Page:Vidyasagar, the Great Indian Educationist and Philanthropist.djvu/114

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On August 11, he availed himself of the first opportunity of celebrating a marriage in the family under Act XV of 1856. His only son Narayan Chandra aged 21 years was wedded to Bhava Sundari Devy, 16 years old. After the death of her first husband, her mother had taken her to Birsingha for remarriage. Vidyasagar having fixed upon a bridegroom wrote to his brother to send the bride to Calcutta. Shortly he received a letter from his son expressing an eager desire to marry her himself. Though some members of the family opposed the proposal, Vidyasagar stood by his settled convictions. The alliance was early solemnised.

Towards the end of the year Bhagavati Devy made a halt at Benares on the way back from a pilgrimage. Thakurdas, who had been residing there since 1865, asked her to keep him company. "I must now return home," she replied, "to look after my poor acquaintances. Wherever I live I shall turn up in time and die here before