14 IN THE VISION OF GOD
Yon are too young to take the proposed step without
consulting your parents. Be guided by them. They mean
always well. Only do not give up taking the holy Name.
Trust Him whose INanie you are uttering. Avoid the company
of "boys who defile your mind."
"Don't ask me to go back. My father, mother, teacher
and all are yourself." Saying thus fche boy entered the
interior of the cave and, taking his position in a dark nook,
went on with. Barn-japa. Eanidas going up to him told him
again to return to the city as it was growing dark. For
some time he stood firm and would not yield, hut at last
agreed to go back to his parents. The night having come on,
it was now quite dark. So Ramdas offered to escort him to
his house which lay in the precincts of a temple in
the city.
While descending the hill with the lad Ramdas met
a friend with a lantern coming to invite him for a kirtan
party in the house of his master. Ramdas handing the boy
to his charge askecl the friend to take him to his house.
Raindas proceeded to attend the kirtan party.
A few days later, another young man, a Kanarese
Brahman just out of his teens, walked in at dusk and pro-
posed to throw in his lot with Ramdas. Here again the
school life had driven him from home, relations and
friends. This young man was thoroughly stubborn and
refused to return to his friends in spite of Ramdas' utmost
efforts. He remained for the night. He would disappear for
the day, wandering aimlessly on the extensive tract of
the Kaclri hill and regain the cave in the night. He did
not eare for food. Ramdas -would share with him what
little food he was getting which consisted of but a small
quantity of milk and a few plantains. For about a week
the young man continued to live a life of an apathetic
recluse. For the last night of his stay he stopped away,
but turned up early the following morning, his clothes
sailed with the brown stains of the earth. He said that he