A Baby Tramp

by Ambrose Bierce

A short story

Genres: Short Stories, Horror, Fiction, Classics, Fantasy

Audiobook

First published January 1, 1893

About the author

died perhaps 1914

Caustic wit and a strong sense of horror mark works, including In the Midst of Life (1891-1892) and The Devil's Dictionary (1906), of American writer Ambrose Gwinett Bierce.

People today best know this editorialist, journalist, and fabulist for his short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge and his lexicon.

The informative sardonic view of human nature alongside his vehemence as a critic with his motto, "nothing matters," earned him the nickname "Bitter Bierce."

People knew Bierce despite his reputation as a searing critic, however, to encourage younger poet George Sterling and fiction author W.C. Morrow.

Bierce employed a distinctive style especially in his stories. This style often embraces an abrupt beginning, dark imagery, vague references to time, limited descriptions, the theme of war, and impossible events.

Bierce disappeared in December 1913 at the age of 71 years. People think that he traveled to Mexico to gain a firsthand perspective on ongoing revolution of that country.

Theories abound on a mystery, ultimate fate of Bierce. He in one of his final letters stated: "Good-bye. If you hear of my being stood up against a Mexican stone wall and shot to rags, please know that I think it is a pretty good way to depart this life. It beats old age, disease, or falling down the cellar stairs. To be a Gringo in Mexico--ah, that is euthanasia!"

Reviews

[Tym · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was mostly a summary of a strange town where odd things like raining frogs and snowing blood occur and in this strange town of Blackburg a boy is born to the most prominent family of the town but tragedy strikes and he is orphaned by 1 and taken far away somehow the boy is inexorably drawn back to the town of his birth. Plus there’s a ghost. Despite the intriguing trappings the actual story failed to draw me in.

[Quirkyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is along the lines of "A Little Match Girl".

[Pourya Yahyaee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, the story is short enough to be a summary in itself. My personal interpretation is that this is a misanthrope story.
The main character, Joseph, is an allusion to the famous biblical story of Joseph. He is lost, and found and sold by some Indians; however, the story doesn't end in the same way. The atmosphere is very dark and gloomy. Blackburg, which literally means black city, has a mysterious history and strange things happen there that not even the scientists can get the hang of. Hetty Parlow who comes from a rich family dies of an epidemic that eradicates all lineage of her family, except her son, Joseph. Her ghost comes back and stretching her hands to the west calls "Joey, Joey", which can be a foreshadowing of the boy's death.
The boy is not old enough to realize the cruelty of the life he's in ("who was hardly old enough to be either just or unjust, and so perhaps did not come under the law of impartial distribution"), but the experienced mother is aware of this fact. So, the boy fights for his life as he avoids the dog, and the orphanage he was once in.
So characteristic of Bierce the story shows the misery of human life that is inevitable and unavoidable and the only way to end it is to literally end it by the means of death.
I'm sure there are so many elements i could not figure out in the story, but if my interpretation is right, i hope people can make up a more hopeful truth now that they are the creator of it...

[Nnaemeka David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story that involves mysteries in the town of Blackburg. First, frogs fall from heaven, then red snow fall in the town which brought about an epidemic. The third mystery is how Jo, a child who lost his parents when he was one and taken away from Blackburg could be able to find his way back to Blackburg, and then die at the grave of his mother. He came back without any guidance or direction. I found it very entertaining. So, I decided to add it to my video story collection. In this video, I analyze the story and state the themes that resonate in the story. https://youtu.be/jr4nhBL_ORU

[Ken B · Rating 2 out of 5]

This a very short story and, I thought, pretty disappointing for Ambrose Bierce.

You can safely pass by this one and feel you haven't missed anything.

2 STARS

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the town of Blackburg - home of raining frogs, crimson snow and Hettie Parlow's ghost - a young tramp stands on a street corner in the rain.

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my least favorite Bierce story so far.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are always stories about cats or dogs travelling a ridiculous amount of miles to get home (sometimes across country). Now, take this premise and add to it an orphaned, very young boy. In the uncanny town of Blackburg, where in the past it has rained frogs and snowed crimson snowflakes, a ghost is seen near the cemetery. A weird, sad story. Audible edition narrated by Anthony Heald. This can be found in Can Such Things Be?

[K. Anna Kraft · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've arranged my thoughts on this story into a haiku:

"The sky's belching frogs,
There's blood-filled snow on the ground,
And. . .you'd expect more."

[Wordaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very heart breaking account of a child. It was like reading Joseph's life summary. Short and very profound.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creepy.

[Janelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

A well written but rather depressing ghost story about a little lost boy, who as the title indicates, is a tramp. The story is so short that to describe further details would be giving spoilers.

[Faizan · Rating 3 out of 5]

That is a circumstance which, without actual irreverence, one may wish had been ordered otherwise.

[Bibliophileverse · Rating 3 out of 5]

A child who is orphaned at an early age but his mother never forgot him after dying also.

[Forked Radish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sorry, but it's not Toddlers in Tiaras.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is my introduction to Ambrose Bierce. He uses exquisite prose to tell this haunting tale.

[Divia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the underlying theme is the desire for home and belonging which Jo yearned for and eventually found in his ghostly mother's embrace. Being orphaned is terrible and can leave a young child dislocated in an unloving world. Unfortunately, without the horror element the world fails this child and he ends up dead.

[ally douglas? · Rating 4 out of 5]

so sad but glad i reaf it

[Ivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

4/10