Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/57

20 "One, born at a time when the master of the night (i. e. the moon) is at the bull, must be righteous, ever-pleased, complaisant, true to his word, far-famed, large-eyed, strong-bodied, and of amiable appearance."

Stubbornness was one of the principal features of Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar's character, and it was conspicuously visible in most of his acts. Stubbornness generates fixedness of purpose. It was for this reason that Stephen Gerard employed under him men of stubborn character. Isvar Chandra had a great fixedness of purpose. Whatever he handled, whether good or bad, he never left undone or half-done.

Thakurdas could not grasp the real purport of his father's jest. He understand the simple meaning that a bull-calf was actually born in their house, as at that time one of their cows was pregnant and her delivery was expected every moment. Both father and son soon returned home. Thakurdas went into the cow-shed, and found that the cow was not yet delivered. Thakurdas's father then took him to the nursery, and showed him the child, saying, at the same time, that this was the bull-calf he referred to, and then explained its real meaning.

Sambhu Chandra Vidyaratna, one of the younger brothers of Isvar Chandra, says in his life of Vidyasagar:—

"Our grandfather, Ramjay Bandyopadhyay,