By Barbara Hauck

She smiled at a sorrowful stranger.

The smile seemed to make him feel better.

He remembered passed kindnesses of a friend

And wrote him a thank-you letter.

The friend was so pleased with the thank-you

That he left a large tip after lunch.

The waitress, surprised by the size of the tip,

Bet the whole thing on a hunch.

The next day she picked up her winnings,

And gave part to a man on the street.

The man on the street was grateful;

For 2 days he had nothing to eat.

After he finished his dinner,

He left for his small dingy room

(he didn't know at that moment

That he might be facing his doom.)

On the way he picked up a shivering puppy

And took him home to get warm.

The puppy was very grateful

To be in out of the storm.

That night the house caught on fire.

The puppy barked the alarm.

He barked 'til he woke the whole household

And saved everybody from harm.

One of the boys that he rescued

Grew up to be president.

All this because of a simple smile

That hadn't cost a cent.