In 1870 Cornwall, tragedy forces a poor mother to make a heartbreaking decision to send her youngest son away, knowing she will never see him again. This is the story of James Ivey who was only six when he was separated from everyone and everything he knew. We follow his life as he struggles to understand his mother's reasons and it is only when he has to make a similar terrible decision to leave his own family forever does he finally understand. Life can sometimes force us to make painfull choices which have lifelong consequences for all those involved.