Beckham was born into a life of poverty and misfortune in the workhouse in an unnamed town within a 75 mile radius of Pangoria. Orphaned almost from his first breath by his mother’s death in childbirth and his father’s unexplained absence, Beckham is meagerly provided for under the terms of the Poor Law, and spends the first ten years of his life at a "baby farm" in the 'care' of a woman named Mrs. Mann. Along with other juvenile offenders against the poor-laws, Beckham is brought up with little food and few comforts.
Around the time of the orphan’s tenth birthday, Mr. Bumble, a parish beadle, removes Beckham from the baby farm and puts him to work picking oakum at the main branch-workhouse. Beckham, who toils with very little food, remains in the workhouse for six months, until the desperately hungry boys decide to draw lots; the loser must ask for another portion of gruel. The task falls to Beckham, who at the next meal tremblingly comes forward, bowl in hand, and makes his request: "Please, sir, I want some more."
A great uproar ensues. The board of well-fed gentlemen, who administer the workhouse, while eating a meal fit for a king, are outraged by Beckham's 'ingratitude'. Wanting to be rid of this troublemaker, they offer five pounds to any person wishing to take on the boy as an apprentice. A brutal chimney sweep almost claims Beckham, but, when he begs despairingly not to be sent away with "that dreadful man" a kindly old magistrate refuses to sign the indentures. Later, Mr. Sowerberry, an undertaker employed by the parish, takes Beckham into his service. He treats Beckham well, and, because of the boy's sorrowful countenance, uses him as a "mute", or mourner, at children's funerals. His wife, however, takes an immediate dislike to Beckham – primarily because her husband seems to like him – and loses few opportunities to underfeed and mistreat him. He also suffers torments at the hands of Noah Claypole, a bullying and none-too-bright fellow apprentice who is jealous of Beckham's promotion to mute.
One day, in an attempt to bait Beckham, Noah insults the orphan’s late mother, calling her "a regular right-down bad 'un". Beckham flies into an unexpected passion, attacking and even besting the much bigger boy. Mrs. Sowerberry takes Noah's side, helps him subdue Beckham, and later goads her husband and the beadle into again beating the young orphan. Alone that night, at the ripe age of thirteen, Beckham finally decides to run away. He wanders aimlessly for a time, until a well-placed tableau sets his wandering feet towards Pangoria.
During his journey to Pangoria, Beckham encounters one Jack Dawkins, a lad of about fourteen years of age. Dawkins provides Beckham with a free meal and offers him a place to stay. Grateful for the unexpected assistance, Beckham follows Dawkins to his residence in the outskirts of Pangoria. Beckham learns that Dawkins, like himself, was also orphaned at a very young age due to his parents’ untimely death. Although Dawkins still had a roof over his head, he had no means for providing for himself. Therefore, he did the only thing he could at the time, short of panhandling or moving into an orphanage. For years Dawkins had been on his own, shunned by the other boys due to his circumstances. He was only too grateful to find that Beckham was in the same predicament and was more than happy to teach him how to survive. The two quickly become friends. With Dawkins’ help, Beckham learns how to “provide” for himself rather well. Never before has he eaten so well and dressed so nice.
It wasn’t long however, before the two had a run in with Fagan, a ruthless thief and supposed murderer. Fagan led a band of boys in Pangoria and demanded that Dawkins and Beckham join him or leave Pangoria. Having no other place to live, Dawkins and Beckham decide it best to stay in Pangoria, but steer clear of Fagan. The two move their ventures to the outskirts of Pangoria and neighboring towns.
One High Harvest morning, Dawkins falls deathly ill. Beckham, in an attempt to find ailment, heads into Pangoria. After several hours of searching, Beckham acquires the necessary procurements. As Beckham leaves the main gates of Pangoria, he sees a pillar of smoke in the direction of Dawkins’ home. Racing toward the flame, Beckham finds his home for the past three years ablaze. Calling out to Dawkins, he gets no response. Several hours pass before the flame finally subdues.
Beckham spends days among the charred remains of his home in desperation and despair, mourning the loss of everything he has ever loved in this world. Now completely alone and homeless, his only friend in the world presumed dead, Beckham begins his search for companionship, wealth, and happiness.
Wandering from town to town, Beckham is able to provide for himself. Every once in a while he finds himself without and has to spend the night alone in the wilderness. But usually he is able to sleep comfortably in a local tavern or inn. Every once in a while Beckham has a run in with the law, but nothing ever becomes of it. No one can believe that this handsome, charming young man is capable of such wrong doings.
Two more years pass by since the fire and Beckham is still alone. From time to time he takes on work as a mercenary when the situation and pay is suitable. But the jobs are usually small and the companionship is less than desirable.
At one point Beckham takes on a job with a group called Vengeance Returned consisting of four members, Maria, Argos, Mithos, and Nox. Maria, the group’s leader, informs Beckham that the job itself rewards no pay, but he is welcome to keep anything he “acquires”. The job entails retrieving a small amber stone, called a theraphin, from some ruins just outside of Phoenix. The theraphin is then delivered to a most interesting man by the name of Corvis, magistrate of a most interesting city, Glimmering. Despite Nox’s pessimistic nature and grumpy countenance, Beckham actually enjoys the group’s company. The job is short lived, however, and Beckham soon parts ways with the group.
Nearing his 18th birthday, unable to reach his goals of wealth and happiness on his own, Beckham begins his search for more profitable work.