Page:Vidyasagar, the Great Indian Educationist and Philanthropist.djvu/154

 assuming, without a particle of conceit or affectation about him and possessed keen sense of humour. This rendered him a desired and delightful companion. A silent worker and a man of lofty patriotism, he shrank from the jangle of current politics and stood aloof from political meetings. Destitute as he was of oratorical power, he made no speech in public. Though he earned a large sum of money by literature, he was not softened by prosperity. Nor did he ever live in clover; his habits were austere and sober. Even in his palmiest days he would not waste a piece of thread. Necessity early taught him to work hard and live frugally; and he ever continued "to scorn delights and live laborious days." Though he could keep a coach and pair, he deemed it a luxury. Pressed hard by his friends he once purchased a gharry but soon disposed of it in disgust. Almost the whole of his income was dedicated to charitable purposes and this justly gained him the honourable title of Dayasagar (i.e., ocean of