Francis Bradley Bradley-Birt

“ No Muhammadan in Bengal in the nineteenth century has left behind him a greater or more honoured name than Haji Mahomed Mohsin. By his learning, piety and philanthropy he set, while the century was yet young, a splendid example of all that a good citizen should be, not only to his own co-religionists but to all Bengal of whatever caste or creed. For over a hundred years the great Trust that he left behind him has kept his memory fresh, conferring immense benefits on succeeding generations and still continuing its educational and philanthropic work to-day. ”

“ The last duty she thought of performing for her parents and the other inmates of the palace was to cook the best dishes for them, and to serve them with her own hands; and her mother, unable to divine her motive, attributed her self-denial to a childish freak, and permitted her to act in her own way. She had finished cooking and serving the meal, when she heard her lover's flute, as if saying:—
"O princess! how long wilt thou be sleeping? It is midnight, hasten or the morning star will rise, and our plans be foiled." ”

“ How we avoided running over innumerable little brown children who ran from their play in the middle of the road shrieking with laughter only just in time, Providence only knows. Through a cloud of dust past a string of heavily-laden bullock-carts we dashed at reckless speed, just shaving the wheels and the bullocks' horns. Old men and older women seemed deaf to the noise of our approach, and only escaped from under the pony's nose at the latest possible minute. It was only with the greatest difficulty that I kept from shouting at them. Berengaria sat sublimely indifferent. ”

“ Foremost in every good work he set by his daily life and conduct a shining example to all those who with him were treading the difficult paths of moral and social progress. His intense lovableness was the secret of the great influence he wielded, his saintly life and whole-hearted devotion to the interests of his fellow-countrymen never failing to leave a deep impression on all those who came in contract with him. Though he courageously broke away from the old beliefs and the old creeds, it was only in so far as he held that they failed in the light of modern knowledge and investigation. ”

“ Although Ramtanu had broken with Hinduism and had not joined the Brahmo Samaj, he was quick to acknowledge what was good in both. To him it mattered little what a man's outward creed might be. Goodness was the same whether it was the goodness of a Hindu, a Muhammadan, a Christian or a Brahmo. Everything that was good and noble he set before himself as the end and aim of life. Every social movement, every reform calculated to improve the position of his fellow countrymen, met with his ready sympathy. ”

“ If it were possible to horrify her more than that, I did it. 'I like them just as they are,' I remember saying, 'unwashed, unkempt, rather odoriferous, but very picturesque.' I think Lady Manifold has regarded me as something very modern ever since. But this is anticipating. It isn't really till you come to go away that you begin to feel with how firm a grip the life of India has taken hold of you, how you love the naked little nut-brown babies playing in the sun, and how the very savour of the East lingers in the nostrils with a strange regret. ”

“ The malini, noticing the change, ran towards the garden with great delight, and was greatly surprised to find the strangers seated under a tree. She thus addressed Malanchamala—"O Mother! who are you? a human being, a goddess, or a peri?"
"I am neither a goddess nor a peri, but a houseless girl, wandering about with this dear boy," replied Malancha sadly.
"Come into my house," cried the malini, full of sympathy. "This is not a fit place for you. I had a sister's daughter, who has left me these twelve years. ”

“ I knew Lady Manifold's playful little habit—that occasionally became exceedingly trying to her friends—of sending off telegrams on the most impossible of subjects on every possible occasion.
'It doesn't sound right, does it?' I said. 'Poor Lady Manifold! If you've mutilated her telegram! I'm sure Tommy could never forgive the state of his health being exposed in a public telegram like that.'
'My only hope,' said Lord Hendley comically, 'is that Tommy isn't a human being.' 'I'll ask Marjory,' I laughed.
I leaned across the broad shoulders of Aunt Agatha and whispered in Marjory's ear. ”

“ At this the giantess laughed and said, "Foolish girl, drive away these gloomy thoughts. None of us will die, save at the hands of him alone who will, in one breath, reach the white column of crystal under yonder tank, take out the large snake hid in it, and placing the animal on his breast, despatch it with one stroke of his sword. But for every drop of the snake's blood that may fall to the ground, there will start into existence seven thousand beings like us." ”

“ Throughout the nineteenth century there was no name more revered in Eastern Bengal than that of Nawab Abdul Ghani. For over fifty years he was the leading Muhammadan in Dacca and the eastern provinces, occupying a unique position there among Europeans and his own fellow-countrymen alike. From a position of comparative insignificance he raised himself and his family to one of commanding eminence, eliciting universal admiration and respect. Loyal, generous and public-spirited he won the affection of all who came in contact with him. ”

“ In a flash one was back again amidst the pomp and glory of the India of to-day, as the Viceroy's bodyguard passed by—that splendid corps in gold and scarlet—the best mounted troops in all the East. And then, again, more splendid still, the Imperial Cadet Corps. Even then one felt that one had no adjective left to describe them, and the marvellous procession had but just begun. The ever-changing blaze of colour and magnificence literally smote one and made one dumb. ”