Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/420

Rh native village, Birsingha, oftener than before, and frequented the houses of his neighbours, enquiring after their affairs as previously. Each time he took with him 500 to 600 rupees in coins and cloth to the value of 400 to 500 rupees, which he freely distributed to the poor and helpless. He always gave to the beggars, supplicants, and expectants more than they had expected. He received his visitors cordially and entertained them most generously. He never sent any body away displeased; it was his nature to do his best to please and oblige every body.

On one occasion, when he was at his native place, a man came to him from Patul, the abode of his mother's maternal uncle. The man saluted him, and said; 'Do you know me? We were fellow-pupils of the same Pathsala. You may recollect, how many times I saved you from the hands of the Guru Mahasay (preceptor).' Vidyasagar at once recognised him, and said;—'O yes, you are Raghav?' The man's name was Raghav Ray, and he belonged to the Bagdi caste, one of the lowest classes in Bengal. Raghav looked displeased, and shut his ears with his fingers. Some body whispered in to Vidyasagar's ears that the man was rather crazed, and considered himself the god Krishna Ray of Bagri. He also said that Raghav did not eat food cooked by other Bagdis or persons of any other caste lower than Brahmans. Vidyasagar now understood the whole affair. He at once