Page:Twelve men of Bengal in the nineteenth century (1910).djvu/60

46 far as it enabled him to widen the sphere of his charities and kindly deeds, his inheritance was welcome to him. Almost the whole of his large income he spent in charity. Not content with relieving those cases of sickness or distress that came to his notice, he made it his personal concern to seek out those who needed help. It is said that he was even wont to disguise himself and wander through the poorest quarters of the town seeking out 'the famished beggar, the starving widow and the helpless orphan,' and relieving their distress. Though a strict and orthodox Muhammadan, he took no account of caste or creed when it was a case of helping suffering humanity. Helplessness and poverty alone were sufficient passwords to his large and generous heart. Many stories are told of his magnanimity and generosity. Once, it is said, a thief broke into his house and entered his sleeping apartment at dead of night. Mahomed Mohsin, waking opportunely, sprang up and seized the thief, quickly overpowering him. But recognising him as a resident of the place who had fallen on evil days, he released him and upbraided him for his unworthy conduct. Shamed and penitent, the thief implored his pardon. Mahomed Mohsin not only set him free but gave him money to tide over his immediate difficulties. So astonished was the thief and so grateful for the generosity shown him that even though it was to his own detriment he could not refrain from relating