Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/167

126 there in this world, who were or are endowed with the three strengths in equal proportion? Very few, we believe. The reader will, by and by, see how strong Vidyasagar was in every respect.

The depth of Vidyasagar's affection for his mother was equal to, if not more than, that for his father. He idolised his mother. We will give the reader an illustration of the strong affection and esteem, he felt for his dear mamma.

One day, when he was working in the Fort William College, information reached him that the marriage of his third brother, Sambhu Chandra, had been settled at Birsingha. In a few days, he received a letter from his mother asking him to be unavoidably present at the nuptials. He was eagerly anxious to obey the command of his mother. He at once called on Mr. Marshall, and applied for leave, but the application was rejected. He was very sorry, and thought within himself thus:—'Mother will miss me very keenly. What pangs she will suffer! Without me she will be half-dead. How ungrateful I am, not to obey her commands! What shame! Fie to me.' After office hours, he returned to his lodgings, and, to his great disappointment, found that the other inmates of his house had already left for Birsingha in accordance with previous arrangements. He was now quite alone, and felt the disappointment very keenly. He sat up the whole night, crying and weeping for his mother. He had not a wink