This Tender Land: Chapter 49 Summary & Analysis

Two days later, the group reaches Saint Paul and the Mississippi River. Mose continues to wrestle with the history of his people, who were killed by soldiers from Saint Paul. After making camp on the riverbank, Odie follows Mose to a clearing, where he seems to be chanting under the full moon. Canoeing into Saint Paul, they see beautiful mansions on the bluffs. Albert tells Emmy that being rich enough for such a house costs a person their soul. They disembark opposite downtown Saint Paul, and Albert leaves the others to seek out Forrest’s friend Gertie Hellmann, who lives in the West Side Flats.

The others wait near a set of rails, watching train cars go by. They encounter three boys, one of whom says his name is John Kelly. He asks if they are Indians, and Odie replies that they are vagabonds. They know Gertie, as does everyone in the flats. Albert returns, and they canoe downriver to a place where many other boats are docked. Mentioning Gertie’s name to the proprietor, Wooster Morgan, secures them a week’s free boat storage. Walking through the flats, Odie notes how happy and free everyone seems despite the run-down houses. They enter a building called “Gertie’s” and encounter a person who appears to be male with severe scarring on his face. When the person speaks, Odie realizes this is actually a woman: Gertie.