James Whircomb Riley (1849 - 1916) was an American writer and poet. He was known as the "Hoosier Poet" and the "Children"s Poet". He began his career writing poetry for newspapers using the Indiana dialect. His poetry is humorous or sentimental. Riley"s poetry is loved for its simple verse and familiar sentiments. Riley never married and had no children. It is possibly his regret at not having children that encouraged him to write poems for young readers. Some of the poems in this collection include Herr Weiser, The Beautiful City, Lockerbie Street, Das Krist Kindel, Anselmo, A Home Made Fairy Tale, The South Wind and the Sun, The Lost Kiss, The Sphinx, If I knew What Poets Know, Ike Walton"s Prayer, A Rough Sketch, Our Kind of a Man, The Harper, Illileo, The King, The Dead Lover, When Bessie Died, Who Bides His Time, and From the Headboard of a Grave in Paraguay.