Page:Vidyasagar, the Great Indian Educationist and Philanthropist.djvu/155

 charity) and the abiding reverence of his countrymen. He was a father to the poor and many a time raised money by loan to aid them in their helpless and pressing need. His intimates grew alarmed at his heavy debts, but he was able to discharge all in time. The hand of God protects those that prop the unsuccessful in life's struggle. His personal integrity was unimpeachable; he had no price, and was above all corruption. Essentially a seeker of truth all his life, his sole aim was to bring the light of hope, the torch of knowledge, to the doors of the poor. To relieve the physical wants of his countrymen and to remove their mental darkness, he sacrificed his all. Worldly honour or power had no attraction for him. It was this stability of character that engendered in him a strong sense of independence and enabled him to hold his own against the first magnates in the land. But he seldom overstepped the bounds of courtesy. His unflinching sense of honour prompted him to respect others. He revered