Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, GILHOOLEY'S ESTATE, by ANDREW BARTON PATERSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GILHOOLEY'S ESTATE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Oh, mr. Gilhooley he turned up his toes
Last Line: Dividing gilhooley's estate.
Alternate Author Name(s): Paterson, 'banjo'
Subject(s): Law & Lawyers


Oh, Mr Gilhooley he turned up his toes,
As most of us do, soon or late;
And Jones was a lawyer, as everyone knows,
So they took him Gilhooley's Estate.

Gilhooley in life had been living so free
'Twas thought his possessions were great,
So Jones, with a smile, says, 'There's many a fee
For me in Gilhooley's Estate.'

They made out a list of his property fine,
It totalled a thousand-and-eight;
But the debts were nine hundred and ninety nine --
The debts of Gilhooley's Estate.

So Mrs Gilhooley says, 'Jones, my dear
My childer have little to ait:
Just keep the expinses as low as you can
Against poor Gilhooley's Estate.'

But Jones says, 'The will isn't clear in its terms,
I fear it will need some debate,
And the law won't allow me (attorneys are worms)
To appear in Gilhooley's Estate.'

So a barrister-man, with a wig on his head
And a brief in his hand, quite elate,
Went up to the Court where they bury the dead,
Just to move in Gilhooley's Estate.

But his Honour the Judge said, 'I think that the joint
Legatees must be called to probate --
Ex parte Pokehorney is clear on the point --
The point of Gilhooley's Estate.'

'I order a suit to be brought just to try
If this is correct that I state --
A nice friendly suit -- and the costs by and by,
Must be borne by Gilhooley's Estate.'

So Mrs Gilhooley says, 'Jones, you'll appear!
Thim barristers' fees is too great;
The suit is but friendly,' 'Attorneys, my dear,
Can't be heard in Gilhooley's Estate.'

From the barristers' quarter a mighty hurrah
Arises both early and late:
It's only the whoop of the Junior Bar
Dividing Gilhooley's Estate.





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