Since Gretl was to be married against her will by her father, the small merchant Klaghofer, to the rich farmer of Gruber, she lives in Vienna. No one of her letters has ever been opened by the angry father. He then learns through a postcard that Gretl married - and indeed, as he mistakenly assumes, a rich man. Klaghofer therefore opens up to celebrate reconciliation. But hardly has he come out of his Austrian province nest and arrived in Vienna, Klaghofer ensures a hopeless mess. In doing so, he puts a crisis-ridden marriage in order and finally rejoices at the all-sided happy ending.