London, in 1730. Charly, Jim and Ben work hard, with the brave Maud, in a cotton mill to earn a few shillings. They all dream of the wonderful island told by Daniel Defoe. The latter lives in a miserable room. He is disgraced and rejected by his son Tom, a scoundrel who blames his father for losing his position at the Court ...

A widowed father advertises for a new maid, but his children secretly seek a woman to be his new wife.

On a mountain lake, in the picturesque Alps in the Salzburg region, the old, rich grumble has retired to his country house and actually only wants to live in peace and seclusion. Soon the longed-for peace will be over, because in the immediate vicinity a home for little-wealthy holiday children will be opened in an empty house, which will be headed by the cheerful and optimistic teacher Miss Helm.

Schaggi Streuli was not his real name. Born Emil Kägi, he had little luck in the first 30 years of his life. As the sixth child of an alcoholic and also a divorce goof, it wasn't easy for Schaggi Streuli. After that he tried unsuccessfully as a pickle in Ticino and a butcher offshoot. His only consolation, acting. And as it turned out later; also his calling.

The sculptor Andreas promised his seriously ill childhood friend before her death that he would take care of her daughter Heidemarie. While his application for custody is going through the authorities, the young girl comes to her uncle and his wife. Both treat Heidemarie badly so she spends most of the time with Andreas and the hunchback beggar boy Peter. Finally, the time has come: Andreas is granted custody and also takes Peter in with him.