Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/68

Rh river Hugli, and arrived at Barabazar, Calcutta, where they repaired to the house of Babu Jagaddurlabh Singha, son of Babu Bhagavat Charan Singha, who had formerly given shelter to Isvar Chandra's father, Thakurdas. Bhagavat Charan had died sometime before this. Jagaddurlabh Babu was, at this time, only twenty-five years old. He knew Thakurdas from his early years, and revered him as his own father. His mother, who was the mistress of the house, an elder sister and her husband and two sons, a widowed sister and her only son;—these were the sole members of Jagaddurlabh Babu's family.

The boy, Isvar Chandra, was a great favourite with every one of the members of this household. He surprised them all by his wonderful memory. On the second day of their arrival at Calcutta, his father, Thakurdas, was engaged in adding up the amounts of several bills written in English, belonging to Jagaddurlabh Babu. Isvar Chandra was sitting close to his father, and looking at the bills. Presently, he whispered in his father's ears that he could, if permitted, sum up the figures. With this, he began to add the figures, and in a few minutes summed up the amounts of the several bills correctly, without a single mistake. Every one present was amazed at the marvellous parts of the little boy. His teacher, Kalikanta, who was sitting by him, was exceedingly delighted, and, having affectionately kissed him, said;—