I saw this episode a month or so ago and I liked it.

I did have a question... Wouldn't Beaver end up finding out that his dad had sent the radio?

Do you think Ward really did send that letter to Mrs. Thompkins? If I were in his shoes, I would have pretended to send it.

I saw this episode a month or so ago and I liked it.

I did have a question... Wouldn't Beaver end up finding out that his dad had sent the radio?

Do you think Ward really did send that letter to Mrs. Thompkins? If I were in his shoes, I would have pretended to send it.


Yes, I agree, I would have just pretended to send it.

Ward, being an adult himself, would know deep down that Mrs. Thompkins' conscience would bother her for a long time for lying to the Beaver like that... and that would have been good enough "punishment" for Ward, knowing that she'd feel guilty about the whole thing, maybe for the rest of her life...meanwhile, Beaver goes right on thinking that Ward sent the thank you note to her... so no harm done, in that case. And, as Ward said, it was worth the $16.95 to restore Beaver's faith in human nature, especially at Beav's age.

I would have faked sending it too. I think Ward accomplished what he needed to without having to actually send the note to the lady.

Yes, I agree, I would have just pretended to send it.

Ward, being an adult himself, would know deep down that Mrs. Thompkins' conscience would bother her for a long time for lying to the Beaver like that... and that would have been good enough "punishment" for Ward, knowing that she'd feel guilty about the whole thing, maybe for the rest of her life...meanwhile, Beaver goes right on thinking that Ward sent the thank you note to her... so no harm done, in that case. And, as Ward said, it was worth the $16.95 to restore Beaver's faith in human nature, especially at Beav's age.

This episode was on this week. I TIVO'd it and watched it today. First of all, I think most kids today would not turn in a lost wallet. Second, from my experience with people who say they will do something and then don't, I don't think it would have bothered Mrs. Thompkins' conscience at all. Not everyone does the right thing, or even tries to. As soon as she got her wallet, she didn't think of Beaver for a second.

I'm not sure if I had been Beaver's father if I would have bought the radio and pretended it was from her. I think it would have been a good lesson for the Beav that even though she didn't do what she said she would do, the important thing is that he did the right thing. That would be an invaluable lesson to learn for life.

...I'm not sure if I had been Beaver's father if I would have bought the radio and pretended it was from her. I think it would have been a good lesson for the Beav that even though she didn't do what she said she would do, the important thing is that he did the right thing. That would be an invaluable lesson to learn for life.


Hi, you do make an excellent point...it would have been a good lesson to Beaver about human nature, and Ward could have stressed that as long as Beaver did the right thing (which he certainly did), that's all that really matters.

I guess the real question is, do we HAVE to "teach a lesson" to a kid every single time, or can we occasionally let them think that the lady did the right thing as well, and that he was rewarded for his good decision?

But yeah, either way would have been fine.... I have absolutely no problem with the way the episode played out because, as I said, it might not be necessary to teach a lesson to a kid every single time...

This episode was on this week. I TIVO'd it and watched it today. First of all, I think most kids today would not turn in a lost wallet. Second, from my experience with people who say they will do something and then don't, I don't think it would have bothered Mrs. Thompkins' conscience at all. Not everyone does the right thing, or even tries to. As soon as she got her wallet, she didn't think of Beaver for a second.

I'm not sure if I had been Beaver's father if I would have bought the radio and pretended it was from her. I think it would have been a good lesson for the Beav that even though she didn't do what she said she would do, the important thing is that he did the right thing. That would be an invaluable lesson to learn for life.

After reading what you posted I agree.. I didn't really think of it that kids or people would report the money found. I probably would have kept the money and left the wallet, and wipe the fingerprints first then throw it.. :lol:

Yeah I think most people are like that, they say they will do this but then they don't, I know some people who do that... Even I do that... :lol:

I think Ward might have sent the letter to the lady. What I tend to question is whether Ward-- conservative about money, as we know-- would have spent that much just to "restore Beaver's faith in human nature." $16.95 at that time was euqivalent to about $110 today, I figure. I think he might have 'sent' Beaver something like a paddleball, like what Beaver gave Wally for his birthday that time Larry talked Beaver into buying a bow & arrow for himself instead of a camera for Wally-- the implication should have been clear. No, Ward wouldn't do that, I guess.

But since Ward did send Beaver the clock-radio, I don't know if he really intended to send Beaver's thank you note or not. But even if he did, he likely would have relented, like when Uncle Billy visited and disappointed Beaver by saying he would meet him at a sporting goods store and didn't show up... he finally understood Uncle Billy as a man who tells false or exaggerated stories because he "wants to be liked"-- because Beaver told him that. So the message is quite similar; and if he wouldn't "blast" Uncle Billy for that, could he do it to Mrs. Tompkins? That, of course, is the viewer's interpretation.

But as a humorous aside, the last time I went to New Orleans (which was before Katrina), I was walking by that area where many fortune-tellers and such sell their nonsense. But there was one stand where a bearded man was selling a display of glasses and candles. As I walked by, I slowed down and looked at his wares, then continued on. The man said, "Thank you sir, for looking and not buying." So a sarcastic 'thank you' can go a long way, or else I wouldn't even remember that 3 or 4 years later. It was funny, but I said nothing and just walked on. I now have it in mind that the next time a vendor says anything like that, I will respond, "And thank you for showing and not selling." :lol:

I'm glad that Ward sent the letter. It was a nice and sad letter for a child to write to someone just to say thank you. If she had any kind on conscience she would feel guilty for not keeping her part of the bargain.

I will be thinking about you everytime I turn on the radio. Beaver Cleaver


So sweet. How can anyone not feel guilty?

I'm glad that Ward sent the letter. It was a nice and sad letter for a child to write to someone just to say thank you. If she had any kind on conscience she would feel guilty for not keeping her part of the bargain.

I will be thinking about you everytime I turn on the radio. Beaver Cleaver


So sweet. How can anyone not feel guilty?

Yeah but we don't know if Ward changed his mind later and didn't write the letter. The lady probably would see the letter and tear it up, besides... What happens if she sent him something for real?

You have a good point.But I think that Ward sent the letter. She seemed like a nice lady maybe she just forgot. If I would have given my word that I was going to do something and received a letter like that I would feel really bad that I didn't keep my promise.