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April 26, 2007
Toast to the Jolly Testator
Earlier on this blog, I asked for assistance to locate a a poem or other witticism that essentially says that a counselor's best clients are those that fail to plan or forego paying for sound advice.
Thanks to Andrew J. DeMaio (Neff, Aguilar, Cox, Magee & DeMaio, LLC, Red Bank, NJ), we may have located the poem. It may be Toast to the Jolly Testator attributed to Lord Neaves as follows:
"Ye lawyers who live
upon litigants' fees,
And who need a good many
to live at your ease,
Grave or gay, wise or witty,
whate'er your degree,
Plain stuff or Queen's Counsel,
take counsel of me.
When a festive occasion
your spirit unbends,
You should never forget the
Profession's best friends;
So we'll send round the wine
and bright bumper fill,
To the jolly testator
who makes his own will.He premises his wish
and his purpose to save
All dispute among friends
when he's laid in the grave;
Then he straightaway proceeds
more disputes to create
Than a long summer's day
would give time to relate.
He writes and erases,
he blunders and blots,
He produces such puzzles
and Gordian knots,
That a lawyer, intending to frame the thing ill,
Couldn't match the testator
who makes his own will.
April 26, 2007 in Humor | Permalink
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Comments
THE EXECUTOR
I had a friend who died and he
On earth so loved and trusted me
That ere he quit this worldly shore
He made me his executor.
He tasked me through my natural life
To guard the interest of his wife;
To see that everything was done
Both for his daughter and his son.
I have his money to invest,
And though I try my level best
To do that wisely, I'm advised
My judgment oft is criticized.
His widow, once so calm and meek,
Comes, hot with rage, three times a week
And rails at me because I must
To keep my oath, appear unjust.
His children hate the sight of me,
Although their friend I've tried to be
And every relative declares
I interfere with his affairs.
Now when I die I'll never ask
A friend to carry such a task,
I'll spare him all such anguish sore
And name the bank Executor.
- Author Unknown
Posted by: Tommy Nettles | Mar 17, 2008 5:24:14 PM