TO MY WIFE
LITTLE COLLECTION OF VERSES IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.
B. S. P.
page: [10][View Page [10]] page: [11][View Page [11]]PREFACE
In presenting this unpretentious collection of verses, written during the course of a busy life, largely devoted to other than literary pursuits, it does not seem to me that an apology of either less or greater length is demanded. Very fully realizing that there was no large demand for the election itself, I feel, with equal force, that those partial friends who have engaged themselves, before the event of publication, to become buyers and readers of this little volume, do not wish to be wearied with tedious excuses for the short-comings and crudities of its contents; and I have not the temerity to address myself to any merely prospective audience of readers, lest I should be wasting words upon a goodly company that shall never exist in a more real domain than that of the imagination.
The intelligent reader needs not to be told that many of the "pieces" in this collection have been included on account of the experiences with which they are associated rather than for their supposed literary merits. This is true of much that the volume contains, and especially so of the "Pioneer Poems" and "Memorial Verses."
When an author sits down to tell why he has not written better, he not only dishonors his work, but also makes an exhibition of egotism and self- consciousness that furnishes a better key to whatever page: [12][View Page [12]] ever failures he may have made than he would be able to supply in any other way. I should be glad if what I have written were worthier, but I have no notion that the reader will expect anything great. Indeed I am persuaded that the anticipation of the limited public that will interest itself to any degree with my little offering is so modest in this respect that the performance will be quite equal to it.
B. S. P.
