A Child for Sale on AllMovie

Charles Stoddard (Creighton Hale) is a struggling Greenwich Village painter. He lives with his wife and two children, Walter and Sylvia (Bobby Connolly and Ruth Sullivan) in an overpriced apartment. Their hypocritical landlord, William Harrison (William Tooker), gives to charity on one hand while jacking up rents on the other. Stoddard's wife dies, and in desperation, he sells his daughter to a wealthy widow. However, he can't bear to part with the little girl and takes her back. She comes down with scarlet fever, and the doctor who looks in on her takes little Walter to the Harrison's. It turns out that Mrs. Harrison (Julia Swayne Gordon) is Stoddard's mother from a previous marriage, which she has kept secret from her husband. Stoddard ends up saving the life of his landlord/stepfather and Mrs. Harrison comes clean about her past.