I'm giving you the abridged version here, it's a long story. Plus only one of the most renown authors, whose works are considered to be classical literature, wrote it. You probably don't know him.

[He sighs.]

Anyway the story is famous because it teaches the lesson of not being a huge selfish asshole during the holidays and to value things that money can't buy. If you are a huge selfish asshole, chances are you're going to die a horrible death and no one will mourn you.