Being Mr. Edwards

One of the finest episodes in the history of television aired in December of 1974. That was the year that the Wilder family from 'Little House on the Prairie' recieved a visit on a stormy Christmas Eve from a gruff but lovable frontiersman named, Mr. Edwards. America was drawn to the story of this family struggling to survive as settlers moving west in search of land and opportunity.
As the story unfolds during that Christmas episode we learn that the Wilder family is facing every parent's bad dream; Christmas without the hope of providing toys for their children. The children sense their parents poverty and the family gets prepared to tell the children that Santa Clause must have missed them during the storm. Things will get better next year and besides, the kids will understand. They always do.
Meanwhile, in the howling wind and snow of the worst blizzard the West had ever experienced, a lonely figure trudges on foot from the nearest town through the forest. He is bundled up in a large coat and has a wide brimmed hat pulled low over his face to keep out the cold and ice whipping through the air. He comes to a freezing river and is almost foiled in his attempt to reach his destination but decides to take off his overcoat and clothes and wade through the icy water to reach the other side. Mr. Edwards stumbles into the Wilder cabin nearly unconcious, suffering from hypothermia and collapses in front of the fire.
The family rushes to revive him and he is saved by the heat of the fire and the glow of warmth from the Wilder children. Mr. Edwards explains that he met Santa Clause in town who asked him to deliver the Christmas gifts to the Wilder children this year because the storm was too severe. Ma and Pa Wilder have looks of joyful astonishment on their faces as they realize what a Christmas miracle this friendly, rough hewn neighbor has unselfishly performed for their children.
In that moment, on that night in 1974, Americans all over the country were reminded of what it was to be a true hero and to step up to engage a crisis, risking personal safety for the benefit of another. Soldiers, firemen, police officers, parents of sick children and millions of regular people are heroes every day to the poor, the desparate and the underpriviledged. This story was told to us in the simplest possible terms. Without any Hollywood glitz or glamor, with carefully scripted characters, a compelling score and a plain storyline, Mr. Edwards displayed the humanity and humility we all hope to achieve for others in our own lifetimes. On that winter's night in the little cabin on the prairie, a humble man without a family of his own earned his angel's wings by giving the gift of Christmas magic to children in need.