Swamiji and Mr. John Leon got along very well. They would have long talks on many subjects especially philosophy. Everybody in the household loved Him but Swamiji felt more close to Mrs. Leon i.e. Cornelia’s grandmother. She was short, erect, very dignified, with a great common sense having a dry humour to her speech which Swamiji enjoyed a lot. Her daughter i.e. Cornelia’s mother was a young widow who missed her husband very much. These two ladies attended most of Swamiji’s lectures and the young lady took to studying His books later and to follow His teachings too.
While reading these volumes i came across incidences where Swamiji is with the children and kept wondering about their luck. Each one got something to look upon for their entire life. Same thing happened with Cornelia Conger. She was only six years old but Oh, but just think of her coming back from school and running to sit into His lap to hear enchanting stories of His motherland. Stories of peacocks & parrots, of banyan trees & colourful flowers, and markets full of fruits & vegetables. It all seemed like a fairy tale to her but when she visited India later she understood that they were the boyhood memories that Swamiji was describing to her.
Everyday she would come running to Him and ask for one more story and He would comply. May be in a strange place away from home, He felt comfort in the child’s love. But sometimes when she would run to His room, she knew He didn’t want to be disturbed when He would be in meditation. He would ask her many questions about what she learnt at school and on her map show where India was. He felt very sad that the Indian girls didn’t have chance of getting education as in America.
His stay with Leon family has various aspects with each family member. Let’s meet each one separately. So next time let’s meet Him with Cornelia’s mother.
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