Back to: ICSE Class 9 English Literature Notes
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Death of a Mother
The story is based in 18th Century America. It revolves around an old woman and her three children. The woman is consumed with an alcohol addiction that ruins her life and social standing.
The woman eventually dies due to her alcoholism and leaves three orphans behind her. Seeing the tragic circumstances the people give her a proper burial. They even decide to help the surviving kids.
The eldest kid is John, a 12-year-old boy who is adopted by a peasant who could use an extra set of hands-on his farm. The middle child is a girl named Kate who is adopted by Ms. Elli who is not impressed by the young lass’ ill-discipline and tantrums.
The youngest girl Maggie is the one who needs the most care as she suffers from severe disability after a childhood accident that left her incapable of movement. Her spine is damaged and so everyone comes to the conclusion that a care house will be best for her.
Joe – The Angel in Disguise
The funeral ends and everyone empties the place fast. They completely forget about Maggie. Seeing everybody leaving her alone and helpless she gets nervous. However, she notices Joe, the village wheelwright who is standing near her.
Joe has a tragic story of his own. He absolutely loves kids but he and his wife Jane have not been blessed with children of their own. Maggie sees him as her only recourse and gives him a shout.
Joe obliges and takes Maggie home with him. He knows that his wife would not welcome Maggie and his intuition is realized when Jane asks him to get rid of little Maggie.
Joe’s Attempt to Convince Jane
Joe tries to convince his wife by citing the Holy Bible to appealing to her good sense. The young life of Maggie has already been full of trials and tribulations and now she is without any family and completely incapable of surviving on her own.
Jane, even though she did not make it apparent to his husband, starts developing an attachment to young Maggie. Her heart softens to her tortuous young life.
Joe asks Jane to take care of Maggie for a day. He promises to send her to a poor house (almshouse) the next day. He leaves for work and does not return till evening.
Bonding Between Jane & Maggie
On his return, he peeps through the window and sees Maggie and Jane talking to each other. Jane seems to be interrogating Maggie about a certain things. However, when he enters the house he decides not to discuss what he saw.
Instead, he has a friendly chat with Maggie. Her innocence, affection, and purity of thought win him over. At dinner, Jane again asks Joe about his plan for Maggie.
Joe reasserts that he will take Maggie to the poorhouse next morning. Even though Jane does not say it herself, Joe can sense and feel a change of heart and attitude in Jane’s voice.
He realizes that young Maggie has made a home in her heart and years of pain and loss have finally started to recede in Jane’s mind. She decides to take Maggie’s dinner to her chamber herself. While Maggie eats her dinner, Jane is enamored with her uncontaminated heart and winsome smile.
Maggie – the Child They Waited For
The sweetness of Maggie’s words and the fragrance of her innocent thought melt all the frosty bitterness in Jane’s heart. Maggie reminds her of all that she has always wanted and could not have. Jane sees her daughter in Maggie.
Convinced and conquered, Jane urges Joe to let Maggie stay for few more days. In the end, her stay never ends. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson finally get the child they always wanted and Maggie gets the warm and loving family she always deserved.
Further Reading
- Questions and Answers of An Angel in Disguise
- Quiz on An Angel in Disguise
