Ranger Bill, Warrior of the Woodland. Struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous trails,
fighting the many enemies of nature. This is the job of the guardian of the forest,
Ranger Bill. Pouring rain, freezing cold, blistering heat, snow, floods, bears, rattlesnakes,
mountain lions. Yes, all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done.
Sometimes, fellas and girls are inclined to persecute the fellow who lives next door or
goes to school with them. Oh, they don't do it deliberately. It's done because they think
that a fellow who doesn't care the fist fight is a fussy. You know what I mean. Right now,
you're thinking of someone like this. But fist fighting doesn't mean that a fellow is a gentleman,
or that he's got courage and determination. I know a teenage lad who has a great ability
with music, but he doesn't like fist fights. His name is Roger Holmes. Listen for the story of
the Fighting Sisters. Come on, Rod. Put up your dupe for a fight. Why? I had a tiny thing to
do. What's the matter? You afraid? No, I'm not afraid of you, Hank. I'm afraid I might hurt my
head. He's afraid he might hurt his head. He's afraid he might hurt his paws. I'm afraid he might hurt his paws.
I'll fight that dog. Come on, Hank. Stop scowling. Let him have it. Roger, I'm gonna clobber you.
What for? I haven't done anything to you. That's because you think you're so smart at the piano.
That's why. You mean you're gonna beat me up because I like music? Yeah. You're always so snooty
about it. That's a lie. I always talk to you. That ain't cool. Hank, make him take that dog.
You're calling me a liar, Roger? Take it any way you like. I'll show you what I like right in the
middle. Come on, Hank. Don't let him duck around. Come on, here. All right.
Come on, come on. Hey, hey, wait. No, Jeff. Come on.
What's going on here, fellas? Uh, we're having a fight. Hello, Roger. Hello, Bill. What's the trouble?
Just a difference of opinion, I guess. A difference of opinion, my eye. The good thing you showed up,
Roger, your friend would have gotten a turn on Canada. Now, look, you fellas better shove off.
How many does it take to fight one? Go on now. Run along. Right now. Get going.
All right. You all right, Roger? Yeah, I guess so. Let me drive you home. We can talk things over on the way, huh?
How'd you happen to come along at the right time, Bill? Oh, that's a good question, Roger.
Must have had something on my mind. Turned into the street, pulled up into the alley, turned around.
It was like the Lord's plan that I should find you in trouble, huh?
I don't know what you mean, Bill. You mean the Lord's plan that you should find me here?
Roger, many times strange things happen. Don't realize the Lord's plan did happen for a definite purpose.
I still don't get you, Bill.
That's no wonder, Roger. You see, I've made myself clear.
That's your house up ahead there, isn't it? Yeah, we can study a bit.
I'd like to explain a little more what I said about the Lord if you wanted to.
Sure. Would you come in for a while, Bill? I'd like to play for you, too, if I could.
Hey, I'd like nothing better than to hear you play, Bill. You've got an audience.
Now with a fine solo, Roger. Play any other instruments?
Yeah, the organ. I practiced that in the high school auditorium.
I'd like to hear you. You have real talent in music.
Yeah, but I can't do much else. Like fighting. I'm no good at all.
Well, do you think that's absolutely necessary?
Well, I'd like to defend myself when the fellas start picking on me.
No, they're just jealous of your musical ability, Roger.
Say, have you ever thought of using your musical talent for the Lord Jesus Christ?
You're talking over my head again, Bill. What do you mean?
Well, you go to Sunday school or church, don't you?
No, my dad doesn't believe in it. He thinks I'm a sissy because I like music and I want to go to
church. But rather than have trouble, I stay on the way.
See. Well, you've heard about God, haven't you?
Oh, sure. Everybody's heard about God.
God has a son, Jesus. Oh, I've heard about him too.
But do you know him, Roger? Jesus isn't only God's son. He's our Savior too. You need a Savior.
I don't understand. Please explain.
Sure. Let me tell you all of what God has done for you.
You see, in the beginning of this world, God tested the first man as to what sort of stuff
he was made of. And Adam, sorry to say, chose to disobey God. And thus has affected his
descendants all down through the years. Men today have a tendency to sin.
Just take a glance at the paper tonight and you'll find that item after item tells about
man's sin. Yeah, I guess you're right. But I'm not the bad sinner.
The Bible tells us that all of sin comes short of God's glory, Roger. Now, this doesn't mean
just violence. Why, it could be said that we sin even when we don't include God in our life.
Just sort of ignore him. But the bright side of the truth is this, that despite man's failure,
God has made a way to blot out all the past and give men a new start.
It's through the death of Jesus Christ, for in that, he was punished for our sins.
With the penalty of our sins paid, we have eternal life.
Then it's all automatic. No, that's where we as individuals come in, Roger.
God has made it possible for us to be saved from our sins, but we have to agree to it.
We have to receive Christ as our own Savior. That, briefly, is what God calls the gospel,
the good news of salvation. Bill, how can I become a sinner?
Well, the first thing is to be sorry for your sins and come to Christ for cleansing.
But Bill, I haven't done anything wrong.
We've all come far short of what God wants us to be, Roger. Isn't that true?
It must be true, because God says it is.
Let's see, that is... Let me play the piano for you again, Bill.
You all right, Roger?
Roger, can't you ever leave that piano alone?
Oh, hello, Dad. I was just playing for Bill.
Bill? Bill who?
Dad, I'm not playing for Bill.
Bill, I'd like you to meet my dad.
How do you do, Mr. Holmes?
My name's Frank, Ranger. Glad to meet you.
Your son's a very fine musician, Frank.
That's all right, as long as it isn't his whole life.
I want him to grow up to be a man, learn to handle his fists, defend himself.
I think you'd be proud of his ability. Some folks would give their right arms.
Yeah, and he's got to know how to face the struggles of life.
That's the most important thing. You don't get it sitting down at the piano.
That's as much a part of the struggle as anything else.
But you don't know the facts.
Every lad in the neighborhood tries to beat his ears off, just because he can't defend himself.
That's only a matter of instruction.
You think so?
When I tried to teach him, it's a matter of forgetting about music and doing other things.
See?
Well, I'll be running along. Glad to have met you.
Thanks for listening to me play, Bill.
Thank you for playing, Roger. I'd like to hear some more sometime.
Sure, come over any time.
You needn't bother, Mr. Jefferson. He gets enough encouragement from his mother.
Goodbye.
Goodbye, sir.
Bill, we go get reports from Ben on six black bears.
All right, Grey Wolf. If they're over a dozen sick, we're going to have to keep the tourists out of the park until we round up the crabby brooms.
Ah, that's right. Here come Roger Holmes upstate.
Don't let Stumpy sleep too long. I'll see you later.
Okay, Grey Wolf. Roger's standing here, huh?
Stumpy must have hit a knot in the lawn.
Hello, Bill.
Oh, Roger. This is a surprise. How about in?
Are you busy? I don't want in a lot.
Never too busy to have a chat. Grab a chair, young fellow.
Thanks, Bill.
You're very kind.
Forget it. I like to talk with people, especially young people.
Hey, Stumpy, wake up.
Hey, what's going on, sonny?
We've got a visitor, Stumpy. I'd like you to meet Roger Holmes. Roger, this is Stumpy Jenkins.
Hello, Stumpy. I'm glad to meet you.
Me too, young fellow.
You're the lad who can tickle the ivory so pretty, huh? Bill's been telling me about you.
Oh, I'm just ivory.
Maybe so, but if you keep exercising those fingers of yours for the next five years, you'll be a witch.
Thanks, Stumpy. Only I didn't come over to talk about music. I want to talk about fighting.
Fighting? What do you mean, Roger?
Bill, you think I could learn how to defend myself?
Why, sure you can, Roger. What's the stop to?
Well, nothing, I guess. Only is it possible to learn without hurting my hands?
It sure is, sonny. Only an amateur hurts his hands fighting.
Yeah, but I'm not even a beginner, Stumpy.
Well, I know the fellow that can make you a veteran.
You do?
You do? Are you asking to teach me?
Ask him yourself! He's sitting way alongside of me!
Hello, Bill. I'm here for my first lesson.
Right on time, too.
Roger, I'd like you to meet another of my rangers.
This big fella here is Gray Wolf. And Gray Wolf, this is Roger Holmes.
Ah, I've met your dad. I'm plenty glad to meet you, too, Roger.
So you're Gray Wolf. I've heard about you from Henry.
Gray Wolf's going to work out with us for a few times, Roger.
He and I will demonstrate how it's done, and then we'll teach you.
That's wonderful. I don't have any boxing gloves yet.
You don't need boxing gloves for a long while. Bill and I teach you ju-ditsu.
Jiu-ditsu? But you can break somebody's neck with that, can't you?
Take it easy, fella. We're only going to teach you some of the less dangerous holds.
Then after you learn ju-ditsu, we show you a little how to handle fists.
Maybe I'm not going to be able to learn.
Now, listen, young fella, let's not have any doubts at all.
There's a verse in the Bible that says,
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Remember those words. They were spoken by the Apostle Paul,
a man who suffered from infirmities and doubt as to his own abilities.
But he depended on the Lord for his strength and health.
I will too, then. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
That's it?
I feel better already, Bill.
Good. Now let's go into the back room and get some gym mats on the floor there.
Now, Grey Wolf and I will show you some ju-ditsu holds.
Watch and see how it's done.
I'll watch closely, Bill.
And you can try some holds.
The biggest factor is surprise. Now look.
Boy, that's a good hold, Bill.
Yeah. Now it's your turn to try.
You make sure you move funny and quick.
Can I go through it first in slow motion?
That a boy, Roger.
You think I'm catching on quickly enough?
Catching on? You're doing it like a professional.
You're doing it like a professional.
You think Roger will play for the rally, Bill?
I don't know, old timer. I hope so.
Now the auditorium's down at the end of the hall.
Hey, the addition they made to the high school sure makes it a big building, huh?
I'll say it does.
Hey, Bill. I can hear the young fellow you're squeezing the pipes now.
Yeah. He does a good job, doesn't he?
Now here's the door, Stumpy.
Now that was terrific, Roger.
Made me tinkle right down to my little toe.
Thanks.
Now, Rog, I came over for a special purpose.
To ask you to play at the Youth for Christ rally a week from Saturday night at the Goose Lake Auditorium.
Well, I, uh...
Now don't just sit there and make noise like a bullfrog, Rog.
I don't feel that I could live up to the expectations, fella.
Listen, Rog. Remember what the apostle Paul wrote?
Yes. I can do all things through Christ with strength in me.
Right. With a promise like that, you don't have a thing to worry about.
Okay. I'll play for the rally.
Keep your chin in, Rog. Nobody'll hang one on us.
Like this?
Yeah. Now keep your left in my face, Rasmussen, all the time.
Save your right for the sledgehammer punch.
Watch for an opening now.
Use your right.
I didn't mean to hit you, Bill.
Never mind that. Watch for another opening.
And go your heavy-duty punch.
Ranger headquarters. Bill Jafferson speaking.
Hello, Bill.
Welcome. How are you, sir?
Bill, what's this I hear about you getting Roger interested in religion?
What do you mean, Frank?
I mean the stuff about being a Christian.
Going to Sunday school and church and that sort of Tommy-rock.
Call that Tommy-rock?
You heard me, Bill.
I appreciate your help in teaching him self-defense, but lay off the religion.
That'll only make him a bigger sissy than he is now.
Frank, do you think I'm a sissy?
Well, well, that is...
No, no, of course not.
You have one small doubt that I'm a sissy.
I'd be glad to show you otherwise.
Well, no, I can never think that, Bill.
Well, according to your logic, I am a sissy, Frank.
I like music, I attend church and Sunday school, and I don't go around picking fist-banks.
In fact, I do everything I can to avoid trouble.
Well, it's different in your case, Bill.
Why is it different?
I can't explain it exactly.
Well, I can.
The fact of the matter is that you haven't taught your son the real values in life.
You're telling me I failed as a father?
Let me tell you something, Frank.
You've given the boy a good home as far as physical comfort is concerned,
but you haven't developed his spiritual and moral life.
Some of our greatest men came from poor homes.
They were taught to fear God and to love his Son.
They were given sound spiritual training.
You mean?
I don't know.
I don't know what that means.
As Christ as his Savior, he'll be grounded on a solid foundation.
And believe me, Frank, there's no other foundation that'll weather the storms of life.
But does it work out the way it's supposed to?
Is there anything I can do now?
Well, that's something we'll have to find out.
We can't force, Roger.
All we can do is teach him, and pray, and wait.
All right, I'll wait.
What you said makes sense.
I just never thought of it that way.
I guess I just expected Roger to grow up without help.
I just hope I haven't failed as a father.
Here comes Roger, you guys.
As soon as he gets to the alley, we'll jump in.
He won't get away.
Okay, get him.
Okay, you guys, knock it off.
Come on, make it snappy, Hank, before it rains your friends.
You thought you could duck us, huh, Roger?
Now you're going to get the beating you got coming.
Grab him, buddy, so he can't run.
Now, wait a minute.
All right, you're asking for it.
Hey, that's dirty fighting.
Quiet on him, gang.
What's the matter, Hank?
Are you afraid to jump on me yourself?
I'll show you if I'm afraid.
Hey, you, get him on the ground.
Look at him.
Yeah, somebody's taught him jujitsu.
He can't fight with his fists.
He's got to use that fancy stuff.
Go ahead and show him, Roger.
Hey, it's like he's drinking it up.
Bill, where'd you come from?
I've just been keeping an eye on you.
Look, if these fellas want to fight fairly, I've got boxing gloves in my car.
Get them and take a couple of these fellas over the ropes.
Yeah, go ahead.
I don't want to.
Hey, Roger, remember what Paul said?
Paul?
Paul who?
The guy who was in the movie.
Wonderful, Rog.
I don't think you'll have any more trouble when the word gets around that you beat up
two of the toughest guys in school.
The credit's all yours, Bill.
It was a pleasure, Rog.
And we'll see you Saturday evening at Goose Lake, huh?
Yeah, I'm all practiced up.
Good.
Say, Roger.
Oh, yeah, Bill?
Why not invite Hank and Bonnie's gang to the meeting?
A good idea.
I'll do it.
See ya.
Hello, Bill.
Hello, Roger.
Hello, Frank.
Hiya, Bill.
We got here in the nick of time.
Looks like we're in for a bad storm, doesn't it?
Yeah.
Looks bad, all right.
Should we go inside?
That would be a good idea.
Say, look at this big gang of kids.
Yeah, we got a good crowd tonight.
And the meeting's about ready to start.
Light it up.
Fire!
Bill, Bill, I think lighten up the building.
We'd better do something before these kids stampede.
You're right, Mike.
All right, get to the target.
Play like you've never played before.
We gotta get the kids to run and riot.
A few young folks out of breath.
Keep moving, Ronald.
Come on, John, quickly.
Keep moving.
Keep walking out and away from the building.
That's good.
You're doing fine.
Stay in line.
Don't push.
Everybody's going to get out.
Keep it right there, silly.
Hey, don't push in there.
Go on.
Keep going.
Oh, yeah, kids are out now.
Oh, I'm going in after Rush.
We can stop playing now.
Boy, I'm glad to see you, Bill.
Let's get out of here, boy.
The building's cracking up.
I think the roof's coming down, Bill.
We'll never make it.
Oh, yes, we will.
Here, give me your hand.
Now hang on.
We're gonna run for it.
Get out, Bill!
Wow, that was a good one.
Come on, now.
We get your picture, Mayor.
Come on, let's get you a picture, Mayor.
Gentlemen, please, please.
Ladies and gentlemen, we're here to pay tribute to a courageous young man.
He became the stampede of young people by playing the organ until they were safely outside the burning auditorium at Goose Lake.
He risked his own life to save the lives of others.
As Mayor of Notty Fine, it gives me real pride to present this Medal of Merit to you, Roger Holmes.
Ladies and gentlemen, a reception will be held in my office.
You're all invited to help us honor Roger Holmes.
Bill, how's my dad taking all this?
You think I'd convince him?
I'm not a sissy.
You'll find out, Roger.
Here he comes now.
Hello, Bill.
Thank you for everything you've done.
Roger, will you forgive your dad for being such an ornery old mule?
I'm ashamed of myself.
Dad, what are you ashamed of?
Remember that I ever called you a sissy.
But Dad, I was scared.
That I can't believe, son.
But I was.
When I was playing the organ, I was so scared I almost forgot how to play.
Then I thought of what the Apostle Paul said.
Apostle Paul? What did he say?
He said, I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
That's right, Roger.
The Lord can give you the courage and strength to meet any emergency or any problem.
I guess Bill proved that you don't judge a man by the size of his knuckles,
but by the courage and faith he has in his heart.
Well, see you next week for more Adventures with Ranger Bill.
The End