Set in turn of the century Helsinki, author Arvo Helavalla's novel makes an indelible impression on adolescent Auli Ranta. She idolizes the author of a work that can never be forgotten.
Wager is Count Mauritz Armborg, the young master of the estate. Linnanheimo plays Katariina (Catherine) the nanny to Mauritz's nieces and nephews. The two fall in love and decide to escape to Italy via Denmark where they have planned to get married. There are always complications because Mauritz's grandmother doesn't want him to marry below him - she has decided that Mauritz is to marry the Swedish beauty, Ingeborg Liliecrona.
At the eve of Crimean war orphaned Regina lives with her grandmother in a small cabin near a lavish villa. As the summer approaches there is great anticipation of a big ball to be held.
Set in North Karelia, whne Antti Ihalainen's house runs out of matches, he goes to borrow some from a neighbor. On the road, he meets a rich widower, Jussi Vatanen, who asks Ihalai to be his speaker and friend on an engagement trip to the city of Jo. The hosts from Lieper are snorting drunkenly from behind their shoulders.
Alfred Haaravirta's worries begin, when his longtime housekeeper dies. So Alfred sends a letter to his old friend Matilda and asks her to be his new housekeeper. But Matilda misunderstands the letter to be a proposal of marriage.
Adalbert "Mussu" Koikkalainen inherits 9,000 marks from his uncle. To buy a milk shop, Koikkalainen needs another thousand marks and work experience, so he applies for a job at the department store Sampo, where he is hired as a scapegoat to receive customer complaints. The saleswoman Irja Salo, who is under threat of dismissal, falls in love with the general manager Vaara, whom she thinks is a traveling salesman.