Life of Ahmad — Page 277
as THE PHARISEE OF BATALA 277 wherever he went and eagerly listened to him, and their joy and faith increased. In a corner of Ludhiana there stood an old house where lived a schoolmaster in a village atmosphere. He walked about a mile every morning to reach his school which was run in the town by the American Presbyterian Church. This schoolmaster was my father. He attended the debate of Ahmad as with Muhammad Husain every day. He was deeply impressed. Ahmad’s as reasons were most convincing, his bearing throughout the debate was most noble and he was always surrounded by a truly spiritual atmosphere. Having heard the words of wisdom from Ahmad as , my father could hardly contain himself. At school he would speak of Ahmad as with his pupils and his colleagues. At home he would talk of him with all, especially with my grandfather. (The latter happened to be a very strong-willed person, never missed his daily prayers and always listened to Maulaw i Abdul ‘Az i z on Fridays. ) The mullahs had fanned the flames of hatred against Ahmad as to such an extent that the people could hardly hear his name mentioned anywhere. When my father spoke of Ahmad as at home, my grandfather became so bitterly furious that he actually struck my father several times in a fury. In loving obedience and filial loyalty my father bore with everything, but did not desist from seeing Ahmad as every day. He had indeed become a devoted disciple of the Promised Messiah as and suffered cheerfully at the hands of his own father. Truly had