A small, unidentified boy is washed ashore and taken in by a poor coastal family who care for him while his condition and origins remain uncertain. Local children form attachments and the village becomes involved as clues and memories slowly emerge. A sequence of domestic scenes, outings, seasonal events, and a grave discovered in the churchyard accompany efforts to trace his past. The narrative follows how community kindness, investigations, and personal revelations lead to the discovery of his identity, examining themes of belonging, charity, and the ways social ties shape a child’s future.