 Though a modern synopsis has not been published , the original synopsis was published in The Moving Picture World on December 3 , 1910 . It states : " Captain Smith sails away on his vessel for a trip around South America , through the Pacific , leaving behind him his wife and little girl , whom he dearly loves . The ship is reported lost with all on board , with the exception of a cabin boy who is picked up in mid ocean . The captain 's wife struggles to support her child , but owing to a rapidly failing health she fights a losing battle with poverty . One by one her valued possessions find their way to the pawnshop , where the kind @-@ hearted old pawnbroker , Levy , becomes interested in the sad @-@ faced woman and pretty child , who never seem able to redeem any of their possessions . The last article of value left in Mrs. Smith 's possession is her wedding ring , and Levy refuses to take this . Instead he offers her help , which the widow proudly refuses . She insists that she can go out and get work . Levy , seeing that he can help in no other way , offers to care for little Marie , and to this the mother finally gives her consent . Half in jest , Levy gives the mother a pawn ticket for the little girl , which he fills out to read that ' a precious jewel , a value beyond price , ' has been left with him and can be redeemed ' at any time . ' The mother leaves the little one in Levy 's care and upon reaching home and finding herself mortally stricken , she puts the pawn ticket he has given her in an envelope which she entrusts to a friendly janitoress , to be given into no other hands than those of her husband should it be that he is not dead . 
