a little match girl in poverty lights all the matches she carries to keep herself warm on a cold new year's eve. afraid of beating by her father when she could not sell any match, she could not return home. in the glow of the firelight, she sees wonderful visions of a christmas tree and a festive dinner. in the sky, she sees a shooting star, which her late grandmother had told means someone is on their way to heaven. the last vision is her dead grandmother, the only person to ever show her any love. the little match girl dies in the cold, and ascends into heaven with her grandmother.