Page:The Poetical Works of Ram Sharma.djvu/13

 encouraged by his professors. The Captain had such a high opinion of his composition that he used to say, "Nobin (he used to call our poet by that name) would write like an Englishman". One cannot help feeling a sense of vain regret that the Professor died not live to witness the day of his pupil's triumph when he won the first prize for English verse on the occasion of the visit of His Royal Highness Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, in 1875. After passing the final examination he studied Law for a time, but soon gave it up as uncongenial to his tastes. From now to the time he entered Government service, he devoted himself assiduously to the cultivation of letters. Shakespeare, Milton and the best English Classics were his favourite study. But learning in those days was unremunerative and he had to seek out a career. No career being considered more honourable than Government service at the time, he on the information of a relation, applied in 1853 for a vacant post in the Prize Department, Military Auditor General's Office, under Mr. Robert Heitly Hollingberry, afterwards first Assistant Secretary, Financial Department of the Government of India. While presenting the application in person he had in his hand a manuscript article which excited Mr. Hollingberry's curiosity, who was so much struck with the boy applicant's power of composition when he had gone through it. that he gave him the post worth Rs. 25 a month, with