The Thomsons - parents Thomas and Francie, and children Willa, Arthur, Beatrice (nicknamed Booky) and Jakey - are a loving working class family living in Depression era Toronto. In the lead up to Christmas, Thomas loses his job as a harness maker for the Eaton`s company as the company is moving into the motorized age in an effort to keep up with the times; Eaton`s is facing as challenging a time as any business during the Depression. Thomas` job prospects in this changing time are not good. Ironically, Eaton`s has a Christmas Fund where each child in the city whose father is not working is eligible for a Christmas gift from the company. Because of the Thomson`s new situation, Booky risks losing her best friend Laura Westover, whose snobbish and social climbing mother wants her daughter to associate with a higher class of friend. By happenstance, Booky befriends Mr. Eaton, the owner of the Eaton company. Because of circumstances, Booky, who knows Mr.