Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • An Angel in Disguise

    Uploaded by

    MARIAM LEELA
    22 views11 pages

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    22 views11 pages

    An Angel in Disguise

    Uploaded by

    MARIAM LEELA

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 11
    on Se To kn “ies Maur m Fo. Torpser Kake (io/i\= Mag ae (x ¢ om (ea) T.S. Arthur was a popular 19" century American w His stories, written with compassion and sens articulate and spread values and ideas that were as with ‘respectable, middle-class’ life in America. In his story, ‘An Angel in Disguise’ T.S. Arthur de the transformative and restorative power of selfless I relates the advent of Maggie, a frail young orphan lives of wheelwright Joe Thompson and his ‘ tempered’ wife Jane ...and the miraculous child’s presence has on the woman's character | happiness that she brings to her adoptive famil [6] Am Angel in Disguise TS. Arthur : ce ate eb erieaive idudgense hak a ws ot GR er al pamanall had done their mi = “7 work, and the dead mother lay cold a vs emia er win s -hildren. She had fallen upon the Gea rows : ; of hi in a drunken fit, and died er own door | in the presence of her, frightened little ones. Fiwt Hose, A pence Benth Lik ras eh pa) ne we cine nat woman had been by nearly every man, woman, and child in the village; but now, as the fact of, her death was passed from sighs tn tones, pity took the place of anger, and sorrow of ‘denunciation: Neighbors went to the old tumble-down hut, in which she had clothes for a decent interment of the body; and some with food for the half-starving children, three in, number. Of these, John, the oldest, a boy of twelve, was a stout lad, able to earn his living with any farmer. Kate, between ten and eleven, was * bright, active girl, out of whom something clever might be made, if in good hands, but poor little Maggie, the youngest, was y .d. Two years before a fall from a window had injured her spine, and she had not been able to leave her bed since, except when lifted in the arms of her mother. “What is to be done with the children?” That was the chief question now. The dead mother would go underground, and be forever beyond all care or concern of the villagers. .But the children must not be left to starve. After considering the matter, and talking it over with his wife, farmer Jones said that he would take John, and do well by him, now that his ka ass age, ebrerk™ ee and Mrs. Bilis, who had been ¢ t yo A d_ girl, conclud thet 4 d be. looking out ford 2 ie ney 2 he was too young to be of much use for saa years. “{ could do much better, | know,” said Mrs. Ellis; “but as no one seems to take her, | must act from a sense of duty expect to have trouble with the child; ap she’s an undisciplined thing—used to having her own, m way: Loks But no o said, “V'Il take Maggie.” * Pitying, glances were cast on her wa and thoughts were troubled on her account. Mothers, » Propght cast-off garments and, removing her soildd and ragged Cothes dressed her in clean attire. The sad eyes and patient face, of the i en eee s many hearts, and e' none opened to take her in. Who wanted a beds Sree. ph “Take her to Mike ppoothouse,” said a dhgn inan, of whom the question “What's to be done with Maggie?” was asked. “Nobody's going to be i “The poorhouse is a answered one. “For your, child gr m mine,’ said the other, eo speaking: “but for tis it will. oe a “a blessed chi i kept clean, have healthy food, and be be Pees Metre lips had toucnea ae ew - others went out, some glancing at Maggie, and some resolutely from a look, until all had gone. SI >was alone Just pepe beyond the threshold Joe Thompson, the paused, 7 and said to the bla : ife, who was hastening off, ee with the rest, -- forhan ow “It’s a cruel thing to leave her so.” d-¢ Ye PA “Then take her to the poorhouse: she’ll have to go there,” answered the blacksmith’s wife, springing away, and leaving 40 the OO gat Joe behind. yng Purnicdly-the wambed 40 sun ag agit is noty) For a little while the man stood witha EST then’ bao 6m he turned back, and went into the "hovel again. Maggie with painful effort, had raised herself to an upright position and bid was sitting on the bed, straining her eyes,upon the door out wot jof which all had just departed, A or had come into itt te, thin white face. } [ Teing Ault al one é, | i, Eb bow ahs es aa : i : 0 vc pes cat Sela gana breath, “don’t leave me here all alone!” Though rough in exterior, Joe Thompson, the wheelwright, had a heart, and der in ‘ . He liked. yshildren, and was pleased to have them come to his shop, “here sleds . and wagons pt toner, for the village lads without a $e on their pent: be Ong the anny? ve ar ry. waehia aes ave e answered, in a kind voice, ging, to the bed, and ¢ down over the child, “You sha’n't be left here alone,” Then he wrapped her with the gentleness almost of a woman, in the clean bedclothes which some neighbour had brought; and, lifting her in his strong arms, her out into the air and across the field that lay between the hovel and his home. wk Howe i 79, . Yi cadre V5: thanasten seth Topica lth aye tee” ¥ ca,,who happened to be chiles, ‘fe oe Thompspn's of Now, J Vite) TI him approaching from they, . Urrival..Mrs. Thom son Sal ae Fr + window, and with my him a few paces from Pith the door, as he opene' ; and he felt it to, be > itself around them tony ant love Nee springing into aude = pot daly » St woth corn Pariecnavawon thesety sharply ques Mrs. Thompson, fe) CAA We, Lor ak tainst him. He did not lead and cau “What have you {Joe felt the chil and, passing in, carried Maggie to the first floor, and laid her on a bed. Then, stepping back he at the door, and stood face to face with his 7 wife in the passage-way outside. wees. ko abe. thant har Lowe “You haven't brought home that sick brat!” Anger and astonishment were in the tones of Mrs. Joe Thompson; her ae mabey ant “Vithink women's hearts, ate . ‘ $\Joe. Usually rigidlysilent and subject; it was with sot encountered a firmly-set “Wome ‘sh dy now nga Joe saw, by a quick ee nation a os ner eyes steadily from the — at the funeral | 4 ore thd i | ae er alone in that old hut, with a Sun not an how i : “ 1 geenrg) “where were John and Kate?” asked Mrs, Thompson, “farmer Jones tossed John into his w; gate went home with Mrs. Ellis; but ae nobod: poot sick one. ‘Send her to the poothouse,’ was We . * neon. “Why didn’t you let her a - t did here for?” Sue agpass tte. That vee ma “She can’t walk to the poorhouse,” said Joe; “somebody's arms must carry her, and mine are strong enough for that task.” “Then why didn’t you keep on? Why did you stop here?” ceauned ae a tah Hae haplut ling Home AR MMUE IEr Mets map must first be seen, ends vn Aye + There was no gainsaying this. te hagneesse cst et rE Pn “Tomorrow” hasitanea. a Pobir@ie : — ptf i oma? ot ee ar eet to A. (bso. good thing ore me ne wn ee ET them ad hoy he said that ‘whosoever gave even a cup of Cold We, { should not g° unrewarded.’ Now, it is a small thing for us iy ove keep this poor motherless little one for a single night; to ‘ kind to her for a single night; to make el “ comfortable | is a single night.” wy una We The voice of the wo rough mag) m Sah in his head away, 50 that seen. Mrs. Thompson did ar, aol bi a into her heart. ain Janr th Omalasion, to ia ole wl ni ie “Look at ives ly, we speak to her Toe. trdin ink of her dead mother, and the loneliness, the pain, thew viata ae orrow, ow thapnust ef a her cl sch iw a p fa his heart gave unwonted eloquence eloquence ‘0 hi Mrs. Tapas ad fol Aisephitbat ly “but ai towards aoe the little chamber ee her husband had deposited Maggie; 3 rewal ye d, pushit yauigt Joe did not pwand, pus in, went) quietly in. Joe i follow; hs he tii e ad ged, and felt that it - Thompson was sitting by the bed t ) on “entering, & : : % “t_His heat “ about the ki e 7 e kitchen brou oper “oewhat hurriedly rom the room where she are heed M aggiey Jpe, thought it best not to refer irae 98 R ; to the child, nor to pwd i ny fel ard toher, fostora bryan oa) norves il - tying hom “tow Son wall Supper be'eady?” he asked, "7 “Right soon,” answe 's. Thom} inni Rights pson, beginnin, justle about. There was no in her voice, ~ After washing from his hands and face the dust and soil of work, Joe left the kitchen, and went to the little bedroon \ pair of large bright eyes looked up, at him from, the sno bed; looked at him. le a in heart swelled in his bosom! With what a q icker f the heart-beats! Joe sat and now, for the first time, examining the Ee under the lamp light, saw that it was an attractive face, and full ean sweetness which suffering had not been able to “Your name is Maggie?” he said, as he sat down and took — her soft little hand in his. “Yes, sir.” Her voice “Yes, sir.” mAgye : “Your side doesn’t ache now?’7o# “No, Sit-"Mapye “Does it ache a great deal?"Joe “Yes, sir; but it hasn't ached any since I've soft bed.” “Aye “The soft bed feels good.” Jue { yes, sir—so good!” What a ie ws whe we £ -jhe subject Uppermost in : we wy silent 0 that theme, For ho ht though as vod a like reserve, At last she Aig minutes, and he "nua 904 song to do with that child” ; anought YOu understood me that she w wuse.” replied . as if surprised at her he hg to the Wes Thom ed rather strangely at her h AOnie ected then dropped her pe ae __ not again referred to during the meal. At‘is te te * pnpsntls \ + nutter, adling, to.this a cup of tea, she took them in to ye and held the small waiter, on which she had lead Vt jan while the hungry child ate with every sign of pleasure, js it ?” asked Mrs, Thompson, seeing with what a

    You might also like