The opera singer Luitpold Loewenhaupt buys a goose to roast for Christmas dinner - but already in November! His children have other plans for the goose, whom they name Auguste or "Gustje;" they want to keep Gustje as a pet and playmate. Right away from the first day the problems begin: the parents think Gustje should sleep in the basement, but the children bring Gustje up to their rooms. Especially little Peter becomes attached to the goose, and shares his bed with it. Although their mother tries to persuade Luitpold to let the children keep their pet, he is determined to have his Christmas goose dinner. Grandmother is firm: if Luitpold wants goose for dinner, he has to slaughter Gustje himself. Try as he might, he just can't do it. Luitpold tries once, twice - and seems to succeed. But in the end, Gustje is welcomed into the family, and shares Christmas Eve with the Loewenhaupts.