Isidoor lives with his niece and a housekeeper in a little provincial town. One day he receives a letter: he is to be the heir of a distant and wealthy relative. There is only one condition: he has to go and live for a year in "Home lux et vita", otherwise he will loose his inheritance. The home is a home for abandoned children and now this bachelor becomes the father to 40 children...

Mr Van Peborgh, an "artiste photographe", remained alone with his three sons Henri, Frans and Louis after the death of his wife.The household is done by the maid Beth while the graceful girl Marie helps him in the store.The eldest son Henri is engaged to Hortense and thinks he's getting married soon.Louis wants to leave for America. The big engagement party on which the whole family is present starts without worry but ends up in a disaster because "It's cruel in the world".

A group of Antwerp students steal a doll from a museum just for fun. But then they get arrested ... .