my dear little cooley and georgie:

when you see that this book is dedicated to you, i hope your bright eyes will sparkle with pleasure; but i am afraid your pretty curly heads will hardly retain a recollection of a little personage who once lived close to your beautiful home on staten island. she remembers you, however, and sends you this soldier story with her very best love—the love she bears in her inmost heart for god and little children. and now she asks you to hunt in every corner of those same precious little heads for a kindly remembrance of your affectionate friend,

"aunt fanny's" daughter.