TO MY READERS. I DID not-like many amiable authors, write these pages purely from the benevolent motive of amusing your leisure hours; for I wrote them to amuse my own. Nor do I publish them, like most diffident writers, "with sincere reluctance, and only at the reiterated and urgent request of partial friends"-I publish them entirely to please myself, and for the purpose of enjoying the satisfaction of seeing them in print ;-a delight, though unconfessed, so dear to the secret soul of an author! vi "An author! But what author?"-methinks I hear you inquire; for as the first question always asked about a man, is-"Who is he?" not "What is he?" so the first inquiry about a book is, not-"What are its merits?" but "Who is the author?" After all, however, what can it signify to you, my dear readers, who I am? I have a name, certainly— but what has my name to do with my A rose, book?" By any other name would smell as sweet. Besides, Authors you know of greatest fame, What these superior wits conceal ? The fact is, my noble, gentle, and simple readers, that I don't like to tell you my name, because I am afraid you won't like my book. |