The story of the play runs as follows: Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester are two young persons who have rushed into matrimony on the Micawber Principle; are living from hand to mouth in a London flat, husband and wife alike striving hard to get a foothold in the literary sphere, in which they are confident they can ultimately acquire both fame and fortune. Early in their careers, however, they are overwhelmed with debt. The flat they have hired is invaded by a continual stream of creditors; the cook threaten to leave, and at the height of the excitement three men in and deliberately carry off all the furniture, which has been bought on the installment plan, because the last payment has not been made.
At that instant Mrs. Sylvester receives a note informing her that a play she has written without the knowledge of her husband, describing her own marriage experience, has been accepted, and that the manager is coming to settle as to its price. Therefore, with the assistance of the cook, she proceeds to improvise the furniture with whatever comes to hand, soap boxes, barrels, an ironing-board, a sit bath tub, a clothes-horse, etc., and proceeds to rehabilitate the apartment. They are so draped and arranged as to form quite a beautiful outfit, and when the manager comes, he is so impressed with the handsome and prosperous look of the surroundings that he pays $1,000 for the play. Many laughable complications arise from attempts to use the makeshift furniture. Then Mr. Sylvester’s father, who has been angered by the marriage, relents and the comedy comes to a happy conclusion.〔A Star Engagement- The Gazette, January 9, 1895, pg. 4〕