Irja Elstelä

The proud widow of Sillankorva falls in love with her young neighbor, Jaakko Hallan, whom she offers to take in as her son. However, much to the bitter disappointment of the mistress of the house, the man falls in love with her daughter Johanna.

After ending up in an orphanage, Olavi sets out to find his mother. While playing the violin on the street, his exceptional talent catches the attention of a music school professor, who takes him under his wing.

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.

Helga Suotorppa has given birth to an illegitimate child while working as a maid. Inkeri, the kind-hearted mistress of the Lehtola house, offers the woman, who has a bad reputation in the village community, a place to work, which the desperate Helga gratefully accepts. She supports Mauria, who is in trouble after being abandoned by his rich and proud fiancée Hildur.

Poor but ambitious country girl Hulda arrives in the country's capital and gets a job as a maid for a bachelor Member of Parliament, Judge Soratie. She works hard, never loses her common sense, and starts taking evening classes. Keeping her studies secret from her employer for years, she eventually graduates from the university and becomes candidate in the parliamentary election, stressing women's and working people's rights. Romance with Judge Soratie finally ensues.

A story set in post-war Helsinki, where the last released prisoners of war arrive. They are accompanied by Captain Erkki Lahtinen, who returns to his home and back to his wife Jenni. However, during his four-year imprisonment, Erkki has been pronounced dead and Jenni has remarried to office manager Nevamaa.

Tornionjokilaakso at the end of the 19th century, Paloniemi's landlord Heikki tries to get out of his financial difficulties with the help of his son Juhan and Nuottaniemi's only daughter Hanna. The happiness of Hanna, who has fallen in love with Antti of Rehti Koskenalusta, is threatened by the evil and dangerous Korpikoski.

A poet finds a new muse in young woman.