BECHARAM BABU of Bow Bazar was sitting in his reception-hall, and
with him were a few persons singing snatches of songs. The Babu
was himself selecting the different subjects, and his selection was
a sufficiently varied one: the verses were being sung to the most
popular tunes. Many people in the exuberance of their enthusiasm
would have rolled about on the floor on hearing such ravishing
strains, but Becharam Babu sat there as stolid as a painted
marionette. Beni Babu of Bally arrived while the music was still
in progress, and Becharam Babu at once stopped it, and said to his
guest: "Ah! Beni, my friend! what, are you still alive? Baburam
is still nursing his wrath; it is like fire smouldering amid burnt
rags. He absolutely refuses to bid pacified. Some unpleasantness
was bound to arise out of the affair of Manirampur: it has been
an experience for us. It is commonly reported that the family has
a bitter enemy, and that he went as one of the bridegroom's party."
_Beni_.-- Speak to me no more on the subject of Baburam Babu: the
whole affair has annoyed me extremely. I should like to get away
altogether and give up my house at Bally: the old Sanscrit saying
occurs to me, "What else may not destiny have in store for me?"
_Becharam_.-- Well, such is the way things are going with Baburam:
what else can you expect from such a man, with such a counsellor,
such companions, and such a son? Yet his younger son is a good boy:
how is that? He is the lotus flower on the dung-heap.
_Beni_.-- You may well ask that: it is indeed extraordinary,
but there is a reason for it. You may perhaps remember my having
told you some time back about Babu Barada Prosad Biswas. Well,
for some time past that gentleman has been living at Vaidyabati. I
had been thinking a good deal on the subject, and I saw that if
Baburam Babu's youngest son, Ramlall, grew up like Matilall,
the family would very soon become extinct, but that here was
an excellent opportunity for the boy to learn to grow up a good
man. I considered the matter well, and went to the gentleman I
have mentioned, taking Ramlall with me. The boy has ever since
then exhibited such an extraordinary affection for Biswas Babu
that he is constantly at his side: he is very rarely at home,
for he regards Biswas Babu as a father.
_Becharam_.-- You did, it is true, once relate to me all the
virtues of this Biswas Babu, but, to tell you the truth, I have
never heard of a single individual possessed of so many virtues
before: how is it, that now he has attained to so good a position,
he is so modest, and unpretending?
_Beni_.-- It is generally very difficult for a man to be
humble and unassuming who has been accustomed to wealth from
his boyhood, and who has never encountered adversity, but gone
on steadily piling up riches. A man like this has, as a rule,
no perception of the feelings of others: I mean by that, he has
no idea what is pleasing or what is distasteful to others, for
his thoughts are centred in himself: he considers himself a great
man, and his people all encourage him in the idea by extolling
his magnificence. Under these conditions pride reaches a fearful
height: modesty and kindliness can never take firm root in such
soil. It is on this account that in Calcutta the sons of rich men
so rarely turn out well. Puffed up by their father's wealth on the
one hand or their own position on the other, they swagger through
life, treating all men with contempt and derision. It is calamity
and misfortune that alone avail to strengthen man's mind. The
first requisite of man is humility: that quality absent, a man has
no chance of either discerning aright or correcting his faults,
and without humility he cannot advance in virtue and in worth.
_Becharam_.-- How was it that Barada Babu became so good?
_Beni_.-- Barada Babu fell into trouble in his earliest boyhood,
and from that time he used to meditate unceasingly on the Almighty:
the result of this constant meditation was that he became firmly
convinced that it was his bounden duty to do everything that was
pleasing to God, and to avoid what was displeasing to Him even
though life were at stake: this conviction he proceeded to carry
into practice.
_Becharam_.-- How did he settle with himself what was pleasing
and what displeasing to the Almighty?
_Beni_.-- There are two ways of attaining to knowledge, on
this subject. First, the mind must be brought under control:
to effect this, constant meditation and the steady growth of
good principles are necessary. A searching self-examination, a
course of severe and steady meditation, may develop the faculty
of discrimination between right tad wrong; and in proportion as
that faculty is developed, a man will become averse to conduct
that is displeasing to the Almighty, and attached to a course
that is pleasing to Him. In the second place that faculty may
be steadily exercised by reading and reflecting on what good
men have written. Barada Babu has left nothing undone that can
help to make him good. He has never wandered aimlessly about like
ordinary people. When he rises in the morning, he always offers
up his prayers to God, and the tears in his eyes show the feelings
that rise up in his mind at the time. He then calmly examines his
conduct most searchingly, to see whether it has been good or bad.
He never prides himself upon his good qualities, but is exceedingly
distressed if he detects the very slightest fault in himself. He
takes great delight in hearing of the good qualities of others, but
he only expresses his sorrow after brotherly manner when he hears
of their faults. By such assiduous practice it is that his mind
has become pure and serene. Is there anything astonishing in the
fact that a man should thus grow in virtue who so subdues his mind?
_Becharam_.-- Ah, Beni my friend, it is most refreshing to hear
of such people as Barada Babu! I must have an interview with a
man like this, if only for once. How does he spend his days?
_Beni_.-- He is engaged in business most of the day, but he is
not like other people. Most men who are engaged in business think
solely of position or wealth: he does not think so much of these
things: he knows well that wealth and position are but as a drop
of water: they may be pleasant to see, pleasant to hear of, but
they do not accompany a man beyond the grave: nay, unless a man
walks with great circumspection, they may both generate in him
an evil disposition. His chief object in engaging in business is
to get the means of exercising and putting to the test his own
virtues. In a business career, bad qualities such as avarice,
ill-will, and want of principle, are brought into prominence, and
it is by the onslaught of such enemies that men are ruined. On
the other hand, the truly virtuous man is the man who proceeds
with circumspection. To talk of virtue in the abstract is an easy
thing enough, but unless a man gives an illustration of it in, his
own conduct, his words are a sham. Barada Babu is always saying
that the world resembles a school. Genuine virtue is the outcome
of a thorough discipline of the mind in the business of life.
_Becharam_.-- Surely Barada Babu does not regard wealth as a
thing of no account?
_Beni_.-- No, not at all; he by no means considers wealth
despicable, but virtue comes first in his estimation. Wealth is
only of secondary importance; that is to say, in the acquisition
of wealth, due regard must be paid to the maintenance of virtue.
_Becharam_.-- What does Barada Babu do with himself in the
evenings?
_Beni_.-- When once the evening has set in, he spends his time
in profitable conversation with his family, and in reading or
listening to their talk. The members of his family all try to
follow his example, observing the excellence of his character. He
is so attached to his family that the heartfelt prayer of his wife
is that she may have such another husband in all her births: if
they lose sight of him even for a moment, his children fret with
impatience. Barada Babu's daughters are as good as his sons. While
in many homes brothers and sisters are continually grumbling and
quarrelling with each other, Barada Babu's children never exchange
high words: always, whether at their lessons, or at their meals,
they converse affectionately together; and they are very unhappy
if their parents are at all ailing.
_Becharam_.-- I have heard that Barada Babu is always about in
the village.
_Beni_.-- That is quite true. Whenever he hears of any one being
in trouble, or in misfortune, or sick, he cannot remain quiet at
home. He assists many of his neighbours in manifold ways, but he
never even hints it to any one: when lie has done a kindness to
another, he considers himself the person benefited.
_Becharam_.-- Ah, friend Beni, my eyes have never looked on
such a man, much less have I ever heard him with my ears! Why,
association with such a character would make even an old man good,
much more help a young boy to grow up virtuous. Ah, my friend! it
will indeed be a gratifying thing if the younger son of Baburam
manages to grow up a good man.