Page:The Poetical Works of Ram Sharma.djvu/14

 great pleasure. Such small pay may raise a contemptuous curl in the lips of the poet's more fortunate compeers of modern times, but those were days when men were. "passing rich with £40 a year." The scale of pay for an Indian Assistant-for clerks at that time were invested with that dignified title-ranged from Rs. 15 to 50 per month. Ram Sharma was married at the age of 19. Two children, the elder, a boy and the younger, a girl, were the result of this union. After four years of married life his darling wife was taken away by the fell hand of death. At the age of 25 he was again married to the second. daughter of Babu Umacharan Mitra, the famous Head- master of the School Society's School, subsequently called the Hare School. Six daughters, of whom three are living, and four sons, were the fruit of this union. It is difficult to follow the thread of Ram Sharma's early official career. We know that he soon resigned his position in the Prize Department from a keen sense of resentment at not obtaining a post, simply on the ground of his being an Indian, the post being reserved for Europeans. Later on, we find him in the Ordnance Commissariat Office where he had very little work to do spending most of his time in study. The Head Native Assistant, his immediate official superior, reported against him to Mr. James Leonard, the Registrar, who being satisfied after enquiry that he was not negligent of his duty, encouraged him to