Young Mother Hubbard (1917)

Forced by the death of her mother to care for her three brothers and sisters little Mona Fairfax is known to farmers of her district as Young Mother Hubbard The childrens stepfather heavily in debt and tired of the burden imposed by the little family abandons his farm leaving the children penniless to shift for themselves The following day Daniel Banning a wealthy country gentleman and owner of the Fairfax farm calls to collect back rent He finds Mona and her children panicstricken over a note left by their stepfather telling of his decision to leave Banning turns a deaf ear to Monas pleas that she be allowed to remain on the farm with her wards He notifies the Childrens Welfare Society Directors of the society go to the farm load them into an automobile and take them to the societys headquarters At headquarters the chairman calls for volunteers to take the children into their homes