A novel about the difficult fate of a blind village woman who, since childhood, has faced many difficulties even in her own family, but still bravely fights through life to support herself and her son honestly. Barbora loses her sight as a child due to smallpox and remains disfigured by scars. However, she learns to play the harp at the Institute in Prague, which becomes her livelihood. Although she is able to support herself and is not a nuisance at home, her mother and sister only take advantage of her, constantly reproaching her and various cruelties. Her son Tomáš remains her only joy, but Barbora knows nothing about his father. But moments of happiness and joy await her too.