Plying his trade through the towns and villages, a good-natured travelling tinker and his family present an unusual sight. The family's cow is harnessed between the shafts of the cart, and Tom Tinker sings as he leads her, closely accompanied by his wife and daughter, a black Labrador, a white cat and a flat-footed goose. They appear content with life, but inwardly all have an unfulfilled dream - that of having their own little farm. One night they encounter an impoverished old lady for whom they perform a kindly deed. Within minutes of her departure, they find themselves enshrouded by a strange mist which billows into the clearing, then disappears. Unbeknown to them, it has mystical powers. Their way of life is dramatically changed when, next day, their dream becomes reality. However, their happiness is short-lived and the dream is transformed into a nightmare when the jealousy and greed of Old Whiskers, their bad-tempered ogre of a neighbour, and his sly accomplice bring them to the brink of disaster and ruin.