Fourteen-year-old Maria, the daughter of a poor mountain farmer, has to raise her twelve siblings after the death of their mother. Later, she becomes a teacher but has to give up her profession when she marries her great love, Josef. To ensure the survival of their soon-to-be seven-member family, the parents are ultimately forced to send their ten-year-old twin daughters into service as maids. The two girls, Hanni and Berta, must endure various hardships and overcome many difficulties before they are finally allowed to forge their own paths.