When Andy and Barney decide to release their prisoners for
Christmas so that they can all be with their families, things seem to be going
according to plan for a wonderful Christmas. That is, until local liquor store
owner Ben Weaver takes umbrage. He has caught Sam, a hard working family man, making a
bit of moonshine for Christmas and wants him arrested. And he wants him
arrested now. Andy and Barney try to
reason with him, but Sam won’t budge. The law’s the law, and like Inspector Javert
of the classic “Les Miserables”, in Sam’s eyes there is no room for mercy.
But we can always count on Sherriff Taylor to think outside
of the box to find a solution that fits everyone involved. And so, if the
prisoner can’t be let out for the holiday, why then there is just one thing
left to do; bring the holiday to the jail. And when he does, Sam, the
embittered and lonely old man sees the beauty of Christmas for the first time.
Now all he has to do is find a way to become part of a holiday which he has
always abhorred, while still maintaining his pride; not to mention his
unwavering support for the law.
Ben is part Inspector Javert, mixed in with a bit of Charles
Dickens “Scrooge”, and the rest of the cast are the spirits of Christmas
itself. In the end, things work out; as they always do in Mayberry; but if you
have never seen this wonderful show before, you owe it to yourself to watch it.
It will melt the coldest of hearts. And you know who you are!
This episode was first aired on December 19, 1960 and was episode 11 of the first season.
This episode was first aired on December 19, 1960 and was episode 11 of the first season.
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