An Angel in Disguise
by T. S. Arthur
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T. S. Arthur's touching story shows how a simple act of kindness can transform lives. When a despised, drunken woman dies, she leaves three orphaned children. The villagers, whose anger turns to pity, take in the two able children, John (by Farmer Jones) and Kate (by Mrs. Ellis 'out of duty'), but no one wants Maggie, the sickly, bedridden youngest, whom they wish to send to the poorhouse. Joe Thompson, the rough but tender-hearted wheelwright, cannot bear to leave her alone and carries her home. His hard-tempered, childless wife Jane at first reacts with anger, but Joe gently appeals to her conscience, and left alone with the sweet, grateful child, her heart softens. Day by day, 'we'll keep her a little longer' becomes forever: Joe never goes to the Guardians of the Poor. Maggie's love and patience fill the once cold, miserable home 'with the sunshine of love', she is 'an angel… disguised as a sick, helpless… child'.
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'An Angel in Disguise' by T. S. Arthur is a moving, morally instructive story showing how a small act of kindness can bring light and love into a home. It centres on a sickly orphan, Maggie, and the rough but kind-hearted wheelwright who takes her in.
A death and three orphans
A woman despised by the whole village for her idleness and drunkenness dies in a drunken fit before her frightened children. In death, the villagers' anger turns to pity. She leaves three orphans: John, a stout boy of twelve; Kate, bright and active; and Maggie, the youngest, who is 'hopelessly diseased', bedridden with an injured spine after a fall.
Farmer Jones takes John, and Mrs. Ellis takes Kate 'out of a sense of duty'. But no one wants the sick, helpless Maggie; the cry is to 'take her to the poorhouse', which a rough man calls a 'blessed change' for her.
Joe Thompson's kindness
As everyone leaves Maggie alone in the wretched hut, Joe Thompson, the wheelwright, 'rough in exterior' but with a tender heart, cannot bear to abandon her. When she cries, 'don't leave me here all alone!', he wraps her gently and carries her home in his strong arms, a 'precious burden' around which 'love was springing into life'.
A wife's heart softens
Joe's hard-tempered, childless wife, Jane, reacts with anger, 'You haven't brought home that sick brat!' But Joe stands firm, gently reminding her of the child's loneliness and appealing to her conscience and to the Bible's words about little children. His shaking voice and tenderness make 'a soft feeling' creep into her heart, and she goes quietly in to the child.
Watching through the window, Joe sees Jane talking tenderly to Maggie. Her assumed 'coldness' melts as the grateful, sweet child eats the food she brings. 'We'll keep her a day or two longer,' Jane says, and that 'day or two' becomes forever.
The angel in disguise
Joe never goes to the Guardians of the Poor; in less than a week Jane would sooner enter the almshouse herself than send Maggie there. The sick child's sweetness, 'looking ever to her in love, patience, and gratitude', is 'as honey to her soul'.
The once dark, cold and miserable home is filled 'with the sunshine of love'. The story ends with the beautiful truth that 'an angel had come into his house, disguised as a sick, helpless, and miserable child', showing that in loving and caring for the helpless, we ourselves are blessed.