Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/255

212 different attributes is, no doubt, very beautiful, but it is rare, and is found only in a few very illustrious men, who have, by chivalrous or noble deeds, immortalised their names in the annals of history. It is said of General (afterwards Pasha) Gordon, the famous hero of Soudan, that in discharge of duties he was as grave and resolutely firm as a rock, but in private talks of leisure hours, he was a most amusing, witty fellow. In this respect, there is much similarity between Vidyasagar and Gordon. Both were heroes, though in different fields. Both were grave and serious in duty, but jocular and witty in society. One of Gordon's friends used to say of him that "He was the most cheerful of all my friends." Ananda Krishna Babu, speaking of Vidyasagar, said exactly the same thing.

We crave the indulgence of the reader to allow us to relate, in passing, a few incidents of Vidyasagar's merry witticism. He had a great friendly intercourse with Pandit Siva Nath Sastri's father, Harananda Bhattacnaryya, whom he treated as if he (Harananda) were his (Vidyasagar's) own brother-in-law (Sister's husband). In his latter days, this Harananda had settled in Benares, but now and then came down to Calcutta on business. On one of these occasions, he paid Vidyasagar a visit. The host received his visitor with a most cordial greeting. When Harananda Bhattacnaryya had taken his seat, and begun smoking