Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/125

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ISVAR CHANDRA VIDYASAGAR.

world to the last day of his life. His infinite kindness and unbounded love for all creatures were prominent in almost all his acts. Unfortunately, his deeds did not meet with general approbation. But this was not Vidyasagar's fault (we shall henceforth call him by this name, which he so gloriously obtained from his College). As men are of different opinions, so they must differ in the appreciation of a deed. However that might be, there is not an iota of doubt, that he was always actuated by unselfish motives and a strong impulse of universal good-will. Whatever he thought good, he tried to accomplish, in spite of every obstacle, He was never dejected by failures, nor daunted by menaces. He was always untiring in perseverance. He detested laziness. Want of occupation was a source of great annoyance to him. He was never fatigued with toils. Time unemployed hang heavily on him. Occupation was his best recreation. What the famous writer Seadon Smith said on this point, has been amply verified in Vidyasagar's life;—"Let every man be occupied, and occupied in the highest employment of which he is capable, and die with the consciousness that he has done the best."

Vidyasagar's first appointment was under Mr. Marshall in the Fort William College. This college had been established in Calcutta in the year 1800 for the education of those civilians, who came out from the Halibury College for employment in India, in