Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/461

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ISVAR CHANDRA VIDYASAGAR.

following. By and by Vidyasagar drew out from him his name, residence, the number of his case and other particulars. When the unfortunate man was gone, Vidyasagar requested his friend to go to the Court and make an enquiry. The result of the enquiry showed that the poor Brahman was actually indebted to the amount of 2400 rupees, inclusive of interest. The next day, Vidyasagar deposited the whole amount in the Court in favour of the creditor, and cautioned the officers and pleaders that his name might not transpire in the transaction, and that he would himself pay the reward that the debtor would offer for the donor's name. On the appointed day, the poor Brahman appeared in Court, and was surprised to find that his debt had been cleared off. He was exceedingly delighted at his unexpected deliverance, and poured forth thankful blessings on the unknown benevolent donor. But, at the same time, he was very sorry that his best efforts to discover the name of the noble benefactor completely failed. Was not Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar truly great?

The reader is already aware that Vidyasagar had opened many female schools in different places, but that the bills for those schools had been refused by Mr. Young, the Director of Public Instruction, and that he had to pay off those bills out of his own poor purse. The reader has also been told, that besides these undue payments, he