p. 12 | A SMILE by Phillips Brooks

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 6, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 23.

A SMILE.

By Phillips Brooks

ALONG the noisy city ways, And in this rattling city car, On this, the dreariest of days, Perplexed with business, fret, and jar, When suddenly a young, sweet face Looked on my petulance and pain, And lent it something of its grace, And charmed it into peace again.

The day was just as bleak without, My neighbors just as cold within, And truth was just as full of doubt, The world was just as full of sin; But in the light of that young smile The world grew pure, the heart grew warm, And sunshine gleamed a little while Across the darkness of the storm.

I did not care to seek her name; I only said, "God bless thy life, Thy sweet young grace be still the same, Or happy maid or happy wife." —Phillips Brooks.