A recreation of the Thanhouser Studio fire of 13 January 1913, it includes the rescue of a small child from the flaming building.

Beam opens a boarding house and many interesting characters are introduced. She spreads her optimism to their lives. Also to her blind father by telling him army stories about her brother when in actuality, he's deserted.

Phoebe Lester, a little country girl, whispers to her pet hen, "You've laid an egg for a man from New York. Ain't you proud?" and while taking breakfast to Philip, the new boarder, who came from that distant place, she gazes at him as if he has come from an unknown land. Returning to the city with a newfound love and regained health, Philip struggles to sell his poems to bring his "egg" girl to her New York.

With younger brothers and sisters to support, Peggy takes on the task-heavy job as maid for Mrs. Stuyvesant. Peggy also manages to help the woman's children, a lovelorn daughter and a son who is the unwilling tool of spies.