The Little Match Girl by Danish author Hans Christian Anderson was first published in December 1845. It tells the poignant tale of a poor young girl walking the city streets alone on a bitterly cold New Years Eve. As she strikes matches to keep herself warm she has visions of the wonderful Christmases in the houses around her. But seeing her old grandmother again is the most wonderful of all.

Read by Stewart Clapp
The Swan Cello performed by Tim and Dominic Mirfin

“Simulation of Victorian Street” by Timbre of Freesound.org