The thing that goest farthest towards making life worth while,
That costs the least, and does the most, is read more

The thing that goest farthest towards making life worth while,
That costs the least, and does the most, is just a pleasant
smile.
. . . .
It's full of worth and goodness too, with manly kindness blent,
It's worth a million dollars and it doesn't cost a cent.

My tables--meet it is I set it down
That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain.
read more

My tables--meet it is I set it down
That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain.
At least I am sure it may be so in Denmark.

'Tis easy enough to be pleasant,
When life flows along like a song;
But the man worth read more

'Tis easy enough to be pleasant,
When life flows along like a song;
But the man worth while is the one who will smile
When everything does dead wrong;
For the test of the heart is trouble,
And it always comes with the years,
But the smile that is worth the praise of earth
Is the smile that comes through tears.
. . . .
But the virtue that conquers passion,
And the sorrow that hides in a smile--
It is these that are worth the homage of earth,
For we find them but once in a while.

Eternal smiles his emptiness betray,
As shallow streams run dimpling all the way.

Eternal smiles his emptiness betray,
As shallow streams run dimpling all the way.

I feel in every smile a chain.

I feel in every smile a chain.

Reproof on her lip, but a smile in her eye.

Reproof on her lip, but a smile in her eye.

With the smile that was childlike and bland.

With the smile that was childlike and bland.

From thy own smile I snatched the snake.

From thy own smile I snatched the snake.

For smiles from reason flow
To brute deny'd, and are of love the food.

For smiles from reason flow
To brute deny'd, and are of love the food.