LET US SMILE

POEMS

POEMS COLLECTED BY MY GRANDMOTHER

LET US SMILE

THE THING THAT GOES THE FARTHEST

TOWARDS MAKING LIFE WORTH WHILE,

THAT COSTS THE LEAST AND DOES THE MOST

IS JUST A PLEASANT SMILE.

THE SMILE THAT BUBBLES FROM A HEART

THAT LOVES ITS FELLOW MEN;

WILL DRIVE AWAY THE CLOUD OF GLOOM

AND COAX THE SUN AGAIN

IT'S FULL OF WORTH AND GOODNESS TOO,

WITH MANLY KINDNESS BLENT-

IT'S WORTH A MILLION DOLLARS, 

AND DOESN'T COST A CENT.

THERE IS NO ROOM FOR SADNESS,

WHEN WE SEE A CHEERY SMILE;

IT ALWAYS HAS THE SAME GOOD LOOK-

IT'S NEVER OUT OF STYLE-

IT NERVES US ON TO TRY AGAIN

WHEN FAILURE MAKES US BLUE;

THE DIMPLES OF ENCOURAGEMENT

ARE GOOD FOR ME AND YOU.

IT PAYS A HIGHER INTEREST-

FOR IT IS MERELY LENT-

IT'S WORTH A MILLION DOLLARS-

AND DOESN'T COST A CENT.

A SMILE COMES VERY EASY

YOU CAN WRINKLE UP WITH CHEER,

A HUNDRED TIMES BEFORE YOU CAN-

SQUEEZE OUT A SOGGY TEAR;

IT RIPPLES OUT, MOREOVER,

TO THE HEARTSTRINGS THAT WILL TUG,

AND ALWAYS LEAVES AN ECHO

THAT IS VERY LIKE A HUG;-

SO SMILE AWAY, FOLKS UNDERSTAND

WHAT BY A SMILE IS MEANT;

IT'S WORTH A MILLION DOLLARS,

AND DOESN'T COST A CENT.