T. S. Arthur’s short story “An Angel in Disguise” deals with a poor little crippled girl called Maggie who was in a sad state after her mother’s death. Though the villagers agreed to take the responsibility of the two other siblings John and Kate, no one bothered to care for Maggie, as she had been sick and bed-ridden for two years due to a fall from a window. Everyone suggested to take the orphan girl to the poorhouse but none took the initiative.

After the funeral of her mother was over, everyone left the place leaving behind Maggie alone. Only one man, Joe Thompson had some feeling for the little girl and he took her home overcoming the fear of her ‘vinegar-tempered wife’.

Naturally, Mrs. Thompson was not happy initially and insisted Joe on taking the girl to the poorhouse. But gradually, she developed a soft corner for the girl. Actually, the Thompson couple was childless and probably years of loneliness made her short-tempered and irritable. Now, the sweetness of the little child, her look of love, patience and gratitude was “honey to her soul”.

… a look of gratitude that awoke to new human life old human feelings which had been slumbering in her heart for half a score of years.

So, Jane Thompson now found the child as a “precious burden” and carried her in her heart as well as in her hand. The girl finally brought a new ray of hope and joy in the woman’s life, as well as in the entire Thompson family. Though Maggie was a mere burden at the beginning, she turned out to be an angel in disguise for the family. The author thus concludes —

An angel had come into his house, disguised as a sick, helpless, and miserable child, and filled all its dreary chambers with the sunshine of love.

In this story, both Mr. Joe Thompson and Maggie can be regarded as the said angel in disguise. When Maggie is grieving for the death of her mother, she looks at Mr. Joe Thompson somewhat pleading him to help her.

“O, Mr. Thompson!” She cried out, catching her suspended breath, “ don’t leave me here all alone”

All the other villagers had left Maggie alone and had decided if nobody was to adopt Maggie, she would be sent to the orphanage

“Take her to the poorhouse” said a rough man, of whom the the question “What’s to be done with Maggie?” was asked.

Although Mr. Thompson was a man of a rough profession, his heart was not so. He loved children. As he stood outside the hovel, he thought of his wife’s reaction. She was a woman with a hellish temper. He knew she would not be very pleased at first but was also sure that behind all those layers of rage and her frozen heart, deep down was a mother, a childless mother ready to share her love and empathy. It was this love and empathy that he thought Maggie would find in his wife and thaw her heart.
Joe Thompson picked Maggie and took her home. Mrs. Thompson was not pleased at first sight.

“You haven’t brought home that sick brat!” Anger and astonishment were in the tones of Mrs. Joe Thompson; her face was in a flame.

Joe Thompson consoled his wife, asking her to put herself in Maggie’s shoes, feeling her emotions, what she must be going through. He requested her to be gentle and loving towards the child. Mrs. Thompson took relief on hearing that Joe would take her to the orphanage the next day.

On returning from work the next day, he saw through the window, his wife talking to Maggie. She had grown feelings for the poor girl and Mr. Joe Thompson could sense that in her even though she tried to hide them. The day Maggie was to be taken to the poorhouse kept getting extended endlessly by Mrs. Thompson and the day never came. The Thompsons took Maggie as their own.

Mrs. Thompson, the once vinegar tempered woman, was now a loving mother.

Thus, Maggie was an angel in disguise for the Thompsons.

For me, in this story, Joe Thompson is the angel in disguise. Though this has been directly stated for Maggie, as avid readers, we should look deeper in the story. Not only Maggie proved to be an angel for the childless couple, but Joe Thompson also proved to be no less than an Angel for her. Maggie, a bed-ridden child, had lost not only her mother, but also her siblings. Nobody in the village agreed to take Maggie since she could be of no use to them. It is even suggested that she could be taken to the poorhouse because nobody would want to take care of her “wan and wasted form”.

Thus, Maggie was left alone and then it was angel like Joe Thompson who felt it to be cruel gesture. The writer has represented Mr. Thompson with angel-like qualities. He was a man with tender heart. He loved children a lot. He also mentioned teachings of bible to his wife to be kind enough to let Maggie stay in her house only for a night. Thompson took in Maggie out of sheer concern and affection, looked after her and took care, also provided her food and a soft bed and provided her all kind of comfort and love. Maggie, who had been attributed as an angel in disguise by the writer (T. S. Arthur), met an unexpected happy life through him. The orphan, sick, poor bedridden child not only got food and shelter but also the unconditional love from both Mr. and Mrs. Thompson (parent-like figures). Thus, Joe Thompson can undoubtedly be seen as an Angel of God who made Maggie’s life worth living.

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