The little match girl stands in the street by a street lamp. She tries to sell her matches to a passer-by who ignores her. She stands by the wall but a boy who is throwing snowballs at an unseen friend throws snowballs at her. She sits down and huddles in a corner of the wall.

Striking a match she sees a vision of a fire and warms her hands. As the match fades so does the vision. Each time she strikes a match, she sees a vision of a table laden with food, a Christmas tree, and finally her grandmother beckoning to her.

She finally dies and an angel appears and takes her spirit indicating she is going to heaven. A policeman comes upon the body.