It Pays to Smile

"It Pays to Smile" by Nina Wilcox Putnam is a story set in a time when women were expected to stay at home, and it follows Freedom Talbot as she decides to find a job and make something of herself. Freedom comes from a well-known family in Boston, but she feels stuck and wants to do more than what's expected of her, especially since her family is having money problems. Her sister Euphemia believes women should stick to traditional roles, but Freedom is determined to break free from these expectations and find a way to support herself. One day, Freedom sees an interesting ad for a chaperone needed to look after a young girl; and she jumps at the chance, hoping it will lead to a new life filled with excitement and challenges as she leaves her sheltered life behind.