<Table> <Tr> <Th> No. in series </Th> <Th> No. in season </Th> <Th> Title </Th> <Th> Directed by </Th> <Th> Written by </Th> <Th> Original air date </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> `` The Foundling '' </Td> <Td> Vincent Sherman </Td> <Td> John McGreevey </Td> <Td> September 14 , 1972 ( 1972 - 09 - 14 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td colspan="6"> The Waltons shelter a deaf girl ( Erica Hunton ) left on their back porch by her mother because her father insists on institutionalizing her . While they search for her family , they start teaching her sign language , which she uses to help Elizabeth when an emergency arises . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> `` The Carnival '' </Td> <Td> Alf Kjellin </Td> <Td> Nigel McKeand </Td> <Td> September 21 , 1972 ( 1972 - 09 - 21 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td colspan="6"> A traveling carnival comes to Walton 's Mountain , but the children choose to sacrifice the money they had saved for it so that Grandma can replace her broken glasses . When the troupe becomes stranded by their dishonest ringmaster , John and Olivia allow them to stay temporarily in their barn , and the family is rewarded with a private show . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> `` The Calf '' </Td> <Td> Harry Harris </Td> <Td> Jim Byrnes </Td> <Td> September 28 , 1972 ( 1972 - 09 - 28 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td colspan="6"> The Waltons ' cow gives birth to a bull calf , which John decides must be sold for truck repair money , much to his children 's disappointment . He is able to buy it back after he learns the man he sold it to ( Leonard Stone ) plans to butcher it . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> `` The Hunt '' </Td> <Td> Robert Butler </Td> <Td> John McGreevey </Td> <Td> October 5 , 1972 ( 1972 - 10 - 05 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td colspan="6"> John - Boy is anxious to prove himself on a turkey hunt with his father and two friends , but finds he ca n't shoot a turkey , which he equates with premeditated murder . He has no trouble killing a bear when it attacks his father . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 5 </Th> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> `` The Typewriter '' </Td> <Td> Philip Leacock </Td> <Td> Theodore Apstein </Td> <Td> October 12 , 1972 ( 1972 - 10 - 12 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td colspan="6"> John - Boy borrows an antique typewriter from the Baldwin sisters so he can submit a proper manuscript to a magazine . Mary Ellen inadvertently sells the typewriter to a traveling junk dealer ( George Tobias ) . Fortunately , Sheriff Bridges is able to help her track it down . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 6 </Th> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> `` The Star '' </Td> <Td> Alf Kjellin </Td> <Td> John McGreevey </Td> <Td> October 19 , 1972 ( 1972 - 10 - 19 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td colspan="6"> A meteorite crashes through the roof of the Baldwin sisters ' `` Recipe '' room , which they take as some kind of sign from their dead Papa . Grandpa Walton takes it as a sign of his own impending death ; Ben takes it as a sign he will win the fourth - grade spelling bee ; and an unscrupulous relative of the sisters first plans to exploit the meteorite for financial gain , then tries to steal their `` Recipe machine '' . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 7 </Th> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> `` The Sinner '' </Td> <Td> Philip Leacock </Td> <Td> John Furia , Jr . </Td> <Td> October 26 , 1972 ( 1972 - 10 - 26 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td colspan="6"> A young preacher , Matthew Fordwick ( John Ritter ) , comes to Walton 's Mountain fresh from seminary , where he has learned the currently - popular fire and brimstone style of preaching . He happens to be a Baldwin relative , and after a visit succumbs to the effects of their `` Recipe '' . His tee - totaler church superior fires him , but after he humbly apologizes to John - Boy for his hypocrisy , Grandpa and John convince the congregation to look at the forgiving side of the gospel and accept him . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 8 </Th> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> `` The Boy From the C.C.C. '' </Td> <Td> Harry Harris </Td> <Td> William Welch </Td> <Td> November 2 , 1972 ( 1972 - 11 - 02 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td colspan="6"> A troubled teenager from Hell
<Table> <Tr> <Th> No. in series </Th> <Th> No. in season </Th> <Th> Title </Th> <Th> Directed by </Th> <Th> Written by </Th> <Th> Original air date </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> `` The Foundling '' </Td> <Td> Vincent Sherman </Td> <Td> John McGreevey </Td> <Td> September 14 , 1972 ( 1972 - 09 - 14 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td colspan="6"> The Waltons shelter a deaf girl ( Erica Hunton ) left on their back porch by her mother because her father insists on institutionalizing her . While they search for her family , they start teaching her sign language , which she uses to help Elizabeth when an emergency arises . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> `` The Carnival '' </Td> <Td> Alf Kjellin </Td> <Td> Nigel McKeand </Td> <Td> September 21 , 1972 ( 1972 - 09 - 21 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td colspan="6"> A traveling carnival comes to Walton 's Mountain , but the children choose to sacrifice the money they had saved for it so that Grandma can replace her broken glasses . When the troupe becomes stranded by their dishonest ringmaster , John and Olivia allow them to stay temporarily in their barn , and the family is rewarded with a private show . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> `` The Calf '' </Td> <Td> Harry Harris </Td> <Td> Jim Byrnes </Td> <Td> September 28 , 1972 ( 1972 - 09 - 28 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td colspan="6"> The Waltons ' cow gives birth to a bull calf , which John decides must be sold for truck repair money , much to his children 's disappointment . He is able to buy it back after he learns the man he sold it to ( Leonard Stone ) plans to butcher it . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> `` The Hunt '' </Td> <Td> Robert Butler </Td> <Td> John McGreevey </Td> <Td> October 5 , 1972 ( 1972 - 10 - 05 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td colspan="6"> John - Boy is anxious to prove himself on a turkey hunt with his father and two friends , but finds he ca n't shoot a turkey , which he equates with premeditated murder . He has no trouble killing a bear when it attacks his father . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 5 </Th> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> `` The Typewriter '' </Td> <Td> Philip Leacock </Td> <Td> Theodore Apstein </Td> <Td> October 12 , 1972 ( 1972 - 10 - 12 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td colspan="6"> John - Boy borrows an antique typewriter from the Baldwin sisters so he can submit a proper manuscript to a magazine . Mary Ellen inadvertently sells the typewriter to a traveling junk dealer ( George Tobias ) . Fortunately , Sheriff Bridges is able to help her track it down . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 6 </Th> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> `` The Star '' </Td> <Td> Alf Kjellin </Td> <Td> John McGreevey </Td> <Td> October 19 , 1972 ( 1972 - 10 - 19 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td colspan="6"> A meteorite crashes through the roof of the Baldwin sisters ' `` Recipe '' room , which they take as some kind of sign from their dead Papa . Grandpa Walton takes it as a sign of his own impending death ; Ben takes it as a sign he will win the fourth - grade spelling bee ; and an unscrupulous relative of the sisters first plans to exploit the meteorite for financial gain , then tries to steal their `` Recipe machine '' . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 7 </Th> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> `` The Sinner '' </Td> <Td> Philip Leacock </Td> <Td> John Furia , Jr . </Td> <Td> October 26 , 1972 ( 1972 - 10 - 26 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td colspan="6"> A young preacher , Matthew Fordwick ( John Ritter ) , comes to Walton 's Mountain fresh from seminary , where he has learned the currently - popular fire and brimstone style of preaching . He happens to be a Baldwin relative , and after a visit succumbs to the effects of their `` Recipe '' . His tee - totaler church superior fires him , but after he humbly apologizes to John - Boy for his hypocrisy , Grandpa and John convince the congregation to look at the forgiving side of the gospel and accept him . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 8 </Th> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> `` The Boy From the C.C.C. '' </Td> <Td> Harry Harris </Td> <Td> William Welch </Td> <Td> November 2 , 1972 ( 1972 - 11 - 02 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td colspan="6"> A troubled teenager from Hell
what was the first episode of the waltons called
what was the first episode of the waltons called
`` The Foundling ''
`` The Foundling ''