An elderly, generous count and his wife have become impoverished after years of giving, and they contemplate selling heirlooms to keep their children's Christmas festival alive. A traveling young giant accompanied by a tiny fairy learns of the household's plight and goes to visit, setting off modest adventures that test kindness and ingenuity. Encounters with neighbors and small acts of help enable the holiday feast and gifts to proceed despite scarcity. The story closes with a warm reconciliation that binds the household and the giant together, restoring merriment and shelter during the Christmas celebration.