Notes of an Angel in Disguise

An Angel in Disguise
Extract I
Death touches the spring of our common humanity……..
tumble-down hut.

1. Which woman is referred to here? How did she die? Give

the meaning of death…humanity
The mother of the three children John, Kate and Maggie,
who was hated by everyone in their village. The woman died
of intoxication.
The sentence 'Death touches the spring of our common
humanity' means all humanity is afflicted by death. ...
And death is the blight that withers these flowers. In simple
words the sentence means all human beings in the world,
irrespective of their colour, religion, nationality, financial
status, etc, have to die one day.

2. What kind of relations did the woman have with others?

Why do you think it was so?
She did not have good relations with others. She was hated
by nearly everyone in his village. The reason for this could
be idleness, immoral behavior and her habit of excessive
drinking.

3. What changes occurred in the behaviour of the neighbours

after the woman's death?
The neighbour's attitude changed when they heard the news of
her death because they felt pity for her three children left
destitute and with no one to care for them after her death.
4. What kind of living conditions were the woman and her
children subjected to?
The woman and her children were not in a good condition. They
use to live in old-tumbled down hut which was not in a
good condition. She even Don't have decent clothes to wear
on her funeral and her children were starving.

5. What was the prospective future of the children after the

death of their mother? In their end of the story which child
do you think was surrounded with love? Why?
John , the oldest, a boy of twelve was adopted by farmer
Jones. Kate, a girl between ten and eleven was taken in by
Mrs Ellis. Maggie who had injured her spine two years ago
and was crippled for life, was not wanted by anyone. Still she
was the child who was surrounded by love
The youngest daughter of the unnamed poor woman who died
from excess alcohol consumption and considered an outcast by
the villagers), was adopted by Joe Thompson who knew that his
wife would oppose him doing this. He felt sorry for her and
loves children but he and his wife are unable to have kids.

Extract II
Pitying glances were cast…… a bed ridden child?
1. Who was glanced at with pity? Why?
Maggie was glanced at with pity because she looked
innocent but nobody wanted to take her, as she was crippled
for life.

2. Give the meaning of:

a) Her wan and wasted form
Maggie, the youngest child of the dead woman looked pale
and thin.
b) Even knocked at them for entrance
Maggie’s innocence and sadness attracted everybody
requesting them to take her.

3. Which incident made the child bed-ridden? Why did the

mothers bring cast-off garments for Maggie?
Two years ago Maggie had fallen from a window and had
injured her spine, this made her bed-ridden.
The mothers brought cast off garments for Maggie our of
sheer concern since she had lost her mother and had no one to
look after her needs. Thus the garments were brought in order
to wrap her in clean bed clothes

4. Which shelter was suggested by one of the neighbours for

the bed-ridden child? Why?
It was suggested that Maggie should be taken to the
poorhouse because for her it would be a blessed
change where she would be kept clean, given healthy food
and provided medical care.

5. What role does the child play in the life Joe Thompson?
After the arrival of Maggie, Joe Thompson’s life completely
changed. There was not a man in all the neighborhood who
drank daily of a more precious wine of life than he. An
angel, disguised as a sick, helpless, and miserable child,
entered his home and life and filled all its dreary chambers
with the sunshine of love.
 What role does the child play in the life of Jane Thompson?
Life of Mr and Mrs Thomspson had been dark, cold and
miserable because Mrs Thompson had nothing to love and
care for, and so became sore, irritable, ill-tempered, and
self-afflicting in the desolation of her woman’s nature. The
sweetness of the sick child, looking ever to her in love,
patience, and gratitude, was as honey to her soul, and she
carried her in her heart as well as in her arms, a precious
burden.

Extract III
It’s cruel thing to leave…….a vague terror had come into
her thin white face.

1.Who are having a conversation in the above extract? What

is the main topic of their conversation?
Joe Thompson and his wife were discussing the options that
would be best for Maggie since her mother had died.

2. Why was Maggie’s effort to raise herself painful?

It was because she was a crippled child who had injured her
spine two years ago by falling from a window.
3. What thought terrified Maggie? What did she exclaim to
Mr Thompson?
The thought of being left alone terrified Maggie. She cried
out to him that she should not be left there all alone.
5. Why do you think the man stood with a puzzled air? What
did he do when he went into the hovel?
 He was puzzled because he did not know what to do. Neither
did he want to leave Maggie alone, nor did he wish to send
her to the poor house. He was thus confused.
When he went into the hovel, he supported Maggie and told
her she would not be left there alone. He wrapped her
gently in clean bedclothes and took her home.
6. What kind of man was Joe Thompson? How can you say
so?
He was a rough and strong man from his looks. But unlike
his external appearance , he was a kind-hearted and
compassionate man. It was he who decided to take Maggie
home when everybody else in the village wanted her to be
sent to a poorhouse. He liked children and loved to spend
time with them. He was an intuitive man, who was aware of
a woman’s nature in general and his wife’s feelings in
particular. Joe Thompson was aware of the fact that his wife
would gradually accept Maggie into their home as their
daughter.
Extract IV
Mrs Thompson saw him approaching form the window…….
Love was springing into life.
1. Whom did Mrs Thompson see approaching? What
precious burden was he carrying? Why is the burden
precious?
She saw her husband Joe Thompson approaching. Maggie is
the precious burden he was carrying. The moment Joe took
her in arms he felt as if love had sprung into his life.
2. What did Mrs Thompson ask her husband? How did Joe
Thompson react to it?
Seeing the child in her husband’s arm, Mrs. Joe Thompson
sharply questioned: “What have you there?”
 Joe did not reply immediately but pleaded and cautioned his
wife with his looks, that asked her to be gentle. Joe spoke to
angry wife only after comfortably placing Maggie on a bed.
3. Describe Joe Thompson’s behavior since the day he
brought the sick child home?
Joe formed a bond with the child as soon as he lifted her in
his arms. Usually Joe Thompson kept rigidly silent in front
of his wife but that day he displayed a firmly-
set countenance and a resolute pair of eyes.
He also answered his wife with real indignation for Maggie ,
something which he never did before.
4. What reason did Joe Thompson give his wife for bringing
the child home?
Joe told his wife that he had brought Maggie home because
she could not have walked by herself to the poorhouse. He
would take her there the next day speaking to the guardians
of the poor house regarding it.
5.What was the reaction of Mrs Thompson when the sick
child was brought in? How did her attitude change later?
Mrs Thompson is hard-hearted at the beginning of the story.
She scorns at her husband for bringing the invalid child
home, but she is transformed at the end. It appears as if the
woman had turned bitter earlier because of being childless,
but as soon as the love of a child touches her, she is
transformed.

Extract V
Mrs Thompson did not reply, but presently turned
towards……. It was a good omen.
1. What made Mrs Thompson move towards Maggie in the
little chamber?
 The lover and concern that Joe reflected for Maggie made
his wife move towards Maggie in the little chamber.
He had told her how Christ rebuked those who would
not receive children with happiness. He reminded her of
Maggie’s dead mother and the loneliness, pain and sorrow,
which Maggie was undergoing at the moment. This
moistened his eyes and brought a change of heart in Mrs
Thompson.
2. Why did Joe consider light shining through the windows a
good omen?
Thus, the light shining through the window was seen as a
good omen because it suggested to Joe that his wife must be
spending time with the child. The light gave him hope and
positivity. The light symbolized to him the sunshine of love
that would now fall upon their home.
3. What did Joe see when he came back home from his shop?
Joe saw Maggie lying in a little raised position with the lamp
shining full upon her face. He saw his wife sitting
by Maggie’s bed and talking to her.
4. What did Joe gather from Maggie’s facial expression? To
what extent, did it relieve him?
From Maggie’s expressions Joe gathered that Jane was sad
and tender but not bitter toward the child.
This relieved him and he felt as if a weight had lifted from
his heart.

5. How did Joe behave on coming back home from his shop?
What did he ask his wife?
On coming back Joe acted ignorant; as if he does not know
of the love fostering between Maggie and his wife. He did
not go immediately to the little chamber but to the kitchen.
He did not ever refer to the child in front of his wife. Acting
indifferent towards Maggie he asked, “ How soon will
supper be ready?”