POEM

SMILE

Why not smile once in a while

As you do your work each day?

It will make the day more pleasant

For you and others on the way.

What’s more helpful than a smile

As you meet both friend and foe?

You can give good cheer to many

It matters not what path you go.

All will greet you when you smile

With a handshake good and true,

They will then forget their troubles

When they get a smile from you.

You can spread good cheer around you,

With a smile you make them glad,

They’ll respond to your good greeting,

They’ll forget, then, to be sad.

If you wish to help your fellows

Meet their problems all the while,

You can do no greater service

Than give each one a pleasant smile.

Henry Leach

July 31, 1943

The author is James Henry Leach, born 1 Jul 1870, Ohio County, and died 6 Jun 1945, Ohio County. His first wife was Susan Mary Jones who died 27 Feb 1917; his second wife was Zella May Nall. James Henry and Susan had one son, Hinton Taylor Leach (1899 - 1988) who married Gladys T. Bennett (1904 - 1991) and they had three children: James Hinton, Susan Lois, and Judith Ann.

The poem was found in estate of Mertigene Bell; her sister Betty Jo married Leon Nall whose aunt would be Henry’s wife.  

Thanks to Helen McKeown