পাতা:মাইকেল মধুসূদন দত্তের জীবন-চরিত - যোগীন্দ্রনাথ বসু.pdf/৭১৮

WVV জীবন-চরিত । of his former self, but he did not even for a monent lose his natural cheerfulness of disposition or show any irritability of temper On the contrary he was always ready to amuse his visitors with a smart anecdote or humourous saying. The one that I at present recollect was in connection with his appointment as legal adviser of the Raja of Putula. He sald that after he was for a few days with the Raja the idea struck him that he could be happily compared to a street hydrant of the Calcutta Waterworks. Anybody who chose had only to pull it by the ear and then drink his fill Mr. Datta was obliged to give up the appointment after a few months' service. He found it intolerable and quite at the mercy of the Raja's barber and other menials, a whispered hint from whom was enough to mar the fortunes even of his high officials Mr. Datta began to grow worse after he left the Raja's service. He did not hope to survive the illness and was fully resigned to his fate. The only subject on which he sometimes showed any anxiety was the future of his wife and children. UTTARIPARA Yours very truly The oth September, 9.2 PEARY MOHUN MOOKERJEE. BABU GOUR IDAS BYSACK. My Recollections of Michael Modhu. IY With one foot in the grave in my 7 oth year, I gaze on the infinite prospect before me, but my view ends in a cul-de-sac. Behind me lies the Retrospect, with scenes behind scenes in lengthened perspective In it, I find the kest resource to kill time till time kills me. Turning my mental telescope, I see afar off, in I840, Modhu "dininished into a boy' of 15 or I6. His white clothing deepening his complexion, he looks very like af Ethiop boy. But see "Othello's visage in his mind.” The light from within peers through his eyes. He approaches, and hands me a copy of the Aengal Spectator. We take our seat on the steps of the Sanskrit College, facing the Gol-digi, Modhu draws my eyes to a little poem of his-the firstborn of Kis mental progeny. It is a sonnet, in which form a callow pupil is at first apt to court the Muse in imitation of his professor D. L. R. Here let me pay my humble tribute to that beloved tutor, who by his example incited many of us to literary adventures. Modhu has taken up to describe a night scene, in which among other things he thus alludes to the stars-'Night holds her Parliament." The happy expression at once becomes a "fond record in