Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/278

Rh saved my life and have been able to appear before you, your Honour calls me a coward. From this it is clear, that it is no easy thing to please you, great men.' Halliday was greatly pleased with the open frankness of Vidyasagar.

To show that Vidyasagar was never thrifty and that he spent his earnings on charity, we will relate here, in passing, an incident of his later years.

In 1868, when Mr. Harrison went to Midnapore on investigation as an Income Tax Commissioner, he had an occasion to visit Birsingha. Vidyasagar was, at that time, at his native village. He informed his mother of Harrison's advent, explaining, at the same time, the purpose for which he had come. She asked her son to invite the young civilian to dinner. Vidyasagar informed Harrison of his mother's request, but the latter declined it, saying that he would not go to his, unless invited by the mistress of the house. Vidyasagar's mother then sent him an invitation letter, and Harrison, in response, appeared before her in person. First of all, he bowed down his head at the matron's feet, and saluted her according to the custom of the Hindus. The elderly lady blessed him, as if he was his own son. He then squatted down to dinner on a low, wooden stool, as is the practice with the natives of Bengal. Vidyasagar's mother took her seat beside the civilian, and pointed out to him the various dishes, which she had prepared with her own hands, in successive order, to eat from. Harrison