't owe you any more on this, do I? Oh, no, thank you. It's so good to see

you. To your dynasty, Merry Christmas.

I sure will, and Merry Christmas to you too, okay?

Bye, Nate.

My regards to Martha.

Bye. Thank you. Be safe.

Well,

I feel sorry for whoever it is.

That's the gospel truth.

Daniel spent most of Christmas Eve alone outside.

He was playing with some sticks and strings.

I didn't pay him much mind

There was this new star in the sky, and it was mighty big.

And there, with all the cows and sheep and maybe a pig,

lay the baby Jesus.

His mama had him wrapped up good and warm in some scraps of cloth.

They weren't very nice, but it was all they had.

It wasn't near as nice as this here shawl of Aunt Martha's.

He was a happy baby.

He smiled a lot at all the strangers he had to meet.

When he got older, he didn't do things to make his mama mad.

No, sir.

And his mama loved him.

I felt as if I couldn't breathe.

Suddenly, this was no stranger's child.

Another mother had loved this little boy and had taught him the story of the

Christ child with such love that he hadn't forgotten it, young as he was.

And I had failed that mother.

i wish i could remember it

That's the one.

That's the one my mama used to sing to me.

Oh, Daniel.

You mean you're not angry at me?

For taking the baby's shawl and your little girl's doll?

No, I'm not angry.

It's a beautiful major scene that you've built here.

Besides, it was really the baby Jesus who borrowed the shawl.

And who could be mad at the Christ shot?

Well, I think that I have been, though.

Because I felt like you didn't take very good care of my little girls and that

he'd forgotten about me.

Don't worry about that, Aunt Martha.

I'm sure my mom has taken good care of you two little girls.

Yes, I imagine they've been taken much better care of than I thought.

And so have I, Danny.

You've never called me Danny before.

I didn't do a lot of things before.

Why don't we go inside and get the cabin ready for Christmas? We may have to do

things a bit differently, but we can still have it a little bit like the

Christmases we used to know.

Will you be sorry it's different? I mean...

With a boy like me instead of your two little girls?

No.

No, I'm not sorry.

After all, baby Jesus was a boy.

A boy kind of like you.

Martha?

Martha?

Now, I know this isn't what you've been wanting to see about now, but... Jed,

it's the most beautiful tree I've ever seen.

What's happened here? Did you forget?

It's Christmas.

And this is for you,

Danny.

For me? Yes, it's all yours.

I can keep it?

Yep, yep. Merry Christmas.

Want to give it to her now?

Shut your eyes. What are you two up to?

And tight.

They're tight.

Open them.

What could you possibly have gotten me?

Oh, my goodness.

Oh, Chad, it's beautiful.

This is Danny's idea.

Merry Christmas, Danny.

Merry Christmas, Mama.

Merry Christmas, Jed.

Merry Christmas to you.

Merry Christmas to you, too.

And I was finally able to let my girls go.

They were being taken care of.

Much better than I ever dreamed.

And so was I.