Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/257

214 turn a Siva. Now, when you have been transformed into a Siva, Naidi and Bhringi will, of course, give you a hookah of ganja, and you will have to smoke it. So that, unless you acquire the habit now, you will then die of suffocation, and you will be deprived of your much desired transformation.' A roar of laughter rose from the assembly and rent the walls of the room.

On another occasion, there was a social gathering in one of the parlours of Babu Raj Krishna Bauarji. Among the visitors, were present Babu Dwarka Nath Mittir, a late judge of the High-Court, and Ray Krishna Das Pal Bahadur, the late famous editor of the 'Hindoo Patriot.' While every one was engaged in friendly talk, one of the neighbours was peeping into the room through a window. Vidyasagar noticed this, and, at once, sent for him. The man entered the room in great trepidation. Vidyasagar asked him why he had been peeping into the room. The man replied in a tremulous voice, with his head downwards, that he had heard that Judge Dwarik Mittir had come, and that he had been trying to catch a glimpse of the Judge. Vidyasagar said—'Oh! Indeed! What's the use of peeping, then? Come nearer, and I will show you him. Do you know this gentleman? His name is Krishna Das Pal. Whoever is fairer than he in this company, is your Dwarik Mitter. Now tell ms, if you have known him, and point him out?' It may be mentioned