Mrs. Wiggs and her five children find themselves in danger of losing their shack in the cabbage patch, as they are falling behind on the mortgage and unable to get the necessary employment that they need. They are so deep in debt that they must sell the beautiful Christmas dinner that is donated to them by the local church in order to buy cheaper food supplies. Her oldest son, Jimmy, who is often the breadwinner, grows sicker and sicker until he passes away and Mrs. Wiggs turns to Lucy, the woman who brought them the Christmas dinner, for help. Time passes, and the family's hardships continue with various adventures and Lucy's helpful nature intermixed.
Alice Hegan Rice (1870-1942) was an American author whose work was predominately set in the rural Kentucky countryside that she grew up in. 'Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch' was her most successful work, with versions of it being produced on stage and film.