Katariina, an orphaned girl from the north, travels to Helsinki to live with her distant relative Mauri, who has been appointed her guardian. The unpretentious child of nature irritates, amuses, and charms Mauri, who is accustomed to high society, and his bachelor friends.
Raili moves away from her mean aunts. The young woman enjoys her independent life, but debt, a deceitful boyfriend, and getting fired from her office job get her into trouble. However, Raili's uncle Salomoni and his wife Salli support their relative. Olli, a lawyer, also wants to help Raili, who has fallen victim to blackmail.
Jalmari, who does odd jobs at the harbor, rescues little Risto from being beaten up by older boys. The child is afraid of his violent foster parents and runs away to kind-hearted Jalmari. His foster mother Miina reports the escape to the Salvation Army, whose lieutenant Sirkka finds the boy in Jalmari's shabby cottage. Risto runs away again when they try to return him to his foster parents.
