However, the main cause of the story is the theme of love. Joseph Marti, twenty-four years old, enjoys the comfort of the Tobler family and the work of an assistant. Although he soon discovers that he is not being paid and that the Tobler family is falling into financial ruin, he remains by their side despite the difficulties. As Carl Tobler ruins his life with more and more debt, we see the impact this has on the members of the Tobler house and Joseph Marti. First published in German, the novel describes the story of Joseph Marti as "The