Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/158

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IN THE FORT WILLIAM COLLEGE.
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No sooner did the news reach Vidyasagar, than he hastened to the spot, accompanied with his friend, Doctor Durga Charan Banarji, of whom mention has been made before. Durga Charan Babu was engaged in the treatment of the patient, and Vidyasagar removed the discharges with his own hands. He paid for the medicines out of his own pocket. Whenever he saw or heard of a poor, helpless man suffering from illness, he hurried to him, and nursed him tenderly, and supplied him with medicines and diet out of his own funds.

On one occasion, Vidyasagar was told that one Isan Chandra Bhattacharya, nephew (sister's son) of Professor Jay Narayan Tarkapanchanan of Narikeldanga, was suffering from Cholera. He presented himself there in the night, and provided for the patient's treatment. He took articles of bedding from his own house, and with them made a comfortable bed for the sufferer. His favourite disciple, Raj Krishna Babu, said to one of his friends:—'He (i.e. Vidyasagar) had often to act similarly. It is not possible for me to recollect all the deeds of his unfeigned, disinterested benevolence. They are too many for me to enumerate, and for you to hear patiently. The recollection of the benevolent acts of that incarnation of kindness calls his noble image vividly to mind. The very thought of him rends my heart and makes tears flow down in torrents. Alas! We shall no more find a man, equal to him in charitableness and kindness.'