B. Author's Preface

With guilty, conscience-stricken tears,
  I offer up these rhymes of mine
To children of maturer years
  (From Seventeen to Ninety-nine).
A special solace they may be
In days of second infancy.

The frenzied mother who observes
  this volume in her offspring's hand,
And trembles for the darling's nerves.
  Must please to clearly understand,
If baby suffers bye-and-bye
The Artist is to blame, not I!

But should the little brat survive,
  And fatten on the Ruthless Rhyme,
To raise a Heartless Home and thrive
  Through a successful life of crime,
The Artist hopes that you will see
That I am to be thanked, not he!

And if You chance to ask me why,
It is sufficient, I reply,
That You are You, and I am I, --
  To put the matter briefly.
That I should dedicate to You
Can only interest us two;
The fact remains, then, that I do,
  Because I want to -- chiefly.

And if these verses can beguile
From those grey eyes of yours a smile,
You will have made it well worth while
  To seek your approbation;
      No further meed
      Of praise they need,
      But must succeed,
      And do indeed,
      If they but lead
      You on to read
  Beyond the Dedication.

              F.G.

Graham, Harry (as "Col. D. Streamer"). Ruthless Rhymes for Heartless Homes. New York: R. H. Russell 1901