Someone else answered; " Why, hello Mrs. Cleaver how is the beaver?"
***** NOT A TEACHER
*****
Hello, Ms. Guaraldi:
OMG!
I have done some googling, and I THINK that I now have the answer.
But the answer could get this thread deleted by one of the moderators. And maybe it could get you or me suspended or even banned!
I am 77 years old, but I had never understood something until I did some googling today. Really!
I will now try to say what I think (THINK!) is permissible at this language website:
1. The parents were Mr. and Mrs. Cleaver.
2. The Beaver was their son. (I do not know why he was so nicknamed.)
3. He had a friend named Eddie.
4. By 1950 standards, Eddie was a little devil; by 2014 standards, he was an angel.
5. When Eddie used to visit the Beaver, he would greet Mrs. Cleaver with: "How is the Beaver?" (That is, "How is your son?")
*****
6. As I have already told you, I have JUST discovered that SOME people did NOT interpret the question as "How is your son?"
7. When you have time, go to a BIG dictionary and read ALL the definitions for "beaver."
James