Page:Ramtanu Lahiri, Brahman and Reformer - A History of the Renaissance in Bengal.djvu/64

 before the judge that the disputed land was his, he, the plaintiff, would give up his claim to it. Nashiram’s son, who knew his father’s probity, had kept him concealed in the house; but at last, when the judge insisted on his appearing, he was produced before him. When questioned on the matter Nashiram in great anger uttered these words: “I strictly forbade my son to take possession of that piece of land, but the wretch did not listen to me. I have not the least right to it.”

The children of Ramkrishna, as they grew older, followed the noble example of their parents. Kesava in his very boyhood learned to give respect where it was due, and to be obedient to his parents.

Once, when he was between boyhood and youth, he came home from Goari with a maund of rice on his shoulders. This he did because he had been ordered to do so by his father, or someone else equally worthy of obedience. On another occasion, happening to find that the solitary step leading into his grandmother’s sleeping-room had given way, he called in one or two lads of his acquaintance, collected bricks and other materials for building, on the sly, and repaired the steps in the dead of the night when his grandmother was fast asleep. On coming out of the room early next morning, and finding that the steps had been thoroughly repaired, she delightedly exclaimed, “This is Kesava’s doing, and no one else’s.” So well she knew her Kesava.

We have no means of knowing minutely the occurrences in the life of Kesava. But from the deep respect in which the venerable Ramtanu Lahiri held his brother, it seems that Kesava’s high character was chiefly instrumental in the formation of his own. We have numerous