Joshua Beckwith is the illegitimate son of a gypsy woman and a street-musician. Although, this is inconsequential because he was abandoned at birth on the steps of the First Church Ever, but never made it inside, as he was promptly snatched up and carried away by a pack of hungry stray dogs who lived around the corner. The dogs ended up not eating Joshua because of the horrible aftertaste. Instead, they raised him as their own. He grew up to be a handsome young fellow, and is now somewhat adjusted to living with humans.