An Angel in Disguise Summary by T.S Arthur
Timothy Shay Arthur was bom on June 6,1809, on a farm in Orange County, New York. Arthur lived as a child in nearby Fort Montgomery, New York. By 1820, Arthur’s father who was a miller, had relocated to Baltimore, Maryland where Arthur briefly attended local schools. At age of fourteen, Arthur apprenticed to a tailor, but poor eye-sight and general lack of aptitide for physical labour led him to seek other work. He then found employment with a wholesale merchandiser and late as an agent for an investment concern a job that took him briefly to Louisville, Kentucky. Otherwise, he lived as a young adult in Baltimore.
Smitten by literature, Arthur devoted as much time as he could to reading and fledgling attempts to write. By 1830, he had begun to appear in local literary magazines. That year he contributed poems under his own name and pseudonyms to a gift book called The Amethyst. Also during this time he participated in an informal literary coterie called the Seven Stars (the name drawn from that of the tavern in which they met), whose members also included Edgar Allan Poe.
In 1830, Arthur made a number of attempts to become a professional author and publisher. All failed, but collectively they gave Arthur numerous chances to have his craft. In 1838 he co-published The Baltimore Book, a giftbook that included a short tale contributed by Poe called ‘Siope’. Toward the end of the decade, Arthur, published in ephemeral format a novel called Insubordination. In 1840, he wrote a series of newspaper articles on the Washingtonian Temperance Society, a local organization formed by working-class artisans and mechanics to counter the life-ruining effects of drink.
The articles were widely reprinted and helped fuel the establishment of Washington groups across the country. Arthur’s newspaper sketches were collected in book form as Six Nights with the Washingtonians (1842). Six Nights went through many editions and helped establish Arthur in the public eye as an author associated with the temperance movement. 1840 also saw Arthur place his first short tale in Godey’s Lady’s Book. Called ‘Tired of Housekeeping,’ its subject is a middle-class family who struggle to supervise recalcitrant cooks and servants.
Encouraged by his success, Arthur moved to Philadelphia in 1841 to be near the offices of America’s most popular home magazines. He continued to write tales for Godey’s and other periodicals. Almost yearly he issued collected editions of his tales and published novel-length narratives as well. He also authored children’s stories, conduct manuals, a series of state histories and even an income-tax primer. Interested in publishing a magazine under his own name, he launched the monthly Arthur’s Home Magazine in 1852. Helped by a very capable assistant, Virginia Townsend, the magazine survived until several years after Arthur’s death in 1885. The magazine featured Arthur’s own tales and other original fare, as well as articles and stories reprinted from other sources.
In 1854, Arthur published Ten Nights in a Bar Room. The story of a small¬town miller (perhaps based on Arthur’s father) who gives up his trade to open a tavern. The novel’s narrator is an infrequent visitor who over the course of several years traces the physical and moral decline of the proprietor, his family and the town’s citizenry due to Alcohol.
Arthur died in 1885 at the age of 75, at his home in Philadelphia. His death was attributed to ‘kidney troubles’.
An Angel in Disguise Summary Introduction
The story takes place in a village in the past where an unnamed pauper woman and the mother of three children who was greatly despised, scoffed at and angrily denounced by nearly every man, woman and child in the village, died infront of her children from drinking too much alcohol. On seeing their mother’s dying before their eyes, the three children named John, Kate and Maggie were utterly frightened. Despite the hatred, anger and denunciation, the villagers took pity on her.
As soon as the villagers heard the news of her death, they went hastily to the old tumbledown hut. Some of them brought with them grave-clothes for a decent burial of her body whereas some of them brought food for the half-starving children. Of these three children, John was a stout boy of twelve years old. He was able to earn his living with any farmer. Kate who was between ten and eleven, was a bright and active girl. But poor little Maggie who was the dead woman’s third child, was crippled for life as she had injured her spine two years ago. She was unable to leave her bed without the support of the arms of anyone.
Now, after the death of the pauper woman, a question rose before the villagers in the concern of the future of the children. The children could not be left to starve. When the matter was considered carefully by the farmer Jones, he, with the agreement of his wife, adopted John. Kate was taken in by Mrs. Ellis who was looking for a maid. But the youngest Maggie who was crippled, was not wanted by any one. She was left alone, the ladies in the neighbourhood brought the discarded clothes and removing her soiled and ragged clothes dressed her in clean attire. Maggie’s innocent looks attracted everybody but no one dared to take her in. After a discussion, it was decided that Maggie should be sent to the poorhouse where she would be kept clean, provided healthy food and given medical treatment.
The next day, after the burial of the pauper woamn, John and Kate were taken away by their new families. They bade goodbye to Maggie one last time. A few villagers who were stood at the miserable hovel of the pauper woman, began to return to their everyday business. The poor little Maggie who was left alone on her condition, was lying on her bed. Just beyond the threshold Joe Thompson, the wheelwright, stopped and said to the blacksmith’s wife who was hastening off with the rest, that it is a cruel thing to leave the girl in such a pitiable state. The blacksmith’s wife replied that she should be taken to the poorhouse and she went forward leaving Joe behind.
For a little while the man, Joe Thompson stood there with a puzzled air, then turned back and went into the hovel again. Maggie with painful effort, had raised herself to an upright position and was sitting on the bed, straining her eyes upon the door out of which all had just departed. A vague terror had come into her thin white face. On seeing Mr. Joe Thompson, Maggie begged him not to leave her there all alone. Though rough in exterior, Joe Thompson, the wheelwright was a kind-hearted man who liked and loved the children very much. He was pleased to have them come to his shop. He spoke to the innocent child in a kind voice that she should not be left there alone. Because of being overpowered with emotions for the little child, he picked her up, wrapped her gently in clean bed clothes and took her to his home.
Now, Joe’s wife who was childless was not a woman of saintly temper. She had seen her husband approaching through the window. When Joe entered his home with Maggie in his arms, his wife asked in anger why he had brought that sick brat. Joe felt that on hearing the angry voice of his wife, the child was badly frightened and shrank against him. Instead of replying to his wife, Mr. Joe threw a pleading look at his wife (It seemed that through his pleading look, he asked his wife to have patience and be gentle for the explanation).
Then, he carried Maggie to the small chamber on the first floor and laid her on a bed. Then, stepping back, he shut the door and stood face to face with his vinegar- tempered wife in the passage-way outside. Joe explained to her that after her mother’s funeral, everybody went away. She was left alone in her hut. He could not leave her in such a state, so he brought her here. Then he told her that he would take her to the poorhouse the next day. She told him to go at once and leave her there.
Joe preserved his patience and told his wife with an impressiveness of tone that he read in the Bible sometimes and found that much was said about little children. Continuing, he told her how Jesus rebuked the disciples who did not help the children and how he himself took up the children in his arms and blessed them and how he said that whosover gave them even a cup of cold water should not go unrewarded. Joe tried to persuade his wife saying that it was a very small thing for them to allow the poor, miserable and motherless child to stay in their home for a single night.
He kept on saying that they should be kind and sympathetic for the child and try to their best to make her life comfortable for a single night. While telling all this to his wife, Joe’s voice shook though he was a strong man and he turned his head away because he was so much overpowered with emotions that his eyes were wet with tears and he wanted to conceal his tears from his wife. Though Mrs. Thompson was unable to answer, she was touched to the core of her heart.
Without replying, Mrs. Thompson turned towards the little chamber where her husband had put Maggie on the bed. She opened the door and went quietly in. Joe did not follow her, but he found that her state had changed and felt that it would be best to leave her alone with the child. So he went to his shop, which stood near the house and worked until dusky evening released him from labour. When he returned his home, his attention was captured by a light shining through the little chamber. It seemed to him a good omen. He could not help going there and looking in.
When Joe looked through the window, he found that Maggie lay, a little raised on the pillow with the lamp shining full upon her face. Mrs. Thompson was sitting by the bed and was talking to the child, but her back was towards the window so that her countenance was not seen. Joe was able to read the character of their intercourse from Maggie’s face. Joe saw that Maggie’s eyes were intently fixed upon his wife. Joe saw nothing of bitterness and pain. This sight lifted a weight from his heart.
As Joe entered his home, he did not go immediately to the little chamber. His heavy tread towards the kitchen attracted his wife’s attention towards him and she hurriedly came to him from the little chamber of Maggie. Joe thought that at this time he should not talk to his wife about the child. He asked his wife about the supper. She replied that the supper would be ready soon. There was no asperity in her voice. Having washed the dust and soil of work from his hands and face, Joe left the kitchen and went to the little bedroom. Maggie looked at him tenderly, gratefully and pleadingly. Joe sat down beside her and examined the thin face carefully under the lamp light. He found that it was an attractive face, full of a childish sweetness. Taking her hand in his, he talked Maggie.
He asked her about the things which were related to her disease. Maggie told Mr. Joe everything frankly. When Mr. Joe was busy talking Maggie, he heard his wife who, looking into the room, told him that supper was ready. Joe glanced from his wife’s face to that of Maggie. She understood him and said that after taking their supper, she would brought her something to eat. There was an effort at indifference on the part of Mrs. Thompson, but her husband had seen her through the window and understood that the coldness was assumed. After sitting down to the table, Joe waited for his wife to introduce the subject. But Mrs. Thompson kept silent on that theme for many minutes. At last she asked Mr. Joe what he was going to do with that child. Joe replied her that she was to go to the poorhouse. Mrs. Thompson looked rather strangely at her husband and then dropped her eyes. The subject was not again referred to during the meal.
After they had taken their meal, Mrs. Thompson toasted a slice of bread and softened it with milk and butter and carried it to the little girl who felt extremely hungry. The child ate it with great pleasure. Mrs. Thompson asked Maggie if it was good. The child paused with the cup in her hand and answered with a look of gratitude that awoke to new old human feelings which had been slumbering in her heart for half a score of years. The next morning, at breakfast¬time, Mr. Thompson said that he must step down and talk to the Guardians of the Poorhouse about Maggie. In answer to her husband’s remark, Mrs. Thompson said that they would keep her a day or two longer as she was weak and helpless. Mr. Joe said that he would not mind if she allowed the poor girl to stay for a day or two.
Joe did not go to see the Guardians of the Poorhouse on that day, on the next day, nor on the day following. He thought that in less than a week, Mrs. Thompson would leave the thought of making Maggie leave. The little innocent girl Maggie brought to the home of Joe Thompson a great light and blessing. It had been dark, cold and miserable there for a long time just because his wife had nothing to love and care for out of herself. She had become so sore, irritable, ill-tempered and self-afflicting that she had lost her womanly nature.
Now the sweetness of that sick child was as honey to do her soul and now Mrs. Thompson carried Maggie in her heart as well as in her arms. The little girl was now a precious burden for her. This burden gave her great pleasure. Mr. Thompson considered himself more fortunate to have the girl in his home. Indeed, he had an angel in his house, disguised as a sick, helpless and miserable child who had filled all the dreary chambers of his, house with the sunshine of love. Maggie brought great happiness in the life of the couple.
An Angel in Disguise Summary Stanzawise Word-Meanings
Idleness = the state of doing nothing. Vice = bad or immoral behaviour or habits. Intemperance = the state of excessive indulgence in alcoholic beverages. Wretched = dejected; distressed. Threshold = a piece of wood, metal or stone forming the bottom of a door. Despised = looked down on with contempt or aversion. Scoffed = showed contempt by derisive acts or language; mocked. Denounced = criticized harshly and publicly. Nearly = almost. Passed lip = the news of her dealth spread. Subdued = not strong, loud, intense, etc. Tumble-down = readly to fall down; in a bad condition. Interment = burial. Stout = brave and strong. Lad = a boy or youngman.
Spine = the row of connected bones down the middle of the back. Starve = to suffer or die from lack of food. Pitying glances = sad looks. Soiled = dirty. Ragged = old and tom. Attire = clothing. Patient = able to remain clam. Bedridden = forced to stay in bed because of illness or weakness. Poorhouse = a place for poor people to live that is paid for by the taxes, donations, etc. Doctored = by given medical treatment. Hovel = a small, poorly built and often dirty house. Pauper = a very poor person who has no money to pay for food, clothing, etc. Ere = before. Hastily = hurriedly. Resolutely = firmly. Refraining = avoiding. Wheelwright = a maker and repairer of wheels and wheeled vehicles. Blacksmith = a person who makes or repairs things made of iron. Hastening = moving quickly.
Puzzled = confused. Vague = uncertain. Sleds = small vehicles that have a flat bottom or long, narrow strips of metal or wood on the bottom and that is used for moving over snow or ice. Stooping down = bending down. Saintly = like a holy person. Ruffling feathers = being irritated. Corded = tied. Springing = arising. Countenance = face. Intuition = a natural ability to know something. Resolute bearing = firm stand. Indignation = anger caused by something that is unfair or wrong. Fools’ errands = a task that has no hope of being done successfully. Irrepressible = impossible to hold back, stop, or control. Savior = redeemer; saver. Rebuked = scolded. Disciples = one of a group of twelve men who were sent out to spread the teachings of Jesus Christ. Crept = moved slowly. Unwonted eloquence = unusual ability to speak well.
Dusky = somewhat dark. Released = made free. Omen = something that is believed to be a sign or warning of something that will happen in the future. Intercourse = communication and actions between people. Intently = firmly. Asperity = harshness of behaviour or speech that expresses bitterness or anger. Obliterate = to destroy something completely so that nothing is left. Slumbering = sleeping. Almshouse = a privately financed home for the poor. Sore = angry or upset. Irritable = becoming angry or annoyed easily; easily exasperated or excited. Self-afflicting = causing pain or suffering to self. Desolation = extreme sadness caused by loss or loveliness. Gratitude = a feeling of appreciation or thanks. Precious = valuable. Dreary = causing unhappiness or sad feelings.
An Angel in Disguise Summary About the Writer
‘An Angel in Disguise’ is a short story written in 1951 by American author T.S. Arthur. The story is set against the backdrop of a poor rural village. It is the kind of place where everyone has problems of their own. Everyone tries to be good while living within their means. That’s why the death of a drunken beggar woman brings little sympathy from the villagers. The three orphaned children she leaves behind, however, deserve charity because they can’t fend for themselves. An Angel in Disguise’ plucks at the heartstrings, making readers question their capacity for charity and compassion.
The story is about love, kindness, human feelings and bereavement. It is about an angel with open heart and pure soul. At the beginning, this story is very sad, because three children : John, Kate and Maggie are left alone when their mother dies in a drunken fit right in front of their eyes. Maggie is the youngest child. She is hopelessly diseased, because two years before her mother’s death, she has fallen out of a window and has injured her spine. No one wants to take her to their house; no one wants to bother with her, except of Mr. Thompson. He takes a pure girl to his house and loves as his own child.
In the story, the author’s message is to help other people, because we should be kind, sympathetic and tender. We should help poor and hopelessly diseased child, because she can be an angel in disguise for us.
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