Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-11-16

by being in some way reminded of them.
Guided by this suggestion | determined
that my conversation with Korbey should
serve as a KIM of mental search-light to
reveal that which lay forgotten in the deep
recesses of the old mans memory. l
hoped that, by the law of association of
ideas, | should be able to stimulate his
weakened intellect and get the knowledge
which the claim lawyer had obtained by
means unknown to me. | asked many
questions about the old mans parents and
their circumstances, but all to no purpose.
Korbey's father had been a sailor; the
family had never had any means; both
parents had died when Korbey was quite
a young lad so that he was obliged to shift
for himself. He had only one greater en-
ioyment in life than witnessing play, and
that was to be on the stage helping the
players. As Il rude scenic artist he was in
valuable, and he was ever eager to lead i'm
aginary mobs against painted forts and
castles and leap on the painted bodies of
tyrants or kings, and at times he had made
good deal of money.
"Mr Korbey,' | asked, "when you were
making so much money, what did you do
with it? Did yOu ever put any money in
the bank?'
The moment mentioned the word bank,
he fairly screamed: eyes, | put some
money in the bank and | lost the book. ="
Like long-forgotcn dream it all flashed
on his mind in moment. More than for
ty years ago he had a small bank account
While in New Orleans he lost the bank
book. AT first lie worried about it and de-
termined to inform the bank officials when
he returned to New York. After the ac-
cident, which had impaired his memory,
he had altogether ceased to think of his
savings. He did not remember the name
of the bank or any other facts which
would help me TO trace the fortune.
A prominent lawyer interested himself
in the matter lie visited several of the
oldest saving institutions in New York,
and through the kindness of the cashier
he finally found the name of James Kor-
hey on the books of one of these banks.
The unclaimed deposit with compound in
terest amounted to Sl25G.53. The fortune
was discovered but the golden dreams of
Korbey were not Immediately realized.
After his signature had been obtained,
considerable time was consumed in prop
erly identifying him as the rightful owner.
The excitement was too much for the
old man. In "A few days | received an
other hasty summons from Mrs. korbey
who said:
at will be the last time | will have to
trouble you, for the old man is going. He
Just said, Fetch the minister once more,
shall never hear another prayer in this
world " When | reached Korbey's bed
side | saw that a great change had come
over him. his voice was feeble, he no long
er talked about his fortune and what he
would do with it.
Dear minister" he said, in trembling
tones, "what Shakspere says is true. We
are players on the stage; some play come
dy, some tragedy. With me the last act is
almost finished. The curtain is going
down, the foot-lghts are going out, and
the actors are going home Will you pray
for me?'
Mrs. Korbey crowded in between the bed
and The wall and joined in the deyotions.
At the close Of my brief prayer, the dying
mans lips began to tremble, and with
closed eyes he said:
Lord, | never prayed much and don't
know how, but since the fortune has come
to me | believe in prayer have been
none too good to the poor old woman
Many's the weary day she's had on my ac-
count. She has been far too good for me,
but now she gets the fortune and it makes
it easier for me to 90. The minister says
you once gave a fortune to a poor thief on
the cross, and that you have one for me.
God bless the minister, the lawyer, and the
old woman. Amen"
Grief and prodgality are closely allied,
and Mrs. Korbey was determined to have
the most highly respectable funeral that
was ever witnessed on Rivington street.
The undertaken, who had heard of the
coming fortune, was ready to furnish
velvet covered coffin and all the necessary
accomplishments of an Ostentatious funer-
al. Through my emphatic interference Mr..
Korbey had a simple and inexpensive bur
ial. a week after the funeral Mrs. kor-
hey received S1256.53. Through the sym
pathetic interest of the lawyer the entire
sum was safely and protitably invested, and
every six months Mrs. Korbey draws a few
dollars interest; this, added to what she
earns at washing and scrubbing, has made
her independent.
| saw her few days ago and said "Mrs
Korbey, how did you get along this hard
winter?' She replied: Washing was new
er so dull and people does their own scrub
bling nowadays, but have not suffered, for
have Korbey's fortune. '-Scrjbner'S
Magazine.