After her mother's death, Irja, an evacuee girl, finds herself in a poor financial situation. Working as a housekeeper for her former teacher on a starvation wage, her situation improves when she is hired as a janitor at a secondary school. Despite the opposition of Principal Kuusi, she decides to take the matriculation examination and, in order to improve her writing skills, responds to a correspondence advertisement placed by the mysterious Master Ahtojää.

Nelly Anita Lovén
as Irja Sassi

Tauno Palo
as Kuusi

Kirsti Ortola
as Ansu

Asta Backman
as

Paavo Hukkinen
as Valo

Matti Aulos
as Tuomas

Harri Sinijärvi
as Taavetti

Heimo Lepistö
as Tirronen

Saara Ranin
as Tirroska

Helmi Lehosti
as