Natten før Christians Fødselsdag

Just before bedtime, Christian overhears a conversation between his grandmother and shopkeeper Blache. While Blache stubbornly insists that wealth is the only true happiness, the grandmother believes that a bright mind is worth more than its weight in gold. Christian agrees with Blache, but at night – filled with anticipation before his forthcoming birthday – he dreams of something that makes him see the matter in quite a different light.