The Hobo and the Fairy is a short story by Jack London who wrote novels on experiences he had in life. The Hobo and the Fairy is one of those experiences. J.London introduces us to Ross Shanklin a tramp, outcast and ex-convict who has survived brutalities and human cruelties while incarcerated. The story picks up after he is discharged from prison and is sleeping on the ground, when Joan a little girl discovers him. He wakens and believes she is a fairy because of how she treats him. What London wants us to remember in the encounter is that there is still good Samaritans in this world. That no matter how bad things are some people do care.