An old man from a street corner near London’s Tower Bridge belts out Christmas carols and collects coins in his hat as charity for his neighbors. Several passersby drop coins into his hat. Then, a beautiful woman with a glowing face and long, golden hair empties coins in his hat. A trail of gem-like snow that looks like diamonds seems to follow her as she walks, and the gems blows in the wind. Although the old man has no family, he is more concerned for his neighbors than he is about himself. The father of the family next door has been out of work for more than six months, as he watches over his sickly son. The mother had passed away from tuberculosis a few years ago during a very hard winter, and the boy has lost hope. So, the old man has decided that a toy soldier and trumpet are not enough to give the child this year—there must also be a Christmas goose.
Then, the old man grabs his coat and top hat and goes to Christmas Eve service at All Souls Church in Langham Place. The church towers next to the British Broadcasting Corporation, which had played Christmas carols on the radio all day. After the service, the old man spots his neighbors a few pews in front of him, and they look less than festive. Placing his hat on the young boy’s head, he tells him that early Christmas morning he will visit them with surprises. The old man sits in the pew for a bit and admires the sanctuary decorated with holly, candles, and garland. As he sits in the pew, the church empties—all except for the beautiful woman with long, golden hair and diamond jewels. Then she sits down next to him in the pew. She tells him that his generosity will save the boy’s life, and he will not leave his father alone at Christmas for the years to come. She says that the old man’s hat will protect him from the blistering winter wind, and the gift of the Christmas goose will be his new best friend. Even in the church, gem-like diamonds follow her.
The next morning, the old man wakes up with the sunrise and prepares a large goose for Christmas dinner. Then, he shoves him in the oven and seasons him. However, he wraps a bright red bow on the other golden goose as a pet for the neighbor boy and grabs the other gifts for him. The neighbor boy opens the door wearing the old man’s hat. As the goose waddles into the neighbor’s house, the deathly ill little boy throws his arms around him. Then, the old man looks out the window and spies the beautiful woman from the church as she walks down the street in a trail of sparkling snow that resembles perfect diamonds. The wind blows the diamonds toward the old man. He catches them in his hand. At first, he thought they were icicles but puts them in his jacket pocket with a prayer of thanksgiving. In the weeks ahead that pass, the Christmas Goose and the little boy become such good friends that the little boy never feels sick again. The Goose lays dozens of goose eggs. And as legend has it, when no one is looking, the goose even lays golden eggs. As for the diamonds, they turn out to be real, and only an angel would know how that happened.
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