Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/270

Rh did not venture to try to get loose from that bond, and open their eyes to pry into the true intent of the Sastras and act up to it. Vidyasagar, therefore, could not secure the co-operation of the Hindus in general. He had to row hard against the tide. However, through the disinterested exertions of some of his friends and influential Europeans, he succeeded in his attempts a great way.

In 1851, Bethune got an invitation to visit the girl school of Janai, a village some 12 miles from Calcutta. It was the rainy season of tropical Bengal, but the philanthropic Bethune did not mind it. On his way to the place, he met a heavy shower of rain, and he was drenched to his skin. With great difficulty he reached Janai, but this was his last work. That very day he had an attack of Pneumonia, which carried him off. The sad news came upon Vidyasagar like a thunderbolt. He was so much grieved at the death of his dearest friend, that he once resolved to cut off his connection with the girl school, which bore not only Bethune's name, but also other gifts from him, and to give up his honorary post of the secretary; but at the request of the authorities, he had to continue in his office till 1869. Vidyasagar had such a fond regard for Bethune, that he had the latter's portrait hung on his own walls.

Vidyasagar treated the little girls of the school as if they were his own daughters. He was kind and lovely by nature. He greeted them cheerfully