Chapter XI

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 a _Writ,_ 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.”