Can Such Things Be? · Chapter
A Baby Tramp explained
The chapter follows the tragic story of little Jo, an orphan who becomes a wandering tramp after the death of his parents, Hetty and Mr.
What happens
The chapter follows the tragic story of little Jo, an orphan who becomes a wandering tramp after the death of his parents, Hetty and Mr. Parlow, during a mysterious epidemic in Blackburg. After being adopted and then lost multiple times, Jo ends up alone in the cold rain, eventually dying on the grave of his mother, Hetty Parlow, in Oak Hill Cemetery. The narrative also recounts the town's strange history, including a ghostly sighting of Hetty Parlow calling out for 'Joey' on the night Jo was lost in the Nevada desert.
Themes in this chapter
Death and the Supernatural
The ghost of Hetty Parlow appears to a party near the cemetery, and Jo's death on his mother's grave underscores the supernatural connection between the living and the dead.
Isolation and Terror
Jo's solitary wandering in the cold rain, his fear of dogs and houses, and his eventual death alone in the cemetery highlight his profound isolation and the terror of his circumstances.
Characters to notice
- Hetty Parlow
Deceased mother of Jo; her ghost is seen by a party near Oak Hill Cemetery, calling out 'Joey' on the night Jo is lost in the desert.
- Jo Dunfer
The orphaned child, referred to as 'Joey' and 'little Jo,' who wanders as a tramp and eventually dies on his mother's grave.
Key passages
“As they passed the cemetery the man driving suddenly reined in his team with an exclamation of surprise. It was sufficiently surprising, no doubt, for just ahead, and almost at the roadside, though inside the cemetery, stood the ghost of Hetty Parlow.”
While driving past the cemetery, the driver stopped the wagon in shock because the ghost of Hetty Parlow was standing near the road inside the graveyard.
This moment establishes the supernatural sighting that connects to Jo's fate.
“The little body lay upon one side, with one soiled cheek upon one soiled hand, the other hand tucked away among the rags to make it warm, the other cheek washed clean and white at last, as for a kiss from one of God’s great angels.”
Jo's small corpse was found lying on its side, one dirty cheek resting on a dirty hand, the other hand hidden in his rags for warmth, and the other cheek now clean and pale, as if ready for an angel's kiss.
This poignant description emphasizes Jo's tragic death and the hint of divine mercy.