A smile's worth...

The thing that goes the farthest 

Towards making life worth while, 

Which costs the least and counts the most, 

Is just a pleasant smile. 

The smile that bubbles from a heart 

That loves its fellow men, 

Will drive away the clouds of gloom 

And coax the sun again, 

It is full of worth, and goodness too, 

With many kindness blent; 

It is worth a million dollars 

And it doesn't cost a cent. 

There is no room for sadness 

When we see a cheery smile, 

It always has the same good looks, 

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 sincerely lent; 

It is 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 heart-strings 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 is worth a million dollars 

And doesn't cost a cent.

—Anonymous