John Allen leaves his wife and child and goes to the gold country in search of the yellow metal. As his wife finishes packing his grip his little girl slips in one of her little white stockings and the father kisses her and leaves for the west. On arriving at his destination, he finds a congenial companion in Dan Bartlett, an honest, robust miner. While unpacking his effects the little stocking falls to the floor and Allen, in the exuberance of his joy, announces that he will not return until he has filled the stocking with nuggets. Allen and Bartlett go prospecting and, losing their way, their water is exhausted, and they suffer on the desert. Bartlett sees his companion die and is about to succumb when assistance arrives and he is saved from torture and death. Reaching the camp, Bartlett tells the miners the circumstances, how Allen braved death for the sake of his wife and child. The narration awakens the right sort of emotion in the hearts of the lonely miners, and they chip in, fill the stocking with nuggets, and give Bartlett a substantial sum to carry to the bereaved woman. Bartlett arrives in the east on Christmas Eve and seeks out the widow of his dead companion. She is being harassed by a grasping landlord and Bartlett pays the scoundrel and throws him out of the house together with his process server. Christmas morning the little girl arises and discovers that Santa Claus has indeed paid their humble cottage a most welcome visit, for Bartlett has been prodigal in his purchases. The widow thanks him and bids him take her thanks to his partners, and Bartlett returns to the mountains sad, but with a knowledge that he has performed his duty to the widow and her child.