Wished on Mabel

Mama sits with a magazine while Mabel looks bored. Fatty appears, and after a couple of quick kisses with Mabel, he and she drift off to enjoy time together. Mama is left alone on the bench, watching the scene with a mix of amusement and resignation.

A Keystone Cop on a nearby bench rousts a sleeping loiterer with his nightstick, creating a distraction. The thief, meanwhile, spots Mama sitting by herself and plots the next move. The stage is set for the impending theft.

Using a small pair of scissors, the thief steals the pocket-style watch that hangs from Mama's neck by a ribbon. Mama yells for help, drawing attention to the missing timepiece. The incident anchors the film's comic mischief in motion.

The officer rushes to Mama's aid, but his concern is brief as he quickly returns to his nap on the bench. His feigned interest contrasts with the brewing chaos, and the thief remains at large. The scene highlights the ineffectual authority in a farce tone.

Fatty and Mabel play hide-and-seek along the park's lakeside, swatting at a bee that lands on Mabel's nose. Their carefree play provides a light counterpoint to Mama's distress over the stolen watch. The setting underlines the park's playful energy.

The thief admires the pilfered watch and tucks it into his trousers pocket, which ironically has a hole. The watch slips out and drops to the ground as he exits without noticing the loss. The theft's reversal is imminent but not yet revealed.

Fatty discovers the dropped watch and decides to give it to Mabel as a gift. He pins the timepiece to the lapel of her dress using a small piece of Mama's ribbon still attached to the bow, making the gift seem meaningful.

The thief notices Mabel wearing the watch and a struggle for control over the item begins. Fatty tries to protect the gift, while the thief asserts his claim in a comic clash of improvisation. The conflict heightens the farce.

Mama arrives, recognizes the thief, and calls for help. The thief flees in a panic, and the pursuit resumes in earnest as the scale tips back toward justice. The moment restores Mama's agency in the scene.

The dozing officer is awakened by his chief and spots the thief hiding between two large rocks. He knocks the thief unconscious with his nightstick and carries him off to jail, ending the immediate threat. The arrest brings the caper to a close.

Fatty wraps an arm around Mama and Mabel as they stroll away, their earlier misadventure now a shared, lighthearted memory. The three-together ending emphasizes warmth and sisterly affection amid the comedy.

The film closes on a cheerful, farcical note typical of silent comedies, where charm, mistaken chances, and a small caper resolve into a happy ending. The atmosphere remains playful, not cruel, and leaves the audience smiling.