For me, the ending of this episode doesn't ring true. I think it would have been better if Ward had bought the radio for Beaver and not let him think it came from the woman who's wallet he found. Ward should have been honest and told Beaver, "Son, I think you should know that people don't always stick to their word or keep their promises. But you did the right thing when you found the lady's wallet and you do deserve a reward for that. So when the lady didn't make good on her promise of a reward, I went out and bought you this new radio."


I think that would have been a better ending.

That ending always seemed off to me too. Even if Ward would have just said that he was proud of Beaver's actions and honesty when he gave him the radio and left the woman out of it that would have been better than letting him think the woman kept her word when she didn't. I guess they were trying to preserve Beaver's faith in people, and maybe that worked in the 50's but all that action did was make it harder for him later when he learned that some people don't always keep their word. Lessons like that are sometimes better learned early.