My Mother — Page 3
Background 3 lands and to move elsewhere. He succeeded only partially. The indomitable widow did have to sell a considerable portion of the lands, and thus the patrimony of her sons was sadly dimin- ished. In the meantime, her sons were growing up and the elder of the two, the headman, gave early proof of his sterling quali- ties. He was far-sighted, steadfast, urbane, and wise beyond his years. Hospitality became his forte. In consequence of his reduced means, the members of his family had to endure austerity, but the guests were always well looked after. He formed the habit of proceeding to the guest-house incog- nito, late in the evening, and ministering personally to the com- fort of his guests. He had deep sympathy for suffering of every description and sought to alleviate it to the utmost extent of his means. One morning the servitor at the guest house reported to him that one of the guests had departed before dawn and had car- ried away with him the padded upper covering of his bed. On the loss becoming known, the watchman had been sent in pursuit to apprehend the delinquent. Presently the watchman appeared with the man who had the bedcover under his arm. On being ques- tioned he stated that he belonged to a village about three miles distant, was very poor, had a wife and two children to support and that between them they possessed only one padded bedcover to shield them against the cold of the winter nights. The headman admonished him over his wrongdoing, and added that he should have asked him for relief instead of resorting to theft. He told him to keep the bedcover and gave him three rupees, which was prob- ably all the cash that he possessed, to relieve him of his distress. My grandfather was of a religious bent of mind, and led a pious life in the fear of God. He eschewed every type of superstition,