LOVING WORDS.

LOVING WORDS.
553.9

Can’st thou, by any scrutiny of thine.
Tell what’s beneath the surface of a face?
Or know, by any demonstrated line
The points where joy and trouble interlace?
Dost then define a smile as all is well–
And frown determine that some an- guish be?
Ah, me! if it was so that we could tell
There would be work cut out for thee, and me.
But saddest hearts may sometimes wear a smile,
Hearts where no love has come for many days;
And frowning face-just petulant, the while-
Might still o’erflow with joy in many ways:
How long that heart of sadness might live on
If we give but one loving word, to cheer:
So, less we miss, let us bestow upon
Our fellows all, a loving word, while here.
-Marion N. Baker.