Ira and his son-in-law Harry pretend to enlist in the 13th regiment where they have "drills" every Friday night. When the 13th is called to the front, the two take a fishing trip, only to learn that "their" regiment has been wiped out.

Haywood, a suitor for the hand of Elida Rumsey, is severely reprimanded by her for not enlisting when President Lincoln calls for volunteers. Being deeply interested in the cause, Elida goes and helps Mrs. Pomeroy minister to sick and wounded soldiers. She becomes a favorite with the men, for she frequently sings to them. This attracts the attention of Lincoln

The Craigs and Smiths, next-door neighbors, are the best of friends until Smith builds a chicken house. Their two gardens are connected and their children fraternize as if all belonged to one large family. Sidney Craig manages to set loose Smith's chickens, who get into Craig's garden and work havoc among his pet seedlings.

While Flora Winslow, a widow is engaged to Bunny, she attends a lecture on eugenics and decides that her intended husband is too fat. She tells him he must reduce, and as she wishes to become stouter, they agree to attend Dr. Sweatem's Sanitarium.

Mr. and Mrs. Pantomus finally get lucky with a good cook, Tillie. When Tillie wants to go to the city, Mr. Pantomus takes her out, but confusion ensues.

In search of a maid, Mrs. Cook, an aristocratic and extremely proud society woman, goes to an employment agency and hires Luna, fat, awkward and straight from Sweden. The new maid creates quite a stir in the staid and fashionable home of Mrs. Cook. While capering about in her room above, she brings down the ceiling. Mrs. Cook saves her from being discharged and then calls up the plasterer, whose name is John Haines, a widower, and the father of Bert, the chauffeur, in love with Marie Cook, their daughter. John fixes the ceiling, and on his return home finds a note from his son saying he is going to be married and suggests his father follow his example. John tells the news to Luna, proposes to her, and without a second's hesitation, she accepts him.

The Payne family of Lonesomeville set up a Fairy Play, founded upon the story of "The Sleeping Beauty," and Helene Payne secures the wealthy Mrs. Wilson's financial support. She is a lady no longer young, but insists upon playing the ingenue lead. Miss Tibbitts. a mournful old maid, is secured for their "Danseuse." Willey Finley gives out the parts, while Doctor Heffernan is given the directorship.

Housemaid Belinda finds a pin on the doorstep, taking it as a sign of good luck, just before a young man arrives looking for a room. The landlady, Ophelia, falls for the boarder at first sight. A policeman finds a fortune-teller's card, which Belinda takes to Ophelia. The two women visit Madam Miriam, who tells Ophelia a young blond man will fall in love with her. Both Ophelia and Belinda assume this refers to their new boarder, Sidney. Sidney, short on cash, tries to stay in Ophelia's good graces by taking her out for ice cream. While they are out, Belinda searches his room and finds a photograph of Sidney's wife, who is none other than the fortune-teller, Madam Miriam. Belinda is shocked by the discovery, revealing that the "omens and oracles" that fueled Ophelia's romantic hopes were part of a deception orchestrated by the boarder and his wife.

Margaret Case seeks to live down the errors of the past, and in marriage finds happiness and security until her enemy again crosses her path and she realizes that life is like a house of glass where there is neither security nor seclusion.