XI.
The nearest of kin and expectant heirs,Still hoping to hold the estate as theirsBy hook or crook—it mattered not how—Before the golden-calf ready to bow,At once they declared the “old man” insane,That the widow had acted simply for gain—A clear case of fraud! she took him by stealth,Expecting thereby to seize his great wealth;A “particeps criminis,” so they said—A divorce must be had from board and bed.They rushed into law, deep vengeance they swore,Produced affidavits—a dozen or more;Applied for aWrit,which you well knowIs called “De Lunatico Inquirendo,”But how to serve it—that was the question;They could not get into the lady’s mansion,For the color’d porter at window stood,With a shining face, in a laughing mood,And to the question, “Is Mr. Brown at home?”Would reply, “Mr. and Misses are goneOn a southern tour;” then, with twinkling eye,Would smilingly add, “They’ll be home by and by.”
The nearest of kin and expectant heirs,Still hoping to hold the estate as theirsBy hook or crook—it mattered not how—Before the golden-calf ready to bow,At once they declared the “old man” insane,That the widow had acted simply for gain—A clear case of fraud! she took him by stealth,Expecting thereby to seize his great wealth;A “particeps criminis,” so they said—A divorce must be had from board and bed.They rushed into law, deep vengeance they swore,Produced affidavits—a dozen or more;Applied for aWrit,which you well knowIs called “De Lunatico Inquirendo,”But how to serve it—that was the question;They could not get into the lady’s mansion,For the color’d porter at window stood,With a shining face, in a laughing mood,And to the question, “Is Mr. Brown at home?”Would reply, “Mr. and Misses are goneOn a southern tour;” then, with twinkling eye,Would smilingly add, “They’ll be home by and by.”
The nearest of kin and expectant heirs,
Still hoping to hold the estate as theirs
By hook or crook—it mattered not how—
Before the golden-calf ready to bow,
At once they declared the “old man” insane,
That the widow had acted simply for gain—
A clear case of fraud! she took him by stealth,
Expecting thereby to seize his great wealth;
A “particeps criminis,” so they said—
A divorce must be had from board and bed.
They rushed into law, deep vengeance they swore,
Produced affidavits—a dozen or more;
Applied for aWrit,which you well know
Is called “De Lunatico Inquirendo,”
But how to serve it—that was the question;
They could not get into the lady’s mansion,
For the color’d porter at window stood,
With a shining face, in a laughing mood,
And to the question, “Is Mr. Brown at home?”
Would reply, “Mr. and Misses are gone
On a southern tour;” then, with twinkling eye,
Would smilingly add, “They’ll be home by and by.”