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An Angel in Disguise
An Angel in Disguise by T.S. Arthur.
An Angel in Disguise (1851) was featured in Arthur's collection, After a Shadow and Other Stories."The sweetness of that 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."
An Angel in Disguise (1851) was featured in Arthur's collection, After a Shadow and Other Stories."The sweetness of that 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."
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First published January 1, 1851
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About the author
T.S. Arthur
513 books6 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Timothy Shay Arthur was a popular 19th-century American author. He is famously known for his temperance novel Ten Nights in a Bar-Room and What I Saw There, which helped demonize alcohol in the eyes of the American public. Founder of the magazines Arthur's Home Gazette, Arthur's Home Magazine, and The Children's Hour, and editor of the Baltimore Athenaeum and Baltimore Saturday Visitor.
Timothy Shay Arthur was a popular 19th-century American author. He is famously known for his temperance novel Ten Nights in a Bar-Room and What I Saw There, which helped demonize alcohol in the eyes of the American public. Founder of the magazines Arthur's Home Gazette, Arthur's Home Magazine, and The Children's Hour, and editor of the Baltimore Athenaeum and Baltimore Saturday Visitor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 4, 2023
A drunken woman stumbles and falls on her own doorstep, and subsequently dies soon after in front of her three young children, leaving them orphans.
There being no other family, John, a big strong boy, was taken by Farmer Jones to help on the land, Katy was taken by Mrs Ellis who was looking for help around the house, but who on earth would take Maggie, the youngest of the three children, for not only was she too young to work, but she was also bedridden.
Nobody wanted to take her, and there was talk of sending her to the poorhouse. On the day of their mother’s funeral, along came kind hearted wheelwright Joe Thompson, who promptly carried Maggie across the fields and back to his home. But his wife might have other ideas!
Written in 1851, this is such a sweet and heartwarming story.
There being no other family, John, a big strong boy, was taken by Farmer Jones to help on the land, Katy was taken by Mrs Ellis who was looking for help around the house, but who on earth would take Maggie, the youngest of the three children, for not only was she too young to work, but she was also bedridden.
Nobody wanted to take her, and there was talk of sending her to the poorhouse. On the day of their mother’s funeral, along came kind hearted wheelwright Joe Thompson, who promptly carried Maggie across the fields and back to his home. But his wife might have other ideas!
Written in 1851, this is such a sweet and heartwarming story.
June 25, 2022
In this story, T.S. Arthur stresses the importance of loving and caring for others. He conveys his idea through the story of a poor woman who falls upon the threshold of her own door in a drunken fit and dies leaving behind two daughters and a son to fend for themselves. The townspeople take pity on these children and the two oldest are taken in by two families, but the youngest, Maggie, who is crippled, is left alone because no one wants to deal with her disability. A man named Joe Thompson decides to take her in for the night but plaris on taking her to the poorhouse the next morning, because he knows his wife would not approve of her. When Joe brings Maggie home in arms, his wife is enraged that he brings that 'sick brat' into her house.
Joe begs his wife to treat her kindly. While Joe is out at work, Mrs Thompson spends the day with Maggie and develops compassion for her. Later then she grows fond of her. The Thompsons end up keeping Maggie and she becomes a blessing. Maggie was actually AN ANGEL IN DISGUISE for Thompsons.
The author wrote this story in order to illustrate the importance of caring and loving. The story displays that humans are interdependent, can't live in isolation and proves that love is essential for human survival💕😊
Joe begs his wife to treat her kindly. While Joe is out at work, Mrs Thompson spends the day with Maggie and develops compassion for her. Later then she grows fond of her. The Thompsons end up keeping Maggie and she becomes a blessing. Maggie was actually AN ANGEL IN DISGUISE for Thompsons.
The author wrote this story in order to illustrate the importance of caring and loving. The story displays that humans are interdependent, can't live in isolation and proves that love is essential for human survival💕😊
January 3, 2016
The Absence of Love is What Plagues
T.S. Arthur was often regarded as a literator of unrefined taste, and lack of brilliance, which was claimed to have been the reason why he was not as well known as most American authors, during the 19th century. However, despite the derogatory assessment, T.S. Arthur was also appraised for his realism, simplicity, and sentimental/moral poignancy in his genre of nonfiction and fictional stories, that many found reassuring. All of these qualities mentioned are apparent in one of his more demure, yet enchanting works, An Angel in Disguise. An Angel in Disguise recounts one of the more troubling times in America; set in a small village, where life is made difficult. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, who are the “heroes” in the short story, rescue a young child by the name of Maggie, who is ill, bedridden, and unable bodied. Because no one else takes the initiative to help this young child, Mr. Thompson takes it upon himself to. Mr. Thompson is revered as an older quiet, kind soul, who resides with his wife, who is introduced as one who holds a temper, and a bitter attitude. Maggie is the “angel in disguise”, and is an ailing, innocent, young girl, who yearns for love, and acceptance.
The root problem that drives the story is the absence of love in both Maggie, and Mr. and Mrs. Thompson's life. In Maggie’s case, it is the absence of love from a parental figure, and in the Thompson’s situation, it is the absence of love from a child that has plagued their relationship, and their lives; with the passing of Maggie’s mother, also comes the scattering of her siblings into other families, and her foreboding loneliness, the Thompson’s in turn, are unable to bear children, which stimulates the bitter and tempered demeanor of Mrs. Thompson. The gray town is overcome with pity for the children, despite their scorn towards the children’s now deceased mother, they pay their respects and some decide to care for the fending children. However, no one decided to care for Maggie, the bed ridden ill-borne; whispers of pity and charitable words were often uttered, but none were taken into action. That is until, the heart of Mr. Thompson went out to the young ailing girl, who grabbed hold of it in her paling grip, frightened of loneliness. Mr. Thompson returned home with Maggie, and laid her to sleep, at first, his sullen wife did not approve of the harboring of such a child, but after some time spent with her, and the sudden, unexpected rise of resistance from her husband, she grew to care for the child, and the hole in heart which propelled all the waves of bitter anger, and pain of being infertile was filled with what their family so longed for, a child. And in sequence, the child had what she had always so longed for, someone to stay by her bedside. Maggie was their “angel in disguise”.
This story was one that held promise of a somber tale, but it delivered that somber, sincere quality in a way that was bursting with tender affection. The saying that love binds all things, has never been more legitimate, after reading T.S. Arthur’s An Angel in Disguise. The absence of such love truly did plague the lives of the Thompson's, and Maggie. Notwithstanding the negative comments against Arthur’s writing, this story was pieced together with articulate brilliance, and honest morale; a realistic depiction of the deprivation of love, in the hearts of both the young, Maggie, and old, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson. A tale to remind us of the importance of love in everyone’s lives.
I would recommend this book to young adults, because many, in this day and age, are oblivious to this very real concern, and choose to ignore their family. Reading this book, has encouraged me to look for other stories that have a realistic, simple, and heart-warming spirit. The absence of love is what plagues the old and the young of us; love is the purest and strongest entity, in its absence great pain is capable, and in its presence great good is capable.
T.S. Arthur was often regarded as a literator of unrefined taste, and lack of brilliance, which was claimed to have been the reason why he was not as well known as most American authors, during the 19th century. However, despite the derogatory assessment, T.S. Arthur was also appraised for his realism, simplicity, and sentimental/moral poignancy in his genre of nonfiction and fictional stories, that many found reassuring. All of these qualities mentioned are apparent in one of his more demure, yet enchanting works, An Angel in Disguise. An Angel in Disguise recounts one of the more troubling times in America; set in a small village, where life is made difficult. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, who are the “heroes” in the short story, rescue a young child by the name of Maggie, who is ill, bedridden, and unable bodied. Because no one else takes the initiative to help this young child, Mr. Thompson takes it upon himself to. Mr. Thompson is revered as an older quiet, kind soul, who resides with his wife, who is introduced as one who holds a temper, and a bitter attitude. Maggie is the “angel in disguise”, and is an ailing, innocent, young girl, who yearns for love, and acceptance.
The root problem that drives the story is the absence of love in both Maggie, and Mr. and Mrs. Thompson's life. In Maggie’s case, it is the absence of love from a parental figure, and in the Thompson’s situation, it is the absence of love from a child that has plagued their relationship, and their lives; with the passing of Maggie’s mother, also comes the scattering of her siblings into other families, and her foreboding loneliness, the Thompson’s in turn, are unable to bear children, which stimulates the bitter and tempered demeanor of Mrs. Thompson. The gray town is overcome with pity for the children, despite their scorn towards the children’s now deceased mother, they pay their respects and some decide to care for the fending children. However, no one decided to care for Maggie, the bed ridden ill-borne; whispers of pity and charitable words were often uttered, but none were taken into action. That is until, the heart of Mr. Thompson went out to the young ailing girl, who grabbed hold of it in her paling grip, frightened of loneliness. Mr. Thompson returned home with Maggie, and laid her to sleep, at first, his sullen wife did not approve of the harboring of such a child, but after some time spent with her, and the sudden, unexpected rise of resistance from her husband, she grew to care for the child, and the hole in heart which propelled all the waves of bitter anger, and pain of being infertile was filled with what their family so longed for, a child. And in sequence, the child had what she had always so longed for, someone to stay by her bedside. Maggie was their “angel in disguise”.
This story was one that held promise of a somber tale, but it delivered that somber, sincere quality in a way that was bursting with tender affection. The saying that love binds all things, has never been more legitimate, after reading T.S. Arthur’s An Angel in Disguise. The absence of such love truly did plague the lives of the Thompson's, and Maggie. Notwithstanding the negative comments against Arthur’s writing, this story was pieced together with articulate brilliance, and honest morale; a realistic depiction of the deprivation of love, in the hearts of both the young, Maggie, and old, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson. A tale to remind us of the importance of love in everyone’s lives.
I would recommend this book to young adults, because many, in this day and age, are oblivious to this very real concern, and choose to ignore their family. Reading this book, has encouraged me to look for other stories that have a realistic, simple, and heart-warming spirit. The absence of love is what plagues the old and the young of us; love is the purest and strongest entity, in its absence great pain is capable, and in its presence great good is capable.
February 13, 2022
“An Angel in Disguise” is an uncomplicated account of a crippled girl child being left motherless, being picked by wheelwright Joe Thompson and the little girl being able to alter Joe’s wife Jane from a short tempered and irritable lady to a sweet natured one and filling the household of Joe Thompson with all the ecstasy and cheerfulness.
T. S. Arthur through this simple story is able to make a critical commentary of the nature of mankind — we are mostly selfish and do things which serve our own interests. When farmer Jones and Mrs. Ellis decide to adopt John and Kate respectively, they do so not out of their love for these children, but thought that they will get people to work for them for free - one as a helping hand in the farm and the other as a maid. But when Joe Thompson decides to take Maggie home, it is purely out of selfless love as he could not see a sweet girl like Maggie suffering with no one to take care of her.
This act of selfless love of Joe Thompson is rewarded by Maggie as she is able to transform Jane Thompson into a sweet natured lady. The restorative power of innocent love of Maggie is presented in the story in such a way that she seems to be an angel who has the power in her to transform things for good.
But Maggie is the one who is neglected by all the villagers thinking that she is a fragile and crippled child and therefore of no use to anyone. The irony of the situation makes us wonder at the human behaviour and makes us understand that we should listen to our heart as Joe Thompson does to get the light of bliss in our lives.
The setting of the story is very significant. It is set in a village where everyone knows each other and people pour in to help each other. In the beginning of the story we are told that people used to hate and despise Maggie’s mother: but as soon as she dies, the villagers pour in to help the three motherless children.
It is interesting to note that Joe and Jane are childless. Moreover, Jane Thompson has become very short tempered and irritable because of that. Maggie’s arrival makes their life joyous and fulfilling — as if she fills the gap in the Thompson household. She is an angel who comes from nowhere and with her sweet nature makes Jane Thompson come back to her real loving self. Thus, T. S. Arthur creates the perfect setting for the story “An Angel in Disguise” which makes us enjoy reading the tale.
Arthur uses a ideal atmosphere in a village set up to present the theme of selfless love in such a manner which would make readers enjoy the story to the utmost. Little crippled girl Maggie is left orphan after her mother’s death to be sent to the poor house as the villagers decide to do so. But Joe Thompson picks her up and takes her home where she is instrumental in changing the ‘vinegar’ tempered Jane Thompson into an amicable lady and fill the household with joy.
She is an angel in disguise for Jane and Joe Thompson.
T. S. Arthur starts the story in a sad note with the death of Maggie’s mother and ends the story where Maggie with her sweet nature is able to renovate a lady of ‘vinegar’ disposition to a sweet natured one.
T. S. Arthur through this simple story is able to make a critical commentary of the nature of mankind — we are mostly selfish and do things which serve our own interests. When farmer Jones and Mrs. Ellis decide to adopt John and Kate respectively, they do so not out of their love for these children, but thought that they will get people to work for them for free - one as a helping hand in the farm and the other as a maid. But when Joe Thompson decides to take Maggie home, it is purely out of selfless love as he could not see a sweet girl like Maggie suffering with no one to take care of her.
This act of selfless love of Joe Thompson is rewarded by Maggie as she is able to transform Jane Thompson into a sweet natured lady. The restorative power of innocent love of Maggie is presented in the story in such a way that she seems to be an angel who has the power in her to transform things for good.
But Maggie is the one who is neglected by all the villagers thinking that she is a fragile and crippled child and therefore of no use to anyone. The irony of the situation makes us wonder at the human behaviour and makes us understand that we should listen to our heart as Joe Thompson does to get the light of bliss in our lives.
The setting of the story is very significant. It is set in a village where everyone knows each other and people pour in to help each other. In the beginning of the story we are told that people used to hate and despise Maggie’s mother: but as soon as she dies, the villagers pour in to help the three motherless children.
It is interesting to note that Joe and Jane are childless. Moreover, Jane Thompson has become very short tempered and irritable because of that. Maggie’s arrival makes their life joyous and fulfilling — as if she fills the gap in the Thompson household. She is an angel who comes from nowhere and with her sweet nature makes Jane Thompson come back to her real loving self. Thus, T. S. Arthur creates the perfect setting for the story “An Angel in Disguise” which makes us enjoy reading the tale.
Arthur uses a ideal atmosphere in a village set up to present the theme of selfless love in such a manner which would make readers enjoy the story to the utmost. Little crippled girl Maggie is left orphan after her mother’s death to be sent to the poor house as the villagers decide to do so. But Joe Thompson picks her up and takes her home where she is instrumental in changing the ‘vinegar’ tempered Jane Thompson into an amicable lady and fill the household with joy.
She is an angel in disguise for Jane and Joe Thompson.
T. S. Arthur starts the story in a sad note with the death of Maggie’s mother and ends the story where Maggie with her sweet nature is able to renovate a lady of ‘vinegar’ disposition to a sweet natured one.
September 13, 2020
"As his arms held the sick child to his breast, a sphere of tenderness went out from her and penetrated his feeling."
Wow! This is a very beautiful story which brings emotion to the people who read it. It shows people's way of thinking. An Angel in Disguise, with its strong vocabulary, complex sentences, realistic setting and vivid point of views stresses on the importance of love and care in one’s life; how love drives out even the darkest and deepest bitterness out of a person.
The story revolves around a small poor and a bedridden girl named Maggie who is been abandoned by the villagers after her mother's death who died of excessive consumption of alcohol and idleness.
Maggie's siblings are taken by other villager but she is left alone because of her conditions. It is then when Joe Thompson a poor wheelwright of the village takes her at his home for a night and they rest you all can read for it is so amazing and pure.
The author has shown the reality of our society in a stark light; it’s evilness, cruelty, the judgmental eyes and reproachful towards literally everything. Each character strikes a chord in your heart with either it’s downright cruelty or with its kindness and unconditional love.
The descriptions are so vivid that it you feel each and every bit of the story.
In all it is a must read!!!
Wow! This is a very beautiful story which brings emotion to the people who read it. It shows people's way of thinking. An Angel in Disguise, with its strong vocabulary, complex sentences, realistic setting and vivid point of views stresses on the importance of love and care in one’s life; how love drives out even the darkest and deepest bitterness out of a person.
The story revolves around a small poor and a bedridden girl named Maggie who is been abandoned by the villagers after her mother's death who died of excessive consumption of alcohol and idleness.
Maggie's siblings are taken by other villager but she is left alone because of her conditions. It is then when Joe Thompson a poor wheelwright of the village takes her at his home for a night and they rest you all can read for it is so amazing and pure.
The author has shown the reality of our society in a stark light; it’s evilness, cruelty, the judgmental eyes and reproachful towards literally everything. Each character strikes a chord in your heart with either it’s downright cruelty or with its kindness and unconditional love.
The descriptions are so vivid that it you feel each and every bit of the story.
In all it is a must read!!!
December 19, 2017
Love is a blessing only the luckiest receive.
I had never heard T.S Arthur's name before I chanced upon this beautiful story. And now I'm going to try and read as many of his works as I can get my hands upon. What he has done with this story has filled my heart with joy.
The story opens with a tragedy that befalls the lives of three children. Two of them are fit and capable of hard work. The third is rendered a dependent after suffering from a spinal injury. The other siblings are adopted into families that can put them to use but no one wants the third child. There are such few people in the world who find enough kindness in their hearts to care for a sick and helpless child, as is shown time and again.
But a farmer finds the child and takes her back to his home. His wife, a woman described as 'vinegar-tempered', is shocked to find her husband with the child. But the power of love is immense. This story is testament to the fact that Love can melt even the hardest of hearts.
What nature couldn't give to the farmer and his wife, they found as fruit of a tragedy. Love has the power to bring people together. No wonder, in recent years, the lack of love is bringing so much trouble in the world.
The ending brought happy tears in my eyes. Will definitely read again.
I had never heard T.S Arthur's name before I chanced upon this beautiful story. And now I'm going to try and read as many of his works as I can get my hands upon. What he has done with this story has filled my heart with joy.
The story opens with a tragedy that befalls the lives of three children. Two of them are fit and capable of hard work. The third is rendered a dependent after suffering from a spinal injury. The other siblings are adopted into families that can put them to use but no one wants the third child. There are such few people in the world who find enough kindness in their hearts to care for a sick and helpless child, as is shown time and again.
But a farmer finds the child and takes her back to his home. His wife, a woman described as 'vinegar-tempered', is shocked to find her husband with the child. But the power of love is immense. This story is testament to the fact that Love can melt even the hardest of hearts.
What nature couldn't give to the farmer and his wife, they found as fruit of a tragedy. Love has the power to bring people together. No wonder, in recent years, the lack of love is bringing so much trouble in the world.
The ending brought happy tears in my eyes. Will definitely read again.
March 5, 2018
I’m not really sure if I would recommend this or not, I guess it depends on the person. I have mixed feelings because they were aspects that I really enjoyed, and there were aspects that I really did not care for. One of the things I really enjoyed was how in the end of the story acknowledges that Maggie is more than just her injury or illness. She is not a burden, she is a person, a child who needs a lot of help yes, but is so bright and strong for such a young child. In Maggie’s short life she has had to deal with her injury, her mother’s alcoholism, being half starved, her mother’s death, losing her two siblings, and being unwanted by the majority of the village people. The fact that she can be so bright after going through so much really shows the strength Maggie has. One of the aspects I really did not like was that Jane Thompson was written as if by being childless she was damaged. Arthur wrote that because Jane had no child she was an angry and sad woman. While I do believe that Maggie did bring light and happiness to the home, I did not like that the one of the overall messages was that if women do not have children that are going to be bitter and mean, as if they overall purpose is to have children. She is written as if having children is the only way for her to have purpose and happiness in her life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2017
“An Angel in Disguise” is a fictional short story written by T.S. Arthur. The main characters we meet in the story are John, Katy, Maggie, Mrs. Ellis, farmer Jones, Joe Thompson and his wife Jane Thompson. The protagonist of the story is Maggie, ‘an angel in disguise’, who changed the Thompsons’s life. This short story was well written, and I enjoyed it.
This story was good, but it wasn’t my favourite. I think the author did a good job, it is well written, but I usually don’t read this type of story. I think the author should have gone into more detail, and maybe explained the characters more, and their thoughts. --- Diane ™
This story was good, but it wasn’t my favourite. I think the author did a good job, it is well written, but I usually don’t read this type of story. I think the author should have gone into more detail, and maybe explained the characters more, and their thoughts. --- Diane ™
November 7, 2017
Wow! It was a wonderful & a great story to read. I wonder why itt doesn't have any cover. But I liked the way the author described about that physically ill and helhelpless little girl Maggie. It feel really good when you know that there's still some people exist who do love to rescue or say to help the poor innocent...
Graeat short tale, from me 5 out of 5...
Graeat short tale, from me 5 out of 5...
December 16, 2016
Beautiful, heart wrenching short story. Love and compassion for others will nurture our hearts into being our best selves.
December 22, 2016
A sweet short story.
May 2, 2018
Heartfelt story of mothers care for children
April 1, 2019
What a sweet story!
September 15, 2020
Miracles are alive and abundant and sometimes you just have to act to receive their blessings. What could I say that the T.S. Arthur didn't already say in the last paragraph...
"What light and blessing did that sick and helpless child bring to the home of Joe Thompson, the poor wheelwright! It had been dark, and cold, and miserable there for a long time just because his wife had nothing to love and care for out of herself, and so became sore, irritable, ill-tempered, and self-afflicting in the desolation of her woman's nature. Now the sweetness of that 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. As for Joe Thompson, there was not a man in all the neighborhood who drank daily of a more precious wine of life than he. 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."
"What light and blessing did that sick and helpless child bring to the home of Joe Thompson, the poor wheelwright! It had been dark, and cold, and miserable there for a long time just because his wife had nothing to love and care for out of herself, and so became sore, irritable, ill-tempered, and self-afflicting in the desolation of her woman's nature. Now the sweetness of that 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. As for Joe Thompson, there was not a man in all the neighborhood who drank daily of a more precious wine of life than he. 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."
August 15, 2016
Lovely short story. I was enchanted by its beautiful, if suburban type of love. I really felt kindled by this story. I don't care what people say about the author. I was greatly happy to read this short gem. You could do much worse than reading it. 4 stars.
March 16, 2016
Great little read!
February 15, 2018
I have arranged my thoughts on this short story into a haiku:
"Dispelling a lack,
Two negatives together
Make something greater."
"Dispelling a lack,
Two negatives together
Make something greater."
April 8, 2017
A sentimental short story that warmed my heart.
December 15, 2017
must read
Read
May 17, 2019a heart warming read.
January 4, 2025
An Angel in Disguise karya T.S. Arthur cerita dimulai dengan kematian seorang ibu dari tiga anak, John, Kate, dan Maggie. Beberapa keluarga di desa memutuskan untuk merawat John dan Kate, tetapi tidak ada yang ingin mengadopsi Maggie karena disabilitasnya. Pada awalnya, para penduduk desa berencana mengirim Maggie ke rumah penampungan sosial, tetapi Joe Thompson bersikeras untuk membawanya pulang. Awalnya, istrinya, Jane, marah dan mempertanyakan keputusan suaminya. Namun, perkataan tulus Joe meluluhkan hatinya, dan akhirnya ia setuju. Seiring waktu, Jane mulai menyayangi Maggie, tersentuh oleh kelembutan dan kerapuhannya. Ini menjadi titik balik bagi keluarga Thompson, karena rumah mereka berubah menjadi tempat yang hangat dan penuh berkah berkat kehadiran Maggie.
Saya sangat menyukai cerita ini karena ditulis dengan sangat indah sehingga mampu menyentuh perasaan saya. Saya sering kali terenyuh dengan cerita tentang kebaikan dan cinta. Kehangatan dan hal-hal indah yang dapat dilakukan manusia mengajarkan saya bagaimana menjalani hidup sekaligus sebagai pengingat untuk memperlakukan orang lain dengan penuh kasih sayang.
Cerita ini memberikan saya perspektif baru tentang kehidupan. Saya menyadari bahwa kita tidak boleh menilai orang lain berdasarkan penampilan mereka. Kita harus selalu memperlakukan orang lain dengan kebaikan, karena itulah kunci kebahagiaan, seperti yang ditunjukkan dalam kehidupan keluarga Thompson setelahnya: “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.”(p.73)
Sikap para penduduk desa memperlakukan Maggie dengan jelas menggambarkan bagaimana masyarakat memandang individu dengan disabilitas—mereka sering diabaikan dan dianggap sebagai beban. Hal ini terlihat dalam kalimat, “But none opened to take her in. Who wanted a bed-ridden child?” (p.5) dan “Nobody’s going to be bothered with her.” (p.5). Menurut saya, pandangan ini sangat tidak pantas, karena hal ini mengurangi nilai kemanusiaan orang-orang dengan disabilitas dan hanya menganggap mereka seperti barang yang rusak.
Saya sulit menjelaskan mengapa cerita ini begitu menyentuh saya hingga saya meneteskan air mata setelah selesai membacanya. Mungkin karena cerita ini sangat sesuai dengan apa yang saya cita-citakan. Saya ingin membantu orang lain dan mempertahankan kebaikan, bahkan ketika segalanya terasa berantakan. Bahkan dalam momen ketidakpastian, saya percaya bahwa kebaikan adalah jalan yang benar. Sentimen ini tercermin dalam renungan Alkitab Joe Thompson: “I read in the Bible sometimes, and find much said about little children. How the Savior rebuked the disciples who would not receive them… Now, it is a small thing for us to keep this poor motherless little one for a single night; to be kind to her for a single night; to make her life comfortable for a single night.”(p.33). Saya sepenuhnya mendukung pandangan ini, karena sejalan dengan ajaran Nabi Muhammad SAW yang menekankan untuk menyebarkan kebaikan dan menghindari kebencian.
An Angel in Disguise karya T.S. Arthur menyampaikan makna sebenarnya dari kebaikan dan cinta. Menurut saya, apa yang dilakukan T.S. Arthur sangat luar biasa, karena kedua hal tersebut begitu berharga dan mampu mengubah cara pandang seseorang terhadap kehidupan, bahkan mungkin membawa berkah yang tersembunyi.
Saya sangat menyukai cerita ini karena ditulis dengan sangat indah sehingga mampu menyentuh perasaan saya. Saya sering kali terenyuh dengan cerita tentang kebaikan dan cinta. Kehangatan dan hal-hal indah yang dapat dilakukan manusia mengajarkan saya bagaimana menjalani hidup sekaligus sebagai pengingat untuk memperlakukan orang lain dengan penuh kasih sayang.
Cerita ini memberikan saya perspektif baru tentang kehidupan. Saya menyadari bahwa kita tidak boleh menilai orang lain berdasarkan penampilan mereka. Kita harus selalu memperlakukan orang lain dengan kebaikan, karena itulah kunci kebahagiaan, seperti yang ditunjukkan dalam kehidupan keluarga Thompson setelahnya: “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.”(p.73)
Sikap para penduduk desa memperlakukan Maggie dengan jelas menggambarkan bagaimana masyarakat memandang individu dengan disabilitas—mereka sering diabaikan dan dianggap sebagai beban. Hal ini terlihat dalam kalimat, “But none opened to take her in. Who wanted a bed-ridden child?” (p.5) dan “Nobody’s going to be bothered with her.” (p.5). Menurut saya, pandangan ini sangat tidak pantas, karena hal ini mengurangi nilai kemanusiaan orang-orang dengan disabilitas dan hanya menganggap mereka seperti barang yang rusak.
Saya sulit menjelaskan mengapa cerita ini begitu menyentuh saya hingga saya meneteskan air mata setelah selesai membacanya. Mungkin karena cerita ini sangat sesuai dengan apa yang saya cita-citakan. Saya ingin membantu orang lain dan mempertahankan kebaikan, bahkan ketika segalanya terasa berantakan. Bahkan dalam momen ketidakpastian, saya percaya bahwa kebaikan adalah jalan yang benar. Sentimen ini tercermin dalam renungan Alkitab Joe Thompson: “I read in the Bible sometimes, and find much said about little children. How the Savior rebuked the disciples who would not receive them… Now, it is a small thing for us to keep this poor motherless little one for a single night; to be kind to her for a single night; to make her life comfortable for a single night.”(p.33). Saya sepenuhnya mendukung pandangan ini, karena sejalan dengan ajaran Nabi Muhammad SAW yang menekankan untuk menyebarkan kebaikan dan menghindari kebencian.
An Angel in Disguise karya T.S. Arthur menyampaikan makna sebenarnya dari kebaikan dan cinta. Menurut saya, apa yang dilakukan T.S. Arthur sangat luar biasa, karena kedua hal tersebut begitu berharga dan mampu mengubah cara pandang seseorang terhadap kehidupan, bahkan mungkin membawa berkah yang tersembunyi.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2021
‘’An Angel in Disguise’’ (1851) by TS. Arthur is one of the greatest, heart-warming stories ever written with the theme of compassion and perfectly emphasizes ‘’love has the power to overcome any obstacles and even a coldest hearted person may be softened by unconditional love’’ while also giving ‘’drinking is evil’’ message. The story, set on a dark, gloomy place in an impoverished rural town at the uncertain time of the nineteenth century, begins with the death of an unnamed woman cause of excessive drinking and continues with the question of what will happen to her children, especially her disabled daughter Maggie. The story shows how people can be brutal about orphans and how their attitudes can change. ‘’ An Angel in Disguise’’ tells that alcoholism brings sorrow and irresponsibility. Readers can easily see the highlight to the ‘’Poorhouse ‘’ in the story which is associated with the helpless and sick child who lost her mother but contrastively, in the ending, which I will not tell openly, there is a ‘’light ‘’ caused by the child that symbolizes hope for even for the hopeless cases. At the end of the story, I guarantee that you will feel relief thanks to people who have still mercy in their hearts. Once the story is read, the title ‘’ An Angel in Disguise’’ will certainly show to the reader why it is the most appropriate title that can be chosen and what is its inner meaning. The story also raises pity in the reader's heart with realistic settings while metaphors and symbols make the point of view richer. In my opinion, every person should read this story because it contains real-life events, and everyone can take the lesson. Even though there are some intricate sentences and strong vocabulary, the story can be finished in twenty minutes due to its impressiveness. When you are done with reading, you will be thinking about this story for a while.
December 14, 2020
I've hidden the review because my views can be quite contentious.
Although this story intended to have heartwarming feels about a childless woman who did not 'have a saintly temper' and 'not given to self denial for the good of others' and a rough man with a kind interior who found sweetness in the form of caring for a sick child, this story did not sit well with me. I know this was from the 1800's so it made me grateful to have been born in the tail-end of the 20th century, where people are becoming more open-minded.
Can you imagine being told your home was dark, cold and miserable because, you - a woman - had nothing to love and care for outside of yourself (a child)? Can you imagine being told that being child-free made you sore, irritable, ill-tempered and self-afflicting in your woman's nature? All of this is quoted from the book, by the way.
It's hard to stomach. Remind me - how is this heartwarming?
Although this story intended to have heartwarming feels about a childless woman who did not 'have a saintly temper' and 'not given to self denial for the good of others' and a rough man with a kind interior who found sweetness in the form of caring for a sick child, this story did not sit well with me. I know this was from the 1800's so it made me grateful to have been born in the tail-end of the 20th century, where people are becoming more open-minded.
Can you imagine being told your home was dark, cold and miserable because, you - a woman - had nothing to love and care for outside of yourself (a child)? Can you imagine being told that being child-free made you sore, irritable, ill-tempered and self-afflicting in your woman's nature? All of this is quoted from the book, by the way.
It's hard to stomach. Remind me - how is this heartwarming?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2025
This story is lovely and thoughtful. It shows how what seems like good fortune for someone else can eventually become a blessing for you, and how things that don’t benefit you at first may turn out to matter later on—especially when they come from good intentions. I really loved the moral of the story and the way it unfolds through gentle twists and turns.
It’s sweet and meaningful, though I do wish the ending had gone a bit further. Since it’s a short story, it would have been fascinating to see what happened to the other children after they separated, not just Maggie. Still, it’s a touching and satisfying read.
It’s sweet and meaningful, though I do wish the ending had gone a bit further. Since it’s a short story, it would have been fascinating to see what happened to the other children after they separated, not just Maggie. Still, it’s a touching and satisfying read.
August 11, 2024
This one did not age well. The mother of several children has died (and is not seen kindly by the neighbors, who I get the impression never tried to help). Her healthy children go off to homes where they can be made useful and put to work, but no one knows what to do with the one sickly child, and the neighbors debate whether to dump her off at the local poor house. It comes off as ableist and "inspiration porn," not to mention the issues of forced child labor, and the fact that the other children were adopted because they could be used for labor.
February 18, 2021
A sweet story, certainly, though neither a well-developed nor especially moving one.
September 21, 2021
Incredibly lame.
August 30, 2022
A feel good short story. This story awakens the goodness in the heart and bring back the taste of it.
November 17, 2022
IM NOT CRYING YOU ARE
February 25, 2023
literally the easiest/best story in icse
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